English: McDonalds’ sign in Harlem. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
How long has it been since you had some fast food? In the drive through did you get some good service? I’m ‘thinking’ you probably have a story to tell about it… Am I right?
I recently tagged along on a road trip with my groovy lady friend and I suggested we stop at a McDonald’s so I could go to the rest room. I was craving a little snack too… Uh… Mistake.
When I got done in the restroom…Which in itself was not all that great I noticed there was some people ‘waiting’ in line. Some to put in an order.. Others waiting on their order…
We decided we would check it out… again… Mistake…
Girl: Can i take your order?
Us: Large Iced tea… Dollar burger, Strawberry smoothie…
Girl: (tapping on machine) Large tea? and what?
Us: Repeat above
Girl: (searching keyboard on register) Uh…… What burger is that? Hamburger?
Us: The DOLLAR burger……
Girl: Oh… Okay .. (searching keyboard)
Finally she was satisfied that she got the order done and gave us the ticket to wait…
So we waited… and waited…and waited… and…….
(20 minutes)
We observed the girl at the counter taking orders… It became apparent she didn’t know how to read…. Maybe… Not sure…
Frustrated we approached the counter about the same time that a guy seemed to be operating the smoothie machine… He filled the cup and the girl started asking him questions… He looked at her puzzled.. We were standing there holding our ticket….
Us: Excuse us…But….
Guy: huh?
Girl: I can’t figure this out… Where is the quarter pounder?
(He stands there silent)
Us: I think that’s my smoothie… (pointing)
(He looks at us blankly…Then at her)
Finally a manager walks up… He starts observing the situation.
Manger: What’s going on here?
(the guy looks at him and so does the girl)
Us: We have been waiting over 20 minutes for our order..
(Manager rolls his eyes… Takes the smoothie from the guy.. Gives us a large cup and puts the burger in the bag with some napkins.)
Manager: Sorry about the inconvenience
So we take the cup to the beverage counter.. .Iced tea is empty… Dr Pepper is clear liquid…
Are we in hell?
You may think this story is a work of fiction but I assure you it is TOTALLY REAL.
So what can be done about all of this?
Here are some Tips for Fast Food
- If it’s not clean when you go in…. Leave
- In the drive thru always check your order and ask for napkins, ketchup etc at the window… They WILL not add it automatically.
- Don’t curse them under your breath at drive thru window… They can hear you…
- Don’t ask for ‘special’ orders…. They won’t understand….
- Avoid getting drinks. They are expensive and the fountain mixture is prob incorrect.
- Look for managers nearby… They are usually the only ones that can get things corrected.
- Order slowly and with precision. Listen closely if and when they read the order back to you.
- Count your change…
- If everything turns out good… Rejoice!!!
Study this short video… If this is what its like when you walk up to the counter…. LEAVE…..
Of course the bast thing to do is “just say no” -Go to a real restaurant or prepare you own food at home.
I don’t eat fast food too often – really – but to be honest the service down here in Australia isn’t too bad in my experience. Mcdonalds is usually far better than Burger King (called “Hungry Jacks” here), they are normally polite and pretty on-the-ball. In Burger King they normally seem a bit resentful and untrained in basic customer service skills. I walked into one BK a while back to see one of the food prep guys scratching his head with a spatula – needless to say I didn’t buy anything, but I guess worse goes on behind the scenes…
Awesome blog,you have added a new angle to it all, keep up the good work.
Nice way of presenting your views and tips. I really appriciate your efforts. keep it up.
Haha. She’s confused. I’m once worked at a fast food too. But I never kept a customer for 20 minutes.
I was planning to work for a fast food.. I am so glad that you shared this to us.. Thanks a lot!
Very well said! I have an unforgettable experience in a fast food chain named Chowking in our place. Me and my two son were already sitting on an uncleaned table so as not to wait for a table since it was a busy day. This waiter was sliding with his shoes while holding a tray full of unfinished colas until suddenly he just get right through me and all those colas spilled all over my pants. What a mess! He did not even bother to say sorry (was it not a part of their training to be courteous?) My son ask for the manager and what a shocked! This manager was not even so nice to say sorry in behalf of his subordinated. The only thing they do was to give me a box of napkins. I hope they should not be soooooprofit oriented that they oversee what it is to do extra time not to ofend customer if they have done something wrong.
That’s good for the fast food chain. thanks for your blog. GREAT! | 😛
Effort is important to the costumers.. 🙂
Great video, you had a nice tips in this video.
me and my sis planning to have BBQ restaurant very soon dream come true.thanks!
lol…what an experience…it’s really irritating, right? geez!
This manager was not even so nice to say sorry in behalf of his subordinated. The only thing they do was to give me a box of napkins. | 😛
I am not much of a fast food chain fan. I always go home and prepare my own food. MOst often fast food chain service crew are given training on how to deal with customers properly, I never have any bad experience with them, even though I only go out and eat on fast food chain casually
It is pretty nice planning, Thanks for publish this, I am really interested this one. Thanks for sharing..
That’s good for the fast food chain. thanks for your blog. GREAT! | 😛
That’s great! Thanks for sharing..
I am not much of a fast food chain fan. I always go home and prepare my own food. Most often fast food chain service crew are given training on how to deal. | 😛