Some liked it, some didn't.
Personally, I thought it was a weak to average ad (like most of the Super Bowl offerings). Nothing that would generate ad buzz. But it sure seems to have generated something. The buzz includes elements of general anti-McDonald'sism, fear of trickery, general interest, a little love, and more. Adrants and Armchair Media gave the campaign bad reviews - and I certainly see their points.
But ... Google has over 300 "lincoln fry" results at this moment, and there is even a (faux) Lincoln Fry blog that helps keep this baby alive. (update Feb 9th: the Google count is near 1,000 - the buzz is for real ).
The prop (plastic fry) from the advertisement is for sale (auction) until 12 February on Yahoo Auctions. At this (updated on the 11th) posting the bidding is up to $23,100 (but it looks like some hanky-panky has occurred since the bidding history is frozen at the 8th of February, while the auction timeclock still rolls). It hurt just a bit to read that it is actually made from polyurethane. When watching the commercials I could almost feel the grease on my fingers as the Lincoln Fry was gingerly held by the "owners". Proceeds are being donated the Ronald McDonald House. Sounds great to me (though the potential for hanky panky is disheartening).
So, I guess it worked. I am now betting it will spawn a small burst of similarly-styled ads both from McDonald's and from other companies. Hopefully they will appear in the McChronicles.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
A Nod From Above
The McChronicles received a very much appreciated acknowledgement from the person who introduced me to blogging, the Diva Marketer herself, Toby Bloomberg. Without her and her program, it is easy to say that this site wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be a blogger. Thanks Toby.
If you want, or need, to learn more about the state of the blogging art, Toby will set you straight. Check out Toby Bloomberg.
If you want, or need, to learn more about the state of the blogging art, Toby will set you straight. Check out Toby Bloomberg.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Friday, February 04, 2005
Excellent Taste
Online: 0.75 minutes Order Wait: 2.00 minutes Quality: Awesome taste!
The Seneca Turnpike (Route 5) New Hartford, NY McDonald's has been a personal favorite since before I was courting my wife in the '70s. For me, the convenience is just awesome. Today I received super-fast service (even during the Friday lunch rush), and the food tasted awesome.
This is the site that really gets me ticked off with dirtiness, poor service, and (now corrected) incredibly poor exterior atmosphere.
I like the new interior decor, and the much-needed exterior fix up has converted the sidewalks from death traps to acceptable (just work on the ice). Thank you!
Bonus: the PA system was playing really good music - just right.
The Seneca Turnpike (Route 5) New Hartford, NY McDonald's has been a personal favorite since before I was courting my wife in the '70s. For me, the convenience is just awesome. Today I received super-fast service (even during the Friday lunch rush), and the food tasted awesome.
This is the site that really gets me ticked off with dirtiness, poor service, and (now corrected) incredibly poor exterior atmosphere.
I like the new interior decor, and the much-needed exterior fix up has converted the sidewalks from death traps to acceptable (just work on the ice). Thank you!
Bonus: the PA system was playing really good music - just right.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Super Fast!
Online: 1.5 minutes Order Wait: 0.5 minutes Quality: Good
I was in Utica to review the state of readiness of the city's Val Bialas Recreation Area for the upcoming Snowfari. I took the opportunity to drop by the South Utica, NY McDonald's on Genesee St. From the time I got on line to the time I was walking away was 2 minutes. Pretty good. Now, they do make you fill your own soda there, but that's not an issue. The workers were fairly nice, too.
The store was obviously "cleaned", but not quite clean. I agree that it is very hard to keep floors tidy during the winter - especially today when the temperatures are above freezing - mud and slush are tracked in by everyone. Still, I always appreciate a very tidy dining rom - and this was not quite there.
Two special notes:
I was in Utica to review the state of readiness of the city's Val Bialas Recreation Area for the upcoming Snowfari. I took the opportunity to drop by the South Utica, NY McDonald's on Genesee St. From the time I got on line to the time I was walking away was 2 minutes. Pretty good. Now, they do make you fill your own soda there, but that's not an issue. The workers were fairly nice, too.
The store was obviously "cleaned", but not quite clean. I agree that it is very hard to keep floors tidy during the winter - especially today when the temperatures are above freezing - mud and slush are tracked in by everyone. Still, I always appreciate a very tidy dining rom - and this was not quite there.
Two special notes:
- 1) This McDonald's held its grand opening on my wife's birthday a few years back. The boys and I blindfolded her and took her to this special event. She thought she was getting something really awesome and was pretty disappointed to find that her surprise was dinner at the (then) world's newest McDonald's. It was a bad day at the time, but we laugh about it now (at least we boys laugh - she is still not quite OK with it).
- 2) Utica is the home of New York State's 2nd largest winter festival, Snowfari. A fund raiser for the Utica Zoo, this day of fun and activities on the snow is a great celebration of the recreational paradise that is Central New York. 2005 is our 10th anniversary. If you can, you should visit Snowfari some year.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Viewpoint
A very interesting (to me) perspective on the "green" view of McDonald's (quoted from jrc blog):
"I actually like McDonald's. Among the eco-conscious yuppie crowd with which I associate, this is blasphemy. The other day I was holding a Quizno's sandwich and a friend chided me for eating fast food, which is apparently an evil industry because of the low quality of the food, the amount of landfill waste produced, the homogeneity of culture, the profits being channeled to non-local conglomurates, and so forth. While I agree with the intent and direction of his comments, it still annoyed me. I'll just take this opportunity to rant against the "green" movement in general. (read more)"
"I actually like McDonald's. Among the eco-conscious yuppie crowd with which I associate, this is blasphemy. The other day I was holding a Quizno's sandwich and a friend chided me for eating fast food, which is apparently an evil industry because of the low quality of the food, the amount of landfill waste produced, the homogeneity of culture, the profits being channeled to non-local conglomurates, and so forth. While I agree with the intent and direction of his comments, it still annoyed me. I'll just take this opportunity to rant against the "green" movement in general. (read more)"
The McShuffle
Online: 5.0 minutes Order Wait: 2.25 minutes Quality: McShuffled!
