Fast Food Drive Thru's...

[BobMc]

Am I the only one that constantly gets fucked going through the drive thru? I know Danny Devito is with me but anyone else?

Every Friday I buy breakfast for my employees. It seems every week I get shorted something. Today was no different, McDonalds shorted us a breakfast burrito and an egg mcmuffin. I was irked but sent my daughter back to get the items we were shorted. She asked to speak to the manager, the manager asked her if she'd called first to alert them items were missing. Umm, no, I'm standing right here telling you, we don't need to involve phone lines. The manager then proceeds to argue with my daughter telling her, "I'm pretty sure everything was in the bag." Eventually my daughter got tired of arguing and just paid for the missing items so my employee missing food could eat.

When I was alerted to that fact I went in to talk to her myself. I got the same thing, "did you call?" I told her the same thing, no, I'm here now. Showed her my order on my phone and which items were missing. "You have to call first." was the reply again. No, I'm here now and just want my money back. She sneers at me, "I'm not going to argue with you, give me your card."

She refunds me my money paid for the missing items, I thank her and calmly tell her I won't be back to this McDonalds, turn around and head for the door. As I'm leaving I hear her screaming at me in Spanish, then English, "Don't ever come back here again!!" as I walk out the door. The restaurant is full, everyone staring at the manager as she screams at me.

All I wanted was my food, not to argue with a manager. My employees always joke that I'm the only one this ever happens to. I'm not sure why but I can't hardly ever get the food I order when going through the drive thru. And yeah, I know I should check before leaving, but I'm not going to empty the bag of a $40 order to make sure the employees did their job right.

[MontuckyFried]

Yup! Not only do they ALWAYS seem to screw something up (even on simple orders for one person), they've all become unbearably slow. They have 2 windows (which used to be one to pay, one to pickup), but now you just go straight to the second window to pay and they're like "please pull forward and we'll bring your food out." Then if they don't forget about you altogether, it can take like 20 minutes. WTF? Couple that with insanely high prices, I pretty much never do fast food anymore. Better for my health anyway, so I take it as a win, BUT sometimes you're on the go all day without stopping, so I get why fast food exists and would partake sometimes.

Lately, I've found myself just getting ramen or pho for "fast food." Cheaper, healthier, better tasting, and these days WAY faster. I got a great ramen shop down the street and they whip it my order crazy fast, much like in Japan where it's also meant to be a cheap, nutritious and speedy lunch.

Screw McDonald's tho. They are complete ass these days. Their corporate model is wild. It's actually more about the real estate than the food itself! Their particular franchise model also seriously screws over the franchisee. Basically, as inflation rises, McD's corporate gets to rake in a crazy % of the GROSS revenue along with steep rents from the franchisee. It used to be a pretty solid business to own, but these days that's really come into question. Oh, and don't get us started about their stupid ice cream machines that are ALWAYS broken!!! Sometimes, I just want a McFlurry on the way home on a hot summer's day. Been skunked so many times I don't bother any more. Like 10 times out of 10, they'll tell you their machine is broken after you waited forever in line and are now stuck in it. Grrrr......

[ötzi]

It was Joe Pesci but yeah, they do always fuck you at the drive-thru.

[skaredshtles]

I never go through drive-thru's.

Not only are they invariably slower, but inside you can have a quick check and make sure everything is there.

Disclaimer: I basically never get fast food any more - just when road-tripping, generally.

[dunfree]

I don’t do fast food these days but can you complain via an app you also order from? I’m told the McDs app is even cheaper. Have had good experiences fixing grocery store pickup fuckups this way. Good = a quick you didn’t give me my shit, they okay here’s your money.

[Danno]

I never go through drive-thru's.

Not only are they invariably slower, but inside you can have a quick check and make sure everything is there.

Disclaimer: I basically never get fast food any more - just when road-tripping, generally.

Yeah, I avoid drive throughs like the plague. I don't ever do fast food -- occasionally I do "fast casual" places like Panera -- but even if I want a cup of coffee from Starbucks, I will park and go inside. It may not be rational or based on data, but the experience feels faster to me and feels like I have more control.

[skaredshtles]

<snip> but even if I want a cup of coffee from Starbucks, I will park and go inside. It may not be rational or based on data, but the experience feels faster to me and feels like I have more control.

I'm pretty sure it's faster unless there is nobody else in the line. Which, just anecdotally from the Sbux 'round here, is NEVER the case unless the store is closed.

[garyfromterrace]

Should all of this be posted in the "first world problems" thread? Take a lap, beaters.
Sorry, my inner buttflake appears to be verbalizing...

[evdog]

Ah yes McDonalds, where even going in with the lowest possible expectations you get disappointed every time. And the prices keep going higher and higher.

I usually hit up a taco shop or In n out if I need something quick.

If McDs is the only thing there I seldom order anything but whatever 2 for $4 deal they have going.

[californiagrown]

Around 80% of revenue for McDonald's comes through their drive thrus. Its so important that they are actually shrinking the size of their new builds because dine-in just isnt a profit driver. They are also going to be building like gangbusters over the next few years, because the consumer and franchisee demand is still going strong.


