I'd Never Complained To Mccorporate Before...

[BG45]

I just had such a lovely time at the McDonalds here, by Wal-Mart, that I actually complained to McCorporate for the first time ever. I always go to the ones by the school, because this one always screws up. I'm actually pretty sensitive to how things are, given I worked at a McDonalds for four years during my undergraduate years; I always try to be polite, know what I want at the drive thru, and be understanding if things take a while (because people call off like nobody's business). This time however, it was just blatant that the employees were totally at fault. If I had delivered the sort of service I recieved this morning, I would have been fired.

The McDonalds site has an enforced (and insanely low) character limit, so I could have been far more verbose. Instead, I had to bare bones describe the events. Feel free to read what I sent them, I tried not to be unnecessarily harsh, but rather establish my credentials as an "expert" so to speak, point out breaches in corporate mandated rules, and health concerns.[indent]
[quote]
I worked at McDonalds for 4 years while working on my Bachelors degree and was somewhat saddened to leave it when I went on for my Masters. It was one of the best working environments I have ever had the pleasure of being involved in. That said, my 4 years as a McDonalds employee has left me with a good sense of when people are doing their jobs despite call offs, however, this visit was one of those where I could tell the employees just didn't care.

My time of arrival is approximate, because unthinking, I threw away my receipt along with the contaminated food. But more on that later.

I pulled in around 9:45 to this location and was behind one car. Somewhat strangely, there is no place to order before you reach a window, so everyone goes to the first window. The employee leaned out and gossiped for five minutes as the line grew; then she took their order so this didn't drive up the official drive thru times. She was not wearing a name tag as best as I could tell.

She did not seem happy I had interrupted her conversation by being in line. I ordered my 2 sausage muffins (no egg) and a sweet tea; there was no suggestive selling involved. When I pulled forward, I got my food.

I bit into a sausage muffin and it tasted strange. This was because there was a torn piece of the folded egg product on it. Since the sausage muffin and folded egg should never meet, I assume cross contamination by grill employees is common.

*Not giving my phone; e-mail if you have further questions.[/quote]

[homeschoolmom]

Would you like a hash brown with that today?

Yeah, I worked at McDonalds for three years in HS, and I've noticed they are *way* more lax in their training and appearance requirements than when I worked there. I really enjoyed working there, but I would never want to work there now.

[BG45]

HSM haha, made me laugh. I think usually I get "would you like a new McCafe blah blah blah" with that now. Which is different than when I worked there too!

I agree on lax standards. I realize I worked there after you did, but I still had to shave daily under corporate policies for food safety reasons. Some of the employees I could see through the Drive Thru window definitely weren't. And ditto, I would never work there again if I could help it...even though it really was my best job I've ever had outside of graduate assistantships.

[dUSt]

The only time I complained to McDonalds is when they put mayonnaise on my Big Mac instead of secret sauce. Not a big deal until they refused to give me a proper Big Mac in exchange.

The absolute worst experience I had was at Subway. After standing in line and ordering subs for myself and two kids, I asked for the yogurt with the kids meals instead of the apples or cookies. They said that was not an option. I pointed to the sign behind them, and also the sign on the door which was promoting the kids meals--clearly with yogurt as an option. They said the sign was wrong. I told them to charge me the difference. They said that if I wanted the kids meal I'd have to buy the yogurt separately. People were waiting behind me. It was one of the only times I actually got upset over something so minor--but the obtuseness of the employees in that situation was mind boggling to me. I left the three subs on the counter and walked out.

[Papist]

A friend and I ordered 2 large pizzas to-go. When we picked them up it was 1 large and 1 small. We told them we ordered 2 large. They apologized and went to make our second large pizza. 20 minutes later they came out with 2 large pizza to-go boxes. My friend opened both boxes and 1 box had the small pizza in it.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Papist

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1325696293' post='2362803']
A friend and I ordered 2 large pizzas to-go. When we picked them up it was 1 large and 1 small. We told them we ordered 2 large. They apologized and went to make our second large pizza. 20 minutes later they came out with 2 large pizza to-go boxes. My friend opened both boxes and 1 box had the small pizza in it.
[/quote]

The answer is the box on the left!
Oh, it's not a riddle is it?

[Papist]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1325698463' post='2362820']
The answer is the box on the left!
Oh, it's not a riddle is it?
[/quote]

No. If it was, my friend and I were not amused. It made me late for the Duke/UNC basketball party. [img]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-angry019.gif[/img]

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1325694298' post='2362780']
The only time I complained to McDonalds is when they put mayonnaise on my Big Mac instead of secret sauce. Not a big deal until they refused to give me a proper Big Mac in exchange.

