Does This Happen to You at a Drive through?

iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 13:06
Last edited 19/07/2021 - 15:48 by 1 other user

So let me start off by saying I am usually a patient guy. Unless I am in a rush to take a pee.

Every time I go through a drive through at a fast food restaurant I always seem to have 1 or 2 cars in front of me that take forever to order.

Sometimes they will be there for 2 or 3 minutes (doesn't seem long but it is) asking the staff member silly questions, then modifying orders.

Always happens to me. At least 80% of the time I have that in front of me. I mean it takes me probably 15 seconds to order what I want.

Anyone else experience this? Or am I Truman in the Truman show.

Poll Options

  • 396
    YES this happens to me all the time!
  • 91
    NO it never happens
  • 65
    I am that slow person infront of you
Food & Grocery

Comments

  • holdenmg on 19/07/2021 - 13:09
    +7

    Isn't there an App where you can preorder en route and they bring it out to your Vehicle?

    • inherentchoice on 19/07/2021 - 13:52
      +29

      For Maccas and HJs you still have to queue in the drive through, even if you pre-order in the App. So I still get stuck behind the slow people with big orders. I just go inside to pick up instead.

      • Ughhh on 19/07/2021 - 16:44
        +9

        At least they just need to tell the staff the order number, Instead of spending hours going "what?" "I said no pickles!" "sorry the meal doesn't include tickles" "no, no pickles, and I want fresh fries".

        • tomsco on 20/07/2021 - 09:19
          +8

          Yeah, but the people that take 10 years to order are the people that won't use the app.

          • Kangal on 21/07/2021 - 17:50

            @tomsco: The people that take a decade to order are the people that NEED to use the App.

            They can't blame anyone but themselves when they mess up their own order. And when they inevitably do stuff up they'll shrug it off and give themselves a pass, in contrast, they'll verbally berate the workers in the opposite scenario.

        • Munki on 20/07/2021 - 12:08
          +11

          I always order my cheeseburgers with extra tickles.

      • MrFrugalSpend on 20/07/2021 - 18:54
        -1

        except now you have to 'check in' and may get picked up being at a covid exposure site and forced to isolate just for picking up inside

  • Hybroid on 19/07/2021 - 13:12
    +55

    No, I don't use the drive through. Park up and order normally.

    • GG57 on 19/07/2021 - 13:27
      +25

      ^^Solution provided^^
      And an opportunity to use their toilets.

      • MITM on 19/07/2021 - 13:43
        +2

        OP's user name checks out.

      • fantombloo on 19/07/2021 - 17:14
        +7

        I usually use the toilets without ordering.

        • Munki on 20/07/2021 - 12:09
          +13

          Yeah just walk in there, maintain eye contact to establish dominance.

          • craagz on 20/07/2021 - 12:17
            +6

            @Munki: and pee to mark territory!

            • Kangal on 21/07/2021 - 17:51

              @craagz: Can you go anywhere, or do you have to stick to the Men's?

      • htc on 20/07/2021 - 09:06
        +1

        Which also answers op's comment about peeing, so order normally, get the best of both worlds.

      • His_Holiness on 21/07/2021 - 12:18

        And an opportunity to catch Covid

    • htc on 20/07/2021 - 09:04

      yeah, I never use drive through.

    • MrKnowItAll on 20/07/2021 - 11:53
      +9

      Then you get the privilege of using their dirty (think human waste) ordering consoles, plus they have a KPI on their drive through times so it's considered a higher priority than the customers in the store so you'll wait longer for them to cook it (as told to me by an ex-employee).

      I weighed it all up (including myself after said fast food) and realised the best option is just plain avoidance.

      • Hybroid on 20/07/2021 - 14:28
        +2

        Nope, you order with the app which is far more convenient and easier to scroll around, then pickup order in minutes and off you go.

