Rules on Food Servic Etiquitte (STRONG Language) (Work In Progress)

[Lace Neil Singer]

If I have a mega junk food craving, I will eat at McDonalds. I always go into the restaurant.

I used to work at a pizza place and the pet hate of everyone there pertaining to large orders were idiots who'd ring up and say, "Can you make me 20 pizzas for midday?" at 11:30 when we opened. -.- No idiot; we can't pull 20 pizzas out of thin air in half an hour.

[Broomjockey]

I got the answer to that one - don't eat at McDonalds. It's yucky.

Actually, I don't. That was just the archetypical example. If I do eat fast food, it's usually Wendy's. And even that's getting rare.

[Emrld]

Poofy-Puff - in the inital post it was mentioned that at a sit down establishment the server should not have to read the menu to the patron.

Every State and Country have different standards for getting a drivers license. Not all have a reading test. Even then some have a standard test that is used over and over and can be memorized by someone with literacy issues. - I used to do some volunteer work with an adult literacy group. It would suprise a lot of people how some of these adults have adjusted their lives to appear like everyone else.

[poofy_puff]

Because if I'm expected to start tipping at McDonalds now, I've got issues, as they make almost what I do as a starting wage.

I got the answer to that one - don't eat at McDonalds. It's yucky.

As for the reading of the menu - vison problems run rampant and people don't have the time or the money to take care of the issue. Also, you can not tell by looking at a person if they have reading skills or not. Take it with a grain of salt and help the customer out.

If you can't read the Drive-Thru menu, you shouldn't be driving. The RMV usually gives you a little test similar to the D-T menu when you go to have your license renewed.

Having said that, I will continue to wear my seatbelt ALWAYS - even when going through the D-T. (Even tho I don't eat at McD's, there are times when I use D-T's at other places, such ad DD's).

[Emrld]

I understand your frustration and am glad you got out of a job that made you so unhappy . . .but there are some factors that were not considered.

I have a small dog that goes to my full time job with me. This means that she is in my car on the way to and from the office. There are occassions when we need giftcards from Fast Food places. I am the lucky one who gets to take care of this. I am not going to leave my dog alone in a car in Texas (too hot in summer and can be too cold for hairless in winter) Let alone the risk of her being stolen. Therefore I use the drivethru to purchase the gift cards. I am however smart enough to not do this during a meal time rush.

As for the reading of the menu - vison problems run rampant and people don't have the time or the money to take care of the issue. Also, you can not tell by looking at a person if they have reading skills or not. Take it with a grain of salt and help the customer out.

For the calling pepople Honey, Sugar, Sweetie, etc. I have to beg to differ that is not sexual harrassment. You may see it as being dissrespectful. It does tend to be a thing from the South. Majority of the time (as in not all but, most often) it is just a way of addressing someone who's name you don't know with a little warmth thrown in. True, you may have a name tag on but that doesn't mean people will pay attention to it. - I will agree that there are some horn dogs out there that use those same terms and touch in ways that are not appropriate. That is not right. No one has the right to touch you without your permission. But, don't let them ruin it for everyone that uses Sugar, Sweetie, Honey.

For the checking of the food - I am doing that at the window. After way more than a handful of times of getting the wrong items and having to go back through the line . . . forget it. I am checking right there where it can be fixed before I drive off. If I am in the drive thru to begin with . . .either I have the dog with me, am in a hurry, or both. So why should I be put out because of corporate decissions? I am the one chosing that business and giving it money . . .I should have the right to check my order and not be made to feel bad for it.

[Geek King]

You were working in a fast-food resturant, and you expected tips? Are we on the same page? McDonalds/Wendys/Burger King-style resturants? Something's a bit off about that to me.

I was thinking Sonic when the OP was talking about it. I still consider them fast food, but I tip for the carside service. After all, Most of the A&W park-and-eat joints I've been to recently now require you to go get your own food.

