McDonald's — Restaurant in Lamar

Saturday night: Not so McHappy here. Although the window cashier last night was wonderful the food was old and cold. Not just room temp, the apple pies were ice cold, like they had been in a refrigerator. Leathery on appearance and by touch. Called and spoke with whoever answered. She was in disbelief. Not that I had been served cold apple pies. Disbelief that the apple pie machine served me cold pies. She wasn't concerned that the humans involved in that process could tell these pies were cold. She just kept asking my name, so I could return for free / replacements. I didn't want free food. I want food served fresh and the appropriate temperature in a pleasant fashion. We pay for that exact service. We travel, and only return through every few weeks. I have a food line at so many locations waiting with my name on it. Really, how hard are apple pies? They are premade.

Sunday morning: Thought I would get a cup of coffee. It was early, before 8am. Should still be fresh, maybe? Too earlier to be bitter, maybe? The guy who took our order was so polite and friendly. The window cashier was as bitter as the coffee. Asked for a small cup of ice, as the coffee often needs tempering. I could have sworn I ordered a cup of meanness and it was delivered in full. We tried smiling. Being nice. Her face said, just stop.

So my advice is this: Get a hold of the Manager/Management team at this location, 6300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. THEY understand hospitality. They are real humans first. Friendly. Compassionate. Genuinely nice and happy to see a customer. Enough to say so. Every one who walked by me, expressed a wonderful greeting ans stated how happy it was to see us. Who are we? We are the somebodies from Kansas who was treated like royalty in Albuquerque and discarded as nobodies in Colorado.

Management team: Yes, we understand it's fast food. Understand about employee turnover. Metrics ✔ Quarterly reports✔ P&L✔✔ It's business. We are Master Trainers with a global company. We teach, train, motivate and inspire others on the daily. Not because we have to, because we want to. Reach out to your peers, such as ABQ or the management teams with Chick-fil-a. They may have some insight on how to put the McHappy into your location.

The one star rating, which I seldom give is for old and cold food and beverages, not once but twice in less than 24 hours. That can be a health hazard. Ask #RobertIrvine. Plus the complete disregard for basic hospitality and placing fault on a mechanical device as if the machine placed the cold pies in the bag and handed it to the customer.

Thank you for your time. I did however point out the two individuals who are actually shining in such a dismal...

One star is possibly to cheap for them, but the staff really got me. I stood at the counter with all of them running around doing I don't know what because I was the only one there. One girl tells another girl something in Spanish and then that girl in turns comes to the counter and asks for my order. I aked for one ice cream cone, one large fry and a large soda. She put the cup up right away went and made the ice cream cone and handed it to me.... Wow I think to myself, this is great everything in a timely fashion. Fries to go and this is where the problem comes in at. Beautiful golden fries sitting there and the girl turns to another worker and says "have these been salted" now comes the reply "I don't know" my thinking is look at them is the salt on them..... but my counter girl asks another and another until finally someone looks at the fries and says "No". Now the counter girl is searchng for salt and after a few minutes she locates some under the fry station. Then she starts bagging up fries for the people waiting on the drive thru. She's finally turns sees me and with a total shock look on her face she turns and bags up the last of the fries for me. Wow. I really do feel like McDonald's made me feel...

While I have had plenty of difficulties with the Lamar McDonald's (like everyone else in town), I'd gotten a couple of meals that, after very careful coaching, resembled what I ordered. But today's the last time I darken their doors. Not only was my order not what I asked for, not only did it not include the modifications I paid extra for, but the burgers were old and stale - the one bite I took was like chewing a hockey puck filled with onions that smelled like the floor of a gym. Absolutely repulsive.

Manager refused to give me a refund over the phone. Apparently I have to take more time from work and come down there? No thanks! The point of ordering fast food is that it doesn't take an hour throughout the day and multiple steps to get something that in the end is gonna be substandard anyway! I'm busy, if she doesn't want to manage her store I sure don't have the time to do it.

So I called corporate, and they indicated that they had MULTIPLE complaints at their level about this store. Corporate will be giving me my refund. I recommend, when (not if) you have an issue with your food here, just skip the manager and go straight...