14 Happy Meals? Really?

[Heidict]

Yeah because I know want that large family who may not have the best behaved kids in the restaurant

I mean dont people post around here if Junior isnt ready to dine in a restaurant you should take your food home.



I would be annoyed with you no matter if I was behind you in the drive thru or in the line inside.

I have also been inside places where switching lines would take longer than standing behind the slow/large order bc the inside lines were so long.



I think we all need to head to Burger King...remeber their slogan
From 1973, Burger King ran a series of much-lampooned but successful television commercials in which employees sing: "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce. Special orders don't upset us. All we ask is that you let us serve it your way!"

Well dangit!!! That is the problem. She was at McDonalds, not Burger King. I bet if she had gone to BK this never would have been an issue!!!!

I love special ordering my burger at BK. Makes less of a mess in the car as I try to pick stuff off.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do fid in very interesting,that on a board full of people screaming about entitlement issues, that some of these same people think it is ok to hold one single line up for 14 orders. At least if you are inside you had an option of switching lines, in the drive through you don't. I find it VERY inconsiderate to go through the drive thru and have 14 orders. To me, that and the attitudes here of too bad, I have a right to go through drive thru, even with 14 orders SCREAMS entitlement. JMHO.

It's not just the 14 orders. That customer then went on to ask - if I remember right - IF McDonalds has fries, and about chicken sandwiches (products?). Never mind that this information is on the menu board it delayed the other vehicles in the drive-thru unnecessarily. Again, with gas fast approaching $4 per gallon, this seems to indicate a lack of consideration - for one's own finances (although if this order were for a daycare or similar, gas is likely a business expense) as well as other customers'. Especially on a lovely day like yesterday, leaning out the window and telling the driver behind you "I have a really large order" at least gives them options.

Which brings me to how the OP heard that other drivers order. I don't know why anybody is mentioning the scratchy speakers You're allinvoking technology where none is required. She simply had her window open in preparation to order and heard the other customer's order through the air space between that vehicle and hers.

Simple science. Sound travels.

 

[ols386]

I'm wondering..I see some drive-thrus, like Arby's, and the McDonalds that I go to, with one of those time clocks right above the inside of the drive thru window (like a countdown clock, but reversed to count up).

So if they have these clocks (inside) at the drive-thru window, then isn't part of their focus on timing? Such as, how much time it takes for the current order to be processed and finished?

If so, then I'd say that particular place of business, does see the drive-thru as a timely efficient way for customers to place and receive their orders.

 

[wvjules]

Am I the only one who lives in an area that has signs telling you that you can not order more than 6 or so items through the drive thru?
I see these signs more often than not around here.

What do they consider "or so"?

14 happy meals . Eww I would be more concern of health than the time of ordering.

What do you mean? A kid having a happy meal means they are unhealthy?

 

[undertheradar]

Please tell me you got this idiots name and called corporate?

Seriously? I think the poster abused the drive thru with that order. $94 at Taco Bell is a very big order for them to handle. Better question is what time of day or night did this poster order the food at? Many fast food places reduce staff as it gets later into thevening/night.

 

[ols386]

I'm with you... It's all I've thought about since I started reading it.

Although I had a funny experience related to this, except I was the culprit. I have to share, lol.

I was at a race and my friend's car was pretty busted and they needed to work on it to prepare it for the next day. Tons of crew guys pitched in to help, and they handed me a $100 bill and said to get as much Taco Bell as I could, and to make sure some were cheese only. Fair enough--I have been doing food runs for them for 10 years in various parts of the US, lol.

So off I go. I was the only person in the drive through, and I ordered for the guys and myself. The order came to $94 and change. While giving my order you could tell they were not happy. I get to the window, and this guy told me off. He said I should have called in advance. I don't keep the number to Taco Bell in my phone and there was no advance. He continued to tell me that the order was excessive for them to handle. I told him that if it was that excessive, then he should be giving them a hand in preparing it instead of lecturing a paying customer. He got the last word by telling me.... well next time, just call. Okayyyyyyyy.

