Reader Greg had his first run in with the notorious “no ice” fee, something we’ve been hearing about more and more lately. This time the culprit was McDonald’s and they got around the “Ok, fine. I’ll just have one cube of ice” tactic with a sign that specified a “FULL” cup of ice. Clever, McDonald’s. Very. Clever.

Greg says:

So I decided on my lunch break from work I wanted some Mc Donald’s…. I went into this new store for the first time and well…. here’s my email to Mc Donald’s corporate….

I visited this store for the first time. I placed my regular order and when I said “and a Sweet Tea with no ice” I got met with resistance from the cashier and manager. The cashier called over her manager and they spoke in spanish, not english like I was speaking. The manager then said it was $1.69 for the sweet tea even though right above her head it say $1. She claimed it was because I didn’t want ice. I stated at every other restaurant I have never been charged 69 cents for “having it my way” without ice. She then pointed to a sign hung on the wall that stated ” $1 Sweet Tea with ice only otherwise regular price”. First, I never knew Sweet Tea had any other price than $1 and the big sign behind didn’t show that. So I then said “Ok, I’ll take ice in my drink, 1 ice cube will be enough.” She then said it has to be totally full of ice, and then pointed to a different sign that said “$1 Sweet Tea with FULL cup of ice only. Otherwise regular price. No Refills.”

For as long as I have been buying food at Mc Donald’s I have never been charged for not taking ice. Thats like charging me 50 cents because I don’t want mustard on my burger.
Is this normal practice? Is this a new rule about sweet tea? If so I am very disappointed in Mc Donald’s and your marketing strategies.

PS. I also do have photos of the two signs they used as proof to try to charge me more money.

I am yet to hear back from Mc Donald’s and doubt they will say or do anything in regards to this, but I think its getting a little outrageous how these companies can just start adding fees and surcharges for something as simple as no ice…. Its not like an employee has to stand there with two forks and manually grab the ice out of my cup, just don’t put it in to begin with…. shouldn’t they give me a discount for not having to spend the time to put the ice in the cup…?

Oh, no, Greg. Don’t you see? You’re not paying the fee for “convenience,” you’re just a dirty scammer who was trying to get a tiny amount of “Sweet Tea” for free. McDonald’s is on to your little game. You’ll take your ice and like it! Oh, wait. Have you tried asking for your ice “on the side?”

In any case, Greg says that the two signs were tucked away in non-obvious locations. He says the one pictured here was “behind the work area of the employees on a side wall at about 7 feet high” nowhere near the menu. Sneaky.

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