Ladies and Gentlemen,I would like to share my experiences of McD's with you.
If you think the way that I used to, McDonald's (McD'S) used to underline the
meaning of US, no, family values. The day when you could go to McD's with your family for fun and good, for fast food. An American institution.... the best Coke on fountain, the best fries, fast service. The day when the "Hamburgler" was a bad guy in a happy land.
What's my point? Have you been to McD's lately? Impressed with a my size meal? Wasn't an extra value meal good enough? How about the return to 1955? How about the return to good food? How about the return to talking to a person? Don't forget to super-size that!
Here's my past three experiences.
#1 Went a McD's in Illinois. Pulled up to the speaker, "Wekkhfuhuh may I ihhjvsuhush you?" What? I replied. May I help you? Give me a number three, super-size, with a Coke. No reply. Pulled up to the window, no smile, not even a total. I said how much? She replied, "What I said." So, I paid whatever for that meal and pulled to the next window. May I help you? I looke at her and she said again, "May I help you?" "Oh." she said. Handed me my meal and that was that. No thank you or please come back! On top of that, three miles down the road I had some complete different meal/order.
#2 Next time. Indiana. Burgers were so cold. When I worked at McD's we made the burgers within the hour. If they were left too long, we threw them away. Today, they micro-wave them. Plastic!!! They don't even taste like beef! So sad!
#3 Most memorable. Fenton, Missouri. Only McD's without a drive through. First, waited five minutes for a number two (used to be, two cheeseburgers large fries and a large Coke). As I was waiting for my food, the manager said to one employee: "_____, You need to have those dishes done by 1130". The reply was, at the top of her lungs, in the most adverse way: "I will! Don't you worry about it!" However good my burgers were going to be, they were now the worst I've ever had! I chose to leave with my order. As I was walking out of the McD's, an elderly lady fell in the parking lot due to pot holes near the walk up door. I asked her if she needed help as I looked inside the store to see if anyone
else would help. I saw the counter. Everyone was laughing at her. How sad!
What's the big deal? Put all your focus on lowering the price of your food
when the world is sick of the way your food tastes and sink all of you money
into child related ads when you are losing business to the rest of the populace
due to horrible service. Take back some of you money you have wasted on
Michael Jordan commercials and sink it into employee/customer awareness
programs.
Isn't funny that all of your drop dead, fad reductions have not helped you
the least? What's Burger King doing better? Better food with better service; regardless the price.
McDonald's. Once the leader in innovation and service, giving the way to pressure and profit principles. Once the leader in good food, fast. Over their heads in commercials and gimmik toys; lost the foundation of the mountain that they once were the king of.
Tomorrow I will visit BK (Burger King) and I will have a Whopper with cheese
value meal, go large with a cherry Coke. It will take less than three minutes
and i will see a happy face and get great food.... my way! All for less than four dollars!
For all of those that chose to read my catharsis, please respond! If you read Covey, you will understand that the basic principles of business and the loss of reality can effect even to the everyday Joe, can change an institution of America. Common beliefs, integrity, quality and values gone because there will always be a customer. Will that customer choose the golden arches and Michael Jordan or a happy meal toy over good food fast, my way at a reasonable price? Wake up McD's. The crown is going to go to the King!
