So I've worked at a couple places now that use drive-thrus, and I honestly don't understand what is wrong with these customers. The more and more I encounter these people, the more I think that you need to at least have graduated college in order to go through a drive-thru. The things people say and do and ask for is ridiculous. It's not rocket science. I work at Dunkin' Donuts, and I honestly don't think ordering through a drive-thru is that complicated. Oh, and some people seriously must wait until they get to the order taker before they start thinking about what they want. It's a Dunkin' Donuts, it's pretty straight forward. We have donuts, coffee, lattes, bagels, sandwiches, the works. Yet somehow these simple-minded customers can't seem to grasp that concept. And for those people that come to the drive-thru and ask "Do you have donuts?" while speaking to me... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? It's called Dunkin' DONUTS. Seriously... what part of that is so hard to comprehend? If there is donuts in the title, don't you think we just MIGHT have donuts? I think it's funny, the people that say "there are no stupid questions." Clearly they have never been asked if they have donuts at a DONUT SHOP.
And is the driving aspect of the drive-thru really that hard? I swear, I am strongly considering putting a sign with instructions on it right before our drive-thru.
1. Pull up to order taker
2. Tell the person what you want.
3. Drive away from order taker.
4. Go to window, and STOP THE CAR.
5. Give the cashier your money.
6. Take your food/beverages.
7. Drive away.
Now honestly, does that sound too hard? Because so many people can't figure out what to do. Let's start with #1, Pull up to order taker. There are far too many customers who "miss" the order taker, and just drive up to the window to order. There is a reason why we take your order before you get to the window. It's a time management thing. We have a business to run, and when you ruin our system, everyone loses. Okay, #2, tell the person what you want. I don't think I have time to go into details about this one. Maybe at another date. But so many people come here and don't know what they want, or they know what they want, but they don't know what its called, or they think they know what they want, but they say it wrong, and somehow its our fault. Seriously, it's DUNKIN DONUTS. It's not hard. Just learn how to order. #3, drive away from order taker. This part people seem to understand for the most part, but just barely. People seem to want to just hang out in the drive-thru, and take their time counting money, driving, stopping, driving, etc. It shouldn't take that long. And then #4, go to window and stop the car. Way more customers than should be just drive right past the window. I usually just shrug it off in front of them, or say "oh, it happens," but in my head I'm thinking, "What the hell is wrong with you???" If you go through a drive-thru, the idea is that you want food or a drink or something. So then after you order, wouldn't you want to go to the place where you can receive your food? That just makes sense to me. And people are like "oh, I didn't see the window." That's total bullshit. See when you drive alongside the building, it's mostly just brick or whatever it is. Then, you come to this hole in the wall, and there is a big window, and it opens up so that we can serve you. I still don't understand how people just don't see it. The next three steps people mostly understand, except for the whole money exchange thing... somehow these people that have gone through high school and college and many who have real jobs, just can't count. And if I repeat your order at the window to confirm it, don't say "yep, that's it" if it really isn't. I'm so sick of people agreeing to it, paying for it, and then finding out that we missed something or that they took the wrong order. There is a reason why I confirm the order, it's so things like this don't happen! And the whole drive away thing... please, take your change, take your food, then LEAVE. Don't try to tell me your life story, don't take forever putting the money back in your wallet, making it all neat, situating yourself, adjusting your seat or whatever. Just do it quickly if you can, and drive away. You're holding up the line. So just don't do it. Don't be THAT person. The one that people are behind in line thinking or saying, "What the hell are they doing up there?"
Just please, next time you go through a drive-thru, try to use a little more common sense.