    • smartazz104 on 20/07/2021 - 13:21
      +1

      So you go in and line up behind the slow people…

      • rad000 on 21/07/2021 - 09:27

        Can order on the screen or via the app

    • OWKnowitall1 on 21/07/2021 - 08:15

      every time i do that i swear i feel like I have to wait longer because in these fast food joints their priorities are to get high scores. never worked in these chains but i know people who have and i guess it makes sense.

    • Dreamcast on 21/07/2021 - 12:28

      I don't use drive through either. Though it feels like when I go in to order, priority is given to drive through orders 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Clear on 19/07/2021 - 13:16
    +5

    Yes. Also at Maccas no one seems to like going into the second drive thru bay. I'll happily skip 2 or 3 cars doing that.

    • skid on 19/07/2021 - 14:13

      Wait. What second drive thru bay??

      • Clear on 19/07/2021 - 14:18
        +5

        All McDonalds where I live have 2 drive thru bays. Single line splits into 2 where you order and then splits back into 1. It's a good system when used properly.

    • whitelie on 19/07/2021 - 17:27
      +18

      I don't often go to Macca's but every damn time I pick the wrong line and end up behind the slow person OP is talking about while 2 or 3 other cars go thru the other side

      • Clear on 19/07/2021 - 17:58
        +1

        Yep it can be real risky. I watch the movement of the other cars very closely and try to predict what order they'll go through.

      • cainen on 20/07/2021 - 08:45
        +4

        This is my life anywhere where queuing is involved.

      • blorx on 21/07/2021 - 09:48

        The Maccas I go to alternate ordering, unless it's chaos, usually pretty fair though.

        • whitelie on 21/07/2021 - 09:54

          Depends how many people they have taking the orders. 2 lanes is pointless when they only have 1 person putting the orders in, which alternates the lanes.
          At busier times they'll have 2 people doing it so one lane can move quicker than the other

    • TransportPosters on 20/07/2021 - 15:19

      I sometimes witness the same! They have two people running the drive through with the two order stations so you get by a car or two. However, one time the mic wasn't working or something and after 2 cars I gave up and just ordered at the window.

    • Gandalf the Grey on 21/07/2021 - 11:11

      Closest one to me has one, and not only that, it only fits 2-3 cars up to the speaker box, so the queue takes up space in the car park for the shopping center.
      So if I want to go to Coles, I'll have to drive around to go into another car park entrance. Very infuriating.

  • spackbace on 19/07/2021 - 13:16
    +11

    Occasionally it does. Not all the time, not never

    The other day had someone in the maccas queue beside me, after finding out the screen was broken, asking the employee to list the burger options…

    Like cmon, it's maccas, surely you've been before!

    • Hybroid on 19/07/2021 - 13:20
      +4

      I mean, they could be from abroad. McDonalds have regional menus with different items in different countries. Oh, wait…

    • Chandler on 20/07/2021 - 11:17
      +1

      Occasionally it does. Not all the time, not never

      ^^^ Missing poll option

    • md333 on 20/07/2021 - 14:23
      +1

      It shits me that they don't have a menu anywhere listing what they have, just lots of promotional deals. I generally resolve it by leaving without buying anything though, not getting them to list the whole menu for me.

  • Xistn on 19/07/2021 - 13:26
    +2

    First world problems…

    • onetwothreefour on 19/07/2021 - 13:32
      +5

      They don't have drive-through in the 3rd world?

    • iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 13:38
      +19

      You better comment this on everyones forum posts on OzBargain then.

      • Xistn on 19/07/2021 - 15:18
        +7

        I let JV do that.

        • tomsco on 20/07/2021 - 09:19

          Touche

    • derrida derider on 20/07/2021 - 11:04

      Yep, it's outrageous. OP should found a massive IT business and with his billions buy a chain of private Maccas to fly his private jet between.

  • plmko on 19/07/2021 - 13:42
    +2

    Order instore

  • capslock on 19/07/2021 - 13:52
    +3

    You probably forget about all the times that it doesn't happen and remember all the times that it does so you think it happens to you more than it really does.

    • eyeballz2770 on 20/07/2021 - 08:54
      +1

      Especially when one needs 2 pee.

