Well, That's It - McDonalds is Done

[Perd Hapley]

Diverse groups of people like to eat together.  Especially when it's a quick stop to grab a bite to eat while out.  I'm sure my vegetarian friend would prefer to eat elsewhere, but when she's the lone non-carnivore, she's willing to make do with just fries and a drink.

Chris

McDonalds has salads now, so who cares about fries?

Don't want something on your burger? Take it off yourself.

I'm more than willing to do that when it comes to something like a tomato slice - easily removed. Ketchup (or melted cheese) is bit messier, and you can't get all of it.

Besides, wouldn't any fast food joint that refuses special orders lose business to those that will?

[Ben]

I'm more than willing to do that when it comes to something like a tomato slice - easily removed. Ketchup (or melted cheese) is bit messier, and you can't get all of it.

Besides, wouldn't any fast food joint that refuses special orders lose business to those that will?

Eh, likely. You special orderers just bug me at the drive-thru part of McDs. I get along with you fine at the "make it after you order it" places.  

[41magsnub]

The ones that kill me are a family with a bunch of kids that let each kid customize their burger.  Little Jimmy wants onions but no pickles.  Susie gets pickles but no onions.  Johnny doesn't like ketchup.  And so on.  Takes forever to order.

[Perd Hapley]

2a.  I think many fast food places would do better by letting you top your own burgers like Fudruckers..

I would imagine those things get pretty septic, especially half-way through a lunch rush. Besides, it would be at least twice as bad as jockeying for your preferred nozzle at the self-serve soda fountain.

We had a couple of quick-service burger places around here that have tried them. One place gave up on the concept, and I'm not sure about the other one.

Since McDonalds, et al, already have ketchup and mustard packets, they could perhaps just let people add those themselves.

[KD5NRH]

I'm more than willing to do that when it comes to something like a tomato slice - easily removed. Ketchup (or melted cheese) is bit messier, and you can't get all of it.

Same with their finely chopped demon testicles onions.

Of course, it wouldn't be an issue if there weren't so many people idiotically convinced that the skunk of the root world is edible.

[charby]

The ones that kill me are a family with a bunch of kids that let each kid customize their burger.  Little Jimmy wants onions but no pickles.  Susie gets pickles but no onions.  Johnny doesn't like ketchup.  And so on.  Takes forever to order.

My parents never allowed that, either you take as it comes off the menu or you go without. Probably a good thing because I like food pretty much as it comes when dining out. Wife on the other hand... I did ask my mother in law if she swatted my wife much as a child last year on Mother's Day, she said not enough.

[Hawkmoon]

2.  On order accuracy, I think most people would do better if they just freaking ordered burgers all the way or plain.  Everyone wants to subtract this or that and add the other.  The assembly line, minimum wage workers have trouble keeping up?  Go figure.

No, I'm talking about basic, straight-off-the-menu items. Like the time I ordered two grilled honey-mustard snack wraps (when they were still a menu item) and found when I reached my table that they had miraculously morphed into two crispy ranch snack wraps.

[lupinus]

1.  McDonald's fries really aren't that great.  I think it is your imagination and comparing them to fries that suck like Burger King.  They are just like most fast food places.  They are great when hot out of the fryer, but suck when they are cold.  IMO, Popeye's fries are pretty good.  So are some others, when hot.  Most of us, if honest, could find a dozen local burger joints within 100 miles that are better. 

2.  On order accuracy, I think most people would do better if they just freaking ordered burgers all the way or plain.  Everyone wants to subtract this or that and add the other.  The assembly line, minimum wage workers have trouble keeping up?  Go figure.    They take too long?  Wonder why?  It gets much worse when they start having 57 different value meals with 389 different topping combinations each.  This is fast food.  Stop expecting it to be a 4 star restaurant. 

2a.  I think many fast food places would do better by letting you top your own burgers like Fudruckers, or putting the toppings on the side like the old McDLT.  Having to build your own wouldn't be fast food I guess. 

3.  I agree on the service issue.  Even when minimum wage was much lower, it was a problem.

On point to, often it's just that that they are morons. I got a chicken sammich at McDonalds. I didn't ask for anything special. When I got home and pulled it out....there was no chicken on the chicken sammich. When you can't be bothered to put the chicken on the chicken sammich you aren't confused, you're a worthless moron.

[Perd Hapley]

The ones that kill me are a family with a bunch of kids that let each kid customize their burger.  Little Jimmy wants onions but no pickles.  Susie gets pickles but no onions.  Johnny doesn't like ketchup.  And so on.  Takes forever to order.

I also see this at potluck-type events, with small children. Mom or Dad has to ask Jimmy and Susie exactly what they want, and it's often a struggle just to keep the kids' attention. I don't remember whether or not they did this sort of thing when I was little. I suspect not. I think they just loaded our plates with whatever they thought we should eat, until we got old enough to navigate the buffet on our own.

But I could be wrong.

[MillCreek]

^^^My kids grew up with me quoting this from Caddyshack at restaurants and such like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f6l1QljpMo

[41magsnub]

The very worst I ever saw was what was probably the new girl working at a daycare.  10 or so ~4 year olds at a subway each ordering their own sandwich during the lunch hour.  I saw what was going on, turned around and went somewhere else.  Epic chaos.

