Most of the MdD's have CNN on the TV. I remember sitting down literally right under the TV and decided to move to another table, so I could watch it better.

It is your choice as a diner, to sit with a good view or sit far, far away from the TV. The other dining guests may want to watch CNN. Personally, I think the 15 minutes I have to wait inside per guidelines is BORING, so I am glad there is TV for distraction

I wish places that have the TV on would mute it, and show the closed captions. People who want to watch can read what is being said, and the rest of us can eat in peace.

I'm checking my phone for email. I don't even notice the television.

Next time, I think I will bring a universal remote.

One thing I don't like about McDonald's shops is the food.

Bird,

it is, like a friend of mine says, "A food like substance."

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wish places that have the TV on would mute it,
> and show the closed captions. People who want to
> watch can read what is being said, and the rest of
> us can eat in peace.

That's a good idea.

I'm still miffed that the cheapskates reduced the McNugget meal from 10 pieces to 6 pieces. Good Lord how much do they cost?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2014 02:47AM by ShopUntilYouDrop.

I was in a hospital waiting room a few months ago and there was some awful drama on. It wasn't focused on our peace of mind. I complained to the social worker. She had to go discover who had the remote. She blamed the night crew for changing channels.

In a burger place, there was a teen Nickolodeon on. I was aghast at the subject matter.

I have no problem pointing out in eating places that the content on the televisions would deter people buying their products. What surprises me is the number of places with both radio *and* television blaring at the same time!

I also wish that there were no radios at all in any public places. In retail stores, it is easier to hear shoplifters without them, anyway. With everyone having access to earphones, why does anyone else have to listen to someone else's music? It is easier to shop without additional noise.

We tested a McDonald's burger patty in college and found it to be high in cellulose (plant fiber). Not a big deal, right? Except that it was Southern pine and alder, both trees.

Pretty much...sawdust. It is indigestible.

But... but.... but.... fiber is good for us!!!! This is health food!!!!

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We tested a McDonald's burger patty in college and
> found it to be high in cellulose (plant fiber).
> Not a big deal, right? Except that it was Southern
> pine and alder, both trees.
>
> Pretty much...sawdust. It is indigestible.


OMG, BBird, really??? I never did understand why people actually say they like Mickey D's "hamburgers." AKA sawdust pucks. I pretty much stick to breakfast shops when I need a grease fix. Have to admit, I do love Sausage Egg McMuffin's!

Yep. Apparently it is added to them for "mouth feel."

I am so with you. I was in another restaurant and they showed to CNN footage of corpses from the plane that crashed/ was shot down in Ukraine being driven one at a time in hearses up the freeway. This live feed likely lasted for hours, and was on for the duration of our meal. That offender was CNN, but Fox News often has footage and commentary unsuitable for children. Why can't McDonalds' have Nick JR on, instead?



BillBryaninCarthage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't like the television being on. I am right
> now inside a McDonalds and Fox News is talking
> about beheadings and ISIS and on and on. Other
> McDonald's always have CNN on. I feel that I am
> being besieged by the drive-by media. I don't like
> the people who deliver the news, or the Fox "news
> babes" as Rush calls them, or the constant attack
> on my peace of mind.
>
> What bothers me right now is that small children
> are in here eating breakfast and the sound is
> turned up loud on the tv, so they get to hear
> about the beheadings and everything else.
>
> What a country this is becoming!

I am surprised they did not advertise the sawdust as such. remember "fat-trapper?" Pills that would gel up fats in your stomach and give you the trots? Then there are all the diet shakes on the market that contain indigestible fiber. Just think of how well the New and Improved McSlimburger with "Cellutrim*" would sell.

*cellulose, derived from natural, plant based source


BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We tested a McDonald's burger patty in college and
> found it to be high in cellulose (plant fiber).
> Not a big deal, right? Except that it was Southern
> pine and alder, both trees.
>
> Pretty much...sawdust. It is indigestible.

"Excuse me, there's some pretty disturbing content on the t.v. right now and there are young children in view of the screen. Would you mind changing the channel?"