  • Davo1111 on 19/07/2021 - 14:12
    +6

    probably confirmation bias.

    Also relates to the people using the drive through.

  • slow on 19/07/2021 - 14:27
    +27

    Same people who stand in a queue, then get to the front, and only then start rummaging through their handbag to find their purse / wallet, and then take longer to find their cash/card. Or walk to the car, then get there, then stand and start rummaging through their bag to find the keys whilst everyone else stands and waits in the cold/rain .
    Disclaimer - I may be married to this person

    • iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 14:34
      +1

      🤣 oh I am engaged to someone similar.

      • MS Paint on 19/07/2021 - 14:45
        +12

        Is that like those that have their phone and app ready as they approach the check in QR code and those that…

        • Stare at QR code for a few seconds
        • Get glasses out of handbag or shirt pocket
        • Get phone out of handbag or back pocket
        • Scratch head trying to remember unlock pattern
        • Scroll 10 screens to find applicable app
        • Press screen 5 times to open app
        • Wait for app update to occur
        • Hold phone up to QR code
        • Look at back of phone wondering why it's not working
        • Try again scanning code
        • Smile when they succeed
        • Put phone in handbag or back pocket
        • Put glasses in handbag or shirt pocket
        • Have another glance at the QR code thinking to themselves "amazing technology that is"
        • Leave QR code for the next person
        • iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 14:51
          +2

          100%. Burns me even more when some stand infront of the QR code when only one is available. They are oblivious to the world that others would also like to check in.

          • Hangryuman on 20/07/2021 - 12:04

            @iNeed2Pee: there's a technique - it's called 'excuse me' -

            and if no response after a second - 'elbow aside'

        • lechuck123 on 20/07/2021 - 10:25

          I don't understand how people still seem surprised they need to sign in after a year of doing this.

        • TransportPosters on 20/07/2021 - 15:26

          Reminds me of the shoppers who get trolleys out of the station right at the supermarket and then block everyone while they put away their wallet / purse, do their cleaning and organise their existing bags, before moving out so someone else can get a trolley.

        • raptormesh on 21/07/2021 - 10:57

          Why don't they just use the camera and scan the code?

          • MS Paint on 21/07/2021 - 11:03

            @raptormesh: Older phones don't allow this feature. You either need the government services app or a dedicated QR code app.

    • SF3 on 19/07/2021 - 20:58
      +1

      You adopted their name too?

    • Brick Tamland on 20/07/2021 - 09:03

      I had to quit working retail because of this.

    • xylarr on 20/07/2021 - 09:04

      These are the same people that get to the end of an escalator, stop and look around, working out where to go.
      Get out of the way!

    • tomsco on 20/07/2021 - 09:21
      +1

      Self serve at Coles/Woolies/Kmart when there are 3-4 empty registers but the person at the front of the queue isn't paying attention and holding everyone up…

  • casho on 19/07/2021 - 14:27
    +4

    Extremely rare I use a drive through or order junk food but part of the problem might be that the signs as you drive in usually just show "special deals". So I get to the order area and have no idea of the menu, so have to ask a bunch of questions which slows things down.

  • pegaxs on 19/07/2021 - 14:32
    +6

    Where is the "I'm not parking for my coffee" lady?? Would like to hear her take on it.

  • Bid Sniper on 19/07/2021 - 14:40

    Usually the entitled bothersome ones are in expensive SUVs, just use the line they are not in. I tend to slip in front of them by ordering online by the time they've finished making the poor attendentant's life miserable.

  • orangetrain on 19/07/2021 - 14:54
    +5

    To be fair, some places are adopting video menus that constantly change and have options/price all over the the place for marketing purposes.

  • rompastompa on 19/07/2021 - 15:07
    +3

    I occasionally take a little while because I'm trying to do the maths on which combo is the best value for money. It's not always Burger + $3.95 = meal. Some meals charge more for chips+drink.