[RocketMan]

McDonalds showed up in my neighborhood around 1959 or 60.  Fries were a dime and a burger was 15 cents.

I remember those prices.  Going to McDonalds on 122nd Ave. in Portland was a night out for our family back then.  My siblings and I thought it was something special.

[Perd Hapley]

I remember those prices.  Going to McDonalds on 122nd Ave. in Portland was a night out for our family back then.  My siblings and I thought it was something special.

It was a good night, when Dad would take us through the McD's drive-through for ice cream cones. I remember when the price went up from 15 cents to 17.

[Hawkmoon]

McDonalds showed up in my neighborhood around 1959 or 60.  Fries were a dime and a burger was 15 cents.

I remember those prices.  Going to McDonalds on 122nd Ave. in Portland was a night out for our family back then.  My siblings and I thought it was something special.

McDonald's radio ad slogan when I was in high school was "Forty-five cents for a three-course meal? Sounds to me like that's a steal.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAT McDonald's."

The "three-course meal" was a burger, fries, and small shake.

[Brad Johnson]

My sister lets her herd (all ten of them) not only order as they wish, she aids and abets the chaos by by going through the "Would like? Well, what about?" routine with... each... and... every.... child..... and...... food....... option. Mealtime with them makes you understand what being on the Titanic probably felt like.

Brad

[Ben]

I remember those prices.  Going to McDonalds on 122nd Ave. in Portland was a night out for our family back then.  My siblings and I thought it was something special.

I think the furthest back I can remember is the 25 cent hamburger. I'm sure I had some at the cheaper prices when I was a wee lad and we went through the drive-thru on the weekly "family Sunday drive". The other popular place during the days of the Sunday drive was the Foster's Freeze for ice cream cones.

[Boomhauer]

My sister lets her herd (all ten of them) not only order as they wish, she aids and abets the chaos by by going through the "Would like? Well, what about?" routine with... each... and... every.... child..... and...... food....... option. Mealtime with them makes you understand what being on the Titanic probably felt like.

Brad

Oh hell *expletive deleted*ing no...

[dogmush]

My sister lets her herd (all ten of them) not only order as they wish, she aids and abets the chaos by by going through the "Would like? Well, what about?" routine with... each... and... every.... child..... and...... food....... option. Mealtime with them makes you understand what being on the Titanic probably felt like.

Brad

I fear being behind that would damage my calm.

[Brad Johnson]

I fear being behind that would damage my calm.

Yes. Yes it does.

Brad

[charby]

I think the furthest back I can remember is the 25 cent hamburger. I'm sure I had some at the cheaper prices when I was a wee lad and we went through the drive-thru on the weekly "family Sunday drive". The other popular place during the days of the Sunday drive was the Foster's Freeze for ice cream cones.

Cheapest regular prices I remember is .45 hamburgers and .55 cheeseburgers. I recall $1.20 Big Macs.

[just Warren]

My sister lets her herd (all ten of them) not only order as they wish, she aids and abets the chaos by by going through the "Would like? Well, what about?" routine with... each... and... every.... child..... and...... food....... option. Mealtime with them makes you understand what being on the Titanic probably felt like.

Brad

When did this start happening? As a kid in that situation I don't remember being given much of a choice. Hamburger or cheeseburger was about it. In a sit down restaurant I was allowed to peruse the kid menu but if I didn't choose quickly the decision was made for me.

With my own kids they had to tell us what they wanted before we went into the fast food place. That way we could put the order in while they had a seat. Fortunately for one of them it was chicken nuggets or strips every time so that was easy. And, surprise, we still do it this way even though they are both capable of doing it themselves. We find it still saves time and hassle.

For drive-thrus we sorted it out before we got into the lane. And only the driver spoke during the order giving. No shouting from the back seat, no adding on. The only exception was if the orderer forgot something.

[MikeB]

Obvious question is why would a vegan go to MD in the first place?

FWIW McD's is popular in India, obviously not supposed to have beef on the menu though. I ate in one in India. The fries were like here in the US. The veggie burger actually wasn't terrible. Had a decent texture and flavor though it obviously wasn't a beef patty.

On the other hand one of the best steaks I ever had was in India, but it involved a lot of whispering when they offered it to me at the 5 star restaurant in a hotel catering to westerners.

[jim in anchorage]

FWIW McD's is popular in India, obviously not supposed to have beef on the menu though. I ate in one in India. The fries were like here in the US. The veggie burger actually wasn't terrible. Had a decent texture and flavor though it obviously wasn't a beef patty.

On the other hand one of the best steaks I ever had was in India, but it involved a lot of whispering when they offered it to me at the 5 star restaurant in a hotel catering to westerners.

You do realize the cow that steak was cut from was somebody's relative right?

[MikeB]

You do realize the cow that steak was cut from was somebody's relative right?

That isn't really what Hindus believe ...

[RoadKingLarry]

McDonalds showed up in my neighborhood around 1959 or 60.  Fries were a dime and a burger was 15 cents.

I remember the commercials where you could fries, a burger and a drink and get change back for a dollar.