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.

[Man of the Right]

You've got to have an industrial strength gall bladder to handle White Castle.

[-YYZ-]

Yep, the food and service sucks. I started enjoying actually eating in the restaurants when they turned them into a playground with parents letting their spawn run all over the joint screaming. Some of that may be due more to the general decline in civility rather than McDonald's fault.

Then there's the fries they never should have stopped cooking in proper beef lard/tallow/fat.

And burgers pre-cooked at some anonymous corporate factory and then reheated in a microwave? (at least that's how it looks to me) They are not as good as they used to be, and they weren't all that great to start with.

Combine the above with generally lazy, poorly trained, under-supervised employees I seem to often find, with their sullen attitudes and spending most of their time socializing with their cow-orkers, and McDonalds has been reduced for me to the place I go when its late and I can't be bothered getting out of my car, as it's the closest fast-food joint to my house.

Wendy's is better. The burgers are actually cooked in the store, they taste (something) like beef, and the fries are a little more substantial, but not those crappy coated crispy fries. And they usually manage to serve me quickly even though each burger is made to order.

[-YYZ-]

Oh yeah, forgot about that. The McDLT was my favourite back when they made it. Hot meat, cold lettuce and tomato, wow! I think it went away to make room the McLean Deluxe, that horrible low-fat burger with seaweed in it that they tried to pawn off on people for a while.

And messy burger prep bugs me, too. They're supposed to ahve a little ketchup and mustard on them, it's not supposed to come squirting out one side when you bite into it.

Anyway, rather than addressing any of the many valid criticism made in the above posts, I predict they will try to solve their problems with more gimmicks, stupid new food items that don't fit with their menu, and stupid promotions. All people really want is good, hot food, fast.

[jjm2111]

McDonald's sucks!

I only eat there when it's the last thing between me and starvation. (And that's iffy.)

Here's why:

1. Most McD's employees have a hard time w/ the concept of breathing. They have to push PICTURES of the damn food for the love of God!. It's not that tough to push "Big Mac". Stupid and rude for the help is not a winning combination.

2. I got a burger w/out the meat once. I got a burger w/out the bun once. This is basic stuff.

3. Slow. Slow. Slow. It's supposed to be FAST food. Why pay $7.50 to stand in line when I can do the same and be SERVED? (even in NYC).

4. The food is crap. Do they even use real potatoes in the fries anymore? I know BK doesn't. The meat is garbage.

5. No one wants healthfood from a fast food joint. If I want health food I'll eat sushi. If I go to a fast food joint I want meat and grease, and not necessarily in that order.

Final hint for McDonald's execs: The burgers should at least APPROACH the pictures in the commericals. If it looked like a homeless person sat on it, people will not come back.

Someone should email this thread to the CEO of McDonalds.

[jjm2111]

I ate a WC once, and I think I got food poisoning. Those sliders have to be the most disgusting thing I've ever eaten. That and the bullet-proof glass where the order taker was detracted from the decor.

[Rebelbase]

Hooked on the chicken!

[Poohbah]

Well, it's going to be Trent's next job:

"Well, sir, we Mississippians are proud of having voted for Strom...and if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we'd've avoided a lot of problems...and would you like fries with that, sir?"

[Trajan88]

When I attended Texas A&M ('84 - '89) we were allowed to park next to our dorms on the weekends. Sunday night we had to move our cars to the Fish (freshman) lot. Basically BFE.

En route to the lot, my buddies and I would divert to Archy Burger and pick up some $0.39 hamburgers. These things rocked. Bun, burger, a couple pickles, and some mustard and catchup. One could trick these burgers up and add cheese for $0.10 more.

I miss Archy Burger. McD's Golden arches SUCK!

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88

[SamAdams76]

That's Pilsner Urquell. A fine beer from the Czech Republic. Lady has good taste.

[cyclotic]

Always a tough choice between Tony's and Halo Burger. (Turn right off 75 at the Birch Run Exit) (Michigan)

1/2 pound Supreme, with the Works, plus mushrooms and hot peppers, onion rings and a large Mountain Dew.

$5.00

Got my kids hooked on Halo's too.

Steve

[SamAdams76]

I read that book too but I was eating double cheeseburgers again not too long after. I do stay away from the Chicken McNuggetts and "shakes" though.

[Mark Turbo]

I would like to see beer served at McDonalds. Not just watered down Bud either, but good, strong beer on draft.

They sold beer at a McDonald's I went to a couple of times in Lyon, France back in 1990. I didn't get any and couldn't tell you what brand they served, though.

[cyclotic]

Even better, Cross the Macinac Bridge and take a left on US2. About 1/2 mile down 2, you'll see a gresy little drive in called Clyde's

The 3/4 lb. Clyde Burger is awesome.

Last time I had one was near midnight. to go. Felt real bad for the guy who was driving and trying to choke down that incredible burger.

[SBprone]

Forget the store managers. McDonald's doesn't listen to them anymore.

If a typical McDonald's EXECUTIVE had the guts and initiative to set foot in an In N Out they wouldn't be in the fix they're in now.

What do you want to bet they'd be DISCIPLINED for being seen at In N Out?

[PJ-Comix]

11. Make it easier for accepting menu suggestions from the public. A couple of years ago I tried to contact the bigwigs of McDonalds with a great menu item idea but found it impossible to break through the McDonald's bureaucracy to make my suggestion. The menu idea I have is still a good one and they can contact me about it at my e-mail address below. BTW, in case any of you McDonalds folks lurking here think I'm just some nutcase, I might remind you that PayPal took my idea for auction banners in January, 2000 and it worked beautifully. Fortunately at that time PayPal was still small enough to accept outside ideas from the blue which mine was when I called them.

pjglad@gate.net

[Petronski]

It's Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsner, from Pilsn, Czech Republic.

[Petronski]

Whoops, Plzen.

[Vetnet]

I hear they're introducing a new sandwich featuring TWO COW LIPS ON A SESAME-SEED BUN

They're calling it .....THE MCJAGGER

[Minutemen]

For the price McDonalds charges for a couple burgers,fries and a drink, I'd rather go to a coffee shop that has real upholstered seats and have a made-to- order burger that's grilled with real meat an grilled onions.
McDonalds' downfall was when they decided to become a "restaurant". McDonalds' furniture & decor have the feel of salvage from a 70's psychic-ward cafeteria.

[AppyPappy]

Pilsner Urquell. They serve beer at the McD's in Germany.