When it was reported that sales receipts at McDonalds dropped dramatically over the past quarter, it was easy for me to fathom why.
Tasteless (sometimes tainted or spoiled) entrees – and ever-changing eating habits (coupled with consumer expectations about quality and service) – have obviously hastened the dismal outcome at the fast-food chain.
Americans previously inclined to zip through the take-out window have – not only become more discerning – but also been drawn to upstarts in the food service industry which offer so much more bang for the buck (such as Chipotle).
According to the news report, the impact has been a devastating blow to the suits at McDonalds.
In fact, a spokesperson for the company announced yesterday that Jan Fields, President of the fast-food take-out in the USA until now, was just shown the door.
Jeff Stratton will be installed in her post effective December 1s.
Last month, McDonalds same-store sales stumbled 2.2% in the U.S. and 1.8% globally compared with a year earlier.
Investors have been getting nervous over profits which slumped 3.5% in the third quarter.
And, get this, shares dropped 57 cents on Thursday to $84.05!
But the turn downward is not just about menus and hunger pangs.
Management’s attitude is also piss-poor and sorely lacking at all levels of the company – from the front counter - to the executive suite. Through my experience, I have found that McDonald's doesn’t care about the well-being of their customers one iota.
No Sir, it’s all about cheap labor, beating the competition, and racking in the almighty dollar!
The hell with customer satisfaction, quality control, or service with a smile.
For example, a few months ago when I was in San Francisco I strolled into McDonald's bright-and-early one morning, and ordered a pancakes-and-bacon-platter breakfast with coffee.
A short while later, I suddenly I began to suffer severe cramps and the runs!
Obviously, either the meat was tainted, or the butter was rancid.
I was forced to trot (!) off to the emergency department of a local hospital for hands-on medical treatment to cure my ills.
In the aftermath, when I initially attempted to contact McDonald's about the food poisoning incident, they blew me off. In fact, they ignored the first two or three communications which I sent out by U..S. post.
At one point, when I lodged a complaint with the President & CEO, a member of McDonalds Senior Legal Counsel – Carianna E. Beaudoin – finally zipped off a curt response hollowly expressing the company’s concerns about my bad experience.
The truth of the matter?
McDonalds couldn’t give a damn!
To my dismay, high-ranking employees at the fast-food company continued to engage in deceptive business practices – and a cover-up - to ultimately mitigate their liability for damages.
In spite of assurances from the food supplier’s rep that McDonalds would address the issues, and make good, they never followed through.
As of this date, Mr. Philip Abellera hasn’t even bothered to respond to my e-mail communications or the letters sent out in recent weeks.
When it gets down to the nitty-gritty?
McDonalds cares little about the health or well-being of their customers.
Now that the tables have (literally) turned, though (in the wake of the aforementioned news), I have to wonder if the corporate giant will change their ways - and ultimately - become a decent role model for other fast-food take-out chains around the Nation in the future.
The recent shake-down of execs at the top may be a sign, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
I say:
Boycott McDonalds!
I’m tired of sloppy half-cooked egg on a stale muffin and cold bitter coffee anyway!
And, how was your day?
0 comments:
Post a Comment