Why Is Maccas So Slow Now?

Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 09:41
Last edited 11/08/2023 - 09:43

Back in my younger days, I remember there was a time when Maccas have a sand timer that promises our order to be ready in 1 minute, otherwise it's free. There were some exceptions, and the staff told us ahead, but it was otherwise a fun experience, as we hope to get our meals for free as we watch the sand goes down.

These days, whenever I ask the staff if it can be ready in even 5 minutes, because I'm catching a bus or train, they always lazily say no.

Why fast food becomes so slow and expensive?

Food & Grocery

Related Stores

McDonald's
McDonald's

Comments

  • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 09:44
    +62

    Everything is now assembled to order. If it's busy then they will be slow.

    It's not like the 1980s where there was 20 big mac's under heat lamps waiting.

      • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 09:49
        +10

        Probably short staffed then. Don't wait in line. Use a kiosk and pay at the kiosk.

          • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 09:50
            +11

            @Frankensnore: Kiosk is way quicker than waiting to be served.

            • brendanm on 11/08/2023 - 10:29
              +28

              @MS Paint: God I hate the kiosk

              • greenwarpy on 12/08/2023 - 11:45
                +41

                @brendanm: "Hey we're out of printer paper, I hope you remembered what your order number is because we're not going to show you it again!"

              • witheredcouch on 15/08/2023 - 09:17

                @brendanm: Kiosk every time, any place that has them, generally less of a queue, I don't have to deal with say misunderstanding sauces or changing orders etc, it's all baked in to the order. Only negative is that they never have paper in them.

          • Johnsmithaus on 11/08/2023 - 11:41
            +21

            @Frankensnore: Didn't know maccas provided a guarantee for OldDataGuy's poor time management

          • Jazstar on 12/08/2023 - 12:32
            +4

            @Frankensnore: Kiosk or use the McDonald’s app. You also get points you can use for freebies and special app only deals. Plus no waiting.

            • syousef on 13/08/2023 - 15:49

              @Jazstar: My experience with the Maccas app a while back means I will never use it again. Credit card debited, but it never went to the store. Neither online support nor the store wanted to take responsibility with each referring me to the other. Finally got store credit but it took weeks. Never again.

          • Geoff01 on 13/08/2023 - 08:24
            +3

            @Frankensnore: Didn't think you could eat and drink on a train

          • OhmyRyzen on 13/08/2023 - 14:36
            +2

            @Frankensnore: Skill issue.

        • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 09:51
          +6

          It's not slow to be served, but slow to get my food. Kiosk doesn't solve the bottleneck my friend

          • CalmLemons on 12/08/2023 - 14:30
            -2

            @Frankensnore: Your experience is pretty anectodal.

            Maybe get a car so you don't need to catch a bus or train.

            :S

            Or just don't eat McDonalds, pack your own lunch.

      • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2023 - 09:50
        +9

        There isn't 20 Big Macs waiting because everything is made to order. Well assembled to order, as they do get the meat ready ahead of time. Plus you don't know how many delivery orders they are making that were put in ahead of you. Also maybe they are just lazy and the workers are stoned and tired who knows. I know in my Maccas days I wouldn't get through a shift without sneaking out the back in the loading bay for a cheeky cone.

        • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 09:53

          Big difference between assembled to order and made to order

          • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2023 - 09:56
            +5

            @Frankensnore: To be fair most burger restaurants aren't cutting lettuce and stuff to order, they have GN trays filled with pre-prepared ingredients and are basically just assembling the burgers too.

          • Crow K on 11/08/2023 - 09:59
            +31

            @Frankensnore: I think the trick is when the person tells you "things are made to order these days, the days of the hourglass and heatlamps are long gone" you say "okay" and assimilate that knowledge into your brain, you don't need to debate the merits of the fast food industry's current practices with strangers.

            unless, you know, you're assuming we control the shops and your well-considered nostalgia will sway us to update the way we run things

            • tanguyen on 12/08/2023 - 10:06
              +9

              @Crow K: I've read what you're written at least five times and it's been satisfyingly enjoyable each time.

            • Jazstar on 12/08/2023 - 12:33
              +3

              @Crow K: Exactly. This guy hear questioning everyone like they run McDonald’s operations and strategy behind it.

