For years I've heard reports of people calling 911 on a number of fast food restaurants when less than appropriate service was given. Offenses ranging from breakfast no longer being available to Mickey D's running out of McNuggets. All these years, upon hearing of these incidents, I was left scratching my head, bewildered by the stupidity and naivety of people's use of the emergency number. Earlier tonight, I finally came to understand the frustration these people must have experienced.
It's been, at least, a couple of months since my last visit through the drive-thru at McDonald's. Although buying fast food is hardly within my budget, I've been doing well in not wasting cash, lately and didn't feel like slaving over a hot stove and grill for sustenance tonight. I was craving apple pie and decided, on the fly, to step into the nearby McDonald's to grab a quick meal deal and some apple pie.
I was shocked when I entered the restaurant, as they've all but done away with counter staff, replacing all with giant video screens, ushering patrons to point and click on what food purchases they crave. I quickly went to my usual meal, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese and was shocked to learn the price had skyrocketed. I'd been through the drive-thru a couple of months ago and the cost of the burger meal was a shade over the six dollar mark, but today the screen shone $9.85 back in my face. That's nearly a four dollar rise. I figured this was a mistake and went to the one and only counter person left in the establishment.
She was of a, shall we say, landed immigrant persuasion. There's nothing wrong with that, but English was not her native tongue and had no idea what my concern was. Confused, she ushered the shift supervisor over to assist me. Sadly, his English was equally as poor. I'm thinking that McDonald's had placed the video purchase kiosks in, specifically so people didn't have to battle the substantial language barrier with their kitchen staff. I explained my concern that it was impossible that the price of a quarter pounder would jump nearly four dollars in less than two months, but through his broken English, I was able to learn that not only had the price of all the food at McDonald's had risen, but it had done so, several times over that two month time period. I was shocked.
I was flabbergasted, vocalizing my disdain. I pointed out that I could get a burger across the street, at Wendy's for less money and it would cost less. He blankly stared at me, incapable of comprehending what I'd just said. "So you want the quarter pound burger, sir?"
"No thanks!" I said, adding that the price was a rip-off to their customers. "All I really wanted was apple pie. Do you know if Wendy's across the street has apple pie?"
"I don't know what they sell there, sir. Do you still want the quarter pound burger?"
"No, I don't want the burger. That price is bullsh.... It's complete bull." I said. "I want to swear, right now, it's so wrong! Why did the price go up so drastically? It's obvious you don't need the money for counter staff."
He parted his lips to reveal a crooked smile and answered, "No sir. It's to adjust for the exchange rate."
"Exchange rate? But Canadian McDonald's get all their meat and supplies from Canadian suppliers."
It's been, at least, a couple of months since my last visit through the drive-thru at McDonald's. Although buying fast food is hardly within my budget, I've been doing well in not wasting cash, lately and didn't feel like slaving over a hot stove and grill for sustenance tonight. I was craving apple pie and decided, on the fly, to step into the nearby McDonald's to grab a quick meal deal and some apple pie.
I was shocked when I entered the restaurant, as they've all but done away with counter staff, replacing all with giant video screens, ushering patrons to point and click on what food purchases they crave. I quickly went to my usual meal, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese and was shocked to learn the price had skyrocketed. I'd been through the drive-thru a couple of months ago and the cost of the burger meal was a shade over the six dollar mark, but today the screen shone $9.85 back in my face. That's nearly a four dollar rise. I figured this was a mistake and went to the one and only counter person left in the establishment.
She was of a, shall we say, landed immigrant persuasion. There's nothing wrong with that, but English was not her native tongue and had no idea what my concern was. Confused, she ushered the shift supervisor over to assist me. Sadly, his English was equally as poor. I'm thinking that McDonald's had placed the video purchase kiosks in, specifically so people didn't have to battle the substantial language barrier with their kitchen staff. I explained my concern that it was impossible that the price of a quarter pounder would jump nearly four dollars in less than two months, but through his broken English, I was able to learn that not only had the price of all the food at McDonald's had risen, but it had done so, several times over that two month time period. I was shocked.
I was flabbergasted, vocalizing my disdain. I pointed out that I could get a burger across the street, at Wendy's for less money and it would cost less. He blankly stared at me, incapable of comprehending what I'd just said. "So you want the quarter pound burger, sir?"
"No thanks!" I said, adding that the price was a rip-off to their customers. "All I really wanted was apple pie. Do you know if Wendy's across the street has apple pie?"
"I don't know what they sell there, sir. Do you still want the quarter pound burger?"
"No, I don't want the burger. That price is bullsh.... It's complete bull." I said. "I want to swear, right now, it's so wrong! Why did the price go up so drastically? It's obvious you don't need the money for counter staff."
He parted his lips to reveal a crooked smile and answered, "No sir. It's to adjust for the exchange rate."
"Exchange rate? But Canadian McDonald's get all their meat and supplies from Canadian suppliers."
He continued to smile at me, "Do you want the apple pie?" I asked how much and found that aside from the $1 drinks, the apple pie was the only other reasonably priced item on the menu. $1.65 for two, albeit tiny, apple pies.
I paid for my fruity pastries and drove across the street to the Wendy's. There were two police cruisers parked in the lot and I was tempted to report the robbery that McDonald's was committing on their loyal patrons, but didn't go through with the farce as I'm not a f*cking lunatic, but I did come to understand the frustration those people must have experienced in their unfortunate dealings with those fast food restaurants.
The burger wasn't any cheaper from Wendy's, but it tasted a helluva lot better than McDonald's ever could on their best day. At least I got a Vanilla Rootbeer from Wendy's which was worth the extra couple of bucks, in the long run.
A very long time ago, I had decided to boycott McDonald's. My goal was to not step foot inside or eat any of their food for a ten year stretch, and if my nephew hadn't been born, I would've made it to that goal, but unfortunately, in his youth, he wanted to go to McDonald's and my goal fell short by. literally, about six months. After that, I continued my visits, as the prices were reasonable, though the food was shit. Today, the food is STILL shit, but the prices are even shittier. I feel another boycott coming. Maybe this time I'll shoot for twenty years!
I paid for my fruity pastries and drove across the street to the Wendy's. There were two police cruisers parked in the lot and I was tempted to report the robbery that McDonald's was committing on their loyal patrons, but didn't go through with the farce as I'm not a f*cking lunatic, but I did come to understand the frustration those people must have experienced in their unfortunate dealings with those fast food restaurants.
The burger wasn't any cheaper from Wendy's, but it tasted a helluva lot better than McDonald's ever could on their best day. At least I got a Vanilla Rootbeer from Wendy's which was worth the extra couple of bucks, in the long run.
A very long time ago, I had decided to boycott McDonald's. My goal was to not step foot inside or eat any of their food for a ten year stretch, and if my nephew hadn't been born, I would've made it to that goal, but unfortunately, in his youth, he wanted to go to McDonald's and my goal fell short by. literally, about six months. After that, I continued my visits, as the prices were reasonable, though the food was shit. Today, the food is STILL shit, but the prices are even shittier. I feel another boycott coming. Maybe this time I'll shoot for twenty years!
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