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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pay for boiled water ?

27 replies

queenie2016 · 06/04/2022 12:23

Not sure if I’m being unreasonable went to McDonald’s ordered my food and then also asked for some boiled water to make baby’s bottle, the girl came back and said no we can’t give you it , then went away again and said she could if I paid for it , I’ve never had this before in costa / Starbucks etc .

OP posts:
ExplodingElephants · 06/04/2022 12:39

I bet they get loads of people in who ask for boiling water and then produce a teabag from their handbag. Not saying you were going to do that but because of chancers like that, companies have to introduce blanket rules.

BeardieWeirdie · 06/04/2022 12:49

I buy tea in a cafe with no sugar or milk for £1.50. You’re paying for staff time, electricity, water etc. If you don’t want to pay, bring a flask, pre mix carton (which I’m sure would cost more) or breastfeed.

Unanananana · 06/04/2022 12:59

Its costs money to boil water. Yes it sounds petty but as a PP said, there are pisstakers that will bring their own teabags. One rule for all (i.e.you pay for the boiled water) is the fairest.
Maybe hot water in a flask next time?

LampLighter414 · 06/04/2022 13:22

If you're going out with baby it's probably better to be pre-prepared on how you will feed said baby than just lucking it out and getting annoyed when it doesn't go exactly as you might imagine.

Did you pay in the end? All's well that ends well

Illwithdisappointment · 06/04/2022 13:25

I think that's really mean of McDonald's. I'd understand if you just walked in and asked for boiled water. However, if you've bought a meal and asking for some water for the baby, I think it's ridiculous they tried to charge.

woodhill · 06/04/2022 13:28

Different if you are buying food already which you were

Whyaskwhenyoudontwanttheanswer · 06/04/2022 13:32

You could get one of these? I used to use it for the hot water for my green tea in work, long after DC had finished with bottles. Well worth the money.
bottle warmer flask

Marvellousmadness · 06/04/2022 13:34

Bring some boiled water in a flask next time

Brightrainbow · 06/04/2022 13:35

I work at a maccys
We have to take your bottle,put it in a container of boiling water and after 5 minutes give it back
I've never charged anyone for it and I must do this 3-6 times a shift

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 06/04/2022 13:36

Nah, McDonald's can certainly afford to give you some hot water.

AllYouCanEatBrestaurant · 06/04/2022 13:38

You might find it's some insurance cover or something. Many places won't give hot water for bottles or heat baby food in case something goes wrong/baby gets burnt. If you buy a hot water as a beverage, what you do with it after is on you.

Or it could be to stop people taking the piss and making their own teas on the cheap 🤷🏻‍♀️

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 06/04/2022 13:39

@LampLighter414

If you're going out with baby it's probably better to be pre-prepared on how you will feed said baby than just lucking it out and getting annoyed when it doesn't go exactly as you might imagine.

Did you pay in the end? All's well that ends well

It's hardly lucking it out since 99.9% of establishments wouldn't bat an eye at giving you some hot water. It's not like she made any wild demands. Yes I worked in hospitality for over 15 years before you ask.
SockFluffInTheBath · 06/04/2022 13:40

The water isn’t free, the energy to boil it isn’t free, and the cup isn’t free- so why do you think you shouldn’t have to pay just because it’s for a baby?

Lazypuppy · 06/04/2022 13:43

Most mcdonalds have microwaves to heat up baby bottles/foods, or are you saying you just bought the powder with you and wanted to make the bottle there? If so YABU,

latriciamcneal · 06/04/2022 13:48

I think it's all in the way you ask. My baby was breastfed but when she was little in the sling I'd always blag a cup of hot water 'for the baby' on every train journey and save myself the cost of the coffee.

I can't believe these multinationals are still being this stingy. I worked in Burger King for 3.75/hour on long shifts and you got free lunch; just ONE patty! No hot drinks!

Meanwhile they throw away food daily and use the cheapest meat you could scrape off the factory floor.

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 06/04/2022 13:52

Did you need the water to actually make the formula up or to just heat the bottle?

Patchbatch · 06/04/2022 13:53

It says this on their website:

Do you have a policy on heating peoples own food that they bring in?
Customers with babies are able to have milk and baby food warmed. For safety reasons we are not able to provide customers with containers of hot water for them to heat bottles themselves, but our restaurant team will be happy to assist.

I agree it's stingy of them but if you can make the bottle up as usual before leaving home then at least they can reheat it for you.

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 06/04/2022 13:56

You want free hot water? Why do you think they should just give it to you? IT costs money to boil it. Why dont you just get a flask?

TerryChoc · 06/04/2022 14:05

“It costs to boil” “it costs to give water” “it costs to feed a baby”
Those who’ll go to nhs and take take take 🤷‍♀️
I see their terms and conditions do say they should have heated it for you so rather than trying to charge they should have offered that option.

Cuck00soup · 06/04/2022 14:20

I'm trying to get my head around the logistics here.
How do you keep the feed sterile?
Is it not easier to pre make the bottle and then heat it up?

RaspberryChouxBuns · 06/04/2022 14:25

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea Most McDonalds are franchisee-run and have nothing to do with the big corporation you identify McDonalds as being. In that case the franchisee owner is running a business whereby they are well within their rights to charge for whatever they want in their restaurant setting.

Original poster
queenie2016 · 06/04/2022 14:42

For the questions I do have a flask I bought the nuby set with the flask that also cools the milk down, the time I was leaving this morning if I had filled up the flask it wouldn’t be the right temp (not hot enough) to sterilise the milk powder it has a temp control on the lid so you can see if it’s hot enough , i can’t do pre made as my baby is on Kendamil goats milk and they don’t have this option I also wouldnt make up a bottle and leave it for hours and then warm it up when you should discard the milk after two hours after being made unless it’s kept in a fridge, I didn’t mind paying I’ve just never came across this before anywhere else thought it was abit stingy considering McDonald’s isn’t exactly strapped for cash …. Didn’t no if it was all McDonald’s or just the branch that I visited thanks for everyone’s opinions and next time I’ll go to Starbucks instead!

OP posts:
Ghostsofhumor · 06/04/2022 14:59

I used to work in a cafe where we ended up charging for boiling water because people would then make tea with it, and slowly sit and sip it for an age, sometimes even out of our bloody mugs

As someone said above they did above, the worst offenders for this were mums. Bringing snacks for their kids (which they'd also eat), ask for boiling water make tea, and have one hot drink between the group and be there for hours.

Ghostsofhumor · 06/04/2022 15:00

We also weren't allowed anywhere near heating bottles. I'm suprised anywhere allows staff to take the responsibility of taking bottles off mum and pop them in the microwave.

Any big buisness I've worked in has been funny about microwaves and bottles because of liability

worriedatthistime · 06/04/2022 15:06

@latriciamcneal actually macdonald don't pay too bad my ds 16 works part time and gets £8 an hr and free meal, otherwise its!£4 odd an hr in the other shops
Not sure on their policy with hot water though as they are franchised so may have slightly different rules