      • Sammy2000 on 11/08/2023 - 10:36

        If there are burgers sitting there waiting, then everyone asks for changes so it is made fresh. Unless you are in a hurry.
        They are franchises so it might just be a slow store.

        • Huntakillaz on 11/08/2023 - 11:18
          +3

          This,
          Made to order > pre made sitting there getting stale

          Also reduces waste, before if food had been sitting there a few hrs they had to throw it out.

      • Drakesy on 11/08/2023 - 12:29
        +2

        So why isn't there 20 big macs waiting?

        Food Hygiene standards, people now complaining about every little ingredient, allergies to certain parts of the burger, more extensive menu and anyone asking for a freshly made hot burger ruling the pre-made idea pointless.

          • Forfiet on 11/08/2023 - 14:12
            +2

            @Frankensnore: The people work just as hard….maybe more so….for every new thing they automate, a job disappears or duties get shifted around….Besides running around like chickens with your head cut off helps no one….

          • johninmelb on 11/08/2023 - 21:31
            +8

            @Frankensnore: At least when they had the heat lamps the burgers were hot. Today they are stone cold by the time you get them. I rarely bother to go now as I hate cold food and Maccas have just got progressively worse. I have complained numerous times. Area manager gives me some vouchers for more cold food! I stick to fish and chips - hot out of the fryer. More food as well for much the same cost. Just a slightly longer wait time, but oh so worth it.

            Pity the people who order Maccas from Uber, if it is cold when the guy picks up, it would be inedible by the time it got to your house. But I am old now, I guess cold, or lukewarm food at best is the the thing now, and either I get with the times or don't buy it. That is an easy choice to make. In any case I make way better burgers at home, and there's even recipes for the "special sauce" online. Also make great filet of fish burgers and mcmuffins as well.

            • ceroau on 13/08/2023 - 21:30

              @johninmelb: I'm guessing they just don't like you. My fast food when eaten in store is never cold or lukewarm. Ofcourse it isn't piping hot by the time I get home, it never was back in the heat lamp days either.

              Also not encouraging you to eat fast food but microwaving a cold burger is going to be of the same quality as a hot burger that sat under a heat lamp for hours so if you got a hard on for the "good ol days" just buy it and nuke it.

          • Scrooge McGoose on 12/08/2023 - 09:04
            +2

            @Frankensnore: I used to be a production called back in the day. I stood behind the production bin, told guys what to make and wrap the crap. In a rush I would call 10-5 CPL (continuous pull-lay) 10 regs(cheese burgers and ask if I want a junior burger) and 5 big macs one after the other, and don't stop until we get a head of the rush.

          • Jazstar on 12/08/2023 - 12:34

            @Frankensnore: The quality and variety of McDonald’s burgers is better now though.

          • SydStrand on 12/08/2023 - 19:55
            +1

            @Frankensnore:

            What used to make it fast is probably fewer options on the menu, more people working, more customers ordering. Today's people is more laid back and paid more too. Until robots replaced those

            You've answered your own question. So what's the second part for? You're still getting a meal for less than less than $15, is ready in 5 minutes, and is prepared by teenagers. If that's too much for you, prepare your own dinner. Nothing worse than boomers whining about service staff. Take this 'in my day' shit back to the 50s.

          • Jolakot on 13/08/2023 - 19:43
            +2

            @Frankensnore: McDonald's mostly hires 14/15 year olds because they can pay them less than minimum wage, what do you expect?

        • smartazz104 on 12/08/2023 - 11:24
          +1

          These people shouldn’t be eating out.

      • ColtNoir on 12/08/2023 - 08:43
        +3

        Because 20 big mac’s waiting is what they moved away from. I think you missed the memo.

        Make your own breakfast or make the time for maccas.

      • Windows98 on 12/08/2023 - 18:53

        Hardly anyone goes into take away restaurants now. You might be the only one there but there's a good chance they have a bunch of food delivery orders in the queue

      • cnrmlj on 14/08/2023 - 15:32

        Because no one wants lettuce sitting under a heat lamp. Vile.

