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Not sure where this data is coming from but for months now I've been ordering ice cream through the McDonalds app only to find out when I get there that the mac

Not sure where this data is coming from but for months now I've been ordering ice cream through the McDonalds app only to find out when I get there that the machine is broken and that they can't cancel or refund the order, which ultimately results in a stressful cash refund. It's happened multiple times at various locations around Manhattan. Eventually I'll just use this method to get 30-day cash loans on my credit card.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ThinkBeat 6y ago
Take it from someone who has spent a few summers troubleshooting, fixing, flushing and cleaning soft serve ice cream machine. If they are not working one day do not go back there and buy ice cream. There are few employees who are trained to maintain and clean those thing at McDonald's. If they get gross they usually just turn them off which cuts the cooling and then it gets very very nasty. Getting a bellyache is the bear to hope for. Disclaimer. I didn't work for McDonald's and it was two decades ago. It still puke a little if I even see people eating it 3 hours I'm a closed kiosk at 31C cleaning out machines is a nightmare. The smell is horrible. But they didn't allow opening the flaps and letting air conditioning since it would be optically and stinkwise off putting for customers
- cvhashim 6y ago
  McDisgusting
majewsky 6y ago
Worst. ATM. Ever.
fma 6y ago
Well if you keep doing this and your credit card gives like a 5% cash back on restaurant purchases...this is virtually free money?
- ipsum2 6y ago
  Until the one time it does work, and you end up with 500 ice cream cones.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
    Yeah, now you have 500 ice cream cones so it's still a win:)
- jdmichal 6y ago
  It's not free. That cash refund isn't refunding the merchant their processing costs for the credit card. And that's what's paying your 5% cash back. The store is losing a pennies each time that happens and some of them are flowing to you.
  - Sebb767 6y ago
    Well, yes, but it's also them not refunding via the original payment processor and them letting the order go through despite being unable to fulfil it. I don't want to make a point that this is the moral thing to do, but the error is with McD here.
    - jdmichal 6y ago
      I'm not making any moral judgement. I'm just explaining where that money is coming from, and that it's not "free". Also, issuing a refund would still likely incur fees with the processor. They may dodge fees if they are within the window to void the transaction instead. Depends on their processor and contract.
      - somehnguy 6y ago
        I don't think anyone was under the impression that it's 'free money' to everyone involved. It's 'free money' to the person it happens to (original poster).
oh_sigh 6y ago
If this is true you're also earning points for your purchase. I don't know why they wouldn't be able to refund an app-based order though beyond ignorance, considering I've had it done before.
Can_Not 6y ago
McDonald's mobile ordering has multiple contradictory and nonfunctional answers on how to get a refund, and I'm not sure any of them actually work. I'm going to try a chargeback soon.
DrScump 6y ago
Starbucks is really bad at this as well. I used to sit at a counter next to the pickup shelf, and probably 40 times a month just during times I was there, a mobile order would come through for unavailable items.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ThinkBeat 6y ago

Take it from someone who has spent a few summers troubleshooting, fixing, flushing and cleaning soft serve ice cream machine. If they are not working one day do not go back there and buy ice cream. There are few employees who are trained to maintain and clean those thing at McDonald's. If they get gross they usually just turn them off which cuts the cooling and then it gets very very nasty. Getting a bellyache is the bear to hope for. Disclaimer. I didn't work for McDonald's and it was two decades ago. It still puke a little if I even see people eating it 3 hours I'm a closed kiosk at 31C cleaning out machines is a nightmare. The smell is horrible. But they didn't allow opening the flaps and letting air conditioning since it would be optically and stinkwise off putting for customers

cvhashim 6y ago
McDisgusting

majewsky 6y ago

Worst. ATM. Ever.

fma 6y ago

Well if you keep doing this and your credit card gives like a 5% cash back on restaurant purchases...this is virtually free money?

ipsum2 6y ago
Until the one time it does work, and you end up with 500 ice cream cones.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
  Yeah, now you have 500 ice cream cones so it's still a win:)
jdmichal 6y ago
It's not free. That cash refund isn't refunding the merchant their processing costs for the credit card. And that's what's paying your 5% cash back. The store is losing a pennies each time that happens and some of them are flowing to you.
- Sebb767 6y ago
  Well, yes, but it's also them not refunding via the original payment processor and them letting the order go through despite being unable to fulfil it. I don't want to make a point that this is the moral thing to do, but the error is with McD here.
  - jdmichal 6y ago
    I'm not making any moral judgement. I'm just explaining where that money is coming from, and that it's not "free". Also, issuing a refund would still likely incur fees with the processor. They may dodge fees if they are within the window to void the transaction instead. Depends on their processor and contract.
    - somehnguy 6y ago
      I don't think anyone was under the impression that it's 'free money' to everyone involved. It's 'free money' to the person it happens to (original poster).

oh_sigh 6y ago

If this is true you're also earning points for your purchase. I don't know why they wouldn't be able to refund an app-based order though beyond ignorance, considering I've had it done before.

Can_Not 6y ago

McDonald's mobile ordering has multiple contradictory and nonfunctional answers on how to get a refund, and I'm not sure any of them actually work. I'm going to try a chargeback soon.

DrScump 6y ago

Starbucks is really bad at this as well. I used to sit at a counter next to the pickup shelf, and probably 40 times a month just during times I was there, a mobile order would come through for unavailable items.