Consolidated "McDonald's" thread
Nov 21, 2011 | 11:51 am
#393
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I can think of a few McDonalds which really only get business as they are convenient rest stops based on their bathrooms. The ones in Himalchal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh come to mind. The one in the Getreidegasse has been there for decades, and while it may be a destination for Americans, I know locals who will use it as a pit stop only.
It's a chilly weekend in central Europe, and the local mall where I am this week was crowded. On the upper level (cannot call it a food court), every eatery had people seated and waiting, from Lebanese to sushi to Indian to German seafood. Only the McDonalds had one or two customers at a time. Outside in the pedestrian zone there was not a single customer at the McCafe window, while the local coffee houses were full.
The McDonalds at MUC doesn't seem to do a roaring business, and I doubt that the other eateries are that concerned about losing business to them. I often have to wait a very long time at the local Turkish fast food at MUC, and that for instance hasn't changed since McDonalds took over from Burger King.
Nov 21, 2011 | 10:32 pm
#394
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That may be true in North America but I don't think that it holds true around the globe.
I can think of a few McDonalds which really only get business as they are convenient rest stops based on their bathrooms. The ones in Himalchal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh come to mind. The one in the Getreidegasse has been there for decades, and while it may be a destination for Americans, I know locals who will use it as a pit stop only.
It's a chilly weekend in central Europe, and the local mall where I am this week was crowded. On the upper level (cannot call it a food court), every eatery had people seated and waiting, from Lebanese to sushi to Indian to German seafood. Only the McDonalds had one or two customers at a time. Outside in the pedestrian zone there was not a single customer at the McCafe window, while the local coffee houses were full.
The McDonalds at MUC doesn't seem to do a roaring business, and I doubt that the other eateries are that concerned about losing business to them. I often have to wait a very long time at the local Turkish fast food at MUC, and that for instance hasn't changed since McDonalds took over from Burger King.
I can think of a few McDonalds which really only get business as they are convenient rest stops based on their bathrooms. The ones in Himalchal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh come to mind. The one in the Getreidegasse has been there for decades, and while it may be a destination for Americans, I know locals who will use it as a pit stop only.
It's a chilly weekend in central Europe, and the local mall where I am this week was crowded. On the upper level (cannot call it a food court), every eatery had people seated and waiting, from Lebanese to sushi to Indian to German seafood. Only the McDonalds had one or two customers at a time. Outside in the pedestrian zone there was not a single customer at the McCafe window, while the local coffee houses were full.
The McDonalds at MUC doesn't seem to do a roaring business, and I doubt that the other eateries are that concerned about losing business to them. I often have to wait a very long time at the local Turkish fast food at MUC, and that for instance hasn't changed since McDonalds took over from Burger King.
Nov 21, 2011 | 10:59 pm
#395
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In-N-Out Burger is a best fast-food. IT is numbered#1 in the finest world. I like go to eat at In-N-Out Burger. It's so delicious!
Nov 22, 2011 | 11:15 am
#396
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You do realize a Double Double is 670 calories with 41 grams of fat, right?
Nov 22, 2011 | 7:51 pm
#397
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I actually like the Meal salads and juices at McDonalds.. actually pretty healthy meal to have on the go.
Apr 13, 2013 | 12:47 am
#398
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McDonald's exec says "service is broken" (at McDonald's)
Read all about it
In related news, bears still tend to relieve themselves in the woods...
Seriously, though, the conditions for employees are probably stressful and the pay of course very low, and complaints about treatment always grate the most, even if they started as a complaint about something else.
Drive-thrus can be a disaster, though I'm always amazed how many people will sit in a 6 or 7-car line and inevitably get stuck behind someone with a large and/or varied order (the kind that really gum things up) rather than park and walk inside.
But even if you do go inside, you're still subject to my biggest pet peeve: They don't count the time it takes to get your order taken. They only count from when the order is taken to when it's delivered, and employees tend to punch it out as complete well before it's delivered. But by not measuring the initial wait, they just ensure the problem gets shifted there.
McCafe tends to slow things down if it takes from the same resources as the rest of the operation, as it usually does. The classic fast-food mistake is to try to have too big a menu, to where inevitably someone will order something that's not ready to go and either jam the drive-thru or be sent to the pullover area (if there is one).
Some problems are obviously inadequate training, and if they get behind on the fries, it pulls the whole operation down.
I give McD's credit at least for trying harder than most. They're much better overseas on consistency of quality than the competition, and years ago they finally bit the bullet and redesigned the kitchens to try to make the food fresher (the post-redesign ones have people pulling patties out of small drawers).