So in case you were wondering... if you are feeding 13 or more people at Taco Bell--you should phone in your order Don't go thru the drive thru, don't go inside.... call it in!! I didn't know there were so many rules to fast greasy food!!

If you're going to order enough food to equal $94, especially if it's a dinky little Taco Bell (which most of them are) I would think it might be a good idea to call-ahead.

Also don't see anything wrong with the guy asking you to call-in ahead next time...if there is a next time. Next time maybe you should go somewhere else other than Taco Bell.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I'm wondering..I see some drive-thrus, like Arby's, and the McDonalds that I go to, with one of those time clocks right above the inside of the drive thru window (like a countdown clock, but reversed to count up).

So if they have these clocks (inside) at the drive-thru window, then isn't part of their focus on timing? Such as, how much time it takes for the current order to be processed and finished?

If so, then I'd say that particular place of business, does see the drive-thru as a timely efficient way for customers to place and receive their orders.

I think they are rated or something about how quickly they get a car to pull away from the window. It seems the clock resets once a new customer pulls up to the window. At the BK I go to, sometimes they will take the payment and ask you to pull up right away and someone will run your order right out to you. I figure it's to improve their average time or something.

But one time, I wanted to check my order (which takes seconds) and the employee kept demanding that I move. Had she not made a stink, I would have been away from the window much faster.

 

[Heidict]

Seriously? I think the poster abused the drive thru with that order. $94 at Taco Bell is a very big order for them to handle. Better question is what time of day or night did this poster order the food at? Many fast food places reduce staff as it gets later into thevening/night.

Wow, so you think it's totally okay for the worker to chew her butt out? I really hope you don't work in customer service. I don't care if she came through the drive thru paying in pennies, you never ever speak to a customer like that. He should have been fired for his behavior.

Lets all go over this, once again. There is nothing posted advising that there is a maximum order.

Who cares what time they ordered the food at. Are they only allowed to order a certain amount of food depending on the number of employees that are staffed at that particular time and then divide that by the number of customers and then subtract by the hour of the day? What is the perfect mathematical equation that one needs to use to determine if the order is drive thru worthy or if they are even allowed to grace the greasy joint with their order in the first place? None of your arguments make sense. Who cares if it was 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning. She has no control over the staffing of the store and it's not her concern how they work that out.

Reread her post, she very clearly states that there was no one else in the drive thru. The worker was just being lazy. Heaven forbid he actually had to work at his job. It's more fun to screw around with your coworkers then to have to actually make the food you are being paid to make.

 

[Heidict]

If you're going to order enough food to equal $94, especially if it's a dinky little Taco Bell (which most of them are) I would think it might be a good idea to call-ahead.

Also don't see anything wrong with the guy asking you to call-in ahead next time...if there is a next time. Next time maybe you should go somewhere else other than Taco Bell.

And we wonder why customer service is going straight down the tubes? The guy didn't just
'tell her to call ahead", he "told her off". Big difference and totally unacceptable. Glad you are cool with employees treating you this way. I, on the other hand, expect just a bit of professionalism, even if it is from some high school fast food worker. With an attitude like that, he will probably spend the rest of his life working there. Not to many others would want him on the payroll.

 

[ols386]

And we wonder why customer service is going straight down the tubes? The guy didn't just
'tell her to call ahead", he "told her off". Big difference and totally unacceptable. Glad you are cool with employees treating you this way. I, on the other hand, expect just a bit of professionalism, even if it is from some high school fast food worker. With an attitude like that, he will probably spend the rest of his life working there. Not to many others would want him on the payroll.

Sometimes I think it depends on the attitude of the customer. I have no idea what the attitude of the poster was. Having said that, if an employee is behaving unprofessionally, that's not acceptable either.

 

[arthuruscg]

well, after the firs 2 pages, I jumped to the end to make my comment.

Fast food drive thrus are for express service, just like at the Bank.

The is a BIG difference between placing large orders in the drive thru and large orders at the counter.
At the counter, you place your order and then stand over to the side, waiting for your #/name to be called. That way the person at the register can keep taking orders. It doesn't slow the process down for everyone else. And you can carry out the drinks and take your time at figuring where you are going to place the 14 drinks.