So here I am, on one of the slowest McMoments of the week, yet I still have to wait. With only two people in front of me, I was on line for 5 minutes. After I placed my order (Fish Sandwich, medium Coke), I had to wait over 2 minutes for the food to arrive.
The human interaction was almost non-existant, but the food turned out very fine. The big deal was how they dealt with their slowness. It was the same old thng - but today (induced, no doubt, by my responsibility to this blog) I named the technique that I dislike so much. I became a victim of the "McShuffle".
The McShuffle is performed by ringing up a customer, grabbing their drink, placing it on the receipt on the counter, and shuffling it (and the customer) off to the side. The next customer is waited on and the whole thing repeats itself. When a good McShuffle gets going, there can be 5 or more customers piling up on the side counter. The real downside is that the McShuffle creates a dissatisfied group of customers commiserating about "fast" food in front of all the new customers.
The McShuffle, in theory, is a good thing. It gets people waited on quickly. I just don't like getting pushed off to the side into what feels like the Island of Misfit Toys waiting for food. It just feels bad to get "McShuffled".
If they are depending on the new Just-in-Time food prep technique, then why does it take over two minutes to get a standard sandwich? I've waited 5 minutes for a basic hamburger in the past!
Comment if you've been McShuffled. Let your voice be heard - and share how it made you feel.
So here I am, on one of the slowest McMoments of the week, yet I still have to wait. With only two people in front of me, I was on line for 5 minutes. After I placed my order (Fish Sandwich, medium Coke), I had to wait over 2 minutes for the food to arrive.
The human interaction was almost non-existant, but the food turned out very fine. The big deal was how they dealt with their slowness. It was the same old thng - but today (induced, no doubt, by my responsibility to this blog) I named the technique that I dislike so much. I became a victim of the "McShuffle".
The McShuffle is performed by ringing up a customer, grabbing their drink, placing it on the receipt on the counter, and shuffling it (and the customer) off to the side. The next customer is waited on and the whole thing repeats itself. When a good McShuffle gets going, there can be 5 or more customers piling up on the side counter. The real downside is that the McShuffle creates a dissatisfied group of customers commiserating about "fast" food in front of all the new customers.
The McShuffle, in theory, is a good thing. It gets people waited on quickly. I just don't like getting pushed off to the side into what feels like the Island of Misfit Toys waiting for food. It just feels bad to get "McShuffled".
If they are depending on the new Just-in-Time food prep technique, then why does it take over two minutes to get a standard sandwich? I've waited 5 minutes for a basic hamburger in the past!
Comment if you've been McShuffled. Let your voice be heard - and share how it made you feel.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Very Nice Experience
Online: 0.5 minutes Order Wait: 2.25 minutes Quality: Great!
My college son and I were able to meet at the Clinton, NY McDonald's for a late lunch today. He was on his way home from college and had some time for Dad. As we approached the store I was alert for dangerous sidewalk conditions and the typical winter lobby mud/slush disaster. I was pleasantly surprised to see none of this. The place looked great.
The lobby was empty and we were greeted after 30 seconds by a very friendly worker. The food was quick and tasty. This was a super experience.
My college son and I were able to meet at the Clinton, NY McDonald's for a late lunch today. He was on his way home from college and had some time for Dad. As we approached the store I was alert for dangerous sidewalk conditions and the typical winter lobby mud/slush disaster. I was pleasantly surprised to see none of this. The place looked great.
The lobby was empty and we were greeted after 30 seconds by a very friendly worker. The food was quick and tasty. This was a super experience.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Typical Mess
Online: 3.50 minutes Order Wait: ~3 minutes Quality: Poorly assembled
We were at the local mall this Sunday so my high school son and I decided to grab a quick bite at McDonald's. I secured a table, he bought the food. When he returned he said, "You're not going to be happy."
He was referring to the way the mustard, ketchup, etc. were smeared all over the inside of the hamburger wrapper. He knows I have a critical eye for quality and it was easy to see that this wrapping job was not too good. The funny thing is that the store was not busy - a very small line and an apparently normal amount of workers. Why is it OK for their product to look like a disaster? Would anyone buy a pair of Nikes with the insole smeared around the inside and onto the box?
We were at the local mall this Sunday so my high school son and I decided to grab a quick bite at McDonald's. I secured a table, he bought the food. When he returned he said, "You're not going to be happy."
He was referring to the way the mustard, ketchup, etc. were smeared all over the inside of the hamburger wrapper. He knows I have a critical eye for quality and it was easy to see that this wrapping job was not too good. The funny thing is that the store was not busy - a very small line and an apparently normal amount of workers. Why is it OK for their product to look like a disaster? Would anyone buy a pair of Nikes with the insole smeared around the inside and onto the box?
McChronicles
I LOVE McDonald's ... and I HATE McDonald's. This blog will chronicle this love:hate relationship. It will include thoughts, experiences, and information regarding how McDonald's created an awesome brand - and how they seem to be systematically destroying it "Billions and Billions" at a time. It also breathes life into the notion that there is hope to resurrect the once-great image of McDonald's.
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