Maybe you don't belong in the drive thru...

[Poohbug]

OP, I feel your pain. I have a similar list of "you might not belong in the drive thru if's..." but mine all pertain to BANKING!!!! Yes, we have some serious issues with idiocy at any bank with a drive thru as well...

And FWIW, I was VERY good at my job (before injury/disability) and I LOVED my job, but I too, had moments of tongue in cheek venting over some of the insanity that goes on.

I will only bless you with my favorite: divorced couple who is up in years, still lives together for WHATEVER reason, but so obviously doesn't get along.(ex) Wife who doesn't drive, makes (ex)Husband drive her through the drivethrough, wait for it: THE WRONG WAY

Yes, I said the wrong way! as in Opposite direction of oncoming traffic, (which, by the way, meant driving the wrong way up a one way street that our drive thru exited on to) just because she did not want him "seeing her deposit, or possibly stealing her money/and or account info if he were to drop it into the drawer for her!!!

I think that being able to vent about your job and the craziness that happens on a daily basis enables you to sorta decompress and go "back at it again" the next day willing and able to always put your best foot forward. If you couldn't blow off some steam, then you might not be as willing or able to always do your best!!!

You do have to find the humor in everything you do.

I have worked both FF drive up and bank drive up and I have seen a lot of crazy stuff. Hey, it keeps the job interesting.

The last bank I worked for allowed customers to purchase bank checks and money orders through the drive thru, really anything the customer wanted, we were supposed to let them do in the drive thru. ???? I always felt bad for the poor person behind them.

One time I was having problems getting the pneumatic tube into the bank. We could not figure out what was wrong and I am getting nervous because the customer's transaction in stuck in the tube. Well, after much questioning, I find out that the customer has packed the tube with loose change. PSA-the regular bank tube cannot move 10 pounds of change, please bring that in.

 

[JosieCat]

I have worked both FF drive up and bank drive up and I have seen a lot of crazy stuff. Hey, it keeps the job interesting.

The last bank I worked for allowed customers to purchase bank checks and money orders through the drive thru, really anything the customer wanted, we were supposed to let them do in the drive thru. ???? I always felt bad for the poor person behind them.

One time I was having problems getting the pneumatic tube into the bank. We could not figure out what was wrong and I am getting nervous because the customer's transaction in stuck in the tube. Well, after much questioning, I find out that the customer has packed the tube with loose change. PSA-the regular bank tube cannot move 10 pounds of change, please bring that in.

ZOMG! Bahahahahahaha!

 

[bankgirl05]

I have worked both FF drive up and bank drive up and I have seen a lot of crazy stuff. Hey, it keeps the job interesting.

The last bank I worked for allowed customers to purchase bank checks and money orders through the drive thru, really anything the customer wanted, we were supposed to let them do in the drive thru. ???? I always felt bad for the poor person behind them.

One time I was having problems getting the pneumatic tube into the bank. We could not figure out what was wrong and I am getting nervous because the customer's transaction in stuck in the tube. Well, after much questioning, I find out that the customer has packed the tube with loose change. PSA-the regular bank tube cannot move 10 pounds of change, please bring that in.

totally been there- done that!!!


It seems to me that it is a cost saving effort that they don't actually throw in things like Ketchup or any extra condiments unless they are requested. even 1/2 a cent a packet adds up over a year's time...

There was a comedic routine yeas ago, can't remember who/what/where just remember: "AND A LARGE ORANGE DRINK!!!! " (muffle muffle muffle from the speaker) "NOOOO!!!!! Large ORANGE DRINK!!!!" This was one of those pop culture references that my group of friends always seemed to throw around, and hilarity ensued?!?!

Now, I'm off to google it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-e1Hxy_kQU

LOL I found it!!!!! Funny stuff!!!!

 

[JosieCat]

I know Sinbad had a really funny one, but it was having more than one person in the car..."'I want a cheeseburger...fries...and a coke'....what do you want? Okay 'and a cheeseburger....fries...and a coke.....'you in the back seat what do you want? (nod nod) 'We need a cheeseburger....fries....and a coke...'"

