McDonald's Coupons

[suki]

So, yesterday McD's had coupons in the paper... at least in my area.

I'm an assistant manager at McD's right now and I spent a good deal of my time on the phone answering folks questions regarding the coupons. On one hand, I don't mind answering a quick question or two... on the other hand, we're really busy and the constant phone ringing and lengthy questions (one lady wanted me to describe all the McCafe drinks for her and recommend which was best... after about 5 minutes, I apologized and said I really had to go help the crew).

It would really help if folks actually read the coupons... especially where it says one per person (if you have 2 folks ordering, we'll honor 2 coupons or more if more are ordering). However, one person cannot come in with a handful of coupons and get all of it (yes, someone presented me with 6 coupons and was upset when I wouldn't honor them all at once). Also, the coupons plainly state what they're good for... any sandwich that isn't on the dollar menu, for example.

So, yeah, use them if you've got them. They're a great value and uncommon for McD's to do. They've been planning this drop for some time and we've had about a month's warning it was coming. The purpose is to promote McCafe, which should be rolled out just about everywhere now. If you haven't tried the new espresso based coffee line, you should. It's very good... I like less syrup than is called for, but just order it with light flavor. A nice hazelnut latte and a cinnamelt is a great treat I enjoy with some frequency.

Any questions, ask me and I'll try to clarify... but do your local McD's managers a favor and don't tie them up on the phone answering lengthy questions.

[geckoace]

LOL

those McCafe drinks are pretty yummy

[nodmicks]

My Ds works at McD's and informs me coupons are a pain in the butt. LOL He told me " Mom don't come use them in my line!"

[suki]

LOL, yeah, they do slow us down and then folks get grumpy because we're slower. We activate the registers for the crew to promo off the coupons, but it still slows them up a bit. Most stores don't do this and a manager has to come promo the coupon off the order.

Use the coupons, just be patient with the crew!

[tigo]

We get coupons for our chain frequently. What gets me is when people want to use a coupon for another restraunt. I am not sure what they are thinking at that point.

[norcalmommy]

I wonder if the McD's in my town will take them. The owner is very nice, but hates promotions. Are these coupons for every McD's, including independently owned?

[nodmicks]

LOL, yeah, they do slow us down and then folks get grumpy because we're slower. We activate the registers for the crew to promo off the coupons, but it still slows them up a bit. Most stores don't do this and a manager has to come promo the coupon off the order.

Use the coupons, just be patient with the crew!

That is exactly what Ds says happens. I was waiting for him one day and was shocked to see how rude people can get to the person that takes their order if things are slow.

I watched a guy tell Ds "you stupid damn kid get my @#$%^% food!" Ds is told to take the order and get drinks. That is all they want him to do. I felt like getting up and asking the guy why he thought it was ok to talk to 15 year old like that but of course didn't
I was very proud of him "he said I'm sorry your upset sir " and got the manager who explained when you order plain burgers it takes longer.

[Judi Dial]

My only question about the new McD's coupons was when they expire? The paper I got the copy was blurred, and almost impossible to read!

TIA --

Judi

[suki]

My McD's is owner/operator (most are) and we are honoring. It depends on the co-op the owner belongs to... if the co-op is participating, then usually the local owner must also. Just ask them.

The coupons are:
- get a free medium McCafe’ brewed ice coffee (with purchase of any large breakfast or regular menu sandwich)
- get a free medium McCafe’ iced mocha (with the purchase of any large breakfast or regular menu sandwich)
- buy any McCafe’ coffee and get a free McCafe’ coffee
- buy any breakfast sandwich and get a free breakfast sandwich
- buy any breakfast sandwich and get a free breakfast sandwich
- buy any large regular menu sandwich and get a free large regular menu sandwich

I'm not positive on the expiration date. I believe they are good through the end of May. But, I'll look at one at work tomorrow and get back with you for sure.

[suki]

That is exactly what Ds says happens. I was waiting for him one day and was shocked to see how rude people can get to the person that takes their order if things are slow.

I watched a guy tell Ds "you stupid damn kid get my @#$%^% food!" Ds is told to take the order and get drinks. That is all they want him to do. I felt like getting up and asking the guy why he thought it was ok to talk to 15 year old like that but of course didn't
I was very proud of him "he said I'm sorry your upset sir " and got the manager who explained when you order plain burgers it takes longer.