    Example for KFC:
    Original recipe Burger: $6.35
    Original recipe burger combo: $8.95 ($2.60 for chips + drink)

    Twister: $6.95
    Twister Combo: $9.95 ($3 for chips + drink)

    Quite often we don't want the drinks, so $2 large chips (if it's available - need to ask the question!) is better value instead of two combos.

    Then, you have the combos:
    Colonel's Offer: Burger Combo Deluxe $7.45
    Double Combo: $14.45

    So, deciding isn't as simple as the burger I want. The app makes it much easier, but if it was an impulse lunch while driving and then I see a difference in the menu, it might take longer. Maccas app sucks and regularly fails for me, and getting the kids out of the car causing a ruckus in store, you'll be creating another thread about the lack of peace in the store :D

    Also; If you're buying Happy meals, they normally miss items or give you the same toy/book so you need to ask for different ones for the kids to share.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/07/2021 - 15:33
    +2

    Basically people who aren't prepared.

    It's not all the time, but I've had similar experiences from time to time, and mostly SUVs/family vehicles, and clearly ordering for a whole family.

    I mean, if you're going through a drive-thru, be ready.
    I always have my wallet out of my pocket and in the center console ready to go.
    I know what I want to order.

    When I was a kid, my parents would always get our order written down and ready to go, then they'd just read it out and go through.
    With internet and phones now, there's no reason people can't do this at home or on the way to the drive-thru.

  • GG57 on 19/07/2021 - 15:40
    +9

    Posts like this, and some of these comments, just make me laugh.
    If you are in a drive-thru queue, you are part of the problem. There is probably someone behind you complaining that there are too many cars in the queue and why doesn't McD/KFC do something about it!!!!

    Even if people take (like 2-3 minutes at the most) additional time, what is the actual impact on you? Where did you absolutely need to be 2-3 minutes earlier (that you still decided you could pop into this McD/KFC anyway).

    • ThadtheChad on 21/07/2021 - 09:16
      +2

      Wholeheartedly agree. This is such a non-issue.

      I don't like drive-through ordering so I park and pick-up.

  • Baysew on 19/07/2021 - 15:50
    +4

    It's just this guy - Do You Ever Refuse to Park at McDonald's Drive Through ?

  • holdenmg on 19/07/2021 - 16:02

    Buy a Hummer, you won't need to care about people in front of you.

    • hopper on 21/07/2021 - 13:05

      Or a bike and skip the queue

  • Ryanek on 19/07/2021 - 16:28
    +18

    This reminds me of a life lesson back in the day when we still had toll booths. The car in front of me was taking ages to pay and I was swearing and cursing under my breath that they were taking too long.

    When it was my time to finally pay, the attended told me that the car in front actually paid for me and it was him trying to find the extra coins.

    I was very humbled that day and in times of impatience, I think of that moment.

  • bloom on 19/07/2021 - 17:23
    +4

    Worst is going to subway and the guy in front of you whips out a piece of paper to order for everyone in the office 😴

    • iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 17:52

      Yeah that is a drainer, but I also feel sorry for that person.

    • endolphin on 21/07/2021 - 14:06

      I seem to encounter the subway newbie quite often, and THAT is painful.

      What bread would you like sir? extremely confused look
      What filling sir? "chicken!"
      What cheese would you like sir? extremely confused look

      • bobs burgers on 21/07/2021 - 14:14
        +1

        This sounds like my first visit to subway.
        In my defence I thought you order what's on the pictures basically.

        Of course shortly after you learn it's all diy and the pictures don't have relevance.
        I do often think they need a better explanation for ordering tho written on the glass so new orderers can have a glance over.

        Choose bread type and size and base meat/veg system. Cooked or not, add as little or as much salads as you like

        Edit: This was probably some 20 or more years ago. It took me ages to try Subway as it was confusing so I skipped it for years before forcing myself to try it out.

        Italian herbs footlong and southwest sauce with whatever fillings you having is the best, with extra Southwest of course.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/07/2021 - 17:31
    +4

    60% of the time it happens all the time.

