root@trwatf.UUCP (Lord Frith) (04/10/85)
Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter
Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" Now obviously if I
had wanted it with cheese I would have ordered it that way. I have a
feeling that if I ordered a "Quarter Pounder" with cheese they would
ask me "without cheese?" Well okay, maybe they're just trying to be
helpful.
But when they finally serve up the greasy monstrosity, why is it that
%75 of the time (and I do not exagerate) they give me a "Quarter
Pounder" WITH THE F____ING CHEESE?! Why its even in the blatent yellow
coloured box! This occurs consistantly too... across different
McDonald's with different "crew members" working different shifts in
different states!
I'm begining to suspect some sort of grand conspiracy here. They
must distribute pictures of "certain" people they think it would
be fun to annoy in this way. But I've got them outsmarted this
time! This time I ask them for a "Quarter Pound Cheesburger" WITH
cheese!
--
UUCP: ...{decvax,ihnp4,allegra}!seismo!trwatf!root - Lord Frith
ARPA: trwatf!root@SEISMO
"And he made the stars, too, and the world is one of the stars"rastaman@ihdev.UUCP (Biding my time) (04/12/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" ... > Why is it that every time you're in a hurry at the drive-up window the crew-twits ring up the sale, take your money, and say, "That will be a few minutes. Please pull to the side and we'll bring it out." ? Why not say so in the first place, so you can decide if it's worth the wait? Because the slimoids in Oak Brook know that a percentage of customers will leave & they'll lose some bucks. ihnp4!ihdev!rastaman "Oh God! We're all MUTANTS!"
ed@mtxinu.UUCP (Ed Gould) (04/13/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" The people (they used to be high school kids, but with todays job market the age is going up) who work the counter at McDonalds are trained to ask that - that is, to try to sell the extra item. They won't ask if you want it without cheese if you specify cheese, both because you're being explicit and because they have no reason to. They're also trained to ask if there's anything else you want: If you didn't order anything to drink they'll ask if you want something; if you did order a drink, they'll ask about a pie. I share your annoyance at this kind of selling. I usually end my order with the phrase "and that's all" to keep them from asking. > But when they finally serve up the greasy monstrosity, why is it that > %75 of the time (and I do not exagerate) they give me a "Quarter > Pounder" WITH THE F____ING CHEESE?! Did they charge you for the cheese? If not, then I have no idea why they'd give it to you, since it does cost them (even if it's only a fraction of a penny :-)). If they consistently serve what you don't order, consistently bug the manager. Talking to the peons does essentially no good. -- Ed Gould mt Xinu, 739 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94710 USA {ucbvax,decvax}!mtxinu!ed +1 415 644 0146
weiss@gondor.UUCP (04/15/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with that?" I don't like Mickey-D's fries. I even say at the end of my order, "...and that'll be all." They still ask! Argh! Many times if I am in a pissed off (or drunken) mood I will reply (loudly), "If I wanted some goddam fries I woulda ordered some goddam fries!" They usually slink off to get my order after that. Same thing goes for grocery and convenience stores. (Mostly the latter.) When I get up to the counter with my stuff they *always* ask, "Will that be all?" Argh! In a similar mood, I will tell these people, "Well, I though I \ would wait until you rung up my purchase, I'd paid, gotten my change, and driven home, then I would get some more stuff!!" Jeez... (Ahem) Sorry, lost my mind for a minute. -- I don't practice what I preach because I am not the type of person I'm preaching to. Michael S. Weiss BITNET: weiss@psuvaxg.bitnet
jmd@rduxb.UUCP (Joseph M. Dakes, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, Pa.) (04/17/85)
> > Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > > I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with > that?" I don't like Mickey-D's fries. I even say at the end of my order, > "...and that'll be all." They still ask! Argh! Many times if I am in a > pissed off (or drunken) mood I will reply (loudly), "If I wanted some goddam > fries I woulda ordered some goddam fries!" They usually slink off to get > my order after that. > How about when McDonalds is selling Muppet, Star Wars, ET, Smurf, etc. etc. glasses. Everytime you order a coke they want to know if you want it in one of their special glasses. When they do this (I usually use the Drive-thru) I ask them if the glasses are free. Then when they tell me they're 99 cents I bargain with them and tell them 75 cents is my final offer. It keeps the Mc-employees on their toes plus the people in my car and I have a few laughs to boot. Joseph M. Dakes AT&T Bell Laboratories Reading, PA rduxb!jmd Two Mc-hamburgers, two Mc-fries, two Mc-shakes. Thank you come back Mc-soon.
