Teens @ McDonalds

[Luna Baby]

I took our boys to McD's today for lunch, sort of a last couple of days treat before school starts. We ordered our food and were standing there waiting when I noticed one of the male workers looking worried and trying to find the SM. Finally SM had made his way over to the counter and the male worker showed him a receipt. I was curious so yes, I ear hustled. Turns out, 4 teen guys went through the drive through and all ordered waters. They then parked, came in and proceeded to pour out their water and refilled their cups with soda. Apparently, they've done this before because just about every worker there knew who they were and where they were sitting. Most all of them had an expression on their face that said, "Wonder how long before he kicks them out?". I don't know what the outcome was, but I did get to see the SM investigating the purchase history and walk over near their table.

[jjllbb]

That's stealing. The cops should be called as soon as they order water at the drive through again.

[PepperElf]

and i'm reminded of a gripe over at m3cents or pfb i forget which
where someone went thru the drive through, then to the bank, and then back... and that mcdonald's was horrible for questioning them when they went to refill their drinks


this is why

[McGoddess09]

It's a common occurrence, unfortunately.

We always catch those thieving bastards and make them dump the soda out. They think they are so clever, but they aren't.

[Megg]

This is a very common problem. At Toxic Hell, one of my duties when I was manager on duty during lunch was to patrol the dining room confiscating water cups with soda in them. We solved it somewhat when we switched to clear plastic water cups, but you would not believe the brazenness of some of these kids. Fruit punch is a horribly unnatural shade of red - did they think we wouldn't notice?

[greensinestro]

This is a very common problem. At Toxic Hell, one of my duties when I was manager on duty during lunch was to patrol the dining room confiscating water cups with soda in them. We solved it somewhat when we switched to clear plastic water cups, but you would not believe the brazenness of some of these kids. Fruit punch is a horribly unnatural shade of red - did they think we wouldn't notice?

Unfortunately, teens are not the only ones who do this. At many restaurants I've been at, many of the rich, snobbish patrons in their 70's and 80's order water because they'll be damned to pay $2.37 for a soda. In places like Sweet Tomatoes, they've also solved this problem with clear glasses being for water, and blue for other drinks. They have someone posted at the soda counter actually watching for these people, yet you have that patron as described above trying to sneak iced tea in their water glass. When they are caught, it's always the same horseshit line of "Oh, I forgot about that." As I've said in other posts, they need to come up with a better line than that, like, "Oh, I didn't think I would get caught this time."

[Canarr]

That's stealing. The cops should be called as soon as they order water at the drive through again.

No. The kids should be banned from the restaurant, and that´s it. Calling the cops over ridiculous shit like that is a reason for police response times being what they are. I don´t want to be mugged or burglarized and then learn that the cops couldn´t come to me in time because they were busy arresting teenagers for stealing 2 dollar soda.

[pssorens]

our entire chain of stores lost over 2,000,000 dollars last year because of people stealing slushee's when they ordered pop or water.

[Canarr]

our entire chain of stores lost over 2,000,000 dollars last year because of people stealing slushee's when they ordered pop or water.

Throw the thieves out, ban them, charge them. Absolutely justified. But calling the cops? That would be 1,000,000 cases of police officers arresting and filing for a 2$ theft. I´d like to think they could find better ways of spending their time.

I´m curious, though: how did your chain establish that figure? I wouldn´t think that slushee is something easily tracked.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I´m curious, though: how did your chain establish that figure? I wouldn´t think that slushee is something easily tracked.

The cups and syrup used by each store can be tracked (probably based on orders for the stuff from the company warehouse), and probably also the number of slushee sales in a given period.

Then it's a matter of comparing what they should have sold, judging by the amount of cups, syrup etc used, vs what they actually sold, and they can arrive at a ballpark figure for the loss.

[Sheldonrs]

...I´m curious, though: how did your chain establish that figure? I wouldn´t think that slushee is something easily tracked.

Probably tracked through a slush fund.

[Broomjockey]

charge them. Absolutely justified. But calling the cops?

Have you checked your logic? "Charge them." You can't charge them if you don't call the cops. And theft is theft. If someone's stealing something worth $2 or $20, it's still the same crime, and still worthy of police attention. If you want to debate the worth of prosecuting various crimes, Rapscallion's kindly provided the entire site of Fratching for that.

[Canarr]

I meant, charge them the price of the beverage they illegally took, not charge them with a crime.

But your other point is well taken, and I will cease this line of discussion now.

[Fungus]

Make them pay for the sodas after they dump them out. For sure, I would call the cops, make an example of them. Post a sign if you have to. This is an insult to those of us who work for a living and pay for our items.

[MrSunshineState]

And people wonder why several independently owned "fast food" joints don't allow the customers to get their own drinks. Behind the counter is where the fountain belongs.