Drive-Thru Etiquette

Okay so in today's fast paced world, fast food has definitely stood tall and proud. No matter where you're at or what you're doing you can guarantee that you'll be able to find your next meal in a jiffy. The colorful and easily recognizable signs can be seen from the highway miles away...and we breathe easy knowing that we'll be eating food, super fast, super soon. Drive thru's are a tool that almost every single fast food establishment utilizes. Who could blame them? The average American is "go-go-GO!". Busy parents can pull their van-full of sleeping kiddos right on through, without so much as a single tantrum. But as Americans, we want it all. We may demand fast food, but the demand for healthier options with that value meal are on the rise as well. Boy oh boy! Look at that! Fast  food establishments have already met that demand! (That was fast.) Lets take a look...hmm, we've got all natural chicken here, apples and bananas there, and yummy salads and yogurt! Oh my! These are just a few things that are new to the menu board across the world. So with all these new options, drive-thrus everywhere may be teensy more packed, huh? A little intense maybe?
Well, I'm sure as many of you know I am in management at a pretty big fast food chain. Here lately I have compiled a mental list of manners that I believe everyone should be aware of. And here it is! Please add anything to it that you believe would further improve it!
Okay. Here we go...

1.) Guess what? The crew that is working that grill, or taking your order....they are actually human! Yeah! Isn't that weird? And since they are human beings don't cha think they deserve a smile too? Or maybe you should return that greeting? How would you feel if you said "Hello! How are you today?" a hundred times in a day ...just to be ignored? Yeah. That makes me sad. :(  So rule number one... be kind and mind your manners there sonny. Just a quick, "I'm good! Thanks.. " will suffice. I mean, we don't want your life story, don't get me wrong. ;)

2.) Please don't make our ears ring. Haha..okay I'll elaborate. For some reason, many fast food goers find it necessary to literally scream their order through the speaker box. We live in the year 2010 people. The technology around these parts is kinda advanced. We can hear you as if we were standing right next to you.... so please don't start your order off as "YEAH!!! I WOULD LIKE A NUMBER 3!!!!" .... it literally hurts us. And because we have to pull off our headsets in an effort to save our hearing, we may not get your entire order, which could be painful for both parties in the end.  So rule number 2...talk in a normal, steady voice. Adjust if necessary (i.e. if there's bad weather.)

3.) Ask for it in advance. If you need extra napkins, ketchup, salt, or any other condiment; ask the individual taking your order. "Oh sir/ma'am...could I get a cup of ice and some ketchup too please." This will help insure that you can grab your bag and go...literally. We want you "in and out" as quickly as possible and when the person who hands you your food has to grope around for sauce or another bag etc...yeah, it would just be easier on both parties.

4.) Please...if you know in advance that you are going to up size your meal say that first. "Yea, I'd like a LARGE number 1." The reason I say this is because many fast food goers like to personalize their burger, which is totally coolio with us..BUT the way many registers work nowadays, there are TWO separate buttons for that combo meal you're requesting. So there's a medium meal and a large meal. The very first step to ringing up that meal is to select a meal size. Okay, now keep that in mind. Ahem..."Yea! I'd like a number one. But I wanna add mayo to it, no pickles, lite cheese..the yellow kind not that other cheese you have! ..oh and make that patty well done for me please and no salt on anything!!"....So, we ring this all up. (Normally its the responsibility of the cashier to ask what size but sometimes we may forget or just be caught up in making sure that your order comes out correct.)  Anyways...we ring it all up and then as an afterthought many will say "Oh. Can you make all those meals large?" ...Thanks. ARGH. So nowwww we have to cancel every single thing out and re-ring it up as a large and THEN we have to re-personalize the burger etc. Now while we're doing all this busy finger dancing on the register..your probably getting impatient now huh? You want your food huh? Sick of looking at the speaker right? Well darling. This could be avoided...say large first. Now if you want to up size later because you forgot then we're totally coolio with that too of course.

5.) Huh? WHAT? Speak up son!! ....just because the cashier may ask you to repeat something DOES NOT mean you need to raise your voice and talk to us like we're special. M-kay? Its just rude. It is VERY VERY loud behind the counter, so every now and then the cashier will ask you a question just to clarify. Its not to slow you down, its so they can get your food right the first time. So appreciate that they care enough to ask, and move on with your order please. Geesh.


6.) Its always polite to have your money ready.

7.) Please...PLEASE.....I'm begging you!! Dont say in a sarcastic annoyed high pitch voice.. "Umm! HHEEELLLLLOOOOO!!?!" We...are...there. If the cashier said that they would be with you in one moment then there is definitely a reason as to why he's making you wait.... could be dealing with an unruly customer, or a counterfeit bill, or maybe our battery operated headsets are beeping to us that their little lives are about to end. Irregardless.....don't do that. Its like nails on a chalkboard. Ick! Its rude to boot. How would you like it if  I walked up to you while you were helping someone else and impatiently stomped my cheaply attired feet at you and said "Umm! HEEELLLLOOO!?!?!", even though I was just told that you would be with me in a moment. Yeah. Just ewwww.

8.) Last time I checked crocodiles were NOT allowed to drive....so please don't SNAP at the crew.

9.) For the love of cheeseburgers! Please don't try to order something additional when your at the second window (the one you grab your food at.). The people sitting patiently in line behind you are wanting their food as well.....we don't want it to get cold. That's all. :-) Kthx.



The above things I have incorporated into my life seamlessly. I will not do this to any other employee no matter where they work. Because my experience has taught me better. I understand. I feel empathy towards them. I still have a few areas to work on...for example, bad waiters/ -resses. Irks me when I have nothing to drink for half my dinner. But I guess I've never been in their shoes. So I normally get very annoyed very quickly at restaurants in general. Oops.
To me the bottom line is that we all treat one another like decent human beings. Smile at a stranger and ask "how are you?" ...when passing the threshold of Wal-Mart greet the "people greeter" before they greet you (its fun! Throws them off track! lol)... and just have a few more nice things to say , ESPECIALLY to those who are obviously being as kind as possible to you. Just sayin'.

Peace! ;)