 

[JenM]

My very first job was at a Wendy's, and I worked the drive-thru for the whole summer. I'm pretty much in agreement with the OP - we had a summer camp bus try to come through once!

The funniest one I ever had was a guy who's friend was driving the car behind him. He asked that when his friend drove up the window, if I could ask "Haven't I seen you on America's Most Wanted?"

I had no idea what that was about, but I did it and the guy burst out laughing...it was some running gag between the two of them.

The drive-thru can be an interesting place to work.

 

[TheAviator]

Sometimes I think I should order the opposite of what I really want knowing they will mess it up and actually get it right, "Yes I want a number 3 with a Dr. Pepper, small." What? A number 2 with a large coke? "Yes that's it!!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

when they ask for your order, just ask them to surprise you since you never get what you want anyway.

Sometimes I think I should order the opposite of what I really want knowing they will mess it up and actually get it right, "Yes I want a number 3 with a Dr. Pepper, small." What? A number 2 with a large coke? "Yes that's it!!!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

My biggest drive through pet peeve is when they call your order back to you and jumble it all up.

They say all the entrees, then all the sides, then all the drinks.

It takes me longer to think back and make sure they said everything right, than for how long it took me to give my order.

And yes, please, I've ordered PLENTY enough times to know exactly what questions your going to ask and in what exact order.

I will tell you the entire thing start to finish.
4 piece chicken, for a boy, no sauce, appl juice box.

I hate it when they talk over you and wont let you speak.

Our MC Donalds has those auto intros also, that say order when ready. I know well enough to wait for the order taken to say to give the order. If you speak when the machine says, you will just have to repeat your entire order.

OP, your list is spot on and I had a nice laugh with it.

 

[JosieCat]

My biggest drive through pet peeve is when they call your order back to you and jumble it all up.

They say all the entrees, then all the sides, then all the drinks.

It takes me longer to think back and make sure they said everything right, than for how long it took me to give my order.

And yes, please, I've ordered PLENTY enough times to know exactly what questions your going to ask and in what exact order.

I will tell you the entire thing start to finish.
4 piece chicken, for a boy, no sauce, appl juice box.

I hate it when they talk over you and wont let you speak.

Our MC Donalds has those auto intros also, that say order when ready. I know well enough to wait for the order taken to say to give the order. If you speak when the machine says, you will just have to repeat your entire order.

OP, your list is spot on and I had a nice laugh with it.

I am very glad to so many are taking this in the spirit with which it was intended. I know tongue-in-cheek can be difficult to pick up without verbal cues.

I also admit to employing a bit of hyperbole now and then in my posts, mostly for my own amusement. Like when I wrote we put the straws into the bags in the 80's but now hand them out with the drinks, so customers see them in their hand. The change to the new procedure has only been implemented in the past few weeks...and was done in effort to shave seconds off each order pick up. Those seconds can really add up, and we do our best to try and keep things running smoothly and quickly. My personal experience from McDonald's in the 80's was only that as a customer.

When in doubt, it's a pretty sure bet that I am kidding around.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I never appreciated drive throughs until I broke my leg. Being temporarily handicapped for a few months will make you realize what wonderful inventions they really are! And, it also puts the minor irritations into perspective

I'm sure I looked like that single person on the way to work that was too lazy to go in but truth was, I literally could not walk inside and order my coffee. Even once I was on a walker, I couldn't carry anything and walk so I was still stuck with eating/drinking from only spots with drive throughs.

In my area, Starbucks don't have drive throughs so it was a big treat when my DH was with me and he could go in and get me my Starbucks fix. And the first day I successfully managed the parking lot, curb, line at Starbucks, and back to my car? HUGE deal for me.

That was a long 6 months. Even now (it's been 9 months now) somedays I don't "trust" my leg/ankle enough to walk in and carry out items without an extra hand to grab onto things.

