Is the economy really this bad?

I love pancakes! Indeed, they are my favorite breakfast food. While I usually refrain from buying pancakes at a fast-food restaurant, I was running late for work yesterday and really craving pancakes. I had no choice but to stop at a McDonald’s I pass on my walk from the parking garage to my office.

Out of respect to my health and my animal rights’ friends, I rarely eat at McDonald’s, but I do visit this particular McDonald’s on an almost daily basis for coffee. As such, the staff is very familiar with me.

I proceeded to order my pancakes and coffee and noticed only one pack of syrup in the bag . Keep in mind, an order of pancakes at McDonald’s consists of three pancakes–one pack of syrup will not cut it.

I asked for a second packet and was told it would cost me 27 cents for an extra packet. I glared at the manager, then at the lone syrup packet in my bag. I noticed a tear in the packaging and brought it to the manager’s attention. She offered to replace the packet and then offered to give me a second packet for–get this–25 cents. A whole 2 cents savings!

Again, I glared at the manager and said, “that is not good enough.” Her expression was if I asked her to give me a New York strip. I reminded her that I was a loyal customer and that they would lose far money by refusing to give me the syrup since I would end my daily coffee patronage. Finally, she relented and gave me the second package of syrup.

Has it really come to this? Is the recession so deep that McDonald’s must charge 27 cents for syrup? Is this really going to drive their food costs up?