Yep. It's actually faster for one person to stay on the counter taking orders and handing out drinks, while another "runs" the food. It also allows for a customer's order to be taken promptly when they come in. It also helps with confusion and congestion at the hot zone if only one person is running food for counter and one person is running for drive thru. Too many folks running around in a confined area creates more trouble, so we prefer order takers to be order takers only... unless it's really slow and they don't have a runner. We usually end a transaction by saying, "thanks, so-and-so runner will have that up for you in just a moment." However, your son handled it perfectly.

But, the mgr's explanation to the customer for the delay was way off. Plain burgers don't take any longer... all food is made to order (or should be) and should take the same amount of time. Nothing made should take more than 8 minutes (unless pies are just placed in the oven and they take 12 minutes) even if they've run low on product... most sandwiches take about 1 minute to make from order to finish... some less. Usually our delays are due to large orders, we have folks come in and order 15 double cheeseburgers at a time. That next to the order with 6 mcchicken and 4 double cheeseburgers and 40 nuggets, usually means the last order placed may have to wait a while... they pop up on the screen in the order they are taken. Sometimes we can sort through and get the short orders out, but usually it's too confusing and best to go one order at a time. We've been encouraging folks with big orders to please call us... this reduces the wait time for everyone. But, they don't. Had a guy come in and order 24 double quarter pounders, 24 large fries and was upset that it took us about 15 minutes to present his order to him. Really.

[mombottoo]

I love Micky D's breakfast burrito, egg mcmuffins, regular coffee, fries and double cheese burgers...I do not like any of their McCafe drinks. I've tried a few of them and personally I thought what I make out of my cannister at home tastes a lot better.

Far as answering the phone goes, I see your point about the too many questions thing. But, the local Kentucky Fried Chicken place won't be seeing any more of my business due to a phone call situation. The power had been out in KFC's area, so I called to make sure they were open before I ran there to get food. My niece & I walked in while the manager was talking about the "phone call" and due to what she said I knew it was my phone call she was talking about...what she was saying was pretty rude and if I wouldn't have had a crap ton of people back at the house waiting to eat I would have told her to stuff it.

[suki]

yep, pretty unprofessional to talk about it like that.

When we suffered the ice storm power outage, we were lucky the phone lines went down too. The previous brief (2 hour) power outage I'd experienced meant we simply didn't answer the phone at all and turned it off. It rang nonstop until we turned the ringers off... but we were also working our hardest to serve a completely crammed lobby and drive thru and didn't have time to answer the phone. We also had to limit coffee orders because we couldn't keep up with the demand. If I recall correctly we served about 2,000 meals and 100 gallons or so of coffee (had one person that did only that) With a full staff of 25 folks, it was all we could do to keep up... so yeah, those that chose to call didn't get their calls answered that day and probably either drove over anyway or went to plan B...either way we handled it as politely and professionally as possible. The grumpiest folks were those who wanted to buy a gallon of coffee and were limited to half that amount. And some customers did get pushy and grumpy... but most recognized that we were doing all we could to keep up. They noticed that all the hashbrowns were frying at once and when they came up more went down and that one person was making coffee nonstop in two large urns.

So, while they may not have handled the call well... they probably also experienced a pretty stressful situation with having had the power out in the area.

Cut fastfood workers just a little slack, most of them are learning management and people skills and haven't perfected them yet. It is generally considered an entry level type job... I'm a rare exception to that rule.

[suki]

I do not like any of their McCafe drinks. I've tried a few of them and personally I thought what I make out of my cannister at home tastes a lot better.

It is espresso based coffee. Not everyone cares for it. Most canister drinks are heavily sugar based and don't have the strong coffee flavor.

[scrap_candles]

I think it was great of McD's to offer the coupons. I am not really a coffee drinker but did like their old french vanilla cappuccino that our mcd's had before changing to this new mccafe stuff. That being said, when they first changed it they had coupons and I tried their mocha and it was ok, so once in awhile I would like one. I saw the coupons and thought great, I can get one but the coupon for it (hot) was buy one get one? What would I do with two?lol No one else in my family drinks coffee at all. I think it would have been better to buy a sandwhich get one or something. I will still use them but the second one unfortunately will probably be wasted.

[suki]

Take a friend... or at the very least, make a friend in line.



The french vanilla cappucino was a sugar based powdered drink like those found in convenience stores. It is a different flavor. You can always ask them to adjust the amount of flavor and milk added to your drink to your customized liking.