Monday, April 26, 2010

McDonald's assignment

I went to a McDonald’s restaurant which is located in 3rd avenue Manhattan. This McDonald’s is small but is nicely kept. When I come in, I saw a McDonald’s staff is cleaning the table and the chairs. I look around the whole place, there are about 7 - 8 people working. It’s not very crowded at this time since rush hour is already past. The cashiers up there are waiting to accept orders so he says hello to me and ask me what I want.
Then I place my order. I told him that I need a small hamburger with 4 pickles, a small fries with no salt and well done, and finally I want my receipt. Then he asked me anything else. I ask him if I could get a receipt first before I pay the order. He said he could not print out the receipt before I finish paying my order. I told him that I need a receipt which shows a hamburger with 4 pickles on it and a small fries with no salt and well done. He was confused. He told me that he would help me with this special order and he would not charge any addition on this order. I thought he was confused at what I am asking for, so I explain to him. I told him I didn’t mean that. I just want my receipt with my order clearly printed on it. It’s important. He said all right and told me that he has to talk to the manager first. He told me to wait a minute. Then he went back to the kitchen and talked to a lady at the back. I believed the lady there is the manager in this restaurant. After a while the manager and he came back and asked me my order again: ”you want a hamburger with 4 pickles and small fry no salt well done?” I nod and said yes. Then she asked me if I need anything else. I said no. Then she told me that the small fries with no salt and well done cannot be printed on the receipt. I told her that this is very important. She looked at me and said sorry that she can’t solve this technical problem. She told me if I wish she can write this for me. So I agreed. She then shows the cashier how to print out this receipt. I saw her pushing the button on the screen and the cashier was carefully watching and listening to her.
I used my credit card to pay my order. The manager wrote down the word 4 and no salt well done on the receipt and gave it to me. Then she went back to the kitchen and asked two staffs working there to make a specially order of 4 pickle hamburger. The cashier went to the French fries machine and pick up a small fries that all has been ready cooked. I asked him can you make some fresh fries for me. He said it’s ok but I had to wait a few more minutes. I said fine I’ll wait. He asked another staff who was arranging things there to cook some more fries. That staff picked out a large bag of frozen fries and put them into the oil. In less than a minute the hamburger is already done. The cashier gave me the hamburger and told me that my fries would be soon ready also. Then he helped next customer and after a while he gave me the fries and said have a nice day. I said thank you. The whole process took in less than 5 minutes.
The overall experience is pleasant even thought at the beginning we misunderstood each other. There are 5 people involve in this special order. The cashiers are mainly responsible for taking customers orders and try to satisfy what customers need. However, in a special case of handing this kind of order, they show a lack of special training at taking special orders and they need the help of the manager. After they solve this difficulty, the whole order and management process is smooth. They simply communicate each other on how to get the job done. They divide the work to different people and everyone response to what their positions need to. The time that they handle special order is acceptable. However, I believe this would be getting worse during rush hour when people come here all want their special order. Even though this is the case that is less likely to happen, I think they have to improve their ability in handling special order from customers.

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