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Should McDonald's Stop Asking Customers Whether They Want a "Boy" or "Girl" Happy Meal®?
Below you'll find the toys offered for 2001, and any comments when we visited McDonald's.
2001 Happy Meals
Happy Meal® toys for May 18 - June 14, 2001: Hello Kitty®, Action ManTM
Happy Meal® toys for June 15 - July 10, 2001: Atlantis The Lost Empire
Happy Meal® toys for August 1 - August 30, 2001: BarbieTM Figurines, Hot Wheels® cars
August 16: We went through the drive-thru, and I noticed that McDonald's had 2 different types of toys. We spoke to the cashier through the speaker - we asked for a Chicken Nugget Happy Meal, with the Hot Wheel. The cashier asked, "Do you want a BOY or a GIRL meal?" We responded again, "Hot Wheels please." Again the cashier asked, "Do you want a BOY or a GIRL meal?" Again we responded, "We'd like the Hot Wheels car." Again she repeated her question a little LOUDER, putting emphasis on the gender - "Is this for a BOY or a GIRL?" My husband yelled his answer a little louder this time -- "I said I want a Hot - Wheels - CAR." Finally, she must have gotten it. But I came to the conclusion that employees must have been taught this...I mean, it IS programmed in their computers as a "boy" or "girl" meal. But come on...do they not understand "Hot Wheels" or "Barbie" ? Another thing that doesn't make sense...if THEY are the ones who are connecting the Hot Wheels with being a BOY TOY, you would THINK that they would be able to know which meal a HOT WHEEL toy is for!!
Sometime between August 16 and August 20; We sent an email to McDonald's Corporation.
August 23: We received a call from Sandy, a McDonald's Representative, who apologized for the way McDonald's employees have been handling this issue. To quote her, she said, "There appears to be a breakdown in the training somewhere." She said she would share my recent email with the appropriate people.
Happy Meal® toys for September 7 - September 27, 2001: LEGO BionicleTM, Diva StarzTM
September 20: When we ordered through the drive-thru, we weren't even asked which toy we wanted. When we got to the window I asked which toys were with the Happy Meals®, and we were told that the LEGO BionicleTM toy was for the boys and the Diva StarzTM was for the girls. I asked the girl why the LEGO toy was a "boy" toy. She responded, "I don't know." I'm sure LEGO would not approve of marketing their products to only one gender.
September 20: Thought about contacting The LEGO Group about the current McDonald's/LEGO campaign.
Happy Meal® toys for September 28 - October 18. 2001: Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Happy Meal® toys for November 2 - November 29: ©Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc.
Happy Meal® toys for November 30 - December 27: Toys "R" Us Animal Alley Minis.
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