McDonald's Refuses To Give You Sausage With Your McGriddle Happy Meal
Apparently, if you want a Sausage McGriddle Happy Meal, you're not necessary going to get it from McDonald's. Reader Alex says his girlfriend ordered the sausage and pancake treat for her 3 year old son, but when they got the sandwich it wasn't actually a sandwich at all -- just two small pancake-bun-things and no meat. When they went inside to ask for the meat, the manager wouldn't budge. No sausage on the McGriddle Happy Meal! Is this normal?
Alex writes:
This morning, my girlfriend made a quick run through her local Marysville, CA, McDonald's drive-thru to get a McGriddle Happy Meal for her three-year old. When pulling away from the restaurant, she heard a cry from the back seat. Her son's McGriddle, it appeared, was missing its sausage patty. Annoyed that yet another drive-thru order was bungled, she went into the restaurant to retrieve the missing meat. When she told the manager of the meat-less McGriddle, the manager replied that the McGriddles in the Happy Meals do not come with sausage, just two syrupy buns wrapped in paper. Seriously. Despite charging regular McGriddle prices, their kids' McGriddles arrive sans meat. SANS MEAT! So, my gf complained obviously, but this manager wouldn't budge, not even for the sake of the most base customer service, not even in the face of common sense, not even with a wailing three-year old in her store. She flat-out refused to hand over a a slice of meat that probably cost McD's pennies to pump out of their patty making plant.
I get that shoddy service at mammoth chains like McDs is pretty much the norm, but I'm absolutely perplexed as to why this store would turn logic on its head by packing two buns into a wrapper and call it a McGriddle, then refuse a customer's reasonable request for a tiny slab of cheap-ass meat.
We looked at McDonald's website to try to find a meatless McGriddle meal -- but couldn't find nutritional information for such a thing. We asked Alex for some more info:
I believe the McGriddle Happy Meals are only available at certain locations. For example, the closest McDonald's to me in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, has had the meals since the McGriddles were introduced in 2003. (Comes with the usual: choice of drink, toy, hashbrowns, and sausage-enhanced sandwich.) However, the Gorman, CA, McDonald's doesn't carry them at all.
The Marysville location does indeed carry the item on their menu. On the drive-thru menu, it notes the meal comes with "two griddle cakes," but I can't imagine anyone assuming that the sandwich they were purchasing for their kids would solely consist of two syrup-drenched "cakes" without a slice of meat. It's tons misleading, and mind-bogglingly stupid to even make this a Happy Meal-exclusive menu item [and while the sausage McGriddles are a quick find on mcdonalds.com, the nutritional info. for these "cakes" only appears as part of the sausage mcgriddle sandwich. Here's the description from the site: "McGriddles® breakfast sandwiches provide an innovative way for customers to eat warm golden griddle cakes (with the sweet taste of maple syrup baked right in), and different combinations of savory sausage, crispy bacon, fluffy eggs and melted cheese in a convenient sandwich."]
Seriously, who orders a McGriddle without expecting meat?
Yeah, why wouldn't you just order Hotcakes?
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Comments:
*Insert obligitory "Why are you feeding your kids McDonalds anyways" comment here*
Not to sound like an ass, but he should've read the whole thing on the menu. I always do because of exact situations like that. I've never had to order a kids mcgriddle for anyone, so i've never looked at that part of the menu, but if it's in really small font then mcdonald's should do their part in making it more clear to the customer that it doesn't contain meat.
An example of this is that at our store somone wanted to rent guitar hero for the xbox 360, on the case of the game it says "Game software only" in pretty bold and big font. A person rented it, came back later saying "Wasn't there supposed to be a guitar with this?" and I pointed out to them that it clearly says "Game software only" on the game box. I of course gave him a store credit to use on something else he wanted. Same would go for the games that we're all checked-out of, the bottom of it has a pretty large sticker that says "Display box only" when all of the games are checked out and of course many customers still don't read it for some reason.
Not having the sausage in there probably at least delayed the impending heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity her child will suffer from. She should be thanking McDonalds for caring about her child's health, to some extent.
With that out of the way: They should have just given her the dang meat. As I've learned in the years I've worked in customer service, very rarely is it worth arguing that much over anything.
Just watch Morgan Spurlock's movie Super Size Me - you won't worry about McDonald's poor customer service ever again.
Obligatory
"Ive even stopped eating McGriddles because they seem like heart attacks in a paper wrapper. Why give a 3 yr old a heart attack now? Cant wait until they are in their 30s?"
Yeah! I only feed my kids 3 course breakfasts from the finest eatery in town. My kitchen!
Why has he even buying McDonald's for breakfast anyway? Children grow pretty fast, and the D ain' going to help him.
offtopic: why would you feed your three year old anything from mcdonalds?
True, it's not a McGriddle without a sausage patty, otherwise it's just a couple hotcakes. But who feeds their 3 year old a 600 calorie breakfast with some 30 grams of fat? Yeah I went to the McDonald's website to check out the nutritional info too. I think they did your kid a favor.