The absolute worst experience I had was at Subway. After standing in line and ordering subs for myself and two kids, I asked for the yogurt with the kids meals instead of the apples or cookies. They said that was not an option. I pointed to the sign behind them, and also the sign on the door which was promoting the kids meals--clearly with yogurt as an option. They said the sign was wrong. I told them to charge me the difference. They said that if I wanted the kids meal I'd have to buy the yogurt separately. People were waiting behind me. It was one of the only times I actually got upset over something so minor--but the obtuseness of the employees in that situation was mind boggling to me. I left the three subs on the counter and walked out.
[/quote]

Poor. employee. training.

That should just not happen.

My dd is going to be looking for a job come spring. And as much as she would love.love.love a job at our small, family-run Catholic book store, I can't imagine she will be able to work there. She will probably get a job in a fast-food place, and I would really like it if she were trained properly with a good work ethic like I was.

PS to BG45: I notice that they often suggestive sell more drinks when I have already ordered a drink (like a cafe whatever with a sweet tea). What the heck? Don't they listen to themselves? And I still fold paper bags the way I was taught at McD's-- one inch down and then one inch down again, logo facing out towards the customer. Now they just fold it over and had it out. Very sloppy.

[Basilisa Marie]

I usually don't go to McDonald's anymore because I haven't seen one in the last five years that seemed to train their employees properly.

I work at a Panera Bread to make grocery and textbook money when I'm at school. Their training was excellent.

[OnlySunshine]

I'm still considering a report to McD's about last night. I was so hungry from being at my CRHP meeting all evening that I stopped at the closest one on the way home. I ordered the 2 Cheeseburger meal with a Coke. The first one was good, but when I got halfway through the second one, there was some sort of unknown brown substance on the hamburger. It almost looked like they had not cleaned the grill in a while. I tore that part off (since it was only in one corner) and ate the rest, not wanting to waste -- and because I was still hungry. Still, that was rather disgusting to see. I still have the receipt since I used my check card.

ETA: I just reported the incident on the corporate website.

Edited January 4, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae

[cmaD2006]

Well I had a bad experience yesterday at a D'Angelo's. I was driving home, and stopped at the same rest area that I've stopped at for the last 5 years (when I travel the northeast).

Every time, I get one (or in this case two) #9 medium poket with green peppers (not sweet peppers).

The girl at the counter said "sorry, we can't do that, it's all together."

I said "can you double check?"

She said "no I can't. I've worked here for six months, I know what I'm talking about." I said "so, you mean to tell me you no longer have green peppers for the pizzas." To which she answered "no" -- and I don't buy it. I brought the same sandwich from a different location in November.

So, after arguing a bit I said "forget it" and cancelled the $15 order. I immediately went to the D'Angelo's website and reported a complaint. I'm hoping to hear back -- and I can't wait until it dings the manager. It was really a rude response from her. No customer service.

BTW I do think that the manager heard the conversation but did not step in to rectify the situation. Geez. Green peppers. Is it that difficult?

Grrrr. And they do make the best cheesesteaks. But -- alas, I won't go there again.

[i<3LSOP]

Ummm, I like taco bell. They're always nice there.

The only time we have had a problem was when we where going to Hot Dog Charlies and we heard the young kid at the check out counter talking to another kid who was ordering... they were swearing and were holding up the line. My mum gritted her teeth and when she saw the manager told her that the boys had been swearing and holding up the line. The manager said that she would make sure it wouldn't happen again.

[she_who_is_not]

Sometimes, when I'm having a bad day, I go to Chik-fil-A because I know that they will be nice to me. I've been hysterically crying in my car and then I'll have a nice conversation with the guy at the window--they always chat---and left smiling. Most the time I'm not even hungry. I'll get a cup of coffee and a slice of pie and then put the pie in the refrigerator at work. I love Chik-Fil-A.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='she_who_is_not' timestamp='1325780238' post='2363310']
Sometimes, when I'm having a bad day, I go to Chik-fil-A because I know that they will be nice to me. I've been hysterically crying in my car and then I'll have a nice conversation with the guy at the window--they always chat---and left smiling. Most the time I'm not even hungry. I'll get a cup of coffee and a slice of pie and then put the pie in the refrigerator at work. I love Chik-Fil-A.
[/quote]

Aw.

[BG45]

[quote name='dUSt' timestamp='1325694298' post='2362780']
The only time I complained to McDonalds is when they put mayonnaise on my Big Mac instead of secret sauce. Not a big deal until they refused to give me a proper Big Mac in exchange.