        Happy to wait a few minutes for them to assemble to order. Much nicer.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 11/08/2023 - 10:50
      +8

      I was in London a few months ago and went to a McDonald's that still had 20 Big Macs under heat lamps and it was glorious. Get in, get your food, get out. Much prefer that system. I miss it.

      • jjjaar on 13/08/2023 - 08:49

        In train stations in Netherlands they have fast food shops that have pre-made burgers, hot dogs, fries, etc just sitting in little vending machine boxes so you can just pick what you want, pay, and the little box opens for you to take it.

        https://dutchreview.com/dutch-quirks/dutch-quirk-107-eat-foo…

        Maybe OP needs to start up this business here?

      • watwatwat on 13/08/2023 - 17:00
        +2

        under heat lamps and it was glorious

        Wow. Agree to disagree.

        Old disgusting food sitting around for ages used to be gross in fast food.

        Making it fresh and waiting a few mins is so much better.

        Agree to disagree. Luckily the entire industry sided with my viewpoint.

        • MrMcHairyHead on 14/08/2023 - 09:46

          "A few minutes" at McDonald's is usually 10+ now. It's worse in the UK too, often 20 minutes or more. What's the point of fast food if it isn't fast?

          And I disagree that it's disgusting. It tastes fine.

    • Flying Ace on 11/08/2023 - 12:57
      +1

      At least they were actually big back then!

      • sunarde on 14/08/2023 - 14:17
        +1

        The classic beef burgers to my understanding still use the same amount of meat and thus has not changed in size for at least 20 years:

        Big Macs and Cheeseburgers use a 1:10 meat (one 10th of a pound of meat)
        Quarter Pounder uses 1:4 meat (one 4th of a pound of meat).

        I don't believe they changed the recipe at all since I worked there on $4/hr in high school.

    • boomramada on 12/08/2023 - 09:14
      +1

      Nah, when comparing with post assembled to order era, maccas are slow than they used to be.

      This could be due to delivery orders.

    • cdaddy on 12/08/2023 - 10:30
      +1

      Is it though? Most of the time the burgers don’t taste like they’ve just been cooked

    • MakkhiChoos on 12/08/2023 - 19:54

      This reminds me. If anyone has time, then to read up on heat lamp theory.

      DRS GME

  • holdenmg on 11/08/2023 - 09:47
    +5

    Why not use the app to order and pay ahead of time?

    • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 09:47
      -8

      Hint is in my name

      • holdenmg on 11/08/2023 - 09:54
        +11

        I guess you gotta make every minute count. lol

      • No on 11/08/2023 - 10:37
        +3

        If you wanna learn how to get / use the app we could talk you through it.

        • cupcake on 11/08/2023 - 10:38
          +9

          It might take 5 minutes though.

      • Huntakillaz on 11/08/2023 - 11:49
        +6

        Or you know take 30mins on some day when you're sitting with your beer yelling at the clouds shaking your fists
        To download open the app and figure out how to order
        Then whenever you have a " I want to eat McDonald's" thought, you can pull out your phone, put your order through and it'll be ready before you even get to the store.

        Then you can shake your fist at the clouds and yell becuase they made it to early and you were not quick enough to get to the store.

    • skid on 11/08/2023 - 16:14

      The order cannot be submitted unless you are inside Maccas already. Not sure why.

    • quick-dry on 12/08/2023 - 04:26
      +1

      paying ahead of time doesn't get it made any faster. They'll still only start making it once you tell them the order code at the drive-thru or click that you're "at the restaurant" ready to pick up - and both are geofenced so you can only do it within a very small area around the store.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 14/08/2023 - 09:46
      +1

      Because that doesn't help. You still have to tell them you're in the restaurant before they start making it.

  • mrkorrupt on 11/08/2023 - 09:47
    +19

    Id rather wait 10 minutes then have a burger waiting 10 minutes

      • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 09:49
        +24

        Then why are we having this conversation?

      • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2023 - 09:53
        +6

        Do you think Maccas are using Dementors to scare their cows to death or something?

        Also Maccas use fresh meat patties for quarter pounder and other large patty burgers now too. Fresh patties are popular now that burgers are hot again, so dealing with fresh patties instead of chucking frozen discs on the automated clamshell grill makes things a little harder in the kitchen.

        • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 09:54
          -7

          I think they are the same unhealthy crap I ate decades ago as it is now. Thanks for the lesson.

          Can anyone who can answer my question please step up

          • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2023 - 09:57

            @Frankensnore: I'm not old enough to know if Maccas used to use fresh patties decades ago or not. The very first Maccas in the US used fresh patties, but they also did not make to order as you know. But by the time they came to Australia they may have been using all frozen patties for all I know.

            • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 10:02
              -1

              @AustriaBargain: I think they are the same thing, processes usually improved over time and sacrifice a bit of quality, not become slower.

              Maccas gourmet line is an exception.

              • AustriaBargain on 11/08/2023 - 13:18

                @Frankensnore: Dealing with fresh patties vs frozen is always going to take longer, but also is an improvement. So it's the reverse of sacrificing quality to save a bit of time; McDonald's have made a change which improves quality but takes a bit longer. It's only the 1/4 pound patties that are fresh now btw, the 1/10 patties are still frozen discs. And I assume the fancier patties are also fresh.

    • timthetoolman on 11/08/2023 - 10:45
      +2

      So 20 minutes for an old burger? Weird

      • Scrooge McGoose on 12/08/2023 - 09:07

        Sure was, 10 minutes was the max holding time where they had to be thrown out, 5 minutes for stuff with tomato. We also had the task of keeping waste low, so we rolled timers, a lot.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 11/08/2023 - 10:50
      +1

      I wouldn't. I had a "heat lamp" burger at a McDonald's in London a few months ago and it was fine.

  • Kongzi on 11/08/2023 - 09:55
    +11

    You sound like you just want to pick a fight

    • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 09:57
      +6

      I agree. I've given up trying to justify any reasoning. FFS

        • Crow K on 11/08/2023 - 10:05
          +9

          "in my imagination the kitchen looks like this, and it only takes a minute to make a burger. now which manager do I need to complain to that reality doesn't match my uneducated fantasies?"

          write a letter to the editor of the local paper. not email - use good ol' fashioned ink and paper, pop a stamp on it. wait a week for it to appear in print, cut it out, stick it on the fridge.

        • Rukiata on 11/08/2023 - 10:58
          +2

          maybe you should work at Mds and i can order from you if your any faster.
          also its 2023 not 2005

        • Protractor on 11/08/2023 - 11:03
          +3

          Rude? You should have and could leave earlier. Time is not a new tech.
          Things change. You haven't

        • ColtNoir on 12/08/2023 - 08:44
          +2

          Have you read your messages? You sound like an ace hole

    • Crow K on 11/08/2023 - 10:00
      +7

      this is a practice yell, he's just waiting for a cloud to appear

  • cupcake on 11/08/2023 - 10:06
    +7

    Impatient Old data Guy wants his order immediately.
    Like back in his younger days lol with a sand timer.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 11/08/2023 - 10:07
    +1

    Bro just download the app and work out where the geofence is for check-in. I make my order when I'm on the train, check in when I get off, by the time I get to the maccas across the road my order is ready.

  • ozbaragan on 11/08/2023 - 10:09
    +1

    Same with Hungry Jack. I drive passed HJ every morning otw to work and every time I decided to stop and order their breakkie menu I would have to wait in the wait bay for around 5mins or even more sometimes. This is why I only order when I have spare time. Fast food is no longer fast.

    • Frankensnore on 11/08/2023 - 11:28

      I forgot about drive thru. They are usually faster.

      I wish I could cancel my order if they ask me to wait in waiting bay though. It's not fair.

      • randomusername2017 on 11/08/2023 - 13:06
        +2

        Friend of yours?

      • hetzjagd on 14/08/2023 - 17:12

        In my experience, at HJ and McDonald's, the drive-thru is not faster and is still painfully slow on a basic order. The whole system is completely stupid and frustrating. I wish I had the energy to add more but it's not worth it. I agree with you though - it's beyond a joke and the people suggesting there's just some trick to it are missing the point, and maybe it works for them but it's not a flawless solution.

        Worst time is middle of the night. No other cars around. In-store access is closed. You…will…wait..

