Drive Thru Etiquette

Why is it when you pull up to a drive-thru like that at McDonald’s and you have to wait forever for the person in front of you to decide what they want to eat? Then you have to wait for them to get their money out and pay the cashier? Come on, the menu never changes (unless you are at Taco Bell, which changes their menu daily it feels like), a Big Mac is a Big Mac, is a Big Mac, it’s been around since 1968. They may change the menu number of the item you want, which is a problem in itself, but the menu stays pretty much the same.

Why do they assign numbers to the combo meals when the employees have no clue what that number is? I ordered a number two before and was looked at like I was speaking a strange language. I had to point to it on the menu board. I believe the intent was to speed up the ordering process and yet, the employees have no clue. A number 2 is two cheeseburgers, fries, and a drink. McDonald’s has been serving hamburgers with cheese since 1948.

But I digress back to the original topic of the drive-thru. So the person in front of you finally decides what to order, like the menu contains so many great food items that it is difficult to choose which one you would like to have. Now it is time for them to pull forward, but wait, they have to adjust something in the car, making you wait a little longer. You place your order and now you get behind them at the pick-up window, and they have to fumble for exact change. Then they either will get their food, but they will have to check it right there making you wait, or they have to ask for something else, thus having to dig out more money and so on, or they will be asked to pull up because they are still cooking the fries. But this clown will just move up enough to give you room to get your food, but not pull around them. I guess it all goes back to the “me” attitude. Go figure.

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