For many Singaporeans, McDonald’s is easily accessible comfort food.
However, one customer was left with discomfort after allegedly waiting more than one hour for his order.
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
As other customers and delivery riders faced similar long waits, a crowd formed at the outlet.
The customer took to the Complaint Singapore Facebook page to share his experience in a post on Saturday (7 Jan).
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
He said he visited the McDonald’s outlet in Loyang Point on Friday (6 Jan) night, intending to buy dinner as he was starving.
Source: Google Maps
Thinking that the fast-food chain would supply him with a fast meal to satiate his hunger, he ordered a meal at 9.40pm.
He said he didn’t notice the foreboding crowd at the collection counter when he placed his order.
After walking around for 10 minutes, he returned to McDonald’s and found that his number was still listed under “preparing”.
It was also getting more crowded at the collection counter.
Many of the people waiting were the ubiquitous food delivery riders. They complained that they had waited for more than an hour — a long time for delivery riders as time is money for them.
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
As he waited, he saw lots of prepared food and open boxes “squashed together”, he said.
The customer also observed that the outlet manager and two other crew members were focusing on preparing food for delivery platforms.
In contrast, he claimed that just one male crew member was checking order slips and preparing food for customers at the outlet.
Even one of the delivery riders helped with the orders but apparently only focused on delivery orders.
He felt that customers who were physically queuing and waiting for their food were being neglected.
After about 30 minutes, the OP may have thought his wait was over, as his number flashed under “now serving”.
However, his food did not appear, he said.
10 minutes later, his number disappeared, but he still had no food, he claimed.
Not surprisingly, some impatient customers started to ask the staff where their food was but received the standard answer of, “I’ll check”.
He then quoted the manager as saying,
We are all busy preparing your food, as you can see we are very busy, so wait.
The OP also claimed that a woman threw a tantrum and started “throwing foods around”, dropping pies and a basket for fries on the floor.
In response, he heard the manager telling her to “relax”.
Eventually, about four to five customers ended up asking for a refund while he was there.
Worse still, the OP said he witnessed some alleged “very, very poor food handling/preparing situation” while he was waiting.
For example, he saw staff allegedly sweeping the messy kitchen floor while other crew members were preparing food — which is a no-no, he added.
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
He also claimed that he saw crew members:
The OP eventually received his order at about 11pm, he said.
That means he waited one hour and 20 minutes despite ordering just one Extra Value Meal that included twister fries.
He also had to pay a parking fee for one hour.
Thus, he concluded that he would “never ever go back there again”.
Most netizens who commented on the post shared their own dissatisfactory experiences.
However, some sympathised with the service staff, who worked hard amid a manpower shortage and overwhelming delivery orders.
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
One netizen suggested that McDonald’s temporarily suspend taking delivery orders from platforms during peak periods.
Source: Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook
This is until they can find a solution to the pile-up in outlets that lack manpower.
MS News has reached out to McDonald’s for comment on this matter, and will update this article after they respond.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Mason P Enzaiizi on Complaint Singapore Facebook.
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