Its amazing how much engineering goes into the layout of a MCD restaurant to make it work as efficiently as possible, and yet people are still the bottleneck. I wonder how long it will be till an entire restaurant is staffed by 1 or 2 people who just oversee robots.

[MontuckyFried]

Should all of this be posted in the "first world problems" thread?

Nah. We have a right to be grumpy, cuz we're all old enough to witness it's devolution from fast and cheap to sloth-paced slow and ludicrously expensive. In & Out has definitely taken the crown from them in those departments. They're still pretty cheap and fast. P. Terry's ain't bad on that front either.

[Cisco Kid]

The local Mickey D's is the busiest location in the PNW. 3 drive up lines, one person at the window. I suppose I've gotten a mixed up order once or twice in 10 years. I don't know how they do what they do.

Can't say I thing the manager handled it right but approach is everything and I wasn't there. I'm most successful when I start with "Maybe you can help me......."

[Gepeto]

Sorry, my inner buttflake appears to be verbalizing...

stash that shit

...how long it will be till an entire restaurant is staffed by 1 or 2 people who just oversee robots.

not long - the inside kiosk has reduced register counter space and high top bar table hieght with fixed seats isn't uncommon.

Arrived at the same conclusions everyone else did. I'm a sucker for a frosty and large fry if i'm starving. Rarely do they fill the container like they used to. McD online deals; A buck for a large decent cup of coffee.

Asian or mexican local fare is just as quick and substantially better for you. Online order capability makes it a no-brainer.

picking out the positive from trends while the lemmingz support the system. 1st world? or adulting?

[californiagrown]

The local Mickey D's is the busiest location in the PNW. 3 drive up lines,

Where at? Legit curious b/c i design MCD sites as part of my day job and have never seen a 3 lane DT.

[Danno]

ludicrously expensive

Since I have not been in a McD's in decades, what qualifies as ludicrously expensive? I can get a filling meal for me from Panera for $14, maybe $12 at Chipotle, $13 at Noodles. What's a Big Mac and Fries (no drink) go for these days?

[dunfree]

Since I have not been in a McD's in decades, what qualifies as ludicrously expensive? I can get a filling meal for me from Panera for $14, maybe $12 at Chipotle, $13 at Noodles. What's a Big Mac and Fries (no drink) go for these days?

a Big Mac meal (including drink) is ~$9.50+ tax. A Big Mac + medium fry is on a deal day $5.50+ tax. That’s prices via their app, today, for pickup. Note prices vary by location.

i think chipotle & othe Mexican tastes way better but I’m not sure it’s much healthier.

[MontuckyFried]

Since I have not been in a McD's in decades, what qualifies as ludicrously expensive? I can get a filling meal for me from Panera for $14, maybe $12 at Chipotle, $13 at Noodles. What's a Big Mac and Fries (no drink) go for these days?

Last time I went through a McD's drive-thru while travelling, I saw a Big Mac meal for about $15 and I noped on out of there and left empty-handed. Just couldn't bring myself to do it.

[Danno]

ok, so it is much more expensive then it used to be but it is still cheaper than the options I go to. My current fast casual fave is this place but it only has two locations, Boulder and Lakewood (though it feels like it is ready made for franchising).

[skaredshtles]

Last time I went through a McD's drive-thru while travelling, I saw a Big Mac meal for about $15

Where was this?

[dunfree]

ok, so it is much more expensive than it used to be but it is still cheaper than the options I go to. My current fast casual fave is this place but it only has two locations, Boulder and Lakewood (though it feels like it is ready made for franchising).

franchising ruined 5 guys

[stealurface831]

bonjangles and cookout do me right every damn time. can never understand what is coming through the speaker but i really don't need to as long as they understand me the first time and they do.

[Danno]

franchising ruined 5 guys

franchising ruins most places.

[mud]

Chick-fil-a usually has two to four teens on ipads outside taking the orders then another kid to take your payment and then you drive around to pick up your order. Don't even bother ordering on the Chipotle app anymore since there is sizable difference going inside to order in person compared with ordering online. I stopped going to other places due to price, service, and crap food. Thank dog for Waffle House and Whataburger, 24/7 hour service, always hits the spot after a night out drinking.

[garyfromterrace]

Should all of this be posted in the "first world problems" thread? Take a lap, beaters.
Sorry, my inner buttflake appears to be verbalizing...

stash that shit

haha, yeah buddy you're right

A Big Mac + medium fry is on a deal day $5.50+ tax.

Yikes, $32 CAD!!

[Brownski]

I don’t go to McDonalds anymore but my son likes it and uses the app all the time. He is pretty happy with it. If I’m doing fast food, it’s Wendy’s and I’m almost always going inside cause the drive thru line is ridiculous.

On the other hand, I am one of the millions that worked at a McDonalds as a teenager and I think I learned a lot from the experience. Spent one summer just cleaning the place overnight while it was closed. I learned some very high level mopping skills there.