"I get that shoddy service at mammoth chains like McDs is pretty much the norm"
probably not...our minds like the exaggerate things. But I understand the complaint...otherwise you're paying $4 for pancakes. Maybe they don't give them meat because it's not safe for children's young and vulnerable digestive systems.
Individual Mcdonald's stores can make up their own happy meal combinations and put in whatever they want. They can also pick and choose what items they carry in their stores. i.e veggie burgers, soups, etc..
Getting past the whole "don't feed your kid micky-d's food" and "insert sausage" jokes...
How can something be considered a sandwich if there's nothing in the middle.
Two slices of bread is not a "ham sandwich minus the ham" it's two pieces of bread.
A "Mcgriddle sandwich without the meat is not a sandwich at all. That alone is a misleading description.
These "griddle cakes" included in the happy meal are a car-friendly alternative to the mess that is Hotcakes + Butter + syrup floating in a Styrofoam tray.
However, If the McDonald's location are indeed calling this a "McGriddle Happy Meal", that is misleading, because what you are getting are in fact, not McGriddles! The McDonald's in question could also call these "syrup cake happy meals" or "sugar bread happy meals".
But seriously, get out of bed a bit earlier and fix your kid a proper, wholesome breakfast.
@Audiyoda:
I can only nod silently in agreement. I thank you for reminding me of that moment of revelation when Saint Spurlock lifted the blinders from my eyes, and revealed to me the dark hidden truth that eating McD's three times a day, every day, might be bad for your body.
Thank you, Morgan Spurlock. Thank you for tackling the really hard questions, the things no one else dares to mention, like the dubious health value of fast foods eaten to completely unrealistic excess. You, sir, are Nobel material.
@DeanOfAllTrades: Agreed. There's tons more things to eat for breakfast that are better than McDonalds. Dirt, for instance.
I like how the customer didn't realize his confusion until after he got home in your example.
Sure, the "why are you feeding that to your child" comments are obligatory, and necessary.
Feeding that s*** to children should be considered child abuse.
OP's last sentence corrected:
"Seriously, who orders a McGriddle...?
I think we need a picture of the GF before rendering any kind of accusations regarding her parenting skills!
Who eats McDonalds for breakfast?
I mean besides the millions upon millions of people.
No one on the internet eats fast food or chain restaurants or shops at Wal-Mart. It's a wonder how these places are still in business.
Feeding your kid a corn fed turd would have had more nutrition.
Yeah, which is worse, mcdonalds customer service or your parenting?
A sausage burger sandwiched inbetween to pancakes [covered in syrup]?
Why do you just punch the 3 year old in the stomach and feed him/her a handful of dirt in the parking lot.
@testsicles:
The power of the internet is making everyone incredibly healthy. Except for the pasty complexions, carpal tunnel, ionizing radiation from CRTs, asthma from dust mites and mold spores from the air ducts, bacteriological warfare projects slowly evolving in break room fridge tupperware, deadly mercury leaching out of the fluorescent lights, and the dread plague of office-chair ass.
Apparently there's no such thing as moderation for some people, it's either all or nothing.
Hehehe. I just love reading the comments about her feeding her kid that crap.. but I mean who has never brought there kids to mcdonalds?? We go there like every few months, and only for Ice Cream.. Eating out usually isn't in our budget.
I had that happen to me once. Except they somehow managed to give me two cheeseburgers without the patties, it had cheese and ketchup...but no patties.
I went up to the counter with a very indignant face and holding out my buns in a "please sir may I have some more" fashion managed to procure said patties, and some free apple pies.
Okay, why does everyone have to gang up on this woman? I can remember being a kid and having to accompany my mom and brother to his many doctors' apppointments and tests due to severe asthma. Sometimes, my mom would promise us McDonald's or donuts or whatever after an early morning allergy test.
Just because the kid ate McDonald's doesn't mean his mother is ABUSING him. Holy hell. Are their healthier things to eat? Sure. Maybe this kid eats them the other 29 days of the month.
@AaronZ: Agreed. Alex admits that the description is on the menu board but still... that's intentionally misleading.
franchises can make up their own rules within a set of limitations and they don't have to post notices they can just tell you at the counter when you ask. ingredients and items also vary by regions in most if not all fast food chains. it depends how far they spread.
and i AM gonna throw in the obligatory "wtf mcd's" comment. who gets that for a 3 year old? that thing has over 400 calories in it without the other stuff in the meal and is pure sugar. that one meal is half the caloric needs for that kid for the day. if you want convenience you'd be better off going to dunkin donuts and getting the kid an english muffin with a little butter on it. that's got about 200 calories WITH the butter and 95% less sugar and fat content when dry.
My bacon, egg, cheese bagel came without the bacon, or bagel the other day. Actually it came with a sausage, egg, cheese and mcmuffin (yes, another bungled order).
I picture more than half of the people above grabbing their ankles, letting out a loud fart, and inhaling what they believe is the smell of roses.
English muffins are tough and chewy. Bagels are tough, chewy, and kosher. Ergo, English muffins are basically just bagels for sinners.
Walk on the wild side.
