# McDonald's has just lost a Big Mac fan once and for all. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420 "2003-10-09T03:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TheJackOfHearts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheJackOfHearts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheJackOfHearts)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/61 "2003-10-10T01:22:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*[IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097733/quotes) \*\* Along those lines… I work in a pretty remote place with only one place within five miles to eat at: McDonald’s (well, and a Hardee’s across the street, but that doesn’t count). So yesterday I drove down the road to McDonald’s and order a Big Mac. I’ve long ago gotten in the habit of checking my order at the drive through before I leave, so I was sure I had a Big Mac. Which I did. Sort of. I got back to my job and started eating. Something was sort of different about this burger, but I couldn’t figure out what. It didn’t taste _that_ different, it just sort of _feelt_ weird. After about three bites I stoped to take a look at it. I had been served a Big Mac, alright. A Big Mac with no meat. No meat at all. I thought about taking it back, but that would be too much extra effort, and besides my lunch break was almost over. So I just ate the bread and lettuce. That’s where I discovered the really bad part. Apparently, they put so much special sauce and lettuce on these things, or the meat is actually so tasteless to begin with, that I couldn’t tell that there wasn’t any meat on it until after I looked at it. Needless to say, it’s Hardee’s for me from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/62 "2003-10-10T07:40:06Z")
I haven’t eaten McDonalds in over 2 years (since I quit), and I’m not missing a thing. Actually, I lied-I had a caramel sundae a few months back, because it was late and they were open, and I was starving. But the food? Eww. You couldn’t pay me to eat that crap… Wendy’s is much, much better…(especially the one I work at, you should come visit 😜 ) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/63 "2003-10-10T07:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Haj wrote_ > In the cool light of the morning, you are going to regret that decision. What you should have done was swear to never go to _that_ McDonald’s again. Now it’s too late and you’ve sworn your oath. I feel for you, my brother. Be strong. Meh. I never liked McDonald’s, and I’ve been to one exactly one time since I became a vegetarian (about 2 1/2 years ago). Not exactly a hard thing to do. I absolutely loved Burger King, on the other hand. I’ve been back there, but that’s just because people from my dorm insist upon going every few weeks or so. **Doors** doesn’t seem like a guy who has trouble sticking to his decisions. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/64 "2003-10-10T07:54:57Z")
I’m no fan of McDonalds at all but used to go regularly when I had young kids - particularly on the highway. Whenever I got crappy service, probably 4 or 5 times, I made it a point to let the manager know. Most stores in Australia are franchises run by someone trying to earn a living and I think it’s only fair that I let him know how his staff are treating me. Every time I complained I received profuse apologies and offers of free food next time. I think if you don’t say something you just allow the problem to remain. The place where I bought my current car has a woman who introduced herself to me as their “quality manager”. She told me that if I had any dealings with the company that left me dissatisfied I should call her because “talking to your friends won’t fix your problem.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/65 "2003-10-10T08:01:15Z")
The other thing that seems wrong about **Airman** ’s reponse is that the worker goes unpunished while **Airman** forfeits his beloved Big Mac but he has done nothing wrong. Make the guilty pay not the innocent burger consumer. ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/66 "2003-10-10T14:26:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*Recipe? You mean it’s not just equal parts ketchup and mayo? \*\* Nah, I’m guessing some Bleu Cheese, some spices, and (???) there’s a flavor there that I can’t quite put my finger on. It really _is_ mind blowing stuff (as far as fry sauce goes). It’s pretty much the only reason I go to A&W. And I go a LOT. I’ve actually considered sending a sample to [this guy](http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/) just to see if he could figure it out (and if you havn’t ever been to Top Secret [Recipes.com](http://Recipes.com) you should really check out that link, he’s got everything from Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ Sauce to Soup Nazi recipes there). Well…I guess I know where I’m having lunch today. Thanks for reminding me. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/67 "2003-10-10T19:47:10Z")
