How to take care of your customers
Pay attention, businessperson! I’m about to share a story of good customer service, and how you too can keep your customers from spending their hard-earned money at that piker’s store down the street.
A few days ago, I skipped down to my local McDonald’s hamburgery and bought an Asian Salad from the drive-thru. The salad comes with a little packet of sliced almonds, which provide a nice contract in flavor and texture to the greens and sweet dressing.
At least, they’re supposed to. I don’t know what these almonds tasted like, because when I opened the packet, I found the nuts covered in blue-green mold. I don’t mean a few spores here and there. This was a fully-functioning mold city.
I didn’t have time to deal with it then, so I just threw out the almonds, checked the rest of my salad for rot, and munched away. Eventually I called McDonald’s corporate headquarters and talked to a very helpful young guy who took my complaint and promised to forward my concerns to the franchisee. Okay, whatever. At least I bitched to someone.
To my pleasant suprise, I got a call Friday morning from the restaurant’s owner, a woman whose name eludes me at the moment. She was very apologetic and seemed genuinely interested in my complaint. She was pretty embarrassed that there would be problems with such a high-profile, much-ballyhooed product, and she pledged to investigate the matter.
She even offered to send me some gift certificates so I can come back in for free (hopefully) non-fungus-riddled food. I haven’t gotten them yet, but I figure it’ll be five bucks. Fine by me.
I am now once again a satisfied customer, and I’ll gladly go back to that McDonald’s, because that business proved it wants my patronage.
Posted to Out and About, Houston, Reviews, Business, Food & Drink, Products
Running a McDuck is getting to be a tough business. Competition is emmense.
I have appraised one, and had data on three of those burger factories. All three used to run at double the revenue level at that time I looked at them. I suppose they have boosted revenues back up, but, none are unlikely to ever match the profit levels they used to enjoy.
That is why, in my view, they are taking customer satisfaction so seriously right now.
Actually some fine stinky cheeses are made with those molds Matt. You missed an opportunity to make something Whole Foods would buy
Another career opportunity gone - you could have been a contender
You bought an Asian Salad from McDonaldsons and you are complaining?
It’s like ordering a hamburger at a whole foods store.
You get what you are served.
John, I thought you lefties were in favor of consumer protection. You really don’t have a problem with a company serving moldy food?
Everyone involved in the transaction — me, McDonald’s Corp. and the franchisee — all agreed that mold should not be served to customers.
Could you be any further out of touch?