That must have been a bum Mcdonald's. I once got an undercooked cheeseburger, told the on duty manager about it, and was promptly given a hot, cooked replacement, no questions asked.
A question for cheese lovers "Why would you want cheese on pancakes?" ie: McGriddles? I hate cheese and especially the thought of cheese on pancakes... yuck
does everyone assume this woman just feeds her kid mcdonalds every day, packing his little body full of fat and calories.
cant anyone just assume that maybe, she was in a hurry and this was the best option she had (albiet a pretty shitty one)
bad food is bad for you, but if you deprive yourself of little indulgences you become a junkfood craving fool and oneday begin to binge and then you really are in trouble. one mcdonalds meal doesnt make an abusive parent, chill out people.
Jeez what a bunch of asshats above! I ate McDonald's when I was 3-4 years old...granted it was only like 2 times a year since I was in the middle of no-where AK. I think its funny that even with Morgan Spurlock's movie being out there I still see people lined up a the McDonald's like nobodies business. @Black Bellamy: Awesome you made me spit out my coffee!!!!! Seriously though if my sister and I need to go that route we go to Burgerville...McDonald's just upsets our tummies too much!
cant anyone just assume that maybe, she was in a hurry and this was the best option she had (albiet a pretty shitty one)
Nope, too late, SRS has already been notified. If she didn't have time to prepare her kid a big bowl of Kashi in skim milk every morning like a REAL parent, she should've had her tubes tied in the first place.
@mookiemookie: @purplesun: @Audiyoda: @chrisexv6: @Angryrider: @privatejoker75: @DeanOfAllTrades: @chiggers: @silencedotcom: @suburbancowboy: @raisitup: @laserjobs: @katylostherart:
At what point did the point of this website get lost on all of you. The website is Consumerist. The point is to give a little bit of ammo to consumers against companies that, by and large, take advantage of us. It is not a health food website and just because McD's serves unhealthy crap, that doesn't mean we should let them off the hook for their stupidity. The judgment and overwhelming smug does not encourage people to come here and voice their complaints with companies like McD's.. Companies that deserve the pimp-slap as much as any other.
As Black Bellamy mentions above.. your shit stinks as much as the next guy.
@freepistol: actually that's why i also threw in a convenience factor comment. there were other healthier, similarly cheap and convenient alternatives to mcdonalds. grocery stores even have self service lanes and she could've gotten the kid some fruit for $2. if she stopped at a gas station she could've gotten even cheaper and still better nutritional content.
and if they had the time to argue with the manager how rushed were they really? i also love the wailing three year old bit too. so tantrum over a sausage patty?
Yep, I've ordered "Two McGriddles" before and received the two cakes. McGriddles are too hard to order correctly. Oh well, shouldn't be eating that anyway.
@VikingP77: i'm with you, this "NO MCDONALD'S EVER, EVARRRR" crap is obnoxious. look, i ate mickey d's as a kid. granted, it was always a special treat and only happened maybe once or twice a year, but give me a break. unless you are feeding (or are prepared to feed) your kids nothing but organic, unprocessed foods, shut up. an occasional poptart is just as bad as mcdonald's.
that said, if that location is giving mcgriddle cakes away as part of the mcgriddle meal, then that's what they're selling, although the manager certainly should have made the exception once.
@Farquar: isn't the point also getting quality for your money? if you're going to spend it there are BETTER equally cheap and convenient things to give the kid. so nutrition does come into play as being an informed consumer when the consuming is buying FOOD.
McDonalds upsets my stomach almost everytime, as does all fast food now really. Let's face it, it's all pretty gross and full of salt, sugar, and fat. Say goodbye to shitty eating and hello to living healthy and longer. It's cool now anyway...
If they called it a "sausage mcgriddle happy meal" or a "mcgriddle sandwich happy meal" they are being deceptive because a sandwich is supposed to have something inside it
to some people it seems mcgriddle = sandwich
but perhaps to mcdonald's it's just the mottled pancakes that are the 'mcgriddle'
@apotheosis: I had people asking me if I saw the part when Spurlock put hamburgers in the glass jars and they all rotted but the fries didn't. People were amazed at that "Experiment".
I don't get it, what exactly was so "amazing" about that experiment? Are french fries supposed to rot like a hamburger? I would think that french fries simply dry out quick and then just sort of mummify.
I too was treated to McD as a kid occasionally (especially on a car vacation), but that was 30 years ago. I'm sure it wasn't the healthiest thing back then, but it's probably 10 times worse at this point.
Add to that they seem to consider starch and starch a reasonable breakfast for kids...how about just lining up the children in front of each plant and fattening them quickly by massaging all kinds of starch down their throats in the style of foie gras ducks? At least they could poison them more efficiently.
It's easy to tell who here doesn't have kids. Holier-than-thou asshats.
Just to clarify, I'm not against breakfast treats. Learn to cook/bake them yourselves and they will not only be tasty but your kids might even benefit from a little nutrition.
Welcome to Consumerist: We Blame the Company so you can balme the Consumer!
and we're feeding three year olds McGriddles because.....