My number one job as a fast food drive thru order taker/cashier is to get each customer from the moment they roll over the pressure plate at the order menu to the time they drive off the pressure plate at the 2nd window in under 120 seconds. That is two minutes to take your order, take your money, make your food, and deliver it with all your extras. The bosses who sit in their clean, organized offices that have never stepped foot inside the fast food restaurants they manage long distance do not care if you asked for a water cup, or extra whatever at the pick up window and it took a few extra seconds to do that. They don't care that noone was behind you so you unpacked your bag to open that cheeseburger you ordered and ran up my times. They only care that I got you out in under 120 seconds happy, or not. So here is a few tips when coming into my drive thru (any anyone elses) that will help me keep my job and get you what you want in an orderly fashion.
- Don't take two minutes to figure out what you want, (you already blew my time for that day part) come inside instead.
- Ask for ketcup, water, extra whatever, at the order screen so we can have it in your bag ready to go.
- Don't come through with 4 separately paid orders, (come inside).
- Don't come through ordering $40 worth of food, (come inside).
- Late night after dining room closes, don't order 10 of the same thing, (call ahead, yes you can do that) we just don't keep that much product ready to go.
A few other tips on drive thru etiquette.
- Don't drive up screaming "hello". You ran over the pressure plate, I hear you fine. I am supposed to answer you in under 3 seconds. If you wait longer than 3 seconds its because something is wrong inside, or with my headset. Most likely my manager on shift is also wearing a headset and can hear you, me, and any issues that might be going on inside. If I take too long he/she will answer instead. Your "hello" the moment you drive up is unnecessary and irritating.
- No employee, no matter how mad you make them, will never fuck up, or spit in your food on purpose. Our job means more to us than getting back at you. Since we are all on camera, spitting in your food or screwing something up, really isn't an option.
- Be nice to your drive thru cashier, he/she is a real person and has probably been standing on their feet for hours, alternating between hot and cold, running like a mad person, and most often is doing multiple things at the same time. Not to mention many fast food employees make so little money they come in even if they don't want to, are in pain, tired, or have personal issues at home.
- Please know how you want your burgers when you order them. Chances are the sandwich maker is listening to you and already making your food the moment you say "cheeseburger" so if you go back and say, "no onions" or worse "no mayo", they have to remake what they already made possibly making the whole process take longer.
- Please ask for extra condiments or water cups AT THE SPEAKER! Very important, this allows us time to get it in your bag instead of asking at the window and running up my drive thru times (remember those big wigs looking at only my numbers?)
I hope this helps you the next time you roll through my drive thru (or someone else's).