\ Evil out-of-staters, taunting us with the charms of the Chains That We Do Not Have Here! Just got back an hour ago from the [Blue 9 Burger](http://aolsvc.weekender.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?vid=200894) in the East Village. Yum. This review says it’s the closest thing to an In n’ Out in New York. It’s best not to look too closely at the open kitchen, but I haven’t keeled over yet. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/68 "2003-10-10T20:13:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*Yes, my standards are absurdly high. McDonald’s failed to meet my standards. \*\* I’m like you. My standards for classical music are absurdly high, and Yanni has failed to meet my standards. And my standards for comedy are absurdly high, and Carrot Top has failed to meet my standards. And my standards for gourmet pastries are absurdly high, and Ho Hos have failed to meet my standards. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/69 "2003-10-10T21:35:33Z")
It’s a known fact that Big Mac’s “special sauce” has as a primary ingredient snot that wino’s sell to snot banks to support their drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/70 "2003-10-11T11:10:52Z")
The only place I’ve decided never to go to again for lack of service is Appleby’s Been to three of them, had bad service at all three. I think they specifically train their waiters to be stupid. With my luck, the next poster will be an Appleby’s waiter. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/71 "2003-10-11T15:18:36Z")
I refuse to go to my local Taco Hell because the workers are consistently slow and rude. I refuse to frequent the local KFC after hubby stood in line for 45 minutes on Labor Day to get chicken. He would normally have left after 2 minutes of waiting but he stuck it out that day because the manager kept complaining loudly that he was understaffed (he had exactly one worker who was busting his ass doing 95% of the work) and WHY COULDN’T EVERYONE JUST SEE that they were very busy AND LEAVE? So they got our business that day because my husband’s German/Irish temper interfered with good judgment but they won’t see it again. So I understand Airman’s pain, but I do understand several things: a) The quality of service varies wildly depending on the location and the manager; b) Unless you write a letter of complaint, McD’s will never understand why you have left and attempt to take corrective measures (Believe me, corporate America takes letters VERY seriously). and c) the reason the garrulous boy from da hood has the job is because the job market is so tight for entry level positions. Used to be teenagers wanted to work. Now they work if they can fit it in between soccer and hanging out at the mall spending mom and dad’s money. So we end up being served by workers who would have been fired 20 years ago. I haven’t had a Big Mac in a long time. Now I’m craving 2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/72 "2003-10-11T16:51:13Z")
**Airman Doors, USAF** , you were an asshole. Yeah, I’ll be the first to say it. Look at it like this. There isn’t a person constantly looking out the window to see if your ass is at the speaker. Somewhere close to the menu, is a sensor in the drive-thru that triggers when you car hit’s the right spot, that alerts them that there is a customer. Maybe this sensor wasn’t operational? This employee that you talked shit to may have not known that you were there. So you honked your horn, this doesn’t guarantee that they can hear you back there. Maybe instead of being an asshole you could’ve politely asked the _boyz_ if they knew you were waiting in line. And if they came back with “yes” and some obvious stupid excuse, then rip into them. But no, you simply reacted out of a stereotype that all drive-thru people are idiots and took it upon yourself, to be a billy bad ass and get to the bottom of it, right? Look, I don’t like drive-thru experiences either, but not everyone there is stupid. So please, next time, take the time to find out if there was a legitimate reason for them ignoring you, like a broken sensor that doesn’t necessarily trigger every time a car rolls over it. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/73 "2003-10-11T17:00:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*_Whoosh!_ > > I guess I should have used a smiley. 😃 \*\* So you’re saying you DO have a clue, **NoClueBly**? I personally gave up on McDonald’s years ago except for the occasional fries, and about once every two years I get one of their pretend fish sandwiches. Can’t say as I’ve missed 'em. If I want a burger, I go to Sonic. Yummm, fresh chargrilled burger with onion rings…damn, now I want one for lunch! ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/74 "2003-10-11T17:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SkyBum \* > \*\*This is kind of off-topic but I know a person who is 48 years old and has never eaten a single McDonalds item (or Wendy’s or Burger King for that matter). > > Astonishing really…that makes him one of a very small minority. \*\* not really astonishing, many people for religious reasons have never eaten fast food ever. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/75 "2003-10-11T17:25:02Z")
I know which McDonald’s Airman is talking about, because I used to eat at the same one. And, yes, they do have some personnel issues. The same franchisee operates two of them here in town, and I have yet to get anything approaching acceptable service. I’ve gone into the restaurant before, only to stand behind friends of the cashier. They stood there yakking, and the cashier never once asked her friends to step aside so she could take my order, even after I spoke up. Fortunately, there’s a Burger King up the street which is always happy to have my business. I know this because they’ve yet to screw up my order, and have my food ready when I drive up. And none of the employees has ever pissed and moaned and made some excuse up when I asked for a toddler toy for the kids’ meal. (Note: I sometimes get a kids’ meal when a regular is too much. Since I have no other use for the toy, I get the toddler toy for Aaron. I don’t usually feed my kid fast food.) Robin ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/76 "2003-10-11T17:31:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\*Yes and no to that, Lib. It’s true that the franchise owners are independent of each other, but corporate HQ, which depends on the franchisees for _its_ profit, can and should be enforcing quality standards in the franchises (undoubtedly spelled out in some detail in their contracts with their franchisees). ISTM that it’s clear they’re slacking off here, and they deserve to feel the appropriate level of pain. > > The response of the franchisees who are running a tight ship should be to demand of corporate HQ that they get their asses out into the field, and make sure that _all_ the franchisees are running things properly, because bad performance at one or two MickeyD’s will discourage customers from going to other McDonalds. It’s not like the name of the franchisee is on the sign, even if it’s on a tiny plaque inside the restaurant. \*\* My experience is pretty much like QEDs. Unless the fast food joint is doing something absolutely egregious the franchiser pretty much just leaves them alone. Maybe in Ray Kroc’s day it was different and standards of service (not just cleanliness) were more efficiently policed. These days (IMO) fast food franchise units will more or less directly reflect how well it is managed by the franchisee sans corporate oversight. I see dirty MCDs and BK etc. bathrooms, I get messed up drive through orders, cold or "awful “too long under the heat lamp” hamburgers, and quite frankly the overall perceived quality of the food itself, even if properly prepared, and even if I am hungry and in a good mood to appreciate it is very mediocre. And as QED noted these things are typically consistent over time. Some stores parctically always screw up the order. Some units have service that is as slow as molasses - _consistently_! And the thing that puzzles me about all this, is that there is tremendous employee turnover in the fast food business. You’d think that just by the luck of the draw a good manager and crew would be in place at some point in time, but these store suck _consistently_. It’s like it’s the one thing they have that is consistent. The night crew at the Taco Bell on RT 13 south in my town moves in slow motion (literally - we watched them once) and it has been this way _for years_. What also drives me insane is this “we don’t participate in that special” crap. You see a NATIONAL TV AD running for some fast food special and decide it is a good enough deal to feed a tribe of hungry kids. You pull in the drive through and eveyone is set for the deal you’ve described, and ask for the special (in line with other cars) and hear “sorry we’re not participating in that Ad” . So now… you can spend twice or more what you planned, because the kids are hungry and you’re trapped in line. “Pissed off” doesn’t being to describe the feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/77 "2003-10-11T23:45:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory \* > \*\ ***Airman Doors, USAF** , you were an asshole. > Yeah, I’ll be the first to say it. > > Look at it like this. There isn’t a person constantly looking out the window to see if your ass is at the speaker. Somewhere close to the menu, is a sensor in the drive-thru that triggers when you car hit’s the right spot, that alerts them that there is a customer. Maybe this sensor wasn’t operational? This employee that you talked shit to may have not known that you were there. So you honked your horn, this doesn’t guarantee that they can hear you back there. > > Maybe