Last week, McDonald’s partnered up with UberEats to deliver not only its famous food, but some pretty impressive promotional items, including jackets, socks, pins and fanny packs.
People were quick to post pictures of their hauls on the internet, apparently believing that the swag items made the increased price of delivery versus picking it up yourself worth it.
But, it wasn’t all smiles and T-shirts. Plenty of people ordered McDonald’s meals, sometimes multiple times that day, in the hopes of getting something more than food. And when the delivery person showed up (figuratively) empty handed, customers weren’t happy.
It’s been hours but I’m honestly just still upset over the fact that I ordered @McDonalds from @UberEats this morning SOLELY because I wanted some of the McDelivery swag and GOT NOTHING with my food. Like I get that it’s limited supplies but it was only an hour in! 😭
— Arielle Hughes (@crafty_snitch) July 20, 2018
Ordered my meal for #McDelivery day at 11 am sharp. @UberEats @McDonalds Not only did it take 30+ minutes to be delivered but when I received my food NO limited collection item. The worst part is all my co-workers who ordered AFTER me got swag. #Jipped
— Ellen Jowers (@ellen_jowers) July 19, 2018
Saddest day in history.
McDonald's Swag gets sold out right when you press check out… 😭I WILL NEVER BE HAPPY AGAIN, WITHOUT MY "ADULT" HAPPY MEAL! @McDonalds @UberEats
— jayne 📸 (@shotbyjayne) July 19, 2018
Okay @McDonalds where is my Big Mac swag package?! I know I’m not a celeb but I’m one of ur most loyal customers AND Big Mac fans. I’m offended. U May DM me for my address so u can send me one.
— kt❁ (@katieeemclaren) July 19, 2018
Great work @McDonalds #Mcdelivery was a McJoke. No way to select the swag through the app, and didn't get anything as promised. Even went to a participating location on your list. Thanks for the false advertising pic.twitter.com/XfDY5xZuRc
— Angelo Patrinicola (@dramadeer) July 19, 2018
So, yeah, people were pretty upset when they didn’t receive any McDonald’s swag. The upside is that they still got the food they ordered, but would they have ordered those Big Macs if it didn’t come with the dangling carrot of apparel or pins?
McDonald’s has a history of well-intentioned promotional campaigns that went slightly awry. Remember the whole Szechuan dipping sauce debacle?
Granted, this latest stunt didn’t end in riots or lines of angry cartoon fans wrapping around the block, but it still caused some public backlash online. Whether those Twitter users are serious about never using McDonald’s again is questionable, but the fact that they have such a bad taste in their mouths from a promotional campaign is telling.
Alas, these are the pitfalls of supply and demand. It’d be nice if McDonald’s had enough products to supply every person who ordered, but it’s just not economically viable.
