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Friday, Feb. 10, 2012

Taking the fast out of fast food

Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at 9:46 AM

I need a serenity prayer to get me through the drive-thrus at various restaurants.For some reason, I always get right behind some poor office manager who has been sent on the lunch run. She has a list in one hand, a cell phone in the other, and at least six different meals to get -- all of them special orders.

I,on the other hand, have a jump start on the high blood pressure I'm going to get from whatever unhealthy food I'm waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting ... to order.

Does it never occur to them to get out and go in? I know, I know,I could do so as well, but you know, the drive-through was kinda designed for those one car, one order, fast service moments -- not as a catering service for the company eat-in.


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Yes, I do sympathize. Another pet peave is to sit at the microphone forever waiting for someone to ever address you, and then when they do, you can't understand a single word they are saying! I believe in hiring the handicapped, but really, don't put a person with a severe speech impediment at the drive-thru, I don't care how much she really wants to get your order right!

-- Posted by writeattitude on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 10:05 AM

I absolutely agree . . . the same goes for bank drive-thrus. It seems I always get behind someone that wants to carry out all their banking needs at the window instead of going inside. I mean really . . . there is no point in that and the same for those who want to order for fifty people at a fast food drive-thru.

Sometimes though it's the restaurant . . . it amazes me how Captains D's and Dairy Queen can take forever to serve customers through drive-thru. A couple of times I have waited almost 20 minutes at Captain D's and there is no point in that.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 11:55 AM

Not just the drive thrus I have waited as much as 20 are so minutes standing in line to place an order are just to get checkout and Walmarts is just as bad they have only one taking orders and the other checkouts are closed. And Walmart's has 20 checkouts and only two are three open......So just take a breath and think on Godly thoughts don't let your mind have wrong thoughts and get all bent out of shape over the matter when you could spend sometime with God and relax....Better than getting your blood pressure up. Really we waste more time doing nothing than we think so use that time to be with God. Then you will see that that time would be shorter than we thought. and not wasted just getting all flustrated over wating. You can always find time for God if we just look and think.

-- Posted by RGeneW on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 4:23 PM

I would have figured that nowadays there would be more ways to streamline the process of ordering.

1. Decide on the restaurant.

2. Look at the menu (online or hardcopy).

3. Decide on food,drink and any special preparation.

4. Call ahead,email,text or go inside (early) to place the order.

5. Use the drive-thru for pick-up or to make quick no-brainer choices.

("I'll have three #4's,two black coffees and a Diet Dr. Pepper.")

6. Realize that the intercoms are just as garbled on the other end.

(The customer also sounds like the adults in the Peanuts cartoons or the Tazmanian Devil on helium.)

7. Don't get too comfortable while waiting.

When the customer is in the zone praying,exercising,playing a game,reading,doing needlework,talking or texting,the order is getting out there in record time.

8. If possible,try to have money and coupons ready.

("I know I have a five here somewhere... Thirty-one,thirty-two,thirty-six cents... No,wait,that's a washer and I want to save that Delaware quarter for my nephew. This coupon's from December. Is it still good?"

9. Check your order before you leave the line.

10. Say thank you.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 7:30 PM

I have always thought that the speakers on most drive thru's sound like charlie brown's teacher.. Wahhh whaa whea waaa whaaaa....

Yep I got another question, I have noticed that sometimes the people that are serving you, are missing most if not half of their teeth.. EEKK? What is up with that.. whew..

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 10:03 PM

How about people who block an entire section of the parking lot to wait on one closest to the store.

To those people: Stop wasting gas, stop impeding traffic, park at any other OPEN spots, and walk. Walking is good for you.

-- Posted by gottago on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 9:30 AM

Sorry, but I have no pity for those caught in the drive-up. Many times I have found that I can get out of my vehicle, go in and order, have it, and be on the way before the person outside has got out the lane.

I know that there are more and more places that you can e-mail or call, and they will have it waiting for you, given enough lead time.

-- Posted by Tyger on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 10:08 AM

Thank you for your comments, we always strive to give the best quality food with fast friendly service, we would never want it to take that long. Please accept our apology and visit us again!

friends serving friends

Kathy

-- Posted by Captain D's on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 4:50 PM

Captain D's . . . The food is always good and the staff is always friendly but the wait time through the drive thru is just horrendous. Just about every time we go it is a long wait and even at work, many of my coworkers have said the same thing.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Jul 16, 2009, at 9:35 PM

Thank you all for the feedback, our guests are very important to us. Drive thrus are supposed to be fast and friendly, we will put forth our best effort to ensure a quick fast friendly visit from now on, Thank you again.

-- Posted by Captain D's on Sat, Jul 18, 2009, at 10:55 AM


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Mary Reeves
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Mary Reeves is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette.
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