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BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:36 am
by pfc1966
On a recent trip to an IDPA sanctioned match (carolina cup) we stopped at bob evans in fairmont wv. while using their wi-fi service we were denied access to the IDPA website as it has gun content. I just called Bob Evans corporate headquarters and was told this was corporate policy and is listed in its user agreement for wi-fi use & that gun & violence sites cannot be accessed. woman who took the call was very polite, but i could tell by her tone that she was just quoting corporate policy & really did not want to be more involved than doing just that. I told her that i would be posting on OFCC & that i would advise all in the shooting community that we would not be patronizing any of their restaurants in the future. i would suggest that all members contact corporate and let them know how we feel as law-abiding gun owners being compared to violence and will not be patronizing them until this policy is reversed.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:49 am
by djthomas
We're actually headed up to our local in a little bit for a late breakfast. Their restaurants aren't posted and that's good enough for me.

A lot of places that offer free wifi use filtering software (see Caribou Coffee) that blocks all sorts of things including porn, gambling, weapons, etc. Can't say I blame them. There's a lot of things out on the Internet that you don't want the public downloading over an IP that's registered to you.

I think it's important to remember that they're in the business of providing food service. Wifi is nothing but an expense. Once they start fine tuning the block list they will open themselves up to charges of why X site was blocked but Y is not. It's much easier and cheaper to just select the broad categories provided by the software and wash your hands of it.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:13 am
by pleasantguywhopacks
I just turn of the wifi and go 4G. The place doesn't post and that works for me. I'm not being prevented from protecting me and mine.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:28 am
by parbreaker
I tend to agree with the other responses.

In the bast Bob Evans has been pretty good to us, and I hardly think an internet filter tips the scales. I have OC'd in my local Bob Evans multiple times, and their corporate policy is to allow concealed carry all the time. There isn't a single store posted that I know of. I have heard many, many, many positive CC and OC experiences at different Bob Evans locations.

The group of us that were with Harley at his trial the first time all OC'd at that Bob Evans and were treated very well.

While I dislike a filter like that, I do have other options for internet in this day and age (phone, wireless card, etc.) and most of those filters are bought and set as a bundle package. You set it to a certain level of "safe" and forget about it. I can't blame them for not wanting to micro-manage it, honestly.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:55 am
by Klingon00
The last time I tried using wifi at Bob Evans, it was slower than AT&T's pseudo "4G" network, so I just use my unlimited cellular plan instead. :D

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:14 pm
by SeafoodGuy
I go there to get my Sunshine Skillet with biscuits, and an order of sausage links.

None of the locations around me are posted.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:08 pm
by steves 50de
So far every b.e. i've bin to is gun friendly and good food. :mrgreen:

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:13 pm
by JediSkipdogg
Yup, just a general internet filter. Panera has the same problem and I've yet to find a Panera that has a problem with guns. Funny thing is, both allow me access to here and BFA but neither allow me to say S&W or Springfield's websites. So I can talk about guns, but can't shop for guns.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:58 pm
by Bowhunter44615
I tend to agree with most of the posts. I don't think it requires a full on letter writing blitz. I think using the feedback cards on the table will suffice. In today's society, everyone has an axe to grind. I believe most of these type letters get thrown in the trash anyway. I did complain about the service at BE last year an recieved to $5 coupons though.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:56 pm
by pfc1966
I guess from the responses i am off base a little. I agree that sometimes filters must be used, but i still feel gun owners should not be blocked to law-abiding websites which as we all know do not condone any kind of violence. As much as i do like b.e. i will spend my money elsewhere. BTW some our party wanted to leave even though our food was ordered. I declined & we stayed for breakfast as i knew this would be extremely unfair to the waitress.Just my.02. thanks for you comments

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:10 pm
by Imcrazy
pleasantguywhopacks wrote:I just turn of the wifi and go 4G. The place doesn't post and that works for me. I'm not being prevented from protecting me and mine.
+1

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:02 pm
by SeafoodGuy
I seriously doubt Bob Evans as a corporate entity is against you viewing gun manufacturer websites. It's probably some liberal, progressive, dope on the administrative level that's all about being PC and not hurting feelings that told the IT guy to block gun sites because some white people might be scared if they see you viewing S&W or Ruger.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:21 pm
by geniusiknowit
You could probably get around the filter using something like Proxify, TOR, or a private VPN service.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:46 pm
by Tonik
pfc1966 wrote:I guess from the responses i am off base a little. I agree that sometimes filters must be used, but i still feel gun owners should not be blocked to law-abiding websites which as we all know do not condone any kind of violence.
I am an IT guy, for a very large school district. We have a guest network and it has a filter on it. Filters are incredibly hard to run and leave open the good stuff and not the bad stuff. So in the interest of not allowing bad stuff I make darn sure I error on the side of blocking. For example...I filter students from Nazi-like websites. But are they looking to be skin heads or are they researching Nazi Germany for a history paper? Are you searching for pictures of breasts because you are a hormone raging teen or are you doing a paper on Breast Cancer? It is a no win situation, so you make darn sure you error on the side of over-blocking.

I guess I am saying there may not be a 'corporate' decision here to block 'guns'. It might just be some poor IT guy trying to do the best he can in a no win situation.

Re: BOB EVANS CORPORATE POLICY

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:12 am
by MyWifeSaidYes
I will be calling Bob Evans headquarters later this morning and let them know that I do not have any problem with their web filters. I would encourage others to do the same. We need to make sure their management does not get the wrong idea.

I'll also inquire if there is any way to request that certain sites be unblocked. If not, no problem.

Boycott a place because their FREE internet service has filters you don't like? Definitely missing the big picture.

Which constitutional amendment DID they violate? :?

You certainly have the right to walk out of any place you choose and for any reason, but to drop the OFCC name in doing so is just wrong.