You just don't think about that - and many other things that are hard to navigate in our world without working legs - until you're left without them.

(obviously injury is a rare occurance when we're talking all the people in the drive through line but just another perspective I didn't see mentioned when I scanned through)

 

[phorsenuf]

What drives me nuts is when they put the change on top of the bills when handing it back to you. Why can't you hand me the change first? Doesn't that make more sense so I don't drop it all over?

 

[JosieCat]

What drives me nuts is when they put the change on top of the bills when handing it back to you. Why can't you hand me the change first? Doesn't that make more sense so I don't drop it all over?

That drive me crazy, too! I make sure when I hand back the change to put the coins in their hand, then hold the bills and receipt at a slight angle so they can pinch it between their thumb and fingers.

We have a LOT of dropped change around the pay window everyday from customers trying to pay us with that pile of coins, balanced precariously on the bills. We just pick it up and put it in the collection box for the Ronald McDonald house charities. (I even chased off a man who thought he come and take all that money last week...that's for sick kids and their families!)

 

[Lintasare]

Hi, yes I need a Whopper hold the pickles...Bobby sit down. I will turn the Wiggles back on in a minute. Fido hush up. Ok and I need two large fries, three soft tacos, a nachos grande, two beef and cheddars...you kids pipe down and Sally stop hitting your brother. I need two hamburger happy meals and a large Frosty. Amd I will be paying in all pennies.

 

[JosieCat]

Hi, yes I need a Whopper hold the pickles...Bobby sit down. I will turn the Wiggles back on in a minute. Fido hush up. Ok and I need two large fries, three soft tacos, a nachos grande, two beef and cheddars...you kids pipe down and Sally stop hitting your brother. I need two hamburger happy meals and a large Frosty. Amd I will be paying in all pennies.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I'd also prefer you give me 5 sec to put drink down before you throw for bag into my car.

I'm with you! It drives me nuts when they seem prepared to throw my food in the window while waving goodbye.

If we ask you to pull over to a waiting space because we need extra time to assemble your order, please go to that spot. Don't refuse to move, argue with us or pull over to wherever the heck you feel like.

OK, I wouldn't argue with someone in this case, but why on earth does Burger King ask me to pull into a parking space every single time, even if no one is behind me? It has to be to boost their timings, and this also drives me nuts.



I'm a magnet for missing straws. One time, I got so annoyed that I parked, walked in, and grabbed at least a year supply. I got a new car recently and when both of our straws were missing during our last fast food adventure, DD was upset that they hadn't transferred to the new vehicle.

 

[sadiras]

I think the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld had a very efficient system. If people don't follow the rules they should be banned from the drive-thru for a period of time. "No McNuggets for you".

 

[JosieCat]

I think the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld had a very efficient system. If people don't follow the rules they should be banned from the drive-thru for a period of time. "No McNuggets for you".

I like it!

People should be glad I don't own a fast food place. My rule would be "no special orders in the drive thru".

Though I would probably allow the easy ones, like anything made plain, or without a bun.

It would be fun to watch some people's heads explode over that...

 

[POOHsie]

I like the 2 order stations at the McDonalds. So what if the car in the other lane gets ahead of you? The cashier can see the orders and get it straightened out very quick. So he/she gets their order 1 minute before you?

I saw something a few months ago I never saw before. At this typical Wendy's, you'd start at one side of the bldg, order at the back, then proceed to the other side to pay. The line was backed up almost to the street. This car came in and passed us all. Figured he was going to park and go in. Nope. While one car was giving their order, this car slid into a gap in front of him. He must've just given his order at the cashier window. It was one of the nerviest things I have ever seen.

