Mack'd

BELLE PLAINE, Kansas - The following is a letter that I sent to the McDonald's Corporation after a recent experience in Belle Plaine, Kansas. This is the first time in recent memory that I've been moved to send correspondence to a company, but I think this time warrants action.

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to complain about a McDonald's off the Kansas Turnpike in the town of Belle Plaine. It is located inside a service station just off the northbound section of road. I stopped there on Sunday in the middle of a journey between Wichita and Oklahoma City, for a quick snack and to refuel.

I decided to grab a bite to eat at McDonald's, it being the only restaurant in the service provider and a normally reliable food option. There was a line, but it took less than two minutes for me to place an order. I decided to try your newest menu item -- the Chicken Snacker and a small order of fries. Your dollar menu is genius. I was on the fence about eating or just pushing down the road, but there is something tempting about the idea of only spending $1 on a bite to eat. But I didn't actually spend $1 -- I spent $3. That's not too far from an entire meal, for less food. Pretty damn clever.

But I didn't care, I just wanted my food. No one gave me my food, rather the person behind the counter placed my receipt on the counter and did nothing. The next person in line was helped. Occasionally, a young man of maybe 16 came over, looked at the receipts and went back in the kitchen. At first, he didn't bring any food, but then he started to fill orders. A hamburger to an eledry women, a series of values meals for a large family from Texas. The orders came and went, but mine did not arrive.

Time slipped by on the digital clock posted on the wall. I ordered at 12:47, soon it was 12:57, then 1:02. No explanation, no apologies. Just people sitting around, not giving me a chicken wrap. I asked the person where my food was, the response I got was: "it's not ready yet." Then, five minutes later, I was told, "You need to wait some more." Then some time later the food was thrust in my face with a dirty look.

I've been to McDonald's. I understand I'm not getting the best food in the world, or the most attentive service. But I don't expect people to be overtly rude, and I certainly want the food to fast, especially when I'm on the road.

I must say, the chicken snacker was quite good (much better than that Fàn-tastic Sandwich you have in Hong Kong). I write because there's something wrong with this McDonald's, they don't seem to be able to handle traffic the way every other McDonald's in the world does. I'm sure it's a training issue, and something that can be sorted out. I hope someday to revisit the Belle Plaine McDonald's and have a prompt, friendly delivery of a Chicken Snacker.

Thank you.