McDonald's — Restaurant in Palmdale

Disappointed with McDonald's

I recently visited a McDonald's location and left feeling incredibly frustrated and disappointed. As a business consultant specializing in quick-service restaurants, I have always respected McDonald's for its customer-centric approach and efficiency. However, my latest experience left much to be desired.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately directed to use the self-service kiosks to place my order. This “going digital” strategy might seem forward-thinking on paper, but in practice, it falls short. The kiosk interface was anything but user-friendly, and after several minutes of fumbling through the options, I still wasn’t able to customize my meal the way I wanted. The touch screens were unresponsive and frustrating to navigate.

What’s more concerning is the apparent lack of oversight and atmosphere management. During my visit, I noticed a homeless man sleeping in the corner of the dining area. While I understand that every business has to navigate complex social issues, it was disconcerting to see such a situation in what is supposed to be a welcoming and clean environment for all customers. This is a place of business, and maintaining a safe and inviting atmosphere should be a priority.

McDonald's has built its reputation on quick service and customer satisfaction, but the reliance on these impersonal kiosks and the lack of proper restaurant management are undermining those very principles. If this is the future of McDonald's, it's clear that significant improvements are needed.

As someone who advises businesses on how to excel, I can only urge McDonald's to reconsider their approach. Digital tools should enhance the customer experience, not detract from it....

Usually, no issue at this MCD. But today the person taking our order in the drive thru messed it up several times. Yes I was speaking slowly in English my native tongue born in Michigan. So got up to get my order my medium fries were missing. I asked the friendly guy to please get my fries as I ordered a number 2A medium. He asked an assistant manager to go through reciepts while we already waited already in the lane 10min to get our order. To find out the person taking my order still messed it up and didn't place it as a 2A but as just a quarter pounder and drink. Really I couldn't made it anymore plain. Then I was told to go inside to order medium fries as thier registerwas broken. Really after she messed up my order I'm being treated like I'm trying to rip them off for a med fries, seriously. This is how you treat a longtime customer like I messed it up when it was your employee and then I have to go park and go inside to wait again in line to get a med fries while our food gets cold. Unreal your that stingy when your employee messes up to treat a customer like this. No way you handled this badly on your end assistant manager or whoever you were to treat us this way. Really sad your food is way over process since the pandemic gouging customers which is all over the news lately that MCD is over charging at 10%. Then you want $20 an hour so they have an excuse to raise the prices again to cover that. Shamefull never coming back to be treated like that over a med fries unreal. By the way has everyone noticed there is no replies to any reviews to try and make it right. That tells you something right there you as a customer don't mean anything to this...

Normally I don't give bad review but this time I have to say something. I'm coming off from work today 1/13/23 at appx 8:00 am and wanted breakfast, came to the drive thru lane on the left (2 lanes). No car in front me and none on the right lane. I waited for about 30 seconds. No one came to the mic to take my order. Then a car came to the right lane and gotten their order taken. I said "hello" couple of times...still no one answered. Another car came to that lane and again gotten their order taken. I continue to say "hello" and finally a guy answers the mic and ask what I want. I told him why they didn't take my order...I got there before these other 2 cars (now in front of me). Instead of sorry about that...he said are you gonna order? Cars stacking up behind me, I said yes...2 sausage mcmuffin with eggs, that's all. Now a 3rd car already completed their order and passed me from the right. Once I got to the pay window, I told the lady there why I was not been waited upon accordingly (with their service). I asked to speak to the manager. Emily, the manager came to window. I explained what I just encountered. I mentioned that I felt discriminated against and I don't appreciate how I was been treated. She stated sometimes the order person goes to the front. I said if that's true then why 2 cars behind me got their orders and I didn't? Then she mentioned...yeah, they should have taken one order from each side. She said, which lane did I use coming in? I said, the left lane. She repeated what I've ordered...2 sausage mcmfuffin with eggs? I told her...just cancel it. She did. No apology. So I drove off to home and...