This morning, I decided to get out with the kids. We had a fun time, then stopped by McDonald’s on the way home to grab some breakfast. I do not, nor have I ever posted about a negative experience on my blog before, but this morning really irked me.
- They were out of McGriddle’s at 10am. What the? TEN AM. Yes. OUT. How can you be out? I didn’t think this was possible. So this put a damper on my ordering process so I ordered the kids a sausage biscuit (per Tucker’s request) and a meal with pancakes.
- We get over to our table. Where are the pancakes? Yeah we were charged for them.
- I walked over to the counter where a lady was standing behind the counter wiping a tray dry. I stood there. I stood there. She looked at me. I stood there. I stood there some more. A man was at the counter doing the same thing.. Standing there. Everyone was too busy in the back to give a care about the register, let alone customers.
- The lady looked at me some more. Did I mention that she was just staring? Maybe she didn’t have the ability to speak, who knows. I let her know that we were missing the pancakes. She told me (yes, she had the speaking ability) “Oh, well someone will be up soon.” Soon? How about 5 minutes ago; was my thought.
- Finally, another lady (that was too busy in the back telling jokes or whatever) came up, greeted the man that was waiting beside me, then asked what I needed. “Sorry, but I don’t have my pancakes”. She rolled her eyes and went to get them…. 3 minutes later. The first tongue-tied lady could have walked over and gotten someone’s attention. I think drying a tray can wait.
- The kids and I sat down, ate our meal then went to the bathroom to get ‘un-stickied’ from the syrup.
- We went out to the parking lot, I had just picked up Kambry so she wouldn’t walk on the ice and fall, but I fell, busted on my ass, landed on my left knee, ripped the knee of my pants, but Kambry was ok. I was in pain. The man that had waited next to me in line helped us up. I managed to get up and get the kids buckled in their car seats when a kid came outside asked if I just fell. Uh. Yeah – like 2 minutes ago, where were you? So this employee saw me fall, 2 minutes earlier, then came out to help after we were already up. Asked if I wanted to file a claim. Not once did he ask if we were ok. I was furious, for the lack of a not-so-nice word. My reply to the kid was “You really should consider salting or cleaning your parking lot.” What if it weren’t me that fell? What if it was an elderly lady and she broke her hip?
We are home and ok. My knee is black and sore, but it will be ok. Kambry is not hurt. Thank goodness for mama’s cushion.
I am furious at the lack of customer service in this location of McDonald’s, as well as the lack of concern for us just falling. Yes. We are ok. No I didn’t file a claim, even though I probably should have, but to be frank - the thought of going back IN that McDonald’s location was the last thing on my mind. I could care less if I ever went in this location again. Sucks when one location puts a damper on any future visits.
About Tanya
You poor thing, I hope by now you are feeling better, and have reported the poor service you received to the employees’ supervisors.
Poor customer service is my worst pet peeve… As someone who taught it in a retail food chain, I know how people should be treated and how I WANT to be treated, and the way you were treated sure AIN’T it!!
Hope you find a better McDonalds in your area.
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I would complain for sure . It seems more these days then ever before no one wants to help. I had a bad experience this weekend with a sick kitten I found wonderng around and tried tohelp it . It took me hours to find someone to help her. My local shelter woudl nto take her for fear she would die and for fear that I was her owner trying to get rid of her. The kiten and I bounded and I named her Christmas. Sadly she had to be ptu down by the vet who finally woudl help me.
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I’m so sorry, and I know exactly what you’re talking about!
A few years ago, I was walking into a Target holding my then 1 year old daughter. I tripped on a small pothole, fell on my side trying to block my daughter from the concrete. Not one person came to me and asked if I was ok! I sat there for a minute trying to collect myself, in that minute 3 Target employees walked right past me! My daughter was crying, I was on the ground, you think someone would say “Are you ok?” or “Need some help”, NOPE!
I think nowadays, everyones afraid to get in the middle of things like this, and it’s sad! I’m one to always help someone if it’s needed, or at least ask, but I guess trying to do good doesn’t always pay!
I hope you’re knee gets better soon, and I’m glad you are your daughter are ok : )
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Customer Service sure seems to be a thing of the past, and I do not like it! Uncaring people, that is for sure. I am assuming it will be sometime before you visit McDonald’s again. I can honestly say that McDonald’s and I have a perfect hate/love relationship!
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Hope your knee feels better quickly! McDonald’s sucks alot of the time!
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The squeaky wheel gets the grease, Tanya. Even if you don’t wish to file a claim (you really should) let the powers that be at McD’s headquarters know about it. You’ll see all those employees change their attitudes right quick – remember rolls downhill. If a higher-up gets hollered out, you can bet his subordinates will, as well.
Feel better!
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I agree! Write that store manager and also corporate headquarters about your lousy customer service experience. That has the biggest impact on getting things fixed! Glad you weren’t hurt worse!!
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I would definitely write to corporate. I wrote to corporate after I sat in the drive thru line for 30 minutes. Would have left but they already had my money.
In fact, take a picture of your knee (and pants for that matter) and then send it in the letter to corporate. I’m sure you can get an email off of the McD’s website.
I hope your knee feels better soon.
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Hi Tanya,
Write letters all the way up the chain of command. Better yet, skip the chain and seriously go straight for the CEO of McDonald’s. Most people think it won’t do any good however I think the CEO’s should get letters. After 2 years of disputing a $3,000 issue with our life insurance company my husband wrote, emailed and faxed the CEO. Within a week we received a check for the full amount. Rare I know but if I were the head of a big company I would want to know what was going on.
