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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think McDonald’s has lost the plot

135 replies

ChristineCricket · 05/04/2023 15:40

So I always have the odd McDonald’s with the kids in the holidays, so twice this week I have been in there. Both times they forgot the fries and both times it was cold and tasteless. My chicken sandwich was so thin with barely any mayo.
Now I have been eating fairly clean recently so maybe my taste buds have changed, or has anyone else noticed a decline?

OP posts:
Kittytitt · 05/04/2023 17:15

RedToothBrush · 05/04/2023 16:42

This is the issue.

There are some branches which are supposed to be amazing.

My current bug is my local one WILL NOT give books in a happy meal, even if you explicitly ask. Its happened EVERY time we've tried. We have regularly had this issue at other branches too, but our local one is particularly bad. This really bugs me because one of their current marketing strategies is pushing how many books McDonalds have helped distribute to children.

So if anyone from senior McDonalds management does read this:

SORT IT OUT AND GET MYSTERY SHOPPERS ON TO THIS AS ITS REALLY IRRITATING.

Show quote history

Yes, my kids always ask for the book. We have never got one yet, it's now just a family joke

Deathbyfluffy · 05/04/2023 17:16

Sunnyfunnytimes · 05/04/2023 15:46

It’s a franchise, so it’s just a shit run site by a shit franchisee.

They're not all franchises - just under half currently.

artimesiasfootsteps · 05/04/2023 17:17

My local Mac Donald’s is absolute rubbish. Food is often cold, with brown lettuce, missing items from my order, and look they were put together by a drunk, ie smashed, wrapper screwed up paper half on half off. I tried another one recently and had the exact same issue.

had a Wendy’s recently and my gosh was it HEAVEN! Obvs more expensive but worth every penny,

StrawberryWater · 05/04/2023 17:21

There’s been a massive decline in the standard of McDonalds food in the last 2 to 3 years. Mostly it’s rank. Can’t even get salt on the fries half the time, what’s that about!

Oh and we never ever get the books when we ask either. The toys suck. They’re badly made pieces of flimsy rubbish, incomprehensible games or stuffed toys that look cheap and are made of nasty material.

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 05/04/2023 17:22

Every single time something is missing

BookishBabe · 05/04/2023 17:24

They forgot all my dips with my 20 nugget share box today.

And a few months ago I ordered an double sausage mcmuffin, no egg and add bacon (which is around 60p) and they did take the egg off but forgot the bacon.

Both times I'd already got home when I noticed (drive through) so I couldn't be arsed to go back, but it does ruin it.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 05/04/2023 17:27

The chips taste rubbish since they vastly reduced the salt, but that happened years ago.

Couldyounot · 05/04/2023 17:28

Our local Macca's needs to have big signs up at the drive-thru pickup window and the counter inside the restaurant, saying DON'T FORGET THE DIPS. Because they do, every time.

00100001 · 05/04/2023 17:28

StrawberryWater · 05/04/2023 17:21

There’s been a massive decline in the standard of McDonalds food in the last 2 to 3 years. Mostly it’s rank. Can’t even get salt on the fries half the time, what’s that about!

Oh and we never ever get the books when we ask either. The toys suck. They’re badly made pieces of flimsy rubbish, incomprehensible games or stuffed toys that look cheap and are made of nasty material.

People campaigning for lesnsalt in foods.

Just ask for salt

00100001 · 05/04/2023 17:29

Couldyounot · 05/04/2023 17:28

Our local Macca's needs to have big signs up at the drive-thru pickup window and the counter inside the restaurant, saying DON'T FORGET THE DIPS. Because they do, every time.

Maybe it's a cost saving thing as they know most people won't check when they get the bag,or bother to come back for a drive through

CakeIsMyFavouriteAndBest · 05/04/2023 17:30

Tired of going in and waiting for ages (which defeats the purpose of fast food), whilst loads of delivery drivers get priority.
Husband always orders a coffee and nearly every time he has to ask them to remake it as by the time we get our order its cold. That shows how long it takes to get the order!
Really think a lot of businesses are forgetting about the customers that go in there now, went to Wagamamas one Saturday, it only had a few people in but they wouldn't let anyone else in as they were prioritising deliveroo and other orders. Told us to come back in half an hour but still couldn't guarantee getting seated. Went straight to a locally owned restaurant instead.

