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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bloody McDonald's

226 replies

lilyrabbit2 · 01/08/2024 11:04

I absolutely realise that this a first world problem and I'm sure some witty MNer will be along shortly to tell me I'm unreasonable for even eating McDonald's but regardless...

We don't have it often but do enjoy the breakfasts so took the dc today after we'd been swimming. Dd was desperate for a nap at this point so went through the drive thru thinking we'd be quick. But no we got 'can you park in a bay please' and waited 20 minutes before I had to go in and remind them we were waiting. The order was sat in a bag going cold waiting for someone to bring it out.

This happens all the time. 90% of the times we go we end up having to park up and either wait ages or go in to find we've been forgotten. The staff are busy and it seems they prioritise just eat/uber eats orders rather than the customers who are actually there.

No point complaining because a massive corporation like McDonald's won't give a shit but would it be unreasonable next time to just say sorry I can't park in a bay, we're in a rush I'll just wait here in the drive thru? It would probably hurry it up and anyway why should they take more orders before fulfilling the ones already waiting?

Again, I know it's a first world problem but it irritates the life out of me!!

OP posts:
Tagyoureit · 01/08/2024 13:32

I quite enjoy a freshly cooked McDonald's occasionally but I refuse to get a delivery or drive thru as its always crap!

But everywhere is becoming the same, online orders seem to take priority and it's pants!

BeachRide · 01/08/2024 13:32

Depending where you live, there'll probably be another one not too far away. Worth a further drive?

XjustagirlX · 01/08/2024 13:34

samarrange · 01/08/2024 13:25

Isn't the McChicken breadcrumbed? Or do they use corn flakes or some other gluten-free coating?

@samarrange omg yes i didn’t think. I’d have to settle for a Big Mac.

ExtraOnions · 01/08/2024 13:37

I worked at McDs late 80s, early 90s .. where we had targets around how long customers were waiting, were properly staffed, and had food ready to go.

It’s horrible now .. untidy, dirty, if you look at the front counters that are a mess, they can’t cope with walk-in, drive thru, and Delivery (need to bite the bullet and go with one service only).

we used to get Secret Shoppers all the time, spot-checks on wait times, and cleanliness.

Now it’s a grim experience .. people will (are are) go elsewhere.

Butterflyfern · 01/08/2024 13:39

Well Macdonald's sales are down, so hopefully they'll recognise why (and change) soon! They're blaming CoL and boycots because of the war in public, but I'd hope there's some savvier employees internally. They're not going to want to piss off Just Eat etc in a public forum

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c728313zkrjo

Butterflyfern · 01/08/2024 13:40

Well Macdonald's sales are down, so hopefully they'll recognise why (and change) soon! They're blaming CoL and boycots because of the war in public, but I'd hope there's some savvier employees internally. They're not going to want to piss off Just Eat etc in a public forum

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c728313zkrjo

Iwasafool · 01/08/2024 13:43

I got so sick of this I won't do the drive thru now. I park, go in and get my food and come back out. The thing that annoyed me most was being asked to go and park when there were no spaces in the car park.

YouJustDoYou · 01/08/2024 13:45

I find it's dependent on the maccyDs. One of our local ones almost ALWAYS miss off items. We expect it - so check through the bag before accepting it

Champere · 01/08/2024 13:45

I’ve said for ages they need dark kitchens for all the online orders

Our local one used to be quite nice - very clean, lovely staff that gave out balloons and a big soft play. Nothing wrong with a Maccers in moderation.

It’s awful now - no parking as it’s full of mopeds and big queues of delivery riders inside.

MUCHtodoAboutSomething · 01/08/2024 13:50

Op I'm with you. I can understand when they're busy, or if it is a humongous order. We went, and there was barely anybody the shop, nobody else in the drive thru. . We were surprised at being told to wait in a bay. We only wanted 2 x mini mcflurrys for the kids, had paid on the app! It was a hot day, and a girl came walking out with two half melted icecreams. I don't understand it! Why??

spp92 · 01/08/2024 13:51

I tried this last time I was in the drive through, I said I’d come to the drive through because I was in a hurry and could I please wait for it. After a bit of back and forth I ended up having to park up and waited about 15 minutes with a very grumpy child, eventually had to go in and collect it. It’s frustrating having a drive through that isn’t actually functional as a drive through.

