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Original poster

McDonalds need to reevaluate their services

73 replies

Mooloolabababy · 17/09/2021 21:26

Took ds to McDonalds for a treat tonight as dh and dd are off on a camp, we don't go that often maybe every couple of months if that.
It was pandemonium!!
Had to circle the car park 4 times to find a spot (never had to do that before!) expecting it to be rammed when I got in there, there were over half of the tables free, however, it was packed full of deliveroo/just eat drivers picking up orders, there had to be over 20 of them, so that's the reason I couldn't park! The poor kitchen workers just couldn't cook the food quick enough. I just don't think that the McDonalds restaurants are set up to deal with an extra ordering source, I've always noticed that when the drive through is busy, that the restaurant side suffers, but if you Chuck the online orders in to the mix then it's just chaos! We had to wait about 15 mins, not too bad considering (burger was cold though) but the system just doesn't work. The last time I went (in summer) we had to wait 20 mins and I had to send back two chicken burgers as they were still frozen in the middle (more fool me for going again I guess!). It's all well and good being able to order your Maccas for delivery, but it means that those that choose to visit the restaurant get a really poor service.

OP posts:

delilahbucket · 18/09/2021 07:51

You should see the queues for our local drive though. Causes no end of problems as they queue in both directions on a very busy main road. I just don't get. McDonald's is absolute shite. Why are people so obsessed with it?!

Original poster

Mooloolabababy · 18/09/2021 07:54

@whynotwhatknot

The drivers shouldnt be sitting at tables or taking up spaces they need to get on top of that

They have sectioned off the restaurant near us, half is for customers and half is for delivery drivers, the half for customers was still half empty, but the half for delivery drivers was heaving, not enough seating for all of them, so there were a lot standing waiting

OP posts:

PinkTonic · 18/09/2021 07:55

@delilahbucket

Ours blocks the road every weekend. When they reopened after first lockdown they put a queuing system in the shopping centre car park, otherwise the road was impassible. Mystifying. I was a bit

last week shopping when I saw a queue of delivery drivers outside Greggs!

Original poster

Mooloolabababy · 18/09/2021 07:58

@Thecomfortador

Bil had two orders cancelled after an hour each of waiting this evening. We offered to go to the drive through for them as we happened to be visiting. Waited a good 20 minutes in the queue of about 7 cars.

I took my two little ones in to sit down a few weeks back, waiting so long for food they were getting restless. That said the staff are really pleasant and helpful with young children, can't complain about their customer service skills. But yes, there are better food options out there. Just an easy treat sometimes.

Yes that's the thing, it used to be an easy treat, but it just isn't anymore. I do agree about the staff though, especially front of house staff, they're always lovely, it's not their fault that the systems broke!

OP posts:

NautaOcts · 18/09/2021 07:59

That sounds awful. They’re going to piss off and lose ‘in person’ customers.
We live somewhere semi rural without just eat/deliveroo which I’m actually really glad about for my waistline, purse strings and wait times at McD’s and other takeaways! But I suspect it light not be long.

ChessieFL · 18/09/2021 08:02

I’ve noticed this in other places. Several times I’ve gone into our local subway and been the only person there, but had to wait while they finish making up orders for when a delivery person appears. Also had to wait ages in KFC behind loads of delivery drivers. It’s very annoying.

I suppose the answer is just to order delivery myself - but I always worry how long it will take to get to me and how hot/fresh it will be.

Original poster

Mooloolabababy · 18/09/2021 08:03

@Insidelaurashead

I'm one of the lazy rotters who ordered a mcdonalds tonight via ubereats. I'm in the middle of a massive fibromyalgia flare and the brain fog cleared enough for me to realise if I ordered food I could actually eat tonight. I know OP wasn't suggesting people shouldn't order for home delivery but others were and y'know, it's not always laziness

It's definitely not the fault of those who order at home, I mean, if it's an option then why wouldn't you! It's not an option for us though as we live too far away for delivery service. It needs a system overhaul as it's become an unpleasant experience for those who choose to visit.

OP posts:

BoomChicka · 18/09/2021 08:03

I live close to a McDonald's and sometimes to pick one up for dd on the way home.. except the drive thru is always rammed, queuing onto the retail park and blocking that up. I've sat in the jam to just get past the bloody place before and ordered it on just eat instead - 15 minute delivery . I know I'm adding to the problem, but they need to make changes so customers don't get a better service from a 3rd party than McDonald's themselves.

Preech · 18/09/2021 08:03

We're getting the same decline in our part of Scotland. Our local McDs was normally pretty good, and always heaving both inside and drive through from about 4 pm. We were excited when they got on the delivery apps because for years, the drive through and restaurant queues took forever.