lrd@drusd.UUCP (L. R. DuBroff) (04/17/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" and why, when I order 1/2 pound of whatever at the supermarket deli counter, do they ALWAYS keep slicing until they have exceeded 1/2 pound and then ask "A little over all right?" I smile nicely, and in a gentle voice reply "No."
joeloda@aicchi.UUCP (Joseph D. Loda) (04/18/85)
In article <1671@gondor.UUCP> weiss@gondor.UUCP writes: >> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter >> Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > > Same thing goes for grocery and convenience stores. (Mostly the latter.) >When I get up to the counter with my stuff they *always* ask, "Will that be >all?" Argh! In a similar mood, I will tell these people, "Well, I though I \ >would wait until you rung up my purchase, I'd paid, gotten my change, and >driven home, then I would get some more stuff!!" Jeez... > >(Ahem) Sorry, lost my mind for a minute. > >Michael S. Weiss BITNET: weiss@psuvaxg.bitnet Well, to provide a different point of view (please do not construe this to mean that I like Mc D's, their food or tactics), but ... Having worked at camera/electronics sales at a discount department store for five years (and considering myself a pretty good salesman; ie, I was the kind of salesman *I* liked to buy from - helpful, not pushy), I can relate to asking a customer whether there will be anything else. If you are buying a camera or radio as a gift, or even for yourself for immediate use, most people don't realize that the thing comes without batteries, film etc. Give a child a gift of a portable radio with no batteries. What a downer! Note that I, as well as these Mcdonalds kids are not working on commission. I never hesitated to tell a customer (in more eloquent language) that I really didn't care if they bought it or not. My meager salary was the same. Also, as I was in high school at the time, I did what I was told. When part time jobs are hard to come by, you don't want to tick off your manager. In addition to this, it is a real pisser to have the customer suddenly awaken and realize they forgot to ask for something after you just rung the whole thing up. I now take one giant leap from my soapbox. -- Joe Loda Analysts International (Chicago Branch) (312) 882-4673 ..!ihnp4!aicchi!joeloda
figmo@tymix.UUCP (Lynn Gold) (04/18/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > This practice is called "suggestive selling." Enough people have already submitted letters to this list describing how McDonald's does it, so I won't bother. I worked at a fabric store several years ago where they had us use a similar technique. About half the time, people would come in knowing what they wanted and just get that. The other half of the time the buyer would be scatterbrained and easily taken by this technique. I remember one time where a woman came in to buy a spool of thread and walked out with over $10.00 of merchandise which I doubt she's ever used to this day -- thanks to this technique, which is considered "good sales practice." --Lynn Gold ...tymix!figmo
pritch@osu-eddie.UUCP (Norman Pritchett) (04/18/85)
> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" The summer they were selling Camp Snoopy glasses I got into the habit of giving my order like this: Quarter pounder w/cheese Large Fries Diet Coke and no Camp Snoopy Glass! Its amazing that after a week they stopped asking me. -- ----------------------------------- Norm Pritchett UUCP: cbosgd!osu-eddie!pritch CSNET: pritch@ohio-state BITNET: TS0017 at OHSTVMA MA-NET: (614) 291-8775
plutchak@uwmacc.UUCP (Joel Plutchak) (04/18/85)
In article <1671@gondor.UUCP> weiss@gondor.UUCP writes: >> Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter >> Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > >I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with >that?" I don't like Mickey-D's fries. I even say at the end of my order, >"...and that'll be all." They still ask! Argh! Many times if I am in a >pissed off (or drunken) mood I will reply (loudly), "If I wanted some goddam >fries I woulda ordered some goddam fries!" They usually slink off to get >my order after that. > At one point in my life (you know-- in high school, working a menial job for extremely low pay, etc.) I worked in "service" jobs, where I had to interact with members of the general public. Such interaction was subject to the rules and regulations laid down by my employers, and if one didn't interact properly (e.g. "Would you like some fries with that?"), one could find that one no longer had a job. The most disturbing thing about working those jobs was not the low pay, long hours, strict rules, and such, but the morons that I had to interact with. When somebody gives a mere employee a hard time for doing his/her job, it may make the hassler feel better, but it does nothing else positive, least of all getting the offensive policies changed. Although I admit to being guilty of impatience and annoyance in such situations, I try to think back to the times when jerks hassled me for doing my job, and I find it helps me act more human towards them (the employees in question, not the jerks). I apologize if I've offended anybody who enjoys giving their fellow humans a hard time, but, like I said, I've been there, and didn't enjoy it.
