I know that the last thing an American would want to eat at while staying in Germany is a McDonald’s, but I have gone a number of times over the past few weeks. Many of those have been instances of using the bathroom without buying anything but the main reason I’ve been going is the promotional contest that about to end in the next week. My first visit was actually to partake in the McRib, which I had unfortunately missed during its recent limited run in the US.
The promotion is called “Mediterranien Juhurlaubs Gewinnspiel” and you receive a peel-off sticker with the purchase of Chicken Selects, Shrimp Lemon, Beef Siziliana, or a 0.5 liter beverage. You can either instantly win or collect two matching halves to win, similiar to the Monopoly promotions in the US. Since both the Shrimp Lemon and Beef Siziliana sandwiches have been sold out for a while and I consider the Chicken Selects to be overpriced, I have been participating through the large drink method. Luckily that includes large shakes! So far I have won:
- 1 Eistüte (Ice Cream Cone),
- 1 Apfeltasche (Apple Pie),
- half of a mountain bike,
- half of a Mini Cooper Cabrio,
- and half of a Mittelmeer Traumreisen von Fanta.
I might try a couple more times before the end date of August 22nd (it began July 5th) but it’ll likely just be shakes and orange juice. You know, some of the slightly healthier offerings under the golden arches.