PerfectTravelTote · 01/08/2024 13:53

"No point complaining because a massive corporation like McDonald's won't give a shit"

McDonalds is a franchise. The owner of that particular branch might be a small operator so they might care more than you'd think. It probably is worth making a complaint.

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:54

The staff are busy and it seems they prioritise just eat/uber eats orders rather than the customers who are actually there.

They don’t. I know everyone thinks that but it just isn’t true.

If they don’t have two seperate teams (one instore, one delivery) then the orders are prepared and given out in the order they come in.

Even if they wanted to prioritise delivery they wouldn’t, because it would be a PITA trying to sift through the other orders to do those first.

gamerchick · 01/08/2024 13:54

Do it.

They're franchises anyway, you could probably complain to the management at that one with a promise to escalate it further if they don't knock it off.

I used to love going there. I don't know what changed but it's tasteless and sits like a rock in my guts. It's a pity because it used to be perfect when you were just too tired to cook.

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:55

PerfectTravelTote · 01/08/2024 13:53

"No point complaining because a massive corporation like McDonald's won't give a shit"

McDonalds is a franchise. The owner of that particular branch might be a small operator so they might care more than you'd think. It probably is worth making a complaint.

Yup, and McDonald’s, even as a large company, cares A LOT about customer perception. Complaints are always taken seriously.

letsjustdothis · 01/08/2024 13:55

Just order on the app just before you arrive and then park up and nip in and get it, takes 2 mins.

TinyYellow · 01/08/2024 13:55

I think it’s fine to wait at the window. You’re not holiding anyone else up, you are just talking your turn.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 01/08/2024 13:56

I've never had a positive experience at the drive-thru, we always just go inside and order.

MUCHtodoAboutSomething · 01/08/2024 13:56

I would rather have a zinger salad from KFC, their new fries are much nicer too, with the seasoning.

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:57

MUCHtodoAboutSomething · 01/08/2024 13:56

I would rather have a zinger salad from KFC, their new fries are much nicer too, with the seasoning.

I can guarantee you their cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired though.

Tittyfilarious · 01/08/2024 13:57

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:54

The staff are busy and it seems they prioritise just eat/uber eats orders rather than the customers who are actually there.

They don’t. I know everyone thinks that but it just isn’t true.

If they don’t have two seperate teams (one instore, one delivery) then the orders are prepared and given out in the order they come in.

Even if they wanted to prioritise delivery they wouldn’t, because it would be a PITA trying to sift through the other orders to do those first.

I'm my DS MacDonald they must prioritize the online orders when really busy in that the cooked food fills the online orders first so the team doing the online orders will get the food to pack first then it's all the other orders . If he's just cooked 6 burgers and they have them 1 doing online and team 2 drive through and customers in store , team 1 need 4 burgers , they take 4 then it's team 2 take the last 2 even if they need 6 . That's the way his works others may be different

MUCHtodoAboutSomething · 01/08/2024 13:58

Oh and are they stock piling the syrups, and sauces, lattes never have it on, minimal on mcflurries.

GreenIvyy · 01/08/2024 13:58

And with my local, after waiting in a bay, you get all the way home to see theyve forgotten to put one of the burgers in ffs. Que crying child 🤪

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:58

TinyYellow · 01/08/2024 13:55

I think it’s fine to wait at the window. You’re not holiding anyone else up, you are just talking your turn.

You are holding people up. You can’t just wait at the window if it’s going to be more than a couple of mins and there’s a queue behind you.

If you refused to move, your order would be cancelled and you would need to leave.

MoobyMoo · 01/08/2024 13:59

GreenIvyy · 01/08/2024 13:58

And with my local, after waiting in a bay, you get all the way home to see theyve forgotten to put one of the burgers in ffs. Que crying child 🤪

Why wouldn’t you check?