McDonald's "fries with that" combos

I don't know if this is a national campaign or just in our area, but McDonald's has had a summer promotion going where you can get a sandwich and small fries for $2.50. Among the choices is the filet-o-fish sandwich.

Earlier this week, I was doing a McDonald's shop and ordered a filet-o-fish extra value meal on one leg of the shop. The cashier rang up the combo with small fries instead of the EV meal. I explained that I wanted the EV meal with medium fries. He said, "It's a lot more expensive that way."

I appreciate that the guy was trying to save me a couple of dollars. Honestly, I don't know why ANYONE would order an EV meal when the only difference is a small vs. a medium order of fries and the difference in price is over $2! I feared I was outed by insisting on a medium.

Anyone else have that problem this summer with the promotion going on?

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They don't have that promotion around here, but i don't see the issue there. you wanted medium fries, and he tried to give you a small. sure, it was $2 more, but that doesn't out you as a shopper. If we want something bad enough, we'll pay for it, right? You wanted more fries. A lot of times worrying about being outed is just shopper paranoia. With that said, I ALWAYS specify "medium fries, and medium drink". i'll never mention value meal because then the chance of a mishap goes up.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2015 08:04PM by jay225.

At least he didn't tell you you should be eating smaller portions or something.

Simple, you tell them you want medium fries, which was why you wanted the extra value meal. I get the same weird look when I insist that I want a 6 piece McNugget extra value meal instead of a 10 piece.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

I recently did a FF shop and it was the same sort of dance. I asked for a medium drink and they put large on the COD screen for 99 cent. I then asked a second time for a medium drink. The cashier sighed loudly right through the speaker and changed the drink from large to medium and the price went to $1.89. She thought I was an idiot and not the mystery shopper as she did not repeat the order back to me and said barely two words when I got to the cashier window. I stopped worrying about being outed by FF employees for following the guidelines.

Again, these are examples of something a normal customer wouldn't do! I hate when I'm not supposed to ask for a combo to see if they offer one, then add on the fries and drink. Sometimes the cashier charges me for a combo, but sometimes I think I piss him off enough and he just rings me up separately, probably muttering to homself about what an idiot I am. They should just accept the cashier doing his job and let us move on. Otherwise I would think we'd stick out like a sore thumb the next time we came to buy the more expensive "value" meal.

Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do

They have that promo in ND, at least I saw a sign. When I did that shop today, they rang it up as I said and did not offer that $2.50 deal. I'm glad too cause I hate those awkward situations described above too that make us look like stupid customers!

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

Again, these are examples of something a normal customer wouldn't do!

McDonald's is the prime example of a client who doesn't care and is going through the motions when it comes to mystery shopping. They came up with a thoroughly bizarre shopping method that sounded good to them and kept it up for years despite having concrete evidence it wasn't working. And judging by their financials it looks like they're just as terrible at every other aspect of running a company as they are at this.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2015 03:53AM by af517.

The client has guidelines for a reason. If we follow them we perform the shop correctly. I keep seeing posts alluding to ordering differently than the guidelines require.

If the guidelines say ask for the meal, then follow them. If they say order each item separate then do so. Unless the guidelines say the receipt must prove you asked for condiments, stop outing yourself by asking as much. If the guidelines say do not correct mistakes, then do not correct them, and visa-versa.

By the way, in my area the receipts will list the main item then the drink with it's size, nothing else unless it's a special order. The fries are not listed when you order a meal. The client knows if you followed the guidelines.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

@isaiah58 wrote:

If the guidelines say ask for the meal, then follow them. If they say order each item separate then do so. Unless the guidelines say the receipt must prove you asked for condiments, stop outing yourself by asking as much. If the guidelines say do not correct mistakes, then do not correct them, and visa-versa.

The shop I was doing did not have a combo meal for that chicken sandwich, so I had to order the drink and fries separately.

When offered an upsize, even if it's free, no one ever questions if I just say, "If I have them, I will eat them…" (Or "If you gave me a large I would drink it. *sigh*)

@scanman1 wrote:

@isaiah58 wrote:

If the guidelines say ask for the meal, then follow them. If they say order each item separate then do so. Unless the guidelines say the receipt must prove you asked for condiments, stop outing yourself by asking as much. If the guidelines say do not correct mistakes, then do not correct them, and visa-versa.
The shop I was doing did not have a combo meal for that chicken sandwich, so I had to order the drink and fries separately.

Just because it isn't on the menu doesn't mean it isn't available. Your way was probably fine. For that one I ordered a medium combo meal and received one. Same for any other protein you can order, all actually can be ordered as a combo meal.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

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McDonald's "fries with that" combos

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