gts@dmcnh.UUCP (Guy The Schafer) (04/18/85)
> > Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > > I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with > Michael S. Weiss BITNET: weiss@psuvaxg.bitnet The most effective action to take upon being queried about extras is to completely ignore the question and stare silently at the clerk. After about five seconds, they usually suffer complete nervous colapse and get your order trembling and sweating. It's great fun! +-------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------+ | USENET: decvax!ittvax!sii!dmcnh!gts | | DISCLAIMER: The content of this | | USMail: 14-F Hampshire Drive | | message is the sole responsibility | | Nashua, NH 03063 | | of Schafer and doesn't necessarily | | NEBell: (603) 880-2069 | | reflect the policies of Datamedia. | +-------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------+ "If I had been a Bokonist then, that statement would have made me howl." -KVJr
shp@crystal.UUCP (04/18/85)
> >I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with > >that?" I don't like Mickey-D's fries. I even say at the end of my order, > >"...and that'll be all." They still ask! Argh! Many times if I am in a > >pissed off (or drunken) mood I will reply (loudly), "If I wanted some goddam > >fries I woulda ordered some goddam fries!" They usually slink off to get > >my order after that. No, no. Get revenge. Do it right. Order for your {baseball team| football team|dance group|et cetera}. Memorize it. Rehearse it. Go into the Golden Arches Supper Club. You say: "Hi, I'd like a (insert foul substance here)." The poor counter person will, of course, enquire: "Would you like any fries with that?" or "Would you like something to drink with that?" You go into action. You scratch your head, mutter a bit, and say something like: "Ummm....yeah. A large fries. No, no, make it two. And a couple of large shakes. And....and....four Quarter Pounders. And three Chicken McNuggets with barbecue sauce....and......and....seven BigMucks....and three more large fries.....and...." ....and you get the idea. Yes, this is nasty, and somewhat humiliating for the unfortunate employee you pick on. It IS good for a laugh, though, and it DOES get your point across. You'll have to decide for yourself if revenge is sweet (although at MD's, the only really sweet thing is the salt :-). To all those forced by circumstances to work at such places: My apologies. Not for the impractical joke, but for being forced by circumstances to work at such places. Try to have a sense of humor about it, anyway. -shp
jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow) (04/19/85)
What does McDonalds have to do with cooking, anyway????? Let's keep this discussion confined to the appropriate newsgroup, please. :-) (net.junk?) Jeff Winslow
ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (04/22/85)
> Although I admit to being guilty of impatience > and annoyance in such situations, I try to think back to the times when > jerks hassled me for doing my job, and I find it helps me act more human > towards them (the employees in question, not the jerks). > I apologize if I've offended anybody who enjoys giving their fellow > humans a hard time, but, like I said, I've been there, and didn't enjoy > it. Hear, hear! Well said, Joel! Ariel (If you don't like it, don't eat there) Shattan ..!tektronix!orca!ariels
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (04/23/85)
Of course the drive through window on the way to work recognizes my car now. Always getting the same thing puts you in a terrible rut, but at least you get good service. -Ron
gkloker@utai.UUCP (Geoff Loker) (04/23/85)
> . . . Yes, this is nasty, and somewhat humiliating > for the unfortunate employee you pick on. It IS good for a laugh, though, Why is there such a streak of cruelty in people that they want to pick on someone just for doing their job (and who is getting paid bare minimum at that)? I have learned from my time doing menial jobs (such as working at McDonald's) what it is like to have to deal with real jerks who seem to feel that I should be punished for trying to my best, and what it is like to come across someone who makes you feel that what you are doing is worthwhile. The latter type of person seems to realize that working for a place such as McDonald's is not fun & games -- that employees have to work their butts off for a meager nickel raise at the end of the year; and that even a lowly menial can have a hard day and ***does*** has feelings too. They also seem to realize that it doesn't take a lot on their part to establish a good rapport between them and the employee -- a smile, some kind words, a little bit of politeness. I remember that such people were a pleasure to come