instead of being an asshole you could’ve politely asked the _boyz_ if they knew you were waiting in line. And if they came back with “yes” and some obvious stupid excuse, then rip into them. But no, you simply reacted out of a stereotype that all drive-thru people are idiots and took it upon yourself, to be a billy bad ass and get to the bottom of it, right? Look, I don’t like drive-thru experiences either, but not everyone there is stupid. So please, next time, take the time to find out if there was a legitimate reason for them ignoring you, like a broken sensor that doesn’t necessarily trigger every time a car rolls over it. \*\* It’s amazing how it worked for the guys in front of me in line, those people coincidentally being his friends who were having a nice inane conversation at the speaker and then later at the window. So, who’s the asshole again? It sure wasn’t me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/78 "2003-10-12T01:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > Unless the fast food joint is doing something absolutely egregious the franchiser pretty much just leaves them alone. Maybe in Ray Kroc’s day it was different and standards of service (not just cleanliness) were more efficiently policed. > > These days (IMO) fast food franchise units will more or less directly reflect how well it is managed by the franchisee sans corporate oversight. In which case, screw 'em for pretending to be something they’re not. If the front office isn’t policing the franchises tightly enough so that the all-but-invisible name of the franchisee doesn’t matter much, then IMHO they’re lying to us about what they are, by not allowing the sign to say, “Joe Blow’s McDonalds” rather than just “McDonalds”. Because if the key factor in quality is whether Joe Blow or Ben Dover is the franchisee, then the franchisee’s name should be out there where we can see it. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/79 "2003-10-12T02:38:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stevephillips \* > \*\*I pulled into the drive through at a McDonalds last week. The woman taking orders through the speaker quite obviously had acquired English as a second language very recently. Here’s how the conversation went: > > Me: I want a sausage McGriddle, just the sandwich not the meal, and a cup of water. > > Her: Ok. One hot chocolate. > > Me: No. Not hot chocolate. I want a sausage McGriddle, just the sandwich not the meal, and a cup of water. > > Her: Ok. Your total is $2.88. > > The sandwich alone was only $1.79 plus tax, so I knew she still had it wrong. > > I gave up and drove away and haven’t been back to it since. I don’t understand why they had her working the order speaker. She may have been a fine worker, but taking orders was not something she was capable of doing. > > Do they even serve hot chocolate at McDonalds? \*\* McDrive-through boxes are notorious for being crappy. She may not have been a native English speaker, but you don’t need to make fun of her for that… and I would have been annoyed when I heard “not the meal, just the sandwich”. It really pisses me off when people assume that I’m stupid. Maybe she got pissed off at you for saying that, so pretended to screw your order up. I wouldn’t put it past a McWorker, what with all of the crap we put up with each day. For each bad experience you have from us, there are 20 people that we would really want to punch in the face. (That’s for me, anyway, some people may have a lower tolerance for annoyance and the ratio may even out more) Yes, McDonald’s does have hot chocolate in some areas. And McDonald’s sausage is pre-cooked, the grill just warms it up (Eeep! trade secret!) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420/80 "2003-10-12T03:16:11Z")
Wow! It seems to me a couple of you are missing the point.While I do agree that the op should let the manager know why he won’t go back, every business lives and dies by their service and their product. If the sensor or speaker is broken, they should have a sign posted. It is the order takers JOB to be watching to see if a customer is coming to order. If the speaker system is crappy listen more carefully and don’t put someone who can’t understand english to take orders. Saying that someone isn’t doing thier job isn’t making fun of them. We are customers, we have the money and we decide where we spend it. We should demand a higher standard than the wrong order, wrong change with an attitude that is the norm at most of the fast food restaurants in my area. The boss at my company has the philosophy that every order is precious, this has enabled his company to be one of the leaders in the industry. Fast food places need to adopt more stringent standadrds particularly in the drive throughs. it is only by voting with our dollars that anything will change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-has-just-lost-a-big-mac-fan-once-and-for-all/206420.md?page=5)