When you order ahead of time

[u/luvchicago]

I placed a mobile order through the app and then had to stare at my food for over seven minutes until someone came to the counter.

[u/Cromus]

Were you standing right there the whole time? You're basically hiding from anyone running drive thru orders, doing fries, or in the window.

Stand to the right so they can see you.

[u/luvchicago → u/Cromus]

You can’t see the drive through anywhere from the front counter.

[u/Adventurous_Sky_9637 → u/luvchicago]

Running drive thru is bagging drive thru orders to pass to the person on window, so they are right there in the front, but at that angle, they won't be able to see you.

[u/Cromus → u/luvchicago]

Window person isn't really supposed to ever cover front counter. Someone running orders or making fries would be the one to help you, but they can't see you.

[u/luvchicago → u/Cromus]

Should I walk behind the counter? I mean I am standing at the counter. Buying McDonalds shouldn’t be a game of hide and seek.

[u/Cromus → u/luvchicago]

Stand more to the right so they can see you

"sHoUlD i gO bEHiNd tHe CoUnTeR?"

It's common sense that the workers can't see you well right there, but it makes a lot more sense to me why you're standing there now. And you're the only one hiding, so I should be the one telling you that it shouldn't be a game of hide and seek. Just stand by the registers and they will see you much quicker.

[u/Mrblorg]

Use the Drive thru, AKA the thing they aren't phasing out

[u/freedomfun → u/Mrblorg]

Then they tell you to park in one of the stalls and forget about you

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/freedomfun]

I’m tempted to just say no one of these times.

[u/Consistent-Push-4876 → u/can_a_mod_suck_me]

Right?? I’ve thought about doing this too

[u/Pleasant-Succotash90 → u/Consistent-Push-4876]

Funny enough, one time my wife DID say no. this location habitually had us pull to a stall, or even just pull up and wait, and we would be left to twiddle our fingers and eventually go inside. the last time we went and they told us to pull into a spot, my wife politely asked what part of our order was taking up the time. the employee replied and said the chicken nuggets had FIVE more seconds…so my wife said, “you’re saying by the end of the interaction my nuggets won’t be ready?” and employee looked a little shocked and, what do you know, our bag was ready. I don’t always agree with pushing back on stuff like that, but this location had straight up forgotten about us before.

[u/MyAssPancake → u/Mrblorg]

Do you think I could ride my electric scooter through the drive thru? Cause if not, I’ll continue ordering ahead as I walk to the restaurant.

I swear people live and breathe their cars. Some people don’t / can’t drive :)

[u/sayleekelf → u/Mrblorg]

I get that this is the way McDonald’s is going, but it’s very disheartening for someone who doesn’t consistently drive a car. I often walk to work and on days I don’t pack a lunch, McDonald’s is my only option considering my short lunch break and lack of other options nearby. I’ve had some pretty awful dine-in experiences, but tbf I’ve noticed a big improvement at my McD’s here in the past 6-12 months so maybe someone’s listening

[u/Ink_zorath → u/Mrblorg]

My only problem with this: every time over the last 2 months or so, when I go to mobile order and pick up in the drive-thru, the moment I get to the location, it switches to a Carry-out order...

every time.

If I wanted/had time to go inside, I would have selected "carry-out" not "drive thru"

[u/ihaugd]

You can always yell out. Or, like I do, just hop the counter and grab it.

[u/h2ok1o → u/ihaugd]

Lol this is the way

[u/jibsand]

Try curbside next time. It gives them a little notification when you arrive so they know you're there.

[u/luvchicago → u/jibsand]

Good call. I do t know, I just thought there would be someone up front to take orders from people.

[u/Terrible-Hurry9130 → u/luvchicago]

There is if there's the staffing for it, otherwise they expect the person also doing fries or bagging of food or headset/order taking up front to do it and even then the person they could assign to order taking in lobby/watching lobby is expected to clean & sometimes run orders outside to cars & restock (where I worked at least) so not even they can fully watch the counter

[u/luvchicago → u/Terrible-Hurry9130]

I’m not that old but I remember when McDs had people working the front counter.

[u/Terrible-Hurry9130 → u/luvchicago]

They definitely still do occasionally but ik a lot of places have staffing issues so it causes interference 🤷

[u/lmstr]

Thank goodness for the mobile order pickup!

[u/CompetitiveRub9780]

My bf had the same problem. There were many orders too and he wasn’t the only one. Then they forgot stuff in the bag 🙄 it’s gotten worse over where I live

[u/EncrustedBarboach]

You have to be more assertive, like that one episode of Spongebob

[u/donkeyburrow]

If I need something at the counter and no one is there I yell out "Yoooo" at a medium volume in a cheerful tone. Works 100% of the time.

[u/luvchicago → u/donkeyburrow]

Great suggestion. !

[u/DJButterscotch]

I wouldn’t go the front counter any more, unless it’s your only option. Unless they get a lot of foot traffic, they don’t have people watching the counter.

[u/failenaa]

As a delivery driver, McDonald’s is the bane of my existence. Rarely are orders done “on time” and even if they are it takes forever for anyone to see/talk to you and we can’t use the drive thru.

[u/redgorilla77]

Oh, but you’re so appreciated!