I am a huge McDonald’s fan. Huge! I have a feeling I always have been. Ever since I was one of the lucky 80’s kids, I was able to enjoy my very own McDonald’s birthday party, complete with My Little Pony cake. Amazingly all these years later (*cough nearly 30 coughs, cough*), that same restaurant is still going strong and just so happens to be within walking distance of my day job!

So when I was kindly invited to the branch to meet the franchisee and staff to find out more about how using the McDonald’s Click and Collect App can give all their customers and me new and old, a better in-store experience, I couldn’t exactly say no could I!

Honestly, I hadn’t heard much about the app. I waited until I arrived at McDonald’s Wallasey to find out exactly how the app would enhance my dining experience.

Using the McDonald’s Click and Collect App.

It couldn’t be simpler to install and register with the app. Do this before you want to order to speed up your ordering experience. Once you are registered, you can register a card for payments and select a favourite restaurant for future orders.

Once you have installed the app and registered your details, click ‘ordering’ to start. Those of us familiar with the ordering screens in the store will recognise the layout and easily find what they want. Whether you want a quick snack or a full meal, all food items available to order at the counter are on the app and customisable the way you want them.

Add all your items to the basket and check out when you are done. Whether you are already at the restaurant, at home, or simply 2 shops away, spending your wages in one go (guilty). Order and pay wherever you are.

Then, when you arrive at your chosen restaurant, scan your app on the QR reader located in the restaurant as you enter – in my local branch, they can be found by the main entrance and further inside by the kiosks. Your order will then be made up when they know you are here to collect.

This is it for me! To order and pay before arriving means I can cut out the queues on a busy Saturday afternoon, leaving me more time to enjoy my lunch hour instead of waiting around to be served.

It can also be used for the drive-in too! Just order, park one of the designated bays (where applicable), and your order will be made without having to visit the window and then brought to your car!

But the app isn’t just perfect for those like me rushing in and out during a lunch hour.

Using the McDonald’s Click and Collect app is ideal for making group orders before you arrive with kids in tow. Maybe you are – or are with, a counter ditherer who, after making up your mind to finally try a new, signature burger, ends up back-ordering your staple favourite anyway (Chicken Legend with spicy mayo, fries and Fanta). Pretty much any McDonald’s customer can benefit from using the app and experience an easier, quicker experience in-store.

Using the McDonald’s Click and Collect app is pretty easy to navigate.

With options to adapt your meal and customise it how you like, to guide meals under 400 and 600 calories, there’s something for everyone! You are also able to access nutritional information too before ordering your meal.

If you can order it in the restaurant, you can order it in the app! It is pretty cool if you ask me and perfect for avoiding being easily swayed by the screens waiting in the queue! True story: I enjoyed my first-ever McDonald’s frappe after waiting in line and being swayed by the changing screens behind the counter to order one with my order, yes you guessed it, the chicken legend with spicy mayo!

Meeting The Staff and Finding Out About My Local McDonald’s.

I was ready to greet me for my visit was Franchisee Paul and one of his longtime crew members and managers, Joey. What really struck me was how enthusiastic they both were about the brand. Their love for the company and the work they do was evident as I spoke to them. They shared with me their careers so far and how the recent changes had developed the way they work.

In his 35 years as a McDonald’s franchisee, Paul has seen many changes and developments. The Wallasey restaurant, which Paul has owned for 12 years now, was a test restaurant. New ideas and/or services were trailed here before being rolled out across the brand. I never knew before, and I think speaks a lot about Paul and his stores and staff to carry this out.

We also discussed Paul’s and McDonald’s charity work in and around our local community. He really does get involved in doing what he can for our local area and charities. He is the chair of the RMHC (Ronald McDonald House) at our local hospital which supports parents of children by giving them somewhere close by to stay whilst their child is being treated at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Paul has also helped out in communities tasked with regenerating local town centres, including where I work and the restaurant is based. One of his other stores is by donating to things like sponsoring plant pots and Christmas trees.

There is a real sense of his commitment to the area and helping out where and when he can. I can see and appreciate having met and discussed ideas with the team involved in this project for my local town centre.

After talking to Paul, I had the chance to meet Joey, who has worked for the company for 30 years and with Paul for 18. Joey started part-time and has worked his way up, and he now looks after 3 stores. For Joey, the company really is a family for him as this is where he met his wife 29 years ago and whilst she isn’t still working for McDonald’s, his 17-year-old daughter is a part-time crew member.

Meeting Crew Members.

It was great to get to meet 2 of my local stores’ crew members too. After all, they have possibly made me many a chicken legend in the past, to see how much they enjoy working for McDonald’s. Leanne has been a crew member for over 5 years now and Scott for 3. Scott currently is a shift manager and has actually made the progression to his position the fastest in the store. Both Scott and Leanne commented on the training programme. Thorough and easy to follow, parts of the programme are available online, and at the restaurant, it has been a massive help for them to learn everything they need to know.

They also told me how working at McDonald’s feels like a family. Flexible working hours around the family were also a plus, as was getting your rotas well in advance and viewed them online. I have to say, having worked for many retailers myself, I was impressed by what I was being told.

Technology & McDonald’s

Lastly, I wanted to finish off by finding out how the staff view the technological changes McDonald’s has introduced.

Because they are implementing the procedures and making sure it all runs as smoothly as it should. And they also get to see how it is affecting their customers. I know from ordering in past visits that there is always a staff member on hand in the restaurant to help you order at the kiosks. They come across and ask if you are eating in to offer table service and reduce congestion at the collection point too.

Have you tried using the McDonald’s Click and Collect app yet? Or is this something you would like to try next time you visit?

*This post is in collaboration with Mcdonald’s #yournewmcdonalds. all thoughts and opinions (and chicken legend obsession) are my own*