across and a pleasure to serve. And, oddly enough, I was more careful in serving them than I was in serving someone who seemed to feel that I was their personal slave or whipping boy. (Hint, hint, to those of you out in net-land that always seem to have trouble with getting your orders right.) Another thing I found was that, after helping someone who was nice to me, I was far more inclined to be nice to the customers who came after that person -- after serving a grouch or a jerk, it was harder to feel good about serving the next person. So, please do ***not*** fill up the networks with methods of "getting back" at people just doing their jobs. (If that's your attitude, then you deserve rotten treatment.) Maybe, just maybe, if you tried thinking of the person serving you instead of just yourself, it would make them feel better, it would make you feel better, and you might just get better service.
braman@dataio.UUCP (Rick Braman) (04/23/85)
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T YOU JUST LET A SLEEPING DOG LIE?
I VOTE FOR GETTING BACK TO DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO **COOKING** NOT
FAST FOOD JOINTS!!! OTHERWISE MAYBE A NEW NEWSGROUP SHOULD BE CREATED
CALLED net.fastfood.complain!
flame off.
--
o
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uw-beaver!entropy!dataio!braman -- Usenet
Rick Braman Data I/O Corp Redmond WA 206-885-5851trisha@oddjob.UUCP (Trisha OTuama) (04/25/85)
I'm willing to bet a lot of money that no matter what silly, childish stunts you try to bother fast food employees with, you will never come up with anything that hasn't been tried before, probably years before. Trisha (Back By Popular Demand) O Tuama
cberry@muddcs.UUCP (Craig Berry) (04/26/85)
In article <448@utai.UUCP> gkloker@utai.UUCP (Geoff Loker) writes: >> . . . Yes, this is nasty, and somewhat humiliating >> for the unfortunate employee you pick on. It IS good for a laugh, though, > >Why is there such a streak of cruelty in people that they want to pick on >someone just for doing their job (and who is getting paid bare minimum at >that)? I have learned from my time doing menial jobs (such as working at >McDonald's) what it is like to have to deal with real jerks who seem to >feel that I should be punished for trying to my best, and what it is like >to come across someone who makes you feel that what you are doing is >worthwhile. The latter type of person seems to realize that working for >a place such as McDonald's is not fun & games -- that employees have to >work their butts off for a meager nickel raise at the end of the year; >and that even a lowly menial can have a hard day and ***does*** has feelings >too. They also seem to realize that it doesn't take a lot on their part >to establish a good rapport between them and the employee -- a smile, some >kind words, a little bit of politeness. I remember that such people were >a pleasure to come across and a pleasure to serve. And, oddly enough, I >was more careful in serving them than I was in serving someone who seemed >to feel that I was their personal slave or whipping boy. (Hint, hint, to >those of you out in net-land that always seem to have trouble with getting >your orders right.) I agree completely. While I was in high school I put in a two year stint at McD's, and it was most definitely not fun and games. I found that the only way for me to cope with the job was to more or less turn off my brain while working. 90% of the tasks at McDonalds require no conscious thought at all once you have learned the routine, so I would drift off mentally while continuing to work physically. Many employees I knew at McD's and similar places did the same thing. This is why if you ask for a QP without cheese, the counter person is fairly likely to ask "is that with cheese?" It has become part of the automatic script. Geoff is also correct when he says that a little civility with the counter people can go a long way. It was always such a pleasure to deal with a customer who treated me like a human being rather than a McRobot that I would immediately try to find ways to "reward" the customer--friendlier service, personal interest, larger orders of fries, etc. I gave everyone adequate service, but it was the polite customers for whom I did my all-out best. It really annoys me that so many net.flamers seem to feel that the only way to deal with other people is through rudeness and intimidation. While these *do* have their place in extraordinary circumstances, it has been my experience that civility and consideration for others have greater benefits for all concerned. Craig Berry Harvey Mudd College {allegra!scgvaxd | ucla-cs}!muddcs!cberry ----------------------------------------- "!!!MOOB" "Oh, no! Sounds like an implosion!"