  • Nugs on 11/08/2023 - 10:20
    +2

    "Back in my younger days, I remember there was a time when Maccas"
    maybe it was a short term promo, but when one opened near my high school you go in and recite the 'two beef patties, special sauce…. etc' and got a free drink. it was easy enough to get two drinks when it was crowded as multiple cashiers that didn't realise you already had one
    .

  • randomusername2017 on 11/08/2023 - 10:22
    +4

    sand timer

    You sure it was calibrated correctly.. things moved a lot slower back then.

    Two minute quick oats would solve the problem.. just make sure to avoid the whole oats.

  • altomic on 11/08/2023 - 10:34
    +1

    A (facebook) group where we pretend to be Aussie boomers

  • jugsy on 11/08/2023 - 10:47
    +4

    Minimum wage, shitty below-award conditions, clueless managers, fake unions, list goes on

  • SnowDragon on 11/08/2023 - 10:48
    +16

    I worked at Maccas for quite a few years and can give you a few reasons why

    • Short staffed
      Maccas is low profit high volume, so they try and save money wherever they can. I think my store ran on 20% labour costs for the day.
      Less staff = longer times to make and serve orders
      Short staffed can also mean short on experience. There's a new store near me which is completely hopeless because the staff are under trained.

    • Drive thru
      Stores with drive thrus have KPIs and compete with all other drive thru stores nation wide. Each store has a target between 2:30 and 3:30~ to get a car ordering the food to driving off. You can be the only person in the store, but if drive thru is lined up then you'll likely see 2-3 people packing drive thru orders and occasionally an instore order.

    • Waiting on a product
      A good kitchen crew won't let this happen, but either due to lack of experience, staff or just luck, there can be a 1-4 minute wait on meat or chicken to be cooked.

    • Overall busyness
      Peak times are 10 - 10:30, 11:30 - 1:30, 14:30 - 15:30 (school days) and 17:30 - 19:30
      When there are dual drive thru lanes, multiple kiosk/app orders plus people in store being served then all time frames are thrown out the window, even with appropriate experienced staff.

    If the reason isn't one of the above, then perhaps it's just the attitude and culture of the store.

    • MS Paint on 11/08/2023 - 10:59
      +4

      Don't forget the food delivery services. I've been in a store as the only customer and all the staff were running around like headless chooks. Sure enough a guy walks in tapping his mobile phone and wearing a Bluetooth earpiece. A few moments later a bench full of bags are taped up and he walks out carrying a shit load of food.

      • SnowDragon on 11/08/2023 - 11:53
        +2

        Delivery was before my time, but yes, it seems they are prioritized, second to drive thru.

        One one hand I feel bad seeing them waiting 5+ minutes as time is money for them. But on the other hand I don't like waiting 10 minutes and seeing them swoop in and get their massive order first. Watching the staff take 30 seconds to tape up a single bag also makes me die inside.

        • AngoraFish on 11/08/2023 - 16:11
          +3

          It's not that they're prioritised. It's that the store looks empty and therefore you think you think you're going to be straight in and out when in fact they're working on fulfilling a massive delivery order of 24 Big Macs out the back for a party somewhere you can't see.

          If a delivery driver is able to swoop in and pick up a massive order it's because that order was put in 20 minutes before you arrived, not because the delivery driver is jumping the queue.

      • Ramrunner on 12/08/2023 - 15:32
        -1

        Was wondering when someone was going to mention this.

        It is very disheartening to be waiting on your order and literally delivery drivers popping in and out of doors with orders. Maybe like 5 orders before you get yours.

        I'm sure that waiting for food definitely became a longer task with the amount of people choosing convenience over dollars and cents.

        Funny how we're in a financial crisis but no problems ordering convenience food and having it delivered. Hope these are not the people whinging about the cost of living :)

        • ripesashimi on 12/08/2023 - 17:58

          Because it works out cheaper for a whole lot of people esp those who do not have a car.

        • Protractor on 16/08/2023 - 10:47

          The ppl whinging about the cost of living are delivering fast food.
          The ones NOT whinging about the cost of living are walikng into fast food joints demanding Lord Of The Manor attention, 'cos special'.
          It is annoying watching food fly out the door when you have just ordered, but those delivered orders were ordered before you.

          Times have changed.
          It 'is' convenience food', not 'fast food' any more

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