Couldyounot · 05/04/2023 17:32

00100001 · 05/04/2023 17:29

Maybe it's a cost saving thing as they know most people won't check when they get the bag,or bother to come back for a drive through

Show quote history

I suspect exactly this, yes.

Lou88x · 05/04/2023 17:32

The quality of my local one varies. At busy times they often mess up customised orders/ forget the fries etc. The last few times, my McFlurry has been half full which isn’t impressive given how much the price has increased. The machines are also constantly out of paper for the receipts which is annoying because I like to do the survey and get the discount voucher.

Agree that the prioritisation of the delivery drivers is a mistake. Mine is full of them and they are always straight in and out while the normal customers have to wait ages. They also park in all the click and serve bays which means customers can’t use them.

GullibleIdiot13574 · 05/04/2023 17:34

Haven’t eaten there for a while but definitely an issue with Nando’s balancing the restaurant and delivery. I wonder if separate branches would be practical or each side is just not profitable for them or McD.

Suzi888 · 05/04/2023 17:36

Jitterybugs · 05/04/2023 16:09

I can’t imagine what a McDonald’s order tastes like by the time it’s delivered to someone’s home. Sometimes it’s only lukewarm when it reaches the restaurant table.

I always wonder this. A work colleague did it and people microwave it 🙈apparently. What the hell happens to the sauce ….

tennesseewhiskey1 · 05/04/2023 17:39

The McDonalds in Asia is amazing :-) - but, as someone said franchise’s sometimes are awful. I’ve always liked the breakfast offerings tho!

ConstanceOcean · 05/04/2023 17:51

I’d love to know which one this is because there’s one local to me that I refuse to go.
E.g burger with no actual meat patties, fries without the fries just the container, drinks that are just ice or a milkshake when I ordered coke etc.

Unfortunately the next nearest one is almost 30 miles away.

It’s good for the waistline and purse I guess though.

I think it’s worse during the holidays too as they take temp staff on.

Blort · 05/04/2023 17:54

They've definitely amended the quality of their ingredients. If the kids are having one i don't bother.

ComeOnNumber100 · 05/04/2023 17:59

Order a filet of fish, they’re never cooked so you have to wait for them to cook one. Every time.

TeenLifeMum · 05/04/2023 18:01

I’m not a massive McDonald’s fan but sometimes it’s helpful for a speedy tea or when I’m ill with a sore throat the banana milkshakes are lovely. I have to say, our local one is great. Staff always seem to be a great friendly team with good customer service. I’d guess they vary dependent on management.

Stressedafff · 05/04/2023 18:01

ComeOnNumber100 · 05/04/2023 17:59

Order a filet of fish, they’re never cooked so you have to wait for them to cook one. Every time.

They’ve been so stingy with filet of fish sauce recently!

yentirb · 05/04/2023 18:06

KFC is worse by me for this, city wide.

lazymum99 · 05/04/2023 18:08

For those asking I got a delivery from Mac Donald’s not long ago. It was disgusting. Burnt and cold and soggy. But a delivery from Five Guys was great. Although I put oven on and put chips in there for a few minutes to ‘freshen’ them up

HatchedInALaboratory · 05/04/2023 18:10

My daughter and I only ever eat the McPlant and they’re always nice here. My partner and son used to eat the Chicken burgers or Big Mac but say they’re always horrible now, cold and tasteless.

ScattyHattie · 05/04/2023 18:43

I've only had Mcdeliveries lately which were ok, was surprised the fries were still warmish tbh, mcplant burger was hot and plenty of sauce. Prefer pizza place which has similar skinny fries and further away yet are always hot. Glad they seem to have cut down on salting the fries, the number of times they were totally inedible as someone went a bit crazy with the shaker.

I was relieved that the delivery seems to check bagged items better than the drive thru as there was always stuff missing which was frustrating. Sometimes you just end up with crappy workers and on a different shift quality is ok, but their whole selling point is having standardised food & experience.