Yesterday, Phil and I went to McDonald’s, not because we particularly like eating there on any sort of regular basis, but because we were tired and hungry and it was convenient.  Cooking at home was not an option.  We wanted food to be prepared and handed to us.

A few days before this, Phil’s mom had given me a coupon for one of McDonald’s chicken sandwiches.  All, I had to do was purchase a medium or a large drink, and the sandwich was free of charge.  I couldn’t remember if I had ever had one of McDonald’s chicken sandwiches, so I thought it was a good time to try one.

When I stepped up to the counter to order, I told the lady standing behind the register that I had a coupon and went to hand it to her.  Before I even was able to move my hand forward, she promptly told me that they did not accept coupons.

This confused me.  I looked down at my coupon just to double check that I was holding a McDonald’s coupon and not one of their competitors.  I wasn’t mistaken.

“What do you mean, you don’t accept coupons?” I asked.

“We don’t accept coupons.”

“Okay,” I replied, “that’s ridiculous.”

“Our manager told us not to accept them.”

At about this time, another lady approached the register.

“McDonald’s is not corporate,” the new lady said.  “Each restaurant is individually owned, and the owner makes the decision on whether or not coupons can be accepted.”

“Well,” I said, “I want you to tell your manager/owner that he has made a very poor decision.  Because you can’t accept my coupon, I am going to take my business else where.”

“That’s fine,” the new lady said.  And with that, Phil and I turned and walked out and headed to the fast food joint next door – Hardee’s – Phil’s favorite place to eat.

Yeah, I know, I sounded like a complete bitch, but I don’t care.  It’s just that I don’t think I have ever had someone tell me I couldn’t use a coupon before – especially a legit, non expired one.  I once had a Domino’s take a coupon that I found in a city hundreds of miles away.  All they asked was where I got it from and then took it like normal.

And just so you know, it is the McDonald’s located at 7011 Parklane Rd Columbia, SC 29223.