Recently I wrote about a minor misunderstanding at McDs involving a honey mustard sauce for my chicken sandwich. You can read it here.
Last week we were there for a fast lunch and I ordered the homestyle chicken sandwich again, only this time I was willing to pay the fee for the dipping sauce. Had my head wrapped around the social injustice of having to pay for an item that is given complimentary at other fast food chains. I was going to be gracious. No Charlie Sheen-esque antics.
When I told the lady (same one who waited on me the last time) I’d like to purchase a honey mustard dipping sauce, she smiled and said, “Oh, we don’t charge for just one dipping sauce for your sandwich.”
Sheesh! What’s a guy to do?
Suddenly I’m wanting to bring up the last visit when I couldn’t get the blasted sauce without giving up extra money (plus 8.75% sales tax … welcome to California)! There needs to be some discussion here. Some clarification. What can I expect the next time I buy that sandwich meal … do I come with the extra quarter or can I expect to get the sauce at no charge?
On the one hand I’d like to think I had something to do with a corporate change of policy, but I fear the next time I order the meal and ask for the sauce, I’m going to be told, “That will be 20 cents … plus tax.” Matter of fact. No apologies. No “please” … just more of my hard earned money.
Surely (and I didn’t call you Shirley) you can see there are some issues here, right? This is not just the over-reaction of a soon to be 58-year-old gas bag, is it? (Don’t feel obligated to respond to that particular question.)
Life can be so stressful. I am reminded of the words of Moses: “…even the best of [our 70 - 80 years] is filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone” Ps.90:10.
Even with a 20-cent dipping sauce, it’s best to keep a biblical perspective.
Dude! Get you some of those little plastic cups with lids and bring your own dang sauce! Or better yet bring a couple of dozen of them and sell them around the store for 10 cents each and make back all those 20 cent pieces you’ve lost over the years.
I think a verse that applies here is: Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish (Proverbs 31:6).
Maybe you should try the Big Mac next time. I don’t believe there is any charge for the “secret sauce.”
My best advice is to pick your battles and just give it up!
We were recently shopping for fresh turnip and/or mustard greens at Kroger. They were nice and pretty bunches of greens, and Doris was REALLY wanting fresh greens. They were $1.19 per bunch. She said, “I’m not paying that for greens.” I said, “If you want the greens, you will!” We left the store without the greens!! 
A biblical perspective as in calling down fire from heaven? A little bit of thunder maybe?
Ahhhh, the BIG stresses of life . . . such as whether or not you get free, or have to pay for, honey mustard sauce for your chicken sandwich at McD’s. You really lead a rough life, Greg, I have to say. Those kind of stresses will do you in every time.
Ol’ Moses had it right. (Moses wrote a psalm? I’ll have to grab my Bible and look that one up. I thought his younger cousin, David, wrote all (most) of them!)
(Actually, that verse sounds much more like Solomon’s writings. Are you sure that verse is not from Ecclesiastes?)
Anyway . . . Steve had a great idea. You could have your own sauce and make money beating the system, too.
And I like Randy’s invocation of raining down fire and thunder from heaven, as well.
I have the best idea of all, though. QUIT eating at McDonald’s!!! Go to Popeye’s!! It’s by FAR the best fast food place in the entire country and started right down here in New Orleans. I mean – you DO have Popeye’s out there in progressive California – don’t you? Surely you do.
They have fabulous entrees and sides, all the free sauces you want, they are fast, economical just a winner all the way around. We brought some food home from there last week and I got an extra pint of coleslaw to have because it’s so good. (In fact, now I’m sitting here having a craving for some for lunch – it’s 12:45 p.m. here. I may have to run to town to get some Popeye’s.)
If y’all don’t have Popeye’s, I don’t know what to tell you. You just lead a deprived life, that’s all.
Have a good lunch today, Greg! Cheers!
Dee
[And you call yourself a Bible reader! Yes, Moses (a man of God) wrote Ps. 90. As for Popeyes, the only one around here is inside a gas station. Sorry, but I have to draw a line somewhere and eating inside a gas station is where one of those lines is drawn.]
Dude….Fast Food places hate us all….I had to return to Chikfila today because they gave me blasted sweet tea when I wanted Diet Coke!!! oh the humanity!!!!
I guess you could order at the drive-thru window, and circle back around several times and ask for your sauce. Just a thought!
My favorite fast food place is Panda Express. We have to drive to Tulsa to get it though; still it is worth every bite. The honey walnut shrimp is soooo good!!