In the drive thru, there is a few options.
1. The person told you to go park and we will bring the food out to you. This slows down the service for everyone else because they loose a worker for about 10-15minutes. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

2. They hold up the entire Drive thru line. This pisses off everyone behind the current customer. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

So, don't be lazy, order inside. If you are eating at McDonalds, you most likely need the workout.

 

[Heidict]

well, after the firs 2 pages, I jumped to the end to make my comment.

Fast food drive thrus are for express service, just like at the Bank.

The is a BIG difference between placing large orders in the drive thru and large orders at the counter.
At the counter, you place your order and then stand over to the side, waiting for your #/name to be called. That way the person at the register can keep taking orders. It doesn't slow the process down for everyone else. And you can carry out the drinks and take your time at figuring where you are going to place the 14 drinks.


In the drive thru, there is a few options.
1. The person told you to go park and we will bring the food out to you. This slows down the service for everyone else because they loose a worker for about 10-15minutes. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

2. They hold up the entire Drive thru line. This pisses off everyone behind the current customer. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

So, don't be lazy, order inside. If you are eating at McDonalds, you most likely need the workout.

Well, since no one else has bothered to answer this question, and you are new to the thread, we can give you a shot. Where is this rule written down at? There is no notation at the drive thru that there is a max order, noR have I ever heard any of the employees mention it. People I have spoken to who have worked (albeit many, many years ago) at fast food restaurants have said that this is not a rule.

So, where is it coming from? Was there a memo I missed?

Regardless if you are standing to the side inside while someone gets your order together or if you are forced to pull forward in the drive thru while they get your order together, someone is still getting your order together. Your whole argument about "1. The person told you to go park and we will bring the food out to you. This slows down the service for everyone else because they loose a worker for about 10-15minutes" is invalid.

 

[wvjules]

well, after the firs 2 pages, I jumped to the end to make my comment.

Fast food drive thrus are for express service, just like at the Bank.

The is a BIG difference between placing large orders in the drive thru and large orders at the counter.
At the counter, you place your order and then stand over to the side, waiting for your #/name to be called. That way the person at the register can keep taking orders. It doesn't slow the process down for everyone else. And you can carry out the drinks and take your time at figuring where you are going to place the 14 drinks.


In the drive thru, there is a few options.
1. The person told you to go park and we will bring the food out to you. This slows down the service for everyone else because they loose a worker for about 10-15minutes. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

2. They hold up the entire Drive thru line. This pisses off everyone behind the current customer. And will typically piss off the drive thru team because it increases their customer wait time (from order to delivery) and it also reduces their volume per hour.

So, don't be lazy, order inside. If you are eating at McDonalds, you most likely need the workout.

And there it is!

What type of fast food restaurant takes 10-15 minutes to take food out to someone?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That can be construed as offensive to any reasonable adult who's patronized the venue recently or with some regularity (or both) - even one or a pair who wish to try something new.

Offensive? Really? I don't see that as offensive at all. In a lot of cases it is the truth. If anyone should be offended it should be me. Since we are a family of 7 some are saying we shouldn't even dare use a drive thru.

 

[undertheradar]

Wow, so you think it's totally okay for the worker to chew her butt out? I really hope you don't work in customer service. I don't care if she came through the drive thru paying in pennies, you never ever speak to a customer like that. He should have been fired for his behavior.

Lets all go over this, once again. There is nothing posted advising that there is a maximum order.

Who cares what time they ordered the food at. Are they only allowed to order a certain amount of food depending on the number of employees that are staffed at that particular time and then divide that by the number of customers and then subtract by the hour of the day? What is the perfect mathematical equation that one needs to use to determine if the order is drive thru worthy or if they are even allowed to grace the greasy joint with their order in the first place? None of your arguments make sense. Who cares if it was 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning. She has no control over the staffing of the store and it's not her concern how they work that out.

