FSCK McDumbo's and their idotic managers!

[Wedesdo]

Questions Already Answered! Thank you Anandtech!



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I went to McDonalds today. I had a huge jar of change (mostly pennies), so I decided to count out my exact change - $3.12. I went there, there was no one else in line (because of the McChicken Head incident? ), so I proceeded to order and give her the pre-counted bag of pennies. She at first refused (maybe because I am a minor), and only after some debate did she accept the pennies this time. She said that if I ever go again, I must have the change in "bank-certified wrappers". If I want to go the bank, I would have brought the change jar with me!

She also vaguly implied that I should "watch-out" next time I go to her store. One thing I find odd though, is that although our area is mostly white - the schools have a 95% white make up, the restuarant workers are almost all African-America, and so was the manager (the person I talked to). I wonder if this has anything to do with it, but it does rule out the fact that the restuarant was racist.

Anyways, my questions are:

1. Can they legally not accept pennies as a form of payment? (I know they can kick some one out, but don't they have to have a legal reason [ie. no shirt, no shoes, etc.] to be able to do that? And is paying in pennies illegal or something? Remember, there was no one in line at the time.)

2. Are the managers hired by McDonald's, or do the own the franchise. If it's the former, should I complain to the regional manager or what ever?

I'm so pissed off, though, that I'm probably not go there again.

 

[prodigy]

To answer your first question, of course they can accept pennies. It's a legal form of tender, they must've been too lazy to count it out. Though I would've been embarrassed to pay in all pennies.

 

[Valhalla1]

mcdonalds is a franchised organization, but the managers aren't necissarily the franchise owners.

more likely, there is an owner of the store, and possibly other stores, and the managers are just employees, probably been there several years and got "promoted" to manager (woohoo)

 

[Cable God]

I had a bad run-in once with a McSucks manager. Maybe they were implying you'd get a fried chicken-head in your bag Hehe

 

[toph99]

they CAN take the pennies, but if they don't want to they don't have to

 

[Champo41]

In the last couple of days, McDonalds sure has become a popular place to go to.

 

[Soybomb]

prodigy you're right, they CAN accept pennies, but you don't have to

 

[Dedpuhl]

McDonalds is a private establishment, so they CAN refuse payment like that. I know where I work, I dont accept money like that. I work graveyards and have no where to hold that kind of money. Bring a jar of money ANYWHERE and see how many tell you they wont take it...

 

[Napalm381]

From the US Treasury itself:

Q:I thought that United States currency was legal
tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental
agencies say that they will only accept checks, money
orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only
accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or
smaller. Isn't this illegal?

A:The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 102. This is now found in section 392 of Title 31 of the United States Code. The law says that: "All coins and currencies of the United States (including Federal Reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal Reserve banks and national banking associations) . . . shall be legal-tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal law mandating that a person or organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

So yes, McDonalds has the legal right to tell to take your pennies and shove it

 

[chiwawa626]

Any private establishment can refuse to serve you...but that lady was a bitch

 

[Wedesdo]

'k! thanks.

hehe... i think, starting from now, that i'll just visit the local burger king or the win-dixi super market to get my food

 

[EmperorNero]

well, I would be pissed too if some guy brought a bunch of pennies in and I would have to count them. I think it's pretty generous of her to accept those pennies that time and gave you a fair warning about using "bank certified wrappers."

but I do admire wedesdo for bringing in pennies...it would be embarrasing for me too.

 

[Dedpuhl]

Imagine making minimum wage in a fast food joint and some guy walks up to you with a bag 'o pennies. I would probably be rude, too.

But thats just me...

 

[Double Trouble]

Yep, Napalm is right on the money. The bottom line is, they don't have to take your pennies, but they can. Now the behaviour of the manager on the other hand, is bad for the reputation of the franchise -- complain to their regional office about the behavior. I've done that before (complained about some woman working at Wendy's that was extremely rude) and gotton some freebies out of it, and even an apology from the manager that had acted rude.

 

[prodigy]

One thing I wouldn't do is complain about the place, unless you're not going to be eating there anymore. I don't want to find any (or even worse, not even know that there are) "surprises" in my food the next time I go there.

 

[Dedpuhl]

...and the surprises in the food will occur. I have/had a lot of friends work in fast food. You would not believe and don't want to hear what they do to the food in the back....