But the quality of the food has definitely gone down, to the point where we're not ordering from them anymore when we want a cheeky takeaway. Hadn't occurred to me that the delivery service might be overloading them, but it makes sense.

Auroreforet · 18/09/2021 08:20

I only go to McDonalds for the banana milkshakes.
There are no milkshakes atm!
And yes, we waited a long time for a very mediocre meal and drink.
Won’t be going again in a hurry.

QuestionableMouse · 18/09/2021 08:33

@BoomChicka

. I know I'm adding to the problem, but they need to make changes so customers don't get a better service from a 3rd party than McDonald's themselves.

But the stores have zero control over how each customer decides to order. All we can do is pause the delivery orders and depending on the manager, that may not be allowed.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/09/2021 08:34

@FelicityBeedle my mum does this. No salt on chips. No tartare sauce or cheese on her filet o fish.

HandsOffMyRights · 18/09/2021 09:05

Yes, this is our experience too, OP.

Our local ones haven't had milkshakes since the start of lockdown either.

McDonald's was a treat for my kids when they were small, so not sure why that comment has been singled out.

MummyJ12 · 18/09/2021 09:08

I’ve noticed this.
Last time I visited, I ordered breakfast on the app for click and serve to a parking bay. No customisation. It took 35 minutes. My wait was definitely made worse by all of the Just Eat and Deliveroo drivers/cyclists coming and going. It’s great that they offer these services but they need to reassess if they can’t provide their usual service in-house. They seem to prioritise the delivery drivers, whether they do or not I’m not sure. It’s definitely not ‘fast’ food at times.

mortymcfied · 18/09/2021 09:10

Yes I agree. I stood waiting for my takeaway order for over 15 minutes because the staff were too busy sorting out massive delivery orders for the Uber eats/ deliveroo drivers. It's not exactly fast food when you have to stand and wait that long for a single cheeseburger. Probably quicker to go through the drive thru.

I think they either need to have a dedicated area and extra staff to deal with the demand of deliveries because the customers in store at that moment will suffer. Sounds like it's not just at my local one either.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 18/09/2021 09:13

The drive-in one near us is off a main road, and it often causes traffic issues because people are queued down the main road for it. I don't understand the appeal of McDonalds at all - so many much nicer takeaways you could have.

liveforsummer · 18/09/2021 09:16

You probably just went at a busy time. It's normal to wait for McDonald's food these days though as they cook everything fresh to order rather than have a selection ready made to serve like they used to. I suppose they might need a bigger car park but the staff will be used to dealing with peak busy periods.

mydogisthebest · 18/09/2021 09:18

Me and DH went for a lovely Italian meal the other evening and sat outside. We were there 3 hours and watched in amazement as delivery drivers in cars, on motorbikes, mopeds and bicycles were in and out of the McDonalds across the road non stop.

Unless you live very close I cannot understand why anyone would want a McDonalds delivered. Their food in the restaurant or drive through is often barely warm. By the time the driver gets to most houses the food must be disgusting especially the chips.

ShareAToothpickTradingLipstick · 18/09/2021 09:21

If the latest BSE case found in Somerset leads to more, you’ll be able to park a lot quicker and it’ll be less busy soon enough.

QuestionableMouse · 18/09/2021 11:10

@mortymcfied

It's absolutely shit and I'm sorry you had to wait. Before Covid we could make orders our of sequence but now we've been told that we must follow the screens, even with grab and go (small one or two item) orders. I ignore it in the large part and make the smaller orders but it means I'm often getting moaned at for not doing it right.

Most McDonald's are simply too small to have a dedicated area unfortunately and at mine at least, we're operating at low staffing levels which doesn't help.

I don't know anyone who works there who likes the delivery orders, honestly. They take much longer than a normal order, the bags are awful and we know the customers hate seeing them go out while they're waiting.

If you feel you've been waiting too long, find either the customer experience leader or customer care assistant and ask them if they can do anything.

ChrissyPlummer · 18/09/2021 11:15

Someone I know drives for either Just Eat/Deliveroo and had an order for a cup of tea, just a cup of tea from McD’s. The distance was less than three miles, cost the customer 99p for the cup of tea and £5.49 delivery charge!

listsandbudgets · 18/09/2021 11:26

I took ds a few weeks ago for a treat. We had to used the scteens and waited about 5 minutes but the food was hot, the drinks were cold and the table was clean. It was a high street store with no drive through or car park though so that may have had a difference. It was still very crowded though.

drumandthebass · 18/09/2021 13:08

This annoys me too. The last two occasions I've been to Costa I've waited ages whilst they fulfilled the orders for the deliveroo and just eat drivers

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