Bank Drive-thru vent...

[Jennasis]

Well it's not really a vent, so much as it is an observation of odd behavior that (while not truly affecting me) drives me bonkers. My bank has THREE drive-thru lanes. All three are always open. I make bank runs at least twice a week for our business, sometimes more. Inevitably, I will go around to the drive thru to find a line of cars two or three deep at the first lane (the one closest to the teller's window) and NOBODY at the other two. I don't know why, but that drives me mad. Why would anyone get in a long line when there is a perfectly good open one, five feet to their right? I tried thinking of all the scenarios:

1. Maybe the far left lane closest to the teller is a at a different height, more accessible to small cars etc, or the teller interacts with that lane more directly?

NOPE. The pnuematic tube thingy in that lane is exactly the same as the other two and even in that lane closest to the teller, you don't interact with the teller any more than the other lanes. You still have to use the pnuematic tube.

2. Maybe I arrived just after a big crowd of cars at all the lanes and there are only a few stragglers left at the first lane?

NOPE. I've driven up and been the only car in the drive-thru and had two more customers show up and get in line behind me even though the other two lanes are open.

3. That lane is wider or something so cautious drivers feel "safer" pulling into that one?

NOPE. I drive through with my F-150 and find that lane to be just as harrowing as the others. Haven't lost a side-view yet, but I have high hopes!

I just don't get it? And of course if that's the only complaint one would have in life, one should consider themselves lucky eh? I know I know. Just an observation of some of the madness in the world and thought I'd share. If anyone here is of the "only-use-the-lane-closest-to-the-teller" variety, mind sharing the reason?

Feels good to get that monkey off my back.

 

[DVCLiz]

Well it's not really a vent, so much as it is an observation of odd behavior that (while not truly affecting me) drives me bonkers. My bank has THREE drive-thru lanes. All three are always open. I make bank runs at least twice a week for our business, sometimes more. Inevitably, I will go around to the drive thru to find a line of cars two or three deep at the first lane (the one closest to the teller's window) and NOBODY at the other two. I don't know why, but that drives me mad. Why would anyone get in a long line when there is a perfectly good open one, five feet to their right? I tried thinking of all the scenarios:

1. Maybe the far left lane closest to the teller is a at a different height, more accessible to small cars etc, or the teller interacts with that lane more directly?

NOPE. The pnuematic tube thingy in that lane is exactly the same as the other two and even in that lane closest to the teller, you don't interact with the teller any more than the other lanes. You still have to use the pnuematic tube.

2. Maybe I arrived just after a big crowd of cars at all the lanes and there are only a few stragglers left at the first lane?

NOPE. I've driven up and been the only car in the drive-thru and had two more customers show up and get in line behind me even though the other two lanes are open.

3. That lane is wider or something so cautious drivers feel "safer" pulling into that one?

NOPE. I drive through with my F-150 and find that lane to be just as harrowing as the others. Haven't lost a side-view yet, but I have high hopes!

I just don't get it? And of course if that's the only complaint one would have in life, one should consider themselves lucky eh? I know I know. Just an observation of some of the madness in the world and thought I'd share. If anyone here is of the "only-use-the-lane-closest-to-the-teller" variety, mind sharing the reason?

Feels good to get that monkey off my back.

You left out the obvious answer - because it's closer to the teller's window.

I like to chat with the teller face to face. I don't like to speak into the box unless I'm ordering fast food. And I don't like to move my head back and forth to see her (or him) if another customer's car is blocking my view. I'd rather wait behind the car closest to the teller window.

This is hypothetical for me - in real life I haven't driven through a bank teller window in years. I either go to the cash machine or I go in the bank - my credit union doesn't have a drive through.

 

[happygirl]

I like to see them face to face, It easier for me to talk to them that way

 

[Jennasis]

You left out the obvious answer - because it's closer to the teller's window.

I like to chat with the teller face to face. I don't like to speak into the box unless I'm ordering fast food. And I don't like to move my head back and forth to see her (or him) if another customer's car is blocking my view. I'd rather wait behind the car closest to the teller window.

This is hypothetical for me - in real life I haven't driven through a bank teller window in years. I either go to the cash machine or I go in the bank - my credit union doesn't have a drive through.

You can see her better from that lane but you still have to talk to the box.

 

[jen0610]

DH will tell you it's because a lot of people are sheepeople....where one goes, the others follow.

Watch, you will see it every where. Two doors to the movie theater, every body goes right, ignoring the one on the left. Three lanes with stop lights, there will be 7/8 cars in one lane and none in the other two. Even if they are going to be driving on the road for a while.

We pulled up to the bank Friday, there were 5 cars all waiting for the lane closest to the teller and no one in the far right lane. We were in and out before the 1st car waiting was gone.

 

[mumom95]

The lane closest to the window at all the banks I have been to is also the lane with the ATM. So that lane always has more cars in it, because people that just want to get money out of the ATM can't go to any other lane. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Poohbug]

Well, besides being able to see the teller, many people do not like to use the tubes. I, being vertically challenged, have to unbuckle, open the window and open the door to even reach the tube. It doesn't bother me to do this-but many people don't like to. With the teller drawer, you just reach over and put your stuff in.