bobn@bmcg.UUCP (Bob Nebert) (04/27/85)
> > > Why is it, everytime I walk into a McDonalds and order a "Quarter > > > Pounder" they consistantly ask me "with cheese?" > > > > I hate it when they ask (after I give my order) "Would you like fries with > > Michael S. Weiss BITNET: weiss@psuvaxg.bitnet > > The most effective action to take upon being queried about extras is to > completely ignore the question and stare silently at the clerk. After about > five seconds, they usually suffer complete nervous colapse and get your order > trembling and sweating. It's great fun! > > +-------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------+ > | USENET: decvax!ittvax!sii!dmcnh!gts | | DISCLAIMER: The content of this | > | USMail: 14-F Hampshire Drive | | message is the sole responsibility | > | Nashua, NH 03063 | | of Schafer and doesn't necessarily | > | NEBell: (603) 880-2069 | | reflect the policies of Datamedia. | > +-------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------+ > "If I had been a Bokonist then, that statement would have made me howl." -KVJr What I dont quite understand is whenever (seldom) wander into those dens and the place is empty, i.e. I'm alone in there, the counter person looks right at me and says, with a straight face, "CAN I HELP YOU"? No you dummy I'll jump the counter and grab what everin the hell I want.
nmhr@nmtvax.UUCP (04/27/85)
Get this one gang: Here we have a MickeyDees staffed by high schoolers. Whenever I go to the arches (which is rare) I order a quarter pounder, fries, and a medium coke. A simple order. My fried orders the same. We frequently go there together. Whenever he is alone and plaes the above order (at the drive-thru), he gets it immediately. Whenever I am with him, they tell us to pull over and wait. Go figure hese guys, will ya!!! (And I am not exaggerating when I sy this happens 100% of the tim!!!) tracy mcinvale nmhr@nmtvax -- Tracy A. McInvale New Mexico Humanities Review Socorro, NM 87801 ...!cmc12!lanl!unm-cvax!nmtvax!nmhr ...!ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!nmhr
waynez@houxh.UUCP (W.ZAKARAS) (04/29/85)
> -- that employees have to >work their butts off for a meager nickel raise at the end of the year; HMMMMM! Maybe all AT&T should goto work there, the raises seem better :) WayneZ...
lautzy@nmtvax.UUCP (05/01/85)
In article <> bobn@bmcg.UUCP (Bob Nebert) writes: >What I dont quite understand is whenever (seldom) wander into those dens >and the place is empty, i.e. I'm alone in there, the counter person >looks right at me and says, with a straight face, "CAN I HELP YOU"? >No you dummy I'll jump the counter and grab what everin the hell I want. Oh, come ON!!!! Aren't you being kind of LITTLE??!! If you can't take someone being KIND to you, maybe they should say to you: "Get your ass over here, bud and tell me what the hell you want!!!" And if you don't like that, then go eat dirt... :=( -- -Lautzy (Romulan) ...unmvax!nmtvax!lautzy