10 things McDonald's must do to get its house in order

USA Today ^ | 12-12-2002 | Bruce Horovitz

[Cagey]

The Golden Arches aren't going away. And poor Ronald McDonald will continue to muster a smile.

McDonald's in Hinsdale, Ill., looks cheery, but the chain has problems.

But with a new CEO on tap, just about everything else at McDonald's (MCD) is on the table. Or, perhaps, soon could be flying off the table.

[Cagey]

Okay....Melt the cheese.

[TomServo]

11). Speak English.

[cmsgop]

And Bring Back Those McDonaldland COOKIES !!!!!

I Love Those !

[MineralMan]

How about having every McDonald's manager eat at an In 'N Out burger to see how it all should really be done? Sheesh! McDonalds bites!

[skeeter]

¿Usted desea las fritadas con eso?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I miss Burger Chef!

[MineralMan]

"¿Usted desea las fritadas con eso? "

Si, como no.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Taste is SO subjective. Personally I enjoy scarfing down a sack of "White Castles" You just can't beat a "slider" fresh off the grill!

[MineralMan]

"Personally I enjoy scarfing down a sack of "White Castles" You just can't beat a "slider" fresh off the grill! "

As my mother used to say: "Don't eat more than six!"

[cmsgop]

[js1138]

11) Buy Rally's/Checkers, dump the MacMenu and use theirs.
12) Go back to your original fiies recipe.

[gridlock]

I don't go to McDonalds because they market directly to my kid. I will not go someplace that markets to a four-year-old. If they want my four-year-old's business, they have to talk to me.

Sure, the four-year-old wants to go to McDonalds, but she can't drive the car. And I'm offended by attempts to upset the family power structure by having toddlers calling the shots.

[KarlInOhio]

12) Go back to your original fiies recipe.

McDonald's is in a race to the bottom with Burger King and Wendy's. They used to have the best fries around, and still do just because the others are worse.

Burger King went to the strange crunchy fries and Wendy's taste like they've been in the freezer a few years past the expiration date leaving McDonald's the winner by default.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

McDonald's will always sustain declining growth because consumer's tastes has changed over a generation.

McDonald's just isn't the same McDonald's. When I was a kid, the neighborhood kids were envious when my family came home with a sack full of Mickey D's and used to beg for some of my fries.

[ErnBatavia]

Oh Yeah!!! And the good thing about In-N-Out is that they generally don't have tables....McDonald's tables are as sticky and greasy as a K-Mart parking lot!

[riri]

I disagree with this. I think the beauty of McDonalds is just that it is the same as it was when I was 7. I do agree the quality of the food has suffered a bit but for cripes sake it's MCDONALDS. When I want a $10.00 grilled chicken sandwich, I go to Chilli's (I avoid Appleby's) but when I want downhome, bad for me, let me get out off for 5 bucks food-I opt for Mickey Dees.

[ErnBatavia]

Burger threads simply must refer, now and again, to the original:

[mg39]

I don't eat the garbage that passes for food in fast food restaurants, but I'm not above using their restroooms when there's no other choice. This year I used two differnt McDonalds restrooms, and I was absolutely disgusted at how filthy they, and the rest of the "restaurant," were. Having worked in a real restaurant, I can tell you all this golden rule: if the bathroom is dirty, everything else is too, including the servers' and food preparers' hands.

[strider44]

Gotta give White Castle the nod too. If you're talking pure fast food debauchery, nothing beats eating a dozen or so sliders.

[JoeGar]

How about having every McDonald's manager eat at an In 'N Out burger to see how it all should really be done?

I sure wish I could get a Double Double here in North Carolina.