What the hell happened to McDonald’s ?

I think it’s been established that it’s particularly bad at McDonalds.

Can’t be true. McDonald’s say uniform is free. UK law says if a minimum wage job it must be free. Hence, it’s free. They were probably having you on for some cash

That shit happens everywhere! I’ve had far more sexual abuse aimed at me in corporate roles than I ever did working in McDonald’s as a teen.

And a rabid brexiteer/ Farage supporting owner to line the pockets of

McDonalds has always been minging.

I worked at McDs in the 90s when food was pre prepared, the fillet o fish was always made fresh at my branch, at most we’d make an extra one if we were getting a lot of orders, just in case. Not sure if this was the case everywhere though.

I grew up in the US and have memories of eating a Big Mac that was juicy - there was a sort of dopamine hit from the combo of mayo and pickle too.

I haven’t have a McDs for years but I had one a few months ago and it was like cardboard. The burger was dry and the fries were tasteless - they used to be well known for their hot, salty fries.

My guess is they’ve cornered the kids market and it’s now aimed at little ones who think this is a big treat (and who aren’t overly fussed about taste/texture). McDs delicious looking ads definitely don't match the reality.

Food costs have gone up! It can't have escaped you that supermarket shopping is costing more and McDonalds isn't exempt from price increases.

I haven't been there in I'd say 25 yrs since I had young kids but my brother always says the secret to getting fresh food is make a change to the order, ask for no onion/lettuce/tomato or whatever on the burger and they have to make a fresh one.

I love a good takeaway but I’ve never been that fussed about McDonalds. Wouldn’t bother me if I never had another one ever again but DP and the DC love it.

We moved a couple of years ago and thankfully we don’t have one in the local town - nearest one is about 10 miles away so that’s saved me from constant requests to get one 😂

I don’t think they’re much different than they always were though. Crappy, processed food without much flavour 🤷‍♀️ I’d be surprised if the food was reheated from a previous day though as every McDs I’ve ever been to has always been busy!

There are other much nicer fast food places at the same kind of price point so I’ve never really understood the appeal of McDs. I guess strong marketing from way back when and then it became culturally established? Plus the fact there’s loads of outlets compared to places like BurgerKing or Tim Horton?

I live in Oxford (unfortunately!). It’s surprising how much the price varies though as 10 miles away in Bicester they are £4.19 !

It’s about the same price as a supermarket meal deal or a coffee shop coffee. It’s not that bad really. Everything has gone up

Ok that shows how often I go it’s now gone up to £3.89. I’m in the south east, don’t think it’s worth nearly £4!!! Where are you that it costs even more? I didn’t even know they changed prices regionally?!?

It's intentional, McDonalds profit margins are razor thin and it's all down to volume, if the restaurants isn't comfortable and a nice place to be you move on quickly. It's actually really clever but most consumers are too stupid to see it.

If the food had been recooked it would be cremated. Also the filet of fish and fries are cooked in different fryers at other ends of the kitchen. Food can only be kept for 20 mins before it is discarded.

Source - Have worked at McDonald's.

You paid for cheap fast food and got exactly that.

If you want a Michelin star quality meal stop being such a skin flint and pay more...

Also regarding prices, this glorious government decided that 18 year olds are now entitled to the same NMW as someone who is 24+. The majority of McDonald's employees are those in the 18-24 brackets, the cost of paying their wages has increased significantly so prices have to increase or the business is not viable. If you want to blame anyone for increasing prices, it needs to be the labour party.

i really don’t know how anyone thinks McDonald’s is a “treat”. It’s garbage.

Had one that was raw in the middle years ago. Never been back. Am told the people serving are still monosyllabic zombies tho...

In the 80's they targeted mainly at children, now they don't.

And as so much is home delivery, the decor is considered less important.

The outlets in our area are about to switch over to fully automated. According to DH (so secondhand info & I'm not sure how accurate) it will only take one person to man the whole drive through.

Unfortunately the way things are going. Ideal if people vote with their feet and support local instead..if local survives that long.

Personally I just can't see anything enjoyable about this type of food, but my husband & kids view it as the odd treat when we travel (and it means I don't have to make sandwiches, so have capitulated over the years. I've graceously let them get on with it and leant to keep my moaning & general kill the buzz comments to myself 😎😂).

Yes I was definitely shocked at how expensive it is at McDonald's these days when we popped in about a month ago.
It used to be a quick, cheap, cheerful treat but now its a very rare treat.

Deliveries are awful though, I refuse to get them delivered anymore as they always turned up cold, the drink had been spilt etc so we haven't had a delivery from them since covid times.

I haven't had a Macdonalds since before Covid, probably a couple of years before, at that.

I used to get an almost annual craving for a quarterpuunder with cheese, and it would keep coming back until I gave in and got one. Then I'd eat it, not enjoy it, find it made me feel slightly sick and not have another for a year or so.

Now I'm mostly working from home rather than out in the community, I'd have to do a 12 mile round trip to go to a Macdonalds, so I don't bother, especially as there's a really nice place that does proper chargrilled burgers that's nearer.

I think they've always been rather unpleasant, so if they've got worse, they must be really horrid now!

I’m in Portugal and McDonalds is more expensive than nice meals in lots of local restaurants. I do still indulge from time to time and I always wonder if they are audited on time from placement of order to it being ready as if you eat in, your order number comes up on the screen as ready ages before there is any sign of it. It’s just routine there and there there are loads of customers hovering around the counter while there’s 6 made orders on the digital screen but crickets around the counter.

I always customise the fillet o fish to have extra tartar sauce. That way, they have to cook it fresh!

I sometimes get a breakfast delivered. I have to remember not to order from the nearest maccys because it is obviously reheated.

You can track the delivery, as the driver goes in the wrong direction and delivers to two other places before turning round and delivering my a cold breakfast.

The one closer to the city centre is much better.

I heard they lie about the milkshake machine not working.

Awww Memory Unlocked
My older two DC had a fair few McDonalds parties (either theirs or invited to friends) in the 90s