Odd McD’s experience today

[halfpintpeggy]

When I was out running errands today, I stopped into McD’s to grab a tea. After being rung up, I handed the employee $2 to pay.
I was due .50 something cents in change. Then she asks me, “Would you like to round that up?”
I was puzzled & said no, so she handed me my change.
She looked annoyed.
So then I asked her where the money goes if people round up, a Ronald McDonald house?
Or….were they short on change today?
She said she had no idea about Ronald McDonald house & they have plenty of change.
I thought this was really odd & peculiar! I have to wonder if this employee tries to pad her drawer to make extra money or something.
What do you think?

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

When I was out running errands today, I stopped into McD’s to grab a tea. After being rung up, I handed the employee $2 to pay.
I was due .50 something cents in change. Then she asks me, “Would you like to round that up?”
I was puzzled & said no, so she handed me my change.
She looked annoyed.
So then I asked her where the money goes if people round up, a Ronald McDonald house?
Or….were they short on change today?
She said she had no idea about Ronald McDonald house & they have plenty of change.
I thought this was really odd & peculiar! I have to wonder if this employee tries to pad her drawer to make extra money or something.
What do you think?

Why didn't you just ask?

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Why didn't you just ask?

I did ask where the money goes if people round up.
She said she “didn’t know.”

 

[highlander357]

I think she was trying to trick you into a donation that would have ultimately ended up in her pocket.

 

[DanceDisney23]

McD does do the roundup for the Ronald McDonald house, but it’s odd the employee didn’t know that. She doesn’t sound well trained.

I’m finding more and more stores are asking me to round up or straight out to add a $1 or higher donation to my payment. It’s getting to be a bit too much.

 

[SL6827]

Yes, more and more places are asking for this handout. Tax break for the companies perhaps? It's annoying.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Yes, more and more places are asking for this handout. Tax break for the companies perhaps? It's annoying.

Definitely annoying. I thought that the companies were using these donations for tax breaks as well. Turns out they cannot. Technically the donator can use that. But who is really keeping track of every 12, 27, and 4 cent donation they make? Here is a pretty good article on it if anyone wants more info:

https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/accounting/checkout-donations-charity/

 

[SteveH]

Sounds like lack of training, nothing more. It's often a script that pops up on the register.

 

[_19disnA]

If the are actually collecting for a legit charity, it would show as a line item on the receipt. That is the only way to see it itemized so the total is correct. Our grocery store does that round-up thing and you see the amount on the printed receipt.

 

[SL6827]

But there has to be something in it for businesses with many companies to do it.
But what then?

 

[DanceDisney23]

But there has to be something in it for businesses with many companies to do it.
But what then?

Brand equity. Apparently it significantly increased sales for the first companies that tried it because it made them seem more caring and personable. So everyone is jumping on that bandwagon now.

 

[SL6827]

Brand equity. Apparently it significantly increased sales for the first companies that tried it because it made them seem more caring and personable. So everyone is jumping on that bandwagon now.

Ohhh ok.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

They have been doing the Round Up campaign in my area for a few weeks. It's legit, and they were just uninformed of the cause.
We have a Ronald McDonald house next to our children's hospital. My Girl Scout troop volunteered there often and it's an amazing resource to the families who are in need. It's a legit campaign, for a legit cause.

 

[Anthony1971]

I saw the Roundup yesterday on a order Kosiak - there are no more cashiers here (unless you stand there and wait for someone to see you and maybe help you). That is the first time but I do not go much last time was at least 2 months ago. I did not look at who it is for. A lot of other places however do this. Definitely not a scam.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Everyone in my area now does this round up thing. Literally every major store I shop in, except for maybe Target. “Would you like to round up your payment for..” Groceries, pharmacies, department stores, fast food, everybody. I was just talking about this with DH the other day because he says when he buys stuff he always rounds up and I said that’s insane and he’d better stop lol. If I did that every time I bought something it’d be like hundreds of dollars extra a year. I remember we once had a savings account that did this, whenever we bought anything it would automatically round up and put the extra into savings. It accrued quite a bit of money. I’ll donate where, when and how much I want. When a cashier asks and I say no I always feel like a terrible person for not giving to charity. Sorry for the rant lol. This really bothers me

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

I

I’ll donate where, when and how much I want. When a cashier asks and I say no I always feel like a terrible person for not giving to charity. Sorry for the rant lol. This really bothers me

That’s just it. Everyone is always asking for donations. I have kids in school and you get asked to donate to the local food bank multiple times a year. Faith Formation for the kids also asks for multiple donations during classes - money, food, toys for an after school program they run, etc. It just never ends. No way I’m giving money at checkout when I have these other requests for donations I feel obligated to give to.

 

[LAX]

Everyone in my area now does this round up thing. Literally every major store I shop in, except for maybe Target. “Would you like to round up your payment for..” Groceries, pharmacies, department stores, fast food, everybody. I was just talking about this with DH the other day because he says when he buys stuff he always rounds up and I said that’s insane and he’d better stop lol. If I did that every time I bought something it’d be like hundreds of dollars extra a year. I remember we once had a savings account that did this, whenever we bought anything it would automatically round up and put the extra into savings. It accrued quite a bit of money. I’ll donate where, when and how much I want. When a cashier asks and I say no I always feel like a terrible person for not giving to charity. Sorry for the rant lol. This really bothers me

I, too, prefer to make donations to wherever and whenever I want. I don't feel guilty about not participating in these round-up prompts, though.

LAX

 

[MrsPete]

I thought this was really odd & peculiar! I have to wonder if this employee tries to pad her drawer to make extra money or something.

That's not so different from the "Tips Jar" that's become ubiquitous ... well, everywhere.

Yes, more and more places are asking for this handout. Tax break for the companies perhaps? It's annoying.

It could be a tax break: They collect money for ____ Charity, then they get a tax break for donating money.

Sounds like lack of training, nothing more. It's often a script that pops up on the register.

Very likely. I mean, let's not scream corporate corruption because a McDonald's employee -- likely a teenager -- couldn't answer a question.

We have a Ronald McDonald house next to our children's hospital. My Girl Scout troop volunteered there often and it's an amazing resource to the families who are in need. It's a legit campaign, for a legit cause.

Absolutely! My brother-and-sister-in-law stayed at the RMc House when their child was born with some problems and was moved to a specialized children's hospital some four hours from their home. Without free lodging and meals, they would not have been able to stay near the hospital.