My particular problem with McDonalds is the Cafe drinks. I'm diabetic, so I always order with no sugar or syrup. This seems to be a problem for McDonalds workers. Guess they're so used to making them sweet, that my sugar-free exception gets overlooked. People behind you get steamed when you put the straw in your drink at the window, taste it, hand it back, and get a new one made. But the other thing is, I order iced lattes. The picture in the ads shows a brown drink in a clear cup with white writing on it. What I get is a white drink in a clear cup so that you can't even see the white writing. It doesn't taste like coffee, it tastes like a big cup of milk. Uck! Sometimes I have them remake it, and it gets fixed. Sometimes it's white again. In the small place where I live, I guess, the young workers don't know what coffee is supposed to look like. They think it should look like a DQ Blizzard.

In the 1980s-90s, Wendy's was a real problem for me. Maybe some of you will remember. They used to charge .10 for a tomato and .15 for cheese. Sometimes they would ask if you wanted these add-ons, sometimes they wouldn't ask, but put them on and charge you any way. It was sneaky up-selling. So I would order a Single--No Tomato--No Cheese. I knew what it would cost. More often than not, the total at the window included the extras, and we'd have an argument about 10-or-15-or-25 cents. I would insist on getting it my way. They would have to make a new burger, then get a manager to correct the register. Awful Awful Awful. Everyone came away angry, including the people behind me.

 

[JosieCat]

I like the 2 order stations at the McDonalds. So what if the car in the other lane gets ahead of you? The cashier can see the orders and get it straightened out very quick. So he/she gets their order 1 minute before you?

I saw something a few months ago I never saw before. At this typical Wendy's, you'd start at one side of the bldg, order at the back, then proceed to the other side to pay. The line was backed up almost to the street. This car came in and passed us all. Figured he was going to park and go in. Nope. While one car was giving their order, this car slid into a gap in front of him. He must've just given his order at the cashier window. It was one of the nerviest things I have ever seen.

My particular problem with McDonalds is the Cafe drinks. I'm diabetic, so I always order with no sugar or syrup. This seems to be a problem for McDonalds workers. Guess they're so used to making them sweet, that my sugar-free exception gets overlooked. People behind you get steamed when you put the straw in your drink at the window, taste it, hand it back, and get a new one made. But the other thing is, I order iced lattes. The picture in the ads shows a brown drink in a clear cup with white writing on it. What I get is a white drink in a clear cup so that you can't even see the white writing. It doesn't taste like coffee, it tastes like a big cup of milk. Uck! Sometimes I have them remake it, and it gets fixed. Sometimes it's white again. In the small place where I live, I guess, the young workers don't know what coffee is supposed to look like. They think it should look like a DQ Blizzard.

In the 1980s-90s, Wendy's was a real problem for me. Maybe some of you will remember. They used to charge .10 for a tomato and .15 for cheese. Sometimes they would ask if you wanted these add-ons, sometimes they wouldn't ask, but put them on and charge you any way. It was sneaky up-selling. So I would order a Single--No Tomato--No Cheese. I knew what it would cost. More often than not, the total at the window included the extras, and we'd have an argument about 10-or-15-or-25 cents. I would insist on getting it my way. They would have to make a new burger, then get a manager to correct the register. Awful Awful Awful. Everyone came away angry, including the people behind me.

The lattes are made by a big machine. If the folks working don't make sure the espresso beans are settling, sometimes it can come out too light. I usually remake those on my own, because I drink those too and ewwwww. You can order an iced latte with sugar free vanilla or even equal or splenda if you still want it sweet but with no sugar. You can also ask for an extra shot of espresso in it for another 50 cents if you want that extra boost.

 

[PigletsPal2]

With all the complaints, I think I'll add a compliment.

We don't get it often, but from time to time, DD#2 and I crave KFC. Admittedly, our order is easy and the same for both of us, a 2-pc meal, both pieces drumsticks, cole slaw and mashed potatoes. And KFC has NEVER, in the five years we've been going there, messed up our order. And they ALWAYS include napkins and "silverware."

I told the manager about how efficient his staff is, and he gave me a phone number and asked me to advise corporate. I did call corporate and the next time I went to KFC, the manager remembered me and thanked me!

Queen Colleen