My co-worker called me this morning on my way out the door and asked if I could pick her up some iced coffees from McDonald’s.  I was running behind and let her know if I had time, I’d pick them up on my way in. I had enough time, so I went to McDick’s on France Ave in Edina, MN.

I pulled up to the drive-thru around 7:15am, gave my order (McSkillet BUTTrito meal & 2 iced coffees w/vanilla) and pulled up to the window.  I gave the cashier my check card; she swiped it and gave it back to me.  She proceeds to make the iced coffees and gives me my beverages.  While she’s doing this, I can hear my order come through on the conveyer belt.  She asks for my card again because it didn’t go through properly.  Things like this happen, so I handed my check card over again and she tells me: “It says you have no cash.”

What do you mean it says “no cash?”  I had her try it again, and again “no cash.” Instead of fighting it knowing I have more than enough to cover my order, I had her try my credit card and what was the answer? “No cash.”

Ok, there is no possible way that both these cards can have “no cash.”  I said, your machine is messed up, so what do I do.  She responds with “no cash” again.  Okay, I don’t carry cash on me and when I do have cash, it’s maybe five ones, if that.  She tells me, “I don’t know to tell you” (and yes, she said it like that).  While I’m growing frustrated, she’s talking to whoever else has a headset in the kitchen trying to see what else she can do.  She tells me, “sorry, no cash on card, machine not working, I sorry.”

All right, this is where McDonald’s failed big time with me.  I pulled up to the drive-thru, gave my order and never was told I couldn’t use my check/credit cards because their machine was down.  Maybe this issue came up as I was placing my order, who knows, but if I was told while placing my order I needed cash, I would have gone on my way, no questions asked.

So, did I get my food? NO! Why? Because I have “no cash,” on my cards and their machine isn’t working, I don’t get my meal.  I’m sorry, but that’s not their slogan, “I’m loving it,” is something I won’t be saying anytime soon.  What did I get to take to work? The drinks, which she almost asked for back.  My food is going to be thrown, but I can keep the drinks? Classy McDouche!

Instead of them eliminating the problem and possibly losing a customer, my order goes into the garbage.

I’ve had this happen before, where the machine breaks down or service is delayed at Subways, Chipotles, Taco Bells and Taco John’s.  Never once was I told I’m walking out empty handed and never have I asked to be compensated.  Subway and Chipotle have credit card machine issues and said don’t worry about paying, it’s their error and it’s on the house.  Taco John’s has given me coupons and beverages for having to wait or if a menu item wasn’t available once I got to the window. Taco Bell has forgotten part of my order before, I called to let them know, they offered me free meals and full refunds on my orders.  Hell, a friend of mine didn’t get her salad dressing from Panera Bread and the manager drove to our work and delivered the salad dressing, without her asking.

IT’s just good business and IT brings back customers.

Anyway, back to the McDick’s story.  I asked for McDonald’s corporate number and what did I get? AN EMPTY McDONALD’S BAG with the number on it.  I get to work, call my bank, no holds on my accounts, no denials (like I said earlier, I have more than enough funds on both cards) and no transaction attempts, which meant my “no cash” was a McDonald’s error.

I called McDonald’s customer service and spoke with a very nice customer service representative.  I explained the story and when I mentioned the cash/credit cards, her response was something along the lines of: “Yeah, credit card machines not working is a big deal, because credit cards are going to be the future of payments” (really? That’s amazing, haha) She took down my information, let me know this would be addressed by that stores management team and she would personally follow up on this, which I have not received a return call, yet.  Even if I don’t get a call back, the simple fact that she was kind and courteous makes up for some of my troubles, but it didn’t put food in my stomach.

McDonald’s on France Ave in Edina, MN = SERIOUS FAIL!

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I guess I could be called spoiled, or I might just be lucky, but growing up in Eau Claire, WI had an advantage.  The advantage I’m talking about is Taco John’s! At any given time, I was 15 minutes from any of the three Taco John’s Eau Claire has. One is on Water Street on the UW-EC campus; the next one is near the high school on the south side of town and one in Oakwood Mall.  Even when I moved to Minnesota, I have lived 15 min away

When did I fall in love Taco John’s is beyond me? What I know I was younger than 10 years of age and I’m not complaining.  I mean, what else is better than their super nachos? Oh yeah, they have Pepsi products and Pepsi makes Mtn Dew!  And yes, I eat at Taco Bell. Sometimes I can’t get to a Taco John’s, but they also have Mtn Dew.

One of the earliest memories of having Taco John’s was at the mall. I remember my mom had something going on in the food court area, 10am hit, I was hungry, my sister and I were given two dollars. I remember this because the tacos we ordered were 95 cents each, plus 10 cents in tax and the total comes to two bucks! Maybe there was some gimmick that made me want it all the time.

My favorite item on the menu, other than the Mtn Dew, would be their super nachos. You can’t go wrong with crispy chips covered in ground beef, refried beans, guacamole, tomatoes, shredded cheese and melted cheese. Oh, and I can’t forget the olives.

I wish I could tell you where exactly I had the best super nachos in a long time, but I know it’s on the just east of the Minnesota/South Dakota border, maybe two or three exits before you reach the border on the way to Sioux Falls, SD. The location of this Taco John’s is about a mile off the highway, but it’s worth it.

This Taco John’s was old school! The inside maybe fit 30 people if they squeezed in to all of the seats, the food/kitchen area was maybe double the size of my apartment kitchen, but best of all old school things, they wrote the order down on tickets and hung them up to make. What I didn’t expect was they loaded me up not once, but twice. Once on the way to SD, once on the way back.

But to finish this post off, I can’t for the life of me remember what their sales pitch was, but in 2002/2003, I swear they had something called “The Taco Challenge.” My friends and I never quite figured out what this challenge was, but we were in Eau Claire on a Friday night. We asked what the challenge was and they didn’t know either, even with a sign on the wall.

Well, we made our own taco challenge that night. We each ordered their Six and A Pound meal. That included six hard or soft-shell tacos and a pound of Taco John’s signature Potato Oles. All we would be able to drink is one medium beverage of our choice, but no refills and we had to eat the tacos and as many Oles in 30-45 min. It was good fun that night!

I still want another taco challenge and it will happen someday… someday! I think I’ll have to take a trip to Sioux Falls and visit Frosty for this challenge!