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You should consider writing a letter to that store manager or district manager encouraging them to train their employees on commensense and customer service. Jobs don’t get much lower than fast food in my opinion and I’ve worked for Taco Bell in my youth. Not everyone brings a healthy dose of commensense to the workplace and they could use some training.
Its all about customer service!
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I have worked crappy jobs when younger but I NEVER treated people that way. It just seems this is how people are now and so many JUST DON’T CARE! I honestly am SHOCKED when I get good service or kind people helping me these days and go “What the heck?!”
I am glad you are kind of okay-could be better! And glad your little one is alright. It is so hard taking little ones out places. Why don’t people know that and help people, especially mothers with young ones. I remember being very pregnant and holding my child at a deli counter in the grocery store and grown men cutting in front of me and ordering-no manners, at all!
I would call and make a complaint. They need to know how their workers are treating customers and that they are lazy. I just hate when workers ignore you or are down right rude as these clearly were. They need to concentrate on doing their job.
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I have always had terrible experiences inside McDonalds. There was one time, when my daughter was 1, that we went to McD’s and ordered soup. (Back when they served it!) It wasn’t ready when the rest of my order was, so we sat down and they were to bring it over. When they did, the server dropped the soup ON MY DAUGHTER. Thank goodness it wasn’t too hot, she just cried because it was wet but was physically OK but they didn’t ask me if she was OK. They just said it’s not their fault that things may have been in the way of them correctly serving. I was so angry.
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Sounds like you have one rough day at Micky D’s! I haven’t stepped foot in a McDonald’s since I was a kid, and now that I have my son, I decided to check it out. I was turned off as well by the service, attitudes, lack of customer service, cleanliness…I could go on. Don’t get me wrong-I’m always very friendly to any restaurant or retail position. I’m sure it is extremely stressful dealing with jerky customers from time to time, but on the other hand, that is the job of these individuals. Being friendly and assisting customers is in the job description.
I’m sorry about your fall! I’m so glad no one was seriously injured, and that your daughter is ok as well. Hope your weekend goes better than today!
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I have had even worse experiences at the Mcdonalds here in ames… ask Jenna… The last time I was in there was about a month ago and the women working the cash register told me she didnt know how to punch in the right buttons to take the tomatoes off, she then proceeded to ask me if there was something different I would like? WTH! Why would I order something else just cause u cant work the register. She then proceeded to ask me again even louder… “sir would you like something different since I cant get the register to work?” My response was this… “**** off, take the order and stick it!” and i then left and went to Subway. Its one thing for McDonalds to support high school students here in Ames but honestly if you cant get the ones who know what there doing, then dont have any of them at all. And that was just one experience there. They go back since I moved to Ames over two years ago. McDonalds maybe a major franchise but there customer service is horrible and it needs to be fully re-innovated. I saw forget McDonalds… eat Arby’s!
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More and more I am seeing companies getting worse.
I would definitely get your knee checked out and any injuries take to McDonalds. They are ridiculous.
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My husband used to manage a McDonald’s, and that kind of behavior horrifies me. I would find out what franchise owns that particular one, and contact the franchise owner directly. Trust me, they love to know when their employees are slacking off and being rude to customers. There are thousands of people out there who would give a leg to have a job right now, and those who won’t do their job right need to be taken care of. Major hugs for your ouchy knee, and I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. It’s called customer service for a reason.
Joanna
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Thank goodness both you and your child are ok. I hope your knee is nothing more than bruised.
It’s unfortunate that you had to have such a horrible experience. Unfortunately it seems pretty hopeless now a days because I know here in Miami, Fl that is the type of service I experience on a daily basis. There is no excuse for it and it’s just disgusting.
First of all it was early in the morning so it’s not as if they finished working an exhausting shift. A previous reply stated that they were probably tired after working countless hours but you said it was 10 in the morning. Regardless of how many hours they worked, there is no excuse for mistreating customers. I think it’s so rude that they ignored you and instead of apologizing for not including your pancakes, they rolled their eyes at you. I don’t think you are expecting to be treated like a queen but rather like a paying customer.
Like I said, that is the normal treatment here in MIA so I’ve tried to learn not to let it bother me anymore. Only problem is when I go to work I make sure to treat people kindly and with respect. If only we could all have the customer service from back in the 60′s!
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I’m glad that your knee is okay, although I’m sorry to hear it’s sore.
It is completely ridiculous for the people to behave in such manner. They should take their jobs more seriously.
As for the things that Anthony said — if they don’t like their jobs, they shouldn’t work there. I know that times are hard and jobs are few, but that’s just another reason why people should value what jobs they have and do their jobs correctly!
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i would definitely be making a few phone calls. that is completely unacceptable.
i am glad you and kam are ok. hope your knee heals.
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I hope your knee is okay, they should have been icing the outside. Concerning complaints #1-6, you must realize this is a McDonald’s, not a five-star restaurant. You’re at a fast food restaurant and hoping for these minimum wage workers to treat you like a queen?
Instead of getting mad about that stuff, it’s a good idea to look at these workers and relate with them. Have you ever worked a job that you feel didn’t give you the respect you deserved? Did you ever get stressed out after working countless hours and feeling like your not getting anything back from it? That’s what these McDonald’s workers are probably feeling.
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Tanya Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
@Anthony, Anthony, Thank you for your concern. I agree that the parking lot needed to be tended to better. I am thankful it was my knee and not an elderly person that was hurt.
Concerning the service, I was not asking to be treated like a queen, as I do not consider myself this way. It is common courtesy, common sense. The employees were not working, they were joking, farting around while two customers were waiting for service.
I have worked in retail and in food service. I am aware how to treat people, as well as customers.
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