The absolute worst experience I had was at Subway. After standing in line and ordering subs for myself and two kids, I asked for the yogurt with the kids meals instead of the apples or cookies. They said that was not an option. I pointed to the sign behind them, and also the sign on the door which was promoting the kids meals--clearly with yogurt as an option. They said the sign was wrong. I told them to charge me the difference. They said that if I wanted the kids meal I'd have to buy the yogurt separately. People were waiting behind me. It was one of the only times I actually got upset over something so minor--but the obtuseness of the employees in that situation was mind boggling to me. I left the three subs on the counter and walked out.
[/quote]


Seriously? I used to put other stuff on a Big Mac all the time! Though i think I would have done the same at Subway, once people start saying the sign is wrong, I tend to either leave or make a big scene. I did that at K-Mart while I was home. Tag on a DVD said $5, it was in the $5 bin also. The tag's bar code number matched the bar code number on the DVD case. It was ringing up as more. "I don't care that it's ringing up at the wrong price, I worked here and I know you have to price modify to match the correct price if there's a tag saying it's the lower price and that's still out."
[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1325696293' post='2362803']
A friend and I ordered 2 large pizzas to-go. When we picked them up it was 1 large and 1 small. We told them we ordered 2 large. They apologized and went to make our second large pizza. 20 minutes later they came out with 2 large pizza to-go boxes. My friend opened both boxes and 1 box had the small pizza in it.
[/quote]


Please tell me you complained...you deserved to since they were ripping you off monetarily...and because they made you late to watch the game. We had the same thing happen while I was home and my friends and I had Kings, a local pizzeria deliver. So we called back and demanded the right sized pizza. We got it, but they took four hours to deliver it and didn't even apologize.
[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1325709945' post='2362932']
Poor. employee. training.

That should just not happen.

My dd is going to be looking for a job come spring. And as much as she would love.love.love a job at our small, family-run Catholic book store, I can't imagine she will be able to work there. She will probably get a job in a fast-food place, and I would really like it if she were trained properly with a good work ethic like I was.

PS to BG45: I notice that they often suggestive sell more drinks when I have already ordered a drink (like a cafe whatever with a sweet tea). What the heck? Don't they listen to themselves? And I still fold paper bags the way I was taught at McD's-- one inch down and then one inch down again, logo facing out towards the customer. Now they just fold it over and had it out. Very sloppy.
[/quote]


I tried to get a job at the local Bible bookstore when I was starting out in the workforce and was eventually blessed to get the McJob ( I say blessed, because it took me over 100 applications just to get that). The entire time I was in the store after filling out the application, the little old ladies that worked there watched me like a hawk. One of them also taught at the elementary school and told my mother the next day about the shifty looking fat kid who was trying to shoplift after filling out a fake employment application.

And I fold bags the same way, because I was taught that way in training. I'll take your example and give one of my own. I went inside semi-recently (a rarity) and the girl was having trouble finding a button on the touch screen of the register. I asked her if she could fold the screen so I could see it. She turned it around some and I punched in my own order. I never worked register a day in my four years at McDonalds, I was hand-out and grill area. I still made sure while there that I had the training though. I never made it past Crew member, but one summer they had me training the new managers on midnight shift.
[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1325711331' post='2362944']
I usually don't go to McDonald's anymore because I haven't seen one in the last five years that seemed to train their employees properly.

I work at a Panera Bread to make grocery and textbook money when I'm at school. Their training was excellent.
[/quote]


Love Panera bread!!
[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1325714038' post='2362960']
I'm still considering a report to McD's about last night. I was so hungry from being at my CRHP meeting all evening that I stopped at the closest one on the way home. I ordered the 2 Cheeseburger meal with a Coke. The first one was good, but when I got halfway through the second one, there was some sort of unknown brown substance on the hamburger. It almost looked like they had not cleaned the grill in a while. I tore that part off (since it was only in one corner) and ate the rest, not wanting to waste -- and because I was still hungry. Still, that was rather disgusting to see. I still have the receipt since I used my check card.

ETA: I just reported the incident on the corporate website.
[/quote]


Glad you did. And yes, the brown stuff was grease from the grill not being scraped properly. it builds up rather quickly, and technically they're supposed to scrape it and squeegee it into the grease traps on the edge of the grill between every time they do six quarter pounder patties or eight regular meat patties. Also in theory, they're using acid to fully clean the grill on a nightly basis; though the cheaper way to do it is to just use carbonated water on the hot grill surface. Not that I ever cheated while working there...not that I ever managed to cook 24 patties at once in a space for eight and still have them cook all the way through either...really. :halo:

[quote name='i<3LSOP' timestamp='1325778196' post='2363291']
Ummm, I like taco bell. They're always nice there.

The only time we have had a problem was when we where going to Hot Dog Charlies and we heard the young kid at the check out counter talking to another kid who was ordering... they were swearing and were holding up the line. My mum gritted her teeth and when she saw the manager told her that the boys had been swearing and holding up the line. The manager said that she would make sure it wouldn't happen again.
[/quote]

Good of the manager!!

SWIN, that's nice of them. Our people aren't that nice at Chik-Fil-A at the college, but they are at home. One of the guys in mom's worship band is a regional sales director or something for them; which as far as I can tell it means that he does anything from cooking chicken to dressing up as the cow to booking the cow for fairs.