Oh no! Not a voucher! Gimmegimmegimme!

[NorthernZel]

Seen at my local MacDonald's lately:

For the latest campaign, instead of a toy, the Happy Meals (for kids) will include a voucher for Legoland instead.

I get it, Legoland is fun and pricey, so if you plan to go there anyway you save some money.


BUT:

Legoland in Denmark is located far away from larger cities, so unless you're living in the neighbourhood one'll think twice before seeing the voucher, thinking "Oh, what a great way to save money!" and trot off.

Second, the ads and signs in the restaurants do not state that the vouchers are INSTEAD of the toys, only that they are INSIDE that special meal box.


When I took Lil'Zel out for a McD meal and found out, I just shrugged, said "no toys in the box this time, dear" and threw the voucher in the bin along with the rest of our meal. (We have a "clean up after yourself" policy in McD's over here.)

But in that short visit I experienced several customers complaining and demanding that their vouchers should be exchanged into cash, free meals or at least a leftover toy from another campaign - even though the ads and the voucher itself clearly states that it CAN NOT be exchanged.

So right now I can't decide who's sucky - McD for offering something most people don't want, or the customers who want an (outrageous) exception from policy.

I'm thinking of writing a complaint to McD where I'd suggest that they at least had some toys for those who don't want vouchers, but I don't know whether that would be appropriate.

[DesignFox]

Yea that's pretty crappy. I mean, the whole point of the Happy Meal is to get the kid a toy. I'd be upset, too!

I think it's sad that people are taking this out on the employees (who were probably completely frustrated and annoyed before the campaign even launched- I'm sure they knew what the reaction would be). I also think it's very sad that parents aren't handling the situation better or using it as a learning tool for their children, or at least reading ahead of time and not setting unrealistic expectations.

*sigh*

Writing a letter about the situation is probably the best way to handle it.

[bainsidhe]

I agree with DF. The customers expecting free food/money were pretty sucky, but wanting a toy instead of a voucher...what McD's kid's meal doesn't include a toy?

[Luna Baby]

I'd be tickled pink if they'd just do away with the toys/prizes altogether. Just my opinion, but kids these days are too focused on the gratification of getting a free toy (SC parents, too). I take the toys that my youngest gets and put them in the toy box at work. I work on trying to teach my kids how to put their meals together in a healthy fashion (apples rather than fries, etc). When I was a kid and got a happy meal, I was happier to read the stuff on the box/bag than I was with the potential toy inside.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I'd be tickled pink if they'd just do away with the toys/prizes altogether.

Spoil sport. I remember getting free toys in the cereal boxes. They were a nice treat for me. I think kids need a treat like that every now and then. Of course, these days it seems to be all now and not too much then.

[Luna Baby]

Spoil sport.

I try not to be, but, I struggled to get our smallest to even think about eating if there was a toy in the bag. I eventually learned to send him on to the table with his older brother or Dad and I'd quietly slip the toy into my purse until he was finished eating. But I still stand firm in that dining should be about the food and not toys. The toyboxes are proof enough that they don't need those cheap little toys that get under foot in the middle of the night.

[dalesys]

... little toys that get under foot in the middle of the night.

Legos are devil-spawn!

... we do not talk about jacks ...

... or The Sisters of Sewing ... (who filled the carpets with pins and needles)

[Teskeria]

I always just took the toy, set it aside and told them they got it once they finished eating ALL their food. They finished all their food. simple.

[Samaliel]

The toyboxes are proof enough that they don't need those cheap little toys that get under foot in the middle of the night.

Judging by the two large bins of Happy Meals toys we had out on our last garage sale... Well, to be honest, there must have been about 10 years worth of Happy Meals, in there. What amazed me most, though, was how many of those we managed to actually sell. Even at 1€, I didn't expect a tenth of those to go. We sold about half of it all. (The remainder went away with the trash though).

[bunnyboy]

Legos are devil-spawn!

... we do not talk about jacks ...

... or The Sisters of Sewing ... (who filled the carpets with pins and needles)

HOwever we are never to mention that other toy/game-based caltrop that leigons of RPGers surround their perilous chambers with....

yes I am talking about 4-sided die..... could step on legos, would just roll over jacks, never had to worry about needles in the carpet...but damn if I haven't stepped on one of those devil-spawned used only for magic missile and daggers bloody caltrops.... *grumbles*

[Salesmonkey]

Hey, I've preferred Happy Meals and other kids' meals because of the toy! Remember the Burger King promo where the meals had "Simpsons" talking watches? I ate a lot of Burger King that year. God forbid any chain should offer "Hello Kitty" merch because I will surely weigh 300 pounds afterward.

[NorthernZel]

Just adding a small update:

I never got to write a complaint (RL stuff getting in the way and all that), but apparently many others have...

... so when I took Lil'Zel out for a McD lunch again the other day, the Happy Meal box contained a voucher AND a toy AND a colouring book + crayons... and on top of that the cashier offered Lil'Zel a balloon.

Seems like Corporate really wants to make amends on their latest "slip".

[BlaqueKatt]

What amazed me most, though, was how many of those we managed to actually sell. Even at 1€, I didn't expect a tenth of those to go. We sold about half of it all. (The remainder went away with the trash though).

um there are people that collect that stuff-check e-bay-the older ones actually go pretty high sometimes.......

[BookstoreEscapee]

My brother has 7 years worth of happy meal toys from when he worked there. I wonder what they're worth now...