I am fairly sure that a statement like this would not call anyone out as a Mystery Shopper.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We tested a McDonald's burger patty in college and
> found it to be high in cellulose (plant fiber).
> Not a big deal, right? Except that it was Southern
> pine and alder, both trees.
>
> Pretty much...sawdust. It is indigestible.

Interesting. No wonder the Bocca burgers taste just like a McD's burger

ShopUntilYouDrop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm still miffed that the cheapskates reduced the
> McNugget meal from 10 pieces to 6 pieces. Good
> Lord how much do they cost?


At least they fully reimburse you for two different evaluations in the same shop. Many other fast food shops don't even cover a burger meal, and you have to settle with a hot dog to stay under your reimbursement limit.

Whenever and wherever I shop McD's I find the TV too loud. I would like to eat my meal in peace without the noise pollution. I agree, mute the TV of at least turn it down.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yep. Apparently it is added to them for "mouth
> feel."


Ugh. That's just wrong.

Back to the topic.

Most dining establishments mute TVs - whether tuned to sports or news. If they're shopped, it's noteworthy. Hopefully, Mickey will follow suit.

Must be a regional thing. None of the McDs around here have a TV playing anything.

I think the order is wrong. It is more natural to do the walk-in portion first and then do the drive-through. Workers can tell something is up if you drive through and then come in and decide to eat in. Who does that??

I thought you could do them in any order. Has that changed?

I have done the walk-in portion first for years. Nothing bad has happened yet.

goskins Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought you could do them in any order. Has
> that changed?


You can do them in any order. The difference is that there's an additional 5 minute wait if you choose to do the drive-thru first.

Most importantly for me is that if I do the dine in last, I can stay past the time window of the shop. As long as I wait five minutes after the drive thru and enter the location within the listed timeframe, I can relax and leave whenever I want.

My last McD was rejected. It was an awful shop. The drive-thru associate did not give me my drink, short change me by $1, and did not give me a receipt. He distracted me by talking about my car. After I drove off, I walked back to the window to get the dollar he owed me. As soon as he saw me, he asked if he owed me a dollar. Wonder why he knew that before I said anything? My guess is he knew he did it. I also asked for the receipt. He said it was in the bag. Nope.

Then after I drove off the parking lot I realized he did not give me my drink. The reason I did not miss it was because I was still drinking from the Dine In drink. I drove back and instead of walking over to the window, I just stayed in line and waited until I got to the window. Again, the associate knew that he did not give me my drink.

My report was rejected because the editor claimed I should not drive back through the drive thru. How am I supposed to know that? I cannot park and walk to the window again because I almost got ran over the first time.

I think I am done with McD.

The previous reject was because I waited for the cashier to see if she will upgrade or try to sell me something to add to my sandwich. This is the scenario in most restaurant shops, not fast food. I have done lots of restaurant shops and it was important to see if the cashier tried to upsell. Not so at McDonalds. Not only don't they care, but they rejected the report altogether. Two trips with no pay? That's $24 and I don' even like the food. Most of it ended up in the garbage.

Yes, I am done with McD. I will no longer accept shops even when they call and offer bonuses.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2014 09:52PM by BetteL.

Why would you assume that what is true "most" places is true for "all" places? You have to read the instructions for the shop you are doing. Some places are all about the suggestive sells or upsells; some are all about the timings and couldn't care less about suggestions. Some places want you to ask a question about a new item; the shop is all about product knowledge and pushing the item du jour.

You're going to have a short career as a mystery shopper if you think "seen one FF shop, you've seen them all" because they are not all alike.

Cell phone shops are not all alike.

Bank shops are not all alike.

New home and apartment shops are not all alike.

Usually there are some commonality. For instance most (but again, not all) FF and restaurant and convenience store shops want you to check the restroom.

But you have to read the instructions and do the shop you're assigned, not the shop you think you should be doing.

Sorry you lost two shops, but most shops tell you specifically what to do if the order is wrong, you don't get everything, your change is wrong, you don't get a receipt, whatever. If you don't fix it the way they tell you to fix it, you just blew the shop.


I don't do McD's because the shops are too fussy for my liking.