I've only really had one bad experience at a McDs and that was Wichita, KS. I spend a lot of time in the thirds world so I've encountered plenty of people who can't read or write (some of whom somehow managed to be multilingual) but this was first time I'd ever encountered an English speaking person who couldn't string words together in a conversation (might as well have been grunts). I ended up pointing.

In Canada/YYC, the McD's have all been renovated with the new McCafe standard inside. The Drive thru window now has two spots for taking orders where there only used to 1. Drivers now have to choose between left side or right side, each decision one hopes the car infront will have its act together and not ask millions and millions of questions about the menu choices. In one unlucky strike I got stuck behind a car that took 3 times longer than standard. :mad:

If you think the service at McDs is bad, check out Taco Bell. Yeesh!

Just remember what Leo Getz says.

Mike

I live in Northern New England, but I'm not from here. Let me just say, the average fast food worker's attitude is incredible up here by comparison. I occasionally grab a coffee and egg mcmuffin at the drive thru before work and the two McD's along my route are both great - employees seem genuinely happy. Of course, it's a two way street and you're less likely to be treated like .... by the general public in Maine than, say, Philly where I grew up or DC where I spent the last 6 years.

I go out of my way to visit every McDonalds I come across--even so far as having a Google Map pinned board [drive thrus don't count]. I'm not a McD food fanatic but it suits my professional travel pace and personal wallet and one thing is generally reliable: the menu, globally [save for soda refills]. I have noted some consistences in service: older workers tend to make fewer mistakes but move slower; younger troops tend to move fast but also socialize with coworkers more often; managers generally yell for orders back to front; cleanliness is inconsistent [poor Ray K--see QSCV] as is 'free' wifi; bathrooms are generally clean although not always free; Asians 'all business' and in the West more chatty; airport locations are cash cows and get my orders wrong most often; It's nice to have regional variation in food and I actually anticipate some of that in customer service as well [despite McD having a Western approach]. I am far less forgiving domestically about variations and have no qualm talking to a manager about weak product or service delivery: although many people say to them "I eat here [or at McD] all the time" and they probably think I'm giving them a line but I take comfort in me being correct...sometime I emphasize the number of times I've visited in the past month :) As long as there is large turnover, there will be inconsistencies due to learning curves; not sure about mentorship versus training for the hourly workers. I'm not sure how choosy McD is [or can 'afford to be'] for minimum wage, entry-level jobs but they could learn a bit from a much smaller peer: In-n-Out has spectacular service and are 99.5% in all aspects of operations from store to store.

I should be a Secret Shopper.

In-N-Out pays a lot more than McDs.

Your post reminds me of an article that appeared in the WSJ in 1999. (You may need a subscription to view it.)

Like Fine Wine, a 'Collector' Visits McDonald's for Subtle Differences.

"These kinds of things make collecting exciting," Mr. Holden says as he orders a lunch of two Quarter Pounders with cheese -- no onions -- and a large Coke.

Collecting seems an odd way to characterize Mr. Holden's quixotic pursuit, but that's what he calls his quest to eat at as many different McDonald's restaurants as possible. "I'm not an oddball or weirdo," he declares, munching on his first Quarter Pounder. "I'm a collector of the McDonald's dining experience."

This store -- opened two months earlier and brought to his attention by a radio ad -- makes it 10,893 since he began counting, all of them in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. That's roughly 80% of the company's 13,800 North American restaurants, though he says the percentage is actually higher because he ate at 1,000 or so before he started recording his visits.

Are you Peter Holden? :)

In any event, the McDonald's near my place of employment is good for a cup of coffee, since they offer it for a price ($1 + tax) that's much cheaper than anywhere else nearby. The problem is they insist on "pre-pouring" it into the cups to stay ahead of the rush. The coffee sits out and can get tepid. Trying to return it becomes a headache -- they often act like they are doing me the favor of a lifetime to replace it. I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not worth the time and hassle to deal with them anymore.

Not quite Mad but happy...
 

I wish I'd kept better track. I can visualize most of them I've been to in the past 5-7 years--meaning if in the same city I could renavigate with my internal GPS--but beyond that the locations and visits are fuzzy. Now visits are purposeful as well, versus incidental or happenstance previously and I expressly look for them wherever I go, even if just for a drop in soda/ice cream: I don't count drive-thrus :cool:

What we've noticed lately is that, regardless of whether it's a Micky D's, BK or Wendy's - lines are shorter & fewer crowds waiting = sales down, and one obvious reasons being that, prices are kind of crazy high (and, tha't speaking of airport/airside locations, which are known to charge a premium on top of their ripoff prices & NOT selling $1 coffee in all sizes) ... Heck, unless there are no choices - why would anyone spend $7 or $8 for a combo meal at these places.

The only time that we would look for a McD and/or similar fast food joint is when we are driving thru towns & places on the freeway/interstate highways - and planning for a restroom stop. Nowadays, some of the gas stations at rest areas and off the exit ramps offer equally clean & usable restrooms while the tank is getting filled, and some have 99 cents hotdog specials .... extra bonus points if they offer them with low sodium .

While standing at the cashier's counter, a quick glance behind their station at the work/assembly area and sometimes the kitchen floor nearby will tell a great deal on how much they valued their customers by earning for repeat businesses ....

Speaking of which, how often do you see a McD employee properly cleaning & wiping down the tables & chairs in between .... :rolleyes:

I order my Big Macs with no pickle so they have to make it fresh , but I am sure sometimes they just open the box and pull off the pickles :(

Not sure how that will help with your coffee , maybe bring your own cup ?

I too fall into this category. I do not get out of line at a drive thrus. I am polite about it but I don't go to the drive thru so that I can park. On the most recent occasion, at McDonald's, I simply told the window person that if the wait was so long that I would just take a refund and be on my way. My order appeared less than 15 seconds later.

I'll be the contrarian, but IMHO, McDonalds remains one of the better of the fast food franchises in this regard. But of course, it is most likely also a function of the unemployment rate in the area of the individual franchise, and the attitude of the individual franchise owner.

A couple of the McDonalds stores near me make it a point to hire developmentally challenged workers - and invariably these folks go the extra mile to provide quality service, with a smile while they are doing so.

McDonald's adding 3 new Quarter Pounders to menu
 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdona...160308861.html

What struck me was later in the article:
I generally go to McDonald's when I'm in a huge hurry, need to eat in the car, and want something cheap. However, as I'm trying to really focus on healthy eating, I've found there's nothing there that meets my criteria. A salad is very difficult to eat in the car, and isn't cheap. If they tossed a few healthier options on their dollar menu, I'd consider it. I'd really appreciate it if I could get the egg white mcmuffin all day.

I "eat" McDonalds"food" maybe 5 times a year.

I am not about to pay 5 dollars for a McDonalds burger.