Look, people, if you didn't think something as trivial as "drive-thru etiquette" existed, then you're wrong. Let me hit you with some knowledge, so as to prevent you from pissing off others in the future (namely, myself).
The use of a fast food drive-thru is a privilege, and it should not be abused. Last night, I went to McDonalds to get two McDoubles. That's it. Just two McDoubles. For those who don't know, these are simple Dollar Menu sandwiches. There was only one car in front of me when I drove up and got in the line. Thus, considering the speed and general awesomeness of the corporate tyrant that is McDonalds, I though to myself, "Self, the entirety of this trip should last no longer than about 10 minutes." It was currently 8:45 pm. This is when the sh** hit the fan.
Here are the simple rules of Drive-Thru Etiquette that you should follow:
#1) If you intend on placing a large order, please GO INSIDE the restaurant and do it.
The drive-thru is for quick orders. I don't have the time (or the gas) to wait on you and your four friends to order enough food to feed a third-world country. If it's so late at night that inside of the restaurant is closed and only the drive-thru is open, then go to Denny's and quit being so selfish and stupid.
#2) Try to figure out what you want ahead of time.
If you don't know exactly what you want, that's okay. But you should have a general idea, so as not to waste inordinate amounts of time babbling your order into the microphone like an incompetent dolt. Example: if you're going to the Taco Bell drive-thru, decide if you're leaning towards a burrito or a Mexican pizza. Or both. Then quickly work out the details when you see the menu. This is different from being inside the restaurant, where you can stand around, looking at the menu as long as you want before ordering.
#3) Have your money ready BEFORE you get to the pay window.
There's usually even a sign telling you to do this. Don't be a bag and mess it up. Seriously.
#4) After getting your food, absolutely do NOT sit in your car while still in front of the pick-up window and check to make sure they got your order right.
If you spend five minutes searching your bags only to find that they messed it up, then you probably ordered too much food anyway (see rule #1), and when I'm waiting in my car behind you late at night, I'm too hungry to care if you get gypped out of $2. I mean really, it's McDonalds. If it means that much to you, then go through the line again and let me get my food, you fool.
#5) If you have sat in front of the pick-up window arguing with the window guy for so long that the other cars in the line are HONKING at you, then you need to shut your piehole and MOVE.
Which brings me back to my story. The car in front of me was being driven by a lady with four kids. Which is fine; that being said, I'd even give her a little leeway. But in a staggering show of utter ineptitude, she managed to break EVERY single rule aforementioned. If she had just gone inside, it would have saved everybody, including herself, considerable time. When I finally got my food, it was 9:15 pm, and the line was wrapped around the entire restaurant. Should I ever have to wait 30 minutes in the McDonalds drive-thru when there's only one car in front of me? Of course not. Should some people get punched square in the face? Absolutely.
-CSell
You could have gone inside : )))))
ReplyDelete- Samson