Live data from Hacker News

McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

latimes.com

161–170 of 611 posts

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The app really does enhance the experience, order exactly what you want without human error, roll up to the drive-thru, give them the code, and they begin making the order at that point. They're particularly good at getting orders right compared to some other restaurants, so the additional value here to me is negligible. It's actually negative value to me, since if I can do a transaction without having to sign up,…

Try ordering a heated muffin. My current success rate at the drive through is 2/8. The other 6 times it's not heated.

You don’t know, the other 6 times the employees might have yelled at the muffin to make it angry.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#162

I can only speak for the UK but for quite a while now, McD's has become an uninviting experience, with miserable staff, menu screens that visibly tell you to hurry the f*k up and choose the product. Not to mention customers vying with delivery drivers for orders. I think the problem applies to all-income customers.

At least from my perspective, COVID broke everything. People are more awful, quality is more awful, and prices are way up. I dread even eating out anymore as I fully expect to overpay for bad food and service.

There's an argument to be made that inflation is ultimately the driver of all three complaints, but boy did that all happen seemingly overnight.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#163
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app drives me crazy on the occasions I do have to use it. Picking fries brings me to a one-item category where I can... pick fries again. Latency during the order process is insane, and then they add animations and little popup alerts throughout that actively interfere with me getting my all-important order code while I'm sitting like an asshole in the drive-through.

Yeah, the McD app is ridiculous. For some items it gives me an add to order dialog and then an add to bag dialog (I might have the order of those two swapped). I'm not sure what the distinction is between adding to the order and adding to the bag. It also has some ridiculous restrictions. Nearly every week I take advantage of their in-app deal for free medium fries on Friday if you spend at least $1 on other stuff. I…

That's funny

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#164

I can only speak for the UK but for quite a while now, McD's has become an uninviting experience, with miserable staff, menu screens that visibly tell you to hurry the f*k up and choose the product. Not to mention customers vying with delivery drivers for orders. I think the problem applies to all-income customers.

Australian here and the sentiment is the same. Drive-through is tolerable but dine-in is not pleasant due to basic cleaning like sweeping, wiping of tables not being done.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#165

I can only speak for the UK but for quite a while now, McD's has become an uninviting experience, with miserable staff, menu screens that visibly tell you to hurry the f*k up and choose the product. Not to mention customers vying with delivery drivers for orders. I think the problem applies to all-income customers.

At least from my perspective, COVID broke everything. People are more awful, quality is more awful, and prices are way up. I dread even eating out anymore as I fully expect to overpay for bad food and service. There's an argument to be made that inflation is ultimately the driver of all three complaints, but boy did that all happen seemingly overnight.

Both are tied together. The stock market didn’t double during Covid because we were making more. The US printed a lot of money. A lot.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#166
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app drives me crazy on the occasions I do have to use it. Picking fries brings me to a one-item category where I can... pick fries again. Latency during the order process is insane, and then they add animations and little popup alerts throughout that actively interfere with me getting my all-important order code while I'm sitting like an asshole in the drive-through.

Yeah, the McD app is ridiculous. For some items it gives me an add to order dialog and then an add to bag dialog (I might have the order of those two swapped). I'm not sure what the distinction is between adding to the order and adding to the bag. It also has some ridiculous restrictions. Nearly every week I take advantage of their in-app deal for free medium fries on Friday if you spend at least $1 on other stuff. I…

Loved that story!

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#167

I can only speak for the UK but for quite a while now, McD's has become an uninviting experience, with miserable staff, menu screens that visibly tell you to hurry the f*k up and choose the product. Not to mention customers vying with delivery drivers for orders. I think the problem applies to all-income customers.

"They're poor, they don't care a about basic human dignity." - McDonald's CEO probably.

It truly is the most "Shove this in your slop hole you wretch" experience in all of fast food.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#168
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people aren't taught how to cook (though I suppose they could jump on YouTube these days). And for those who are, at the very lowest incomes, they may not have a working range or oven. While a cheap microwave can be had for under $100, the cheaper plug-in stove tops don't last if used daily.

Also those people may not have time or energy to learn cooking by looking youtube. From an armchair, with good economic position and time and money for hobbies anyone can learn to cook by yt. But man I know some families where both parents (when there are 2!) come completely exhausted after 10 hs of hard work. We changed the quality of food on our home. The amount of money and time invested was much more than we expe…

No, this is just the definition of excuses. It’s very cheap and easy to cook and everyone in many parts of the world cook after 10 hour work days. It’s not the end of the world or really even optional if you want to be cost-effective and healthy. There’s only so much blame you can shift to society because this is staunchly within the realm of personal control.

Re: McDonald's is losing its low-income customers

#169
post #97
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only if you lack the planning skills to soak them in the morning or the night before. Besides, hydrated canned beans are perfectly affordable.

Like if the single mum living of a minimum wage has time and energy while dressing the 2 kids to not forget such things. Sorry I know such people that I profoundly admire. I feel is just unfair such a comment. I have enough time and little stress in my life, I can plan what I’m going to cook the next week. But I could never criticize that people for not being able to.

All your comments are painting yourself as a victim and it’s really irking me. I also feels like you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. This is not rocket science. It’s cooking stuff. It’s cheap and easy and you should be able to do it after 10 hour work shift.
Post reply on HN