Unsuspecting McDonald's customers from suburban Chicago were shocked when they learned they could pay for their meal with "lovin'" and their reactions were featured in the fast food chain's touching Super Bowl commercial.
"Honestly we did not notice anything when we walked in and when we got up to oder and pay she said 'Your payment will be showing some love,'" said customer Judy Nagel-Conley.
Nagel-Conley had to tell the cashier what she loved about her son. She said "his compassion for other people," to much applause.
"I was very excited because he's an awesome kid and it was very easy to think of something," she said.
Another suburban family said they had a similar experience after being asked to "hug it out" instead of pay for their meal. But one family member's smile took front and center in the McDonald's commercial.
"I was nervous and my dad hugged me," said Grace Ramsburg.
The Ramsburg family said they were overjoyed with the news.
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"[Grace's] smile is contagious," said her mother Holly Ramsburg. "You can't forget about it."
McDonald's annonunced plans last week to give customers a chance to earn a cheeseburger for calling their mother. Or fist bumping a fry cook. Or just passing along good vibes.
Customers who enter participating McDonald's restaurants between Feb. 2 and Feb. 14 will be selected at random and told they could pay for their meal with an act of lovin' instead of money, according to a statement from McDonald's.
The newly accepted form of currency -- called "Pay with Lovin' " -- comes just in time for Valentine's Day and is part of the Oak Brook-based company's new campaign to emphasize the "love" in its long-running "I'm Lovin' It" slogan.
"McDonald's is in a unique position to bring a little more lovin' to our customers," said Deborah Wahl, chief marketing officer for McDonald's USA. "We're on a journey to change the relationship and conversation and 'Pay with Lovin' ' is a direct way for us to engage with our customers. We believe that a little more Lovin' can change a lot."
The new payment method begins Feb. 2 and applies between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. at select McDonald's stores.