In this case, though, I think the most basic problem is that they need people who'll work both hard and smart, and those that would aren't gonna go for the wages (a part I doubt they'd even consider changing). So we'll probably get this same discussion in 10 or 20 years from now.
The company told franchisees during a webcast last month that 20 percent of complaints were related to workers’ attitudes, “and it’s increasing,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Gripes about “rude or unprofessional employees” topped the list, and complaints that it took too long to get food increased “significantly,” over the last six months.
Seriously, though, the conditions for employees are probably stressful and the pay of course very low, and complaints about treatment always grate the most, even if they started as a complaint about something else.
Drive-thrus can be a disaster, though I'm always amazed how many people will sit in a 6 or 7-car line and inevitably get stuck behind someone with a large and/or varied order (the kind that really gum things up) rather than park and walk inside.
But even if you do go inside, you're still subject to my biggest pet peeve: They don't count the time it takes to get your order taken. They only count from when the order is taken to when it's delivered, and employees tend to punch it out as complete well before it's delivered. But by not measuring the initial wait, they just ensure the problem gets shifted there.
McCafe tends to slow things down if it takes from the same resources as the rest of the operation, as it usually does. The classic fast-food mistake is to try to have too big a menu, to where inevitably someone will order something that's not ready to go and either jam the drive-thru or be sent to the pullover area (if there is one).
Some problems are obviously inadequate training, and if they get behind on the fries, it pulls the whole operation down.
I give McD's credit at least for trying harder than most. They're much better overseas on consistency of quality than the competition, and years ago they finally bit the bullet and redesigned the kitchens to try to make the food fresher (the post-redesign ones have people pulling patties out of small drawers).
In this case, though, I think the most basic problem is that they need people who'll work both hard and smart, and those that would aren't gonna go for the wages (a part I doubt they'd even consider changing). So we'll probably get this same discussion in 10 or 20 years from now.
Apr 13, 2013 | 3:58 am
#399
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Went to McD yesterday for breakfast. Handed the cashier my BOGO coupon, gave her my order, paid her and waited 7 minutes for my (predictably mediocre) food. Easiest buck I ever spent. I'll visit again in 6-7 months.
Apr 13, 2013 | 6:02 am
#400
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My two problems with this type of fast food
1. Language, English is seldom spoken or understood
2. Drivethru - waits - not so much that there are five cars in front of me, I knew that when I pulled in, but when you have one problem child (car), make that car pull up in a waiting zone and have one of your staff bring it out when its ready and then process the rest, it would move the line much faster. If the line moves faster, less complaints
1. Language, English is seldom spoken or understood
2. Drivethru - waits - not so much that there are five cars in front of me, I knew that when I pulled in, but when you have one problem child (car), make that car pull up in a waiting zone and have one of your staff bring it out when its ready and then process the rest, it would move the line much faster. If the line moves faster, less complaints
Apr 13, 2013 | 7:22 am
#401
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not just mcdonalds
part of why there is bad service is that it is tolerated
i think many complaints are more about complaining for the sake of complaining (and sometimes trying to act superior) especially anonymous complaints on the internet, than actually having real service standards (obviously not talking about the majority of flyertalk)
i disagree with washington post food critic that people are caring more about service
(foodies may not even care if food tastes good)
part of why there is bad service is that it is tolerated
i think many complaints are more about complaining for the sake of complaining (and sometimes trying to act superior) especially anonymous complaints on the internet, than actually having real service standards (obviously not talking about the majority of flyertalk)
i disagree with washington post food critic that people are caring more about service
(foodies may not even care if food tastes good)
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 13, 2013 at 7:59 am
Apr 13, 2013 | 7:36 am
#402
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My two problems with this type of fast food
1. Language, English is seldom spoken or understood
2. Drivethru - waits - not so much that there are five cars in front of me, I knew that when I pulled in, but when you have one problem child (car), make that car pull up in a waiting zone and have one of your staff bring it out when its ready and then process the rest, it would move the line much faster. If the line moves faster, less complaints
1. Language, English is seldom spoken or understood
2. Drivethru - waits - not so much that there are five cars in front of me, I knew that when I pulled in, but when you have one problem child (car), make that car pull up in a waiting zone and have one of your staff bring it out when its ready and then process the rest, it would move the line much faster. If the line moves faster, less complaints
Apr 13, 2013 | 9:46 am
#403
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moving to Dining Buzz forum,
Willie
co mod OMNI forums
Willie
co mod OMNI forums
Apr 13, 2013 | 9:56 am
#404
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Obvioiusly not talking about the McD's in Japan, where the service is excellent. Worst McD's I ever went to was in IST, where the front staff actively ignored you.