McDonald's Needs Rehaul of Customer Service

Yeah, that is a bit ridiculous that they were playing the video game
and not letting your child use it when it's clearly there for the
children of customers.
An apology to you I can understand because you were the customer. I
would say do your own parenting and explain to your daughter that what
they did was wrong and leave it at that.

Does the child's mother know you let her wander around on her own when
you take her out in public?

they were using a game computer for 5 minutes?


In my opinion... if there was no one else working or at the registers
then that would be a problem.

But if there were others working then... No I don't see an issue, not
if they were only playing for 5 minutes. Then, in my opinion, it
would fall under "taking a break".


A 5 minute wait is *not* horrible.



Though perhaps it was horrible to the child. I know that sometimes
with young children when they want to play with something they find
the concept of "wait your turn" frustrating. And that even a 5 minute
wait is too much to bear.

Thankfully it's a stage most children grow out of.

Assuming that the computer in question is what I'm picturing--a sort
of high-tech extension to the Playplace, meant for patrons'
entertainment--then I agree with you. It wouldn't be acceptable for
employees on breaks to take over the ball pit or twisty-slide, or to
sit at the last available table, so I don't see why your daughter
shouldn't have had priority to play with the computer. While I
believe it could be acceptable for employees to play with the computer
during breaks or slow times, I think they should be mindful of
customers who might want to use it, and should offer it promptly.

I understand how frustrating it is to stand at a fast food counter and
be simply ignored (for reasons other than busyness). I hope this
letter elicits a positive response.

I did a google search and all I could find out is that McDonald's is
now offering wireless internet connection in some locations and
providing actual computers in other locations. I found nothing about
any children's computers.
I'm inclined to believe that the computer's are there out of
convenience for anyone who might need internet access while eating at
McDonalds. I would not send my three year old to "play" on a computer
while I stood in line to order. In fact, if I was at a McDonalds (or
anywhere that computers are provided) and needed to use a computer and
found a three year old (or any other age child) "playing" on one, I
would probably say something to the manager about needing to monitor
who uses the computers. It's like parents who let their kids "play"
with the gift registry computers. There's either a kid "playing" on it
when I need to use it or its out of service because some kid "played"
with it :)

I have read most of the posts and I have never seen a computer in a
McDs before. I'm thinking it might be one of those touch screen ones?
I can't see a computer with internet access at a fast food
place..thing would be destroyed.

When I bring my 5 year old to these places, he's there to eat, if he
gets started on some computer he would never leave.

I'm not against the idea of a three-year-old child asking two grown
men if she could have a turn. It's not like she was in a dark alley at
midnight; it was McDonalds, it was a public place, and these were
employees. I think it's a good teaching experience.

But unfortunately a good teaching moment was lost as well: waiting
your turn. The employees were in the middle of a game on their breaks;
it's not like they were sitting there for a half-hour hogging the
machine. If they had finished their game and started another one, then
yes, I'd be completely on your side. But what was the harm in telling
your child that she had to wait until the employees were done, which,
as you stated, was only five minutes? Or was it that it was just
inconvenient for YOU?

The inefficiency of the store is quite another matter. Personally, I
don't think waiting five minutes for an order is that excessive, but
that's just me. However, they should have someone at the register or
ready to man the register at all times.

I've read more posts this morning and I for one have never been in a
mickey d's with a computer... so I was assuming the computers are
those big clunky ones for children. I had zero clue they have real
ones...If they are real ones that can go anywhere on the net.. THEN
the child does need supervision on the computer. Not because of the
boogie man in McDonalds... because of all of the offensive sites on
the internet. Who knows what the last people were surfing. All the
child has to do is (and mine learned this really early) is go to the
pull down and click.

I'm really confused, I'm just not seeing the crime in two folks
spending 5 minutes playing computer games on their breaks, and I don't
understand why they should have stopped to accommodate a 3 year old.
I've been to a Mcdonalds with the computers and they were available to
everyone. That should include employees who want to relax for 5
minutes on break shouldn't it.

"- Talk to the managment at this store to revise its policy to have
somoene at the register - the elderly gentleman and the postal worker
were both quite irrate with me as well."

Who? What something left out?

WOW! I remember being so thrilled when they opened the first indoor
playground! Slides and ball pits and those weird, uncomfortable
rocking Grimace and Hamburglars.

Kids today! Geez!

So what if 2 employees were playing the game on their breaks! My
goodness! You should be teaching your daughter to wait her turn.

Does anyone have the real story?? Everyone is all over the OP for
leaving her child when she should have been watching her. In any
McDonald's location I've ever been to, the children's play area is
clearly visible from the counter. In most cases the entire play area
is encased in clear plexiglass so that you can see your child at all
times and so your child can't simply run off.

There are those of you that choose to believe that the OP is putting
her child into a dangerous situation by leaving her unattended. I
choose to believe, from my own past experiences, that the child was
perfectly safe. I also see no reason why the parent should have had
to go over and ask the *grown* men to get off of the computers.
Assuming of course that they are like the ones I've seen before,
designed for children.

Aren't those computers for use by people of any age? I have used one,
in another McD's, to surf the internet.

If these people were on break, well, even though they aren't customers
I don't see this being a big deal. It sounds like they left within 5
minutes, and didn't bogart the thing. If they stayed on the whole
time you were there, that would be different.

As far as the counter service, is this typical? Do you visit this
McD's every time? Is the service the same every time?

I think the point the lady is trying to make is the mgr. & employee of
the restraunt (even on break) decided that they were playing on a game
that is meant for a child at a child friendly rest. If she could see
her 3yr old... and the computers are there for the kids. Great
customer service to tell her to wait...

I have to agree with the other posters. Leaving a 3 year old alone
with strange men while ordering food is not the best plan. Further,
to expect a 3 year old little girl to ask adult men to let her play on
the computer while you were off ordering food is....unbelievable.
What on earth were you thinking?

While I agree that it sounds as if the customer service needs some
improvement at that store, your 3 year old has no idea what's going
on. To me the lesson that was learned here was that the world
revolves around the child and everything should come to a stop when
the child arrives, preferably with Mom after the food order has been
ordered and received. It would have been a good opportunity to teach
the child about sharing and waiting one's turn. (Yes, I agree the
employees shouldn't have been playing, but better to teach a lesson
about sharing than giving the child the impression the world revolves
around them.)

Dear lord. You want them to apologize to a three-year-old over
something like this? Great. Then in 20 years, she'll be at this
site, demanding apologies all over the place.

Besides, shouldn't you be WATCHING your three-year-old, not sending
her off to sit in front of a computer? And shouldn't YOU be the one
asking adults to get off the computer, not having her do that? That
just seems weird to me.