Also some people may have gotten burned by the tube before. After working many years at a bank, I have had the things break before. And I am not even talking about the stupid stuff people do like filling the tube up with coins and then wondering why it wont go.

As long as all those people wait in one line-it just takes you less time, right?

 

[Slick Mickey]

The lane closest to the teller window is usually the business lane.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Because they aren't ready to see the teller yet (they have to endorse their checks and fill out deposit slips still), so they don't care that there is a line. ??

 

[Piecey]

I posted a thread asking this question too!

Except I posted it as the teller wondering why the customers do it! I got some interesting responses though.

Here is my thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2066964&highlight=bank

 

[dis-happy]

You should be jumping for joy! You get to be the next person helped without waiting in line.

I know someone whose money (several hundred dollars) was sent through the tube and got stuck. The bank refused to give it to her until the next day, after the had the repair people out that night. That reason alone always gives me pause before using the tube window (even though I do use it).

 

[Handbag Lady]

My mom does a lot of banking for her work and I can tell you that she picks the same lane all the time because she has her favorite tellers.

She'd rather wait 30 minutes and get her regular gal who does it all correctly (per my mom, I have no idea how true this is) than get someone quickly who doesn't know her accounts.

 

[briannesmom]

That doesn't bother me as much as the people who are totally unprepared. I usually just use the ATM but the last time I went through the drive-thru the lady next to me asked for a deposit slip, the teller sent it and then she sent the tube back again and asked for a pen. She was still sitting there filling out her stuff when I left. If I didn't have a slip or a pen I would just go inside instead of holding up the line.

 

[teacherforhi]

You have to use the tube at my bank if you're going through the drive-thru. The lane closest to the teller is the ATM only. Apparently, they're trying to switch over all the branches to using that system.

 

[C.Ann]

The bank I use only has two drive-thru lanes.. One is for the teller (which still requires the use of a "tube" and talking to the "box") and the other is for the ATM machine only..

If I had 3 lanes to choose from - and all 3 offered the same services - I would use a lane that was not occupied by other cars.. Doesn't seem logical to wait in a line if you can accomplish the same thing in each of the other two lanes that are empty..

 

[MM27]

At my bank the first lane is for the drive thru ATM. There are three other lanes and all need to use the tube things. What gets me is when there is a car at each of the three lanes and someone decides that they are going to park themselves back far enough so that they can go to the one that finishes fastest. That works well until another car pulls up. I am not waiting behind someone that is waiting to decide where they want to go. Pick a lane people, any lane.

 

[golfgal]

The lane closest to the teller window is usually the business lane.

Same at our bank. Also, if you are depositing change you can't use the tubes. Our ATM's have their own lanes--usually the 2 outside lanes or in a separate part of the lot altogether. Then you have the folks that just don't like using the tubes. Why would it bother you when you don't have to wait in line. I would be if all the lanes were open except one.

 

[Pamlur]

But the OP said that ALL the lanes have to use the tube.

 

[Jennasis]

The lane closest to the window at all the banks I have been to is also the lane with the ATM. So that lane always has more cars in it, because people that just want to get money out of the ATM can't go to any other lane. Makes perfect sense to me.

There is aseperate lane (to the far RIGHT) for the ATM. All three driv-thru "teller" lanes are exactly the same, and you HAVE to use the tube.

Well, besides being able to see the teller, many people do not like to use the tubes. I, being vertically challenged, have to unbuckle, open the window and open the door to even reach the tube. It doesn't bother me to do this-but many people don't like to. With the teller drawer, you just reach over and put your stuff in.

Also some people may have gotten burned by the tube before. After working many years at a bank, I have had the things break before. And I am not even talking about the stupid stuff people do like filling the tube up with coins and then wondering why it wont go.

As long as all those people wait in one line-it just takes you less time, right?

No teller drawer. Tube only. But I agree...less wait time for me!

But the OP said that ALL the lanes have to use the tube.

I like the "sheeple" analogy.

 

[Imzadi]

Also some people may have gotten burned by the tube before. After working many years at a bank, I have had the things break before. And I am not even talking about the stupid stuff people do like filling the tube up with coins and then wondering why it wont go.

As long as all those people wait in one line-it just takes you less time, right?

Yes, I'm afraid my money will be stuck in the tube. What should be a simple 10 minute transaction could turn into several hours or needing to come back the next day, kind of nightmare or inconvenience.

And sorry, I just don't trust money out of my sight without a receipt showing where it is. I depost $100 in cash, it gets stuck in the tube overnight and the next day they tell me, "We got your money out of the tube and deposited the $50 for you."

Uh, no! With bank security cameras at the counters, and being right in front of a teller, I would be able to catch that kind of "discrepancy" right away. I don't know who or where they fish out a tube and if there are cameras down there.

While, for the most part, I think bank tellers are trustworthy, you give anyone opportunity and temptation, and there is always a risk.