A trip to Raising Cane’s turned into an uncomfortable confrontation after a Texas woman overheard an employee call her broke.
The comment came simply because she asked about the total and was surprised it was so high. This comes in an era where fast food prices have gone from cheap convenience food to a once-in-a-while luxury for some people.
Woman Says Employee Called Her ‘Broke’ Over Drive-Thru Speaker
In a viral video with more than 400,000 views, Victoria (@victoriaa1k) recounts what happened when she visited her local Raising Cane’s drive-thru.
“How I Got Free Food at Cane’s,” the text overlay on the video read.
According to Victoria, she ordered a Caniac combo for approximately $16.59 and two kids’ drinks priced around $1.19 each.
When the employee told her the total would be $32, Victoria says she asked for clarification on the Caniac combo price.
“And she was like, $16 blah, blah, blah. That’s before tax,” Victoria explains in the video. “And I’m like, ‘OK.’ And she was like, ‘That’ll be all?’ I said, ‘Yes.'”
Even in a high-priced city like NYC, that total comes out to $26.32 ($20.59 for the combo and $3.58 for the two kid drinks). So not only was Victoria right to be confused, but it seems the employee inputted something incorrectly in the system for the price to be so far off.
What happened next shocked her.
“Okay, with your broke a–,” the employee said and started giggling.
“She’s playing,” a nearby employee clarified.
“She did not just say that. Like, I was shocked. Couldn’t believe it,” Victoria said.
Manager Allegedly Covers For Employee
When Victoria reached the window to pay, she immediately asked for the manager. She says she confronted the manager about what the employee said, but the manager claimed the worker was talking to someone else about the state fair, not addressing Victoria.
“So you’re just gonna, like, lie for her? You’re gonna, like, cover her, let her disrespect customers?” Victoria recalls asking. She says the manager brushed off her concerns.
Victoria then requested corporate’s contact information along with the names of both employees involved.
The person identified herself as Samantha but said she couldn’t give the others’ names out of respect for their privacy.
“That’s like telling you where we live,” she said.
After receiving a card with contact information, Victoria attempted to call while still at the drive-thru. The first number directed her back to the store, and a cell phone number went to voicemail. While she was leaving a message, another employee opened the window and asked if she was going to pay for her order.
The Embarrassment Continues
When Victoria handed over her card to pay the $32.97, her card declined.
“Your card declined. Record that part, too,” a worker said to her.
Making matters worse, her card was locked, and she had to hand it back and forth to the employee multiple times as it continued to decline.
“My card declined, and I was tweaking,” Victoria said, showing how her leg was shaking.
In the end, with a line forming behind her and the awkward situation continuing to escalate, the employees simply gave Victoria her food for free. She also discovered they gave her extra items with her order.
Despite getting free food, Victoria remains bothered by the initial comment.
“Why would she say that?” she said at the end of her video.
Why Is Fast Food So Expensive?
Victoria’s sticker shock at a $32 total for a fast-food combo and two kids’ drinks reflects a broader trend affecting fast-food customers nationwide.
Situations like the one at Cane’s are part of the rising issue that major fast food chains have dramatically increased their prices over the past decade, CNET reported (they don’t specifically mention Cane’s).
McDonald’s has raised prices by 100% in the United States since 2014, with a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal jumping from $5.39 to $12. Other chains like Popeyes and Taco Bell have seen similar increases, with some items rising by 97% and 132% respectively.
The price hikes are driven by multiple factors, Valerie Kilders, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, told CNET. Increased minimum wages for workers and rising food costs are major contributors. From January 2024 to January 2025, cattle prices increased 20.6%. Wholesale beef rose around 15%, while egg prices soared by 183%.
A LendingTree survey found that 78% of Americans now consider fast food a luxury rather than a convenience. Nearly half of respondents believe fast food prices are now comparable to sit-down restaurants, while 22% think fast food is actually more expensive.
Commenters React
“Once that card declined girl, they were clowning you,” a top comment read.
“How did it go from $16 to $32???!!!” a person asked.
“The credit card was a paid actor,” another joked.
“Calling you broke when they’re overcharging is crazyyy,” a commenter added.
@victoriaa1k no customer service skills #fyp #mesquite #towneast @Raising Cane’s
BroBible reached out to Victoria for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message.