Reread her post, she very clearly states that there was no one else in the drive thru. The worker was just being lazy. Heaven forbid he actually had to work at his job. It's more fun to screw around with your coworkers then to have to actually make the food you are being paid to make.

Jump to extremes much? Sorry, if you ever read posts by the poster who went to Taco Bell, you would understand that she has a higher than average bad experience everywhere. Who knows what the Taco Bell employee said, as it could have been advising the poster that she could call ahead to decrease wait time. As for your opinion that time of day doesn't matter, say the poster went to Taco Bell at 11:45pm and this location closes at Midnight, they were already down on staff to get ready to close. Much different than say getting there at 7 pm and the place going to be open for hours beyond.

You are taking this way too personal, why do you care about it so much?

 

[Missy1961]

I just wanted to say that this thread inspired me to go to Wendy's today. But no drive thru--I don't drive!

 

[undertheradar]

Wow, so you think it's totally okay for the worker to chew her butt out? I really hope you don't work in customer service. I don't care if she came through the drive thru paying in pennies, you never ever speak to a customer like that. He should have been fired for his behavior.

Lets all go over this, once again. There is nothing posted advising that there is a maximum order.

Who cares what time they ordered the food at. Are they only allowed to order a certain amount of food depending on the number of employees that are staffed at that particular time and then divide that by the number of customers and then subtract by the hour of the day? What is the perfect mathematical equation that one needs to use to determine if the order is drive thru worthy or if they are even allowed to grace the greasy joint with their order in the first place? None of your arguments make sense. Who cares if it was 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning. She has no control over the staffing of the store and it's not her concern how they work that out.

Reread her post, she very clearly states that there was no one else in the drive thru. The worker was just being lazy. Heaven forbid he actually had to work at his job. It's more fun to screw around with your coworkers then to have to actually make the food you are being paid to make.

You know all about me from one post, amazing!

 

[arthuruscg]

well, 10-15min is on the extreme end with multiple trips. So, lets say they loose the person for 5 minutes walking the order out. You have to factor in time lost taking the order out and time for the manager to get the worker back into the assembly line.

Yes, some one is still getting your order together, but everyone else (cooks, burger assemblers, fryers, beverage, bagers) is able to continue to keep processing other customer orders. If the drive thru is backed up because someone is sitting there, then there is no other orders for them to process.

Also my experience doesn't translate to low volume restaurants. Mine has been just in assembly line style.

No company is going to turn a customer away from the cashier, because at that point, the sale is guaranteed, unless they mess it up. So there is no written rule, but most employee bonuses are tied to the statistics.

 

[TDC Nala]

the problem with the drive through and special orders is that the fast food places are usually so lousy with special orders that if it were me, I would have to sit there and open them up to make sure they were all correct. This is why I never use the drive through for special orders.

14 happy meals . Eww I would be more concern of health than the time of ordering.

Assuming that one or two kids weren't going to eat all 14 happy meals - maybe it was a party or something - or that the person doesn't order Happy Meals all the time I can't say that it's worth a health concern, unless the concern is that nobody should ever be eating McDonald's at all - which I understand is a concern with some people. I don't think it is a health concern to have a Happy Meal once in awhile.

 

[Andtototoo]

When I worked the drive-thru at Burger King we were under a lot of pressure to push people through as fast as possible. I was told that people went to the drive-thru because they saw it as an express lane, that is, that is that people THOUGHT it was quicker to stay in their cars than get out, walk in, stand on line. I was also told, however, that we had to take any order no matter how difficult it was to complete in the desired time frame. Which was a joy when someone's complicated order took longer and they refused to leave the line because the next five people would SCREAM at you because, "The drive-thru is an EXPRESS lane! What don't you people get about EXPRESS lane?"

I will say that the closest McDonald's to us usually has an incredibly long drive-thru line, so I usually go inside where there is almost no line. I've been in and out of the restaurant itself in less than 3 minutes and I've never achieved that time in the drive-thru. However, the last two times I've gone in, they have staff washing the floors in front of the counters and I've nearly slipped and fallen both times, so it's becoming less convenient for me to go inside.