  • Ryk on 19/07/2021 - 17:32

    "There'll just be a wait on your… Can you pull in over there and we'll bring it out to you." every.single.time.

    • iNeed2Pee on 19/07/2021 - 17:51

      Noticed this with Hungry Jacks lately. They never used to care about their timers. Now they do.

      • macfudd on 19/07/2021 - 20:07
        +13

        Funny story from back when I used to work in fast food. The timer was the be all and end all.

        So much so that certain managers used to send out staff armed with metal pots to scrape across the ground at the order speaker while another guy did the same at the pickup window. That would bring the average time way down by making the system think we were serving cars in 1 second. We'd get cars pulling up going 'ummm, there's a guy out here trying to polish the drivethrough with a saucepan, is he ok?'

        My other favourite thing was the manager who used to tell cars to park up. But there was nowhere to do that in the drive through, so they'd slowly pull out onto the main road, then realise that was a no stopping 70km zone. And because it was a road with a dividing barrier and no easy way to turn for about a kilometer you'd watch them drive slowly off into the distance. The managers theory was that when they came back they would drive through quick, grab the order and go, so it'd give us 2 quick times instead of 1 slow time on the stats. I doubt it gave us a lot of repeat customers, but that wasn't what they were being measured on!

        • eyeballz2770 on 20/07/2021 - 09:00
          +1

          Thanks for the laugh!

          • macfudd on 21/07/2021 - 21:45
            +2

            @eyeballz2770: I really should write them all down at some point. So many stories. Two fires, a holdup, numerous staff quitting in spectacular fashion, manager meltdowns and just so much staff craziness- including at one point it being a common thing to take your break in the roof crawl space.

  • ShannonN on 19/07/2021 - 18:17
    +2

    easy solution dont be lazy and park get out go i and order(if you are not in a covid hotspot i guess

    • htc on 20/07/2021 - 09:13

      It is a luxury provided to people, they can just stay in the comfort of their car. This model only works if majority use normal queue, I think the only way around it is people who use drive thru pay a premium, then that can minimise the wait and they can continue to enjoy this luxury. Also drive through there are only 1 line, in normal queue there are at least two lines available. Although the premium model may not work as kfc, maccas and fast food stores try to lure customer and compete with other fast food chain, so unlikely they will use that proposal.

    • popsiee on 20/07/2021 - 09:58
      +1

      I can tell you already that doesn't work as most resources are attending the drive thru . Inside is much slower full stop !

      • GG57 on 20/07/2021 - 10:32

        Is it perhaps self-fulfilling though? If a lot of people were inside waiting to be served, wouldn't the business re-allocate staff to the front counter?
        A sale is a sale.

        • popsiee on 20/07/2021 - 11:36
          +2

          Maccas near us whinges about 2 separate order in the car with coupons hence one of us runs in while I go through the drive thru .
          Not one has the inside person beaten me and normally at least 2 X longer .

          • AbucklingNMS on 20/07/2021 - 17:01

            @popsiee: ^^^ Ooo you get my vote for 2021 OzB'er-Of-The-Year 🏆🎉🎂🥇

            (Used to think of 2 peeps with coupons in line one behind each other)

  • Cheeper on 19/07/2021 - 21:50
    +1

    Just people being people. Many find it difficult to plan ahead and know what they want.
    You see them doing it at the counter too, they get there and still have no idea what they want. People with kids are the worst, the kids have no idea what they want and randomly pick something then change their mind.
    Just how it is.

    • kyle on 20/07/2021 - 08:14
      -2

      Wonder if other aspects of their lives are just as disorganised

  • kyle on 20/07/2021 - 08:13

    I'm still surprised at the number of people not using the app now that the Maccas has ironed out the bugs.

    • Misplaced on 20/07/2021 - 08:21

      Except the Free Coffee. For the last several weeks you can't make ANY changes whatsoever (even to add sugar or change milk) or it says it's "unavailable". Heaps of people are complaining but Maccas doesn't appear to be fixing it.

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