[Tuxian]

Sounds to me that if you have a big order at a fast food place you're screwed. The staff is going to bitch if you go to the drive thru (and save them from the kids going inside) and they're going to bitch if you hold up the line inside (and save them from bad drive-thru numbers).

So, I guess as a customer I'll pick what's more convenient for me. I'll make sure we know everything possible when we arrive. But, don't bitch because we've bothered to spend a bunch of money where you work.

Having worked for Jack in the Box in the past, I can say this: We much preferred it if people with large orders would come inside to make their orders.

Why? Because then we could get their order going at the same time as we work on stuff for drive-thru. It was much easier to drop a full basket of fries for a large order and several small orders then to have to drop several small batches over several minutes.

And I will agree with whoever said that the timer is an evil, evil device. At Jack, they expect that from the time you pull up to the speaker to the time you leave the window with your food is to be no more than 3 minutes. And if you go over that? Every 2 seconds the timer goes "BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!" and distracts us even more.

Please, if you're making a big order, go into the lobby. You'll make the workers much less stressed out if you do.

[marasbaras]

Sounds to me that if you have a big order at a fast food place you're screwed. The staff is going to bitch if you go to the drive thru (and save them from the kids going inside) and they're going to bitch if you hold up the line inside (and save them from bad drive-thru numbers).

So, I guess as a customer I'll pick what's more convenient for me. I'll make sure we know everything possible when we arrive. But, don't bitch because we've bothered to spend a bunch of money where you work.

[powerboy]

After you get your food, GET THE FUCK OUT!! We have a timer tied to a pressure sensor that ticks until your car leaves. If our times are shit, we have to listen to some soulless corporate zombie bitch about being too slow. If you want to double check the order, fine, but park your ass out of the way.

I will always check at the window, just to make sure that the food is exactly how I wanted. And I will mention it at the window, if something is wrong. That is if no one is behind me at the time.

When it comes to tipping...

In ANY sit down restaurant, tipping is NOT optional. We make less than $4/hr and depend on tips to, you know, LIVE. The standard tip is 15% or more for better service.

Tipping IS optional. IF you have to rely on the generosity of the public to make a living then you're in the wrong line of work. I ALWAYS tip when i eat out BUT NOT because I have to but because I WANT TO.

Exactly, if I only tip, if it is exceptional service. I understand about wrong orders/drinks, shit happens. But if I have to return it for then once, then the tip is going to be smaller.


If you don't like how it is, then maybe you are in the wrong job.

[Broomjockey]

I stated at a sit down restaurant in the post.

I say "We" because I've been there, done that at some point.

Yes, but you keep saying "We make less than $4 an hour," and such, and as I do know that sit-down resturants do such, but fast food doesn't, and I've not seen a sit-down resturant with a drive-through, you were slightly less than clear in your post. Because if I'm expected to start tipping at McDonalds now, I've got issues, as they make almost what I do as a starting wage.

Remember, clarity in communications is your friend.

[penguingeekgod]

Quite right and good show, and here's the friendly mod reminder to keep it civil.

However <modhat off>

You were working in a fast-food resturant, and you expected tips? Are we on the same page? McDonalds/Wendys/Burger King-style resturants? Something's a bit off about that to me.

I stated at a sit down restaurant in the post.

And yet the OP says "we" for that point, but constantly talks about working fast food, hence my asking for clarification. If this is from a seperate job, fine, but I'd still like the OP to clear it up for my own mind.

I say "We" because I've been there, done that at some point.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Uh...no. If I'm going to check my order, I'm going to do it at the window.

Why? The reason why I'm in the drive-thru in the first place is because the lobby is closed for the night.

And while I understand that employees are only human, I think it's their job, not mine, to make sure an order is 100% correct in the first place.

Which makes the timer mind-blowingly stupid. Kind of like those scanning goals some stores have for their cashiers.

There's no good reason to be hustling customers out the door or out of the drive-thru like that. But I understand why it happens--corporate wants to squeeze more transactions into the business day.

[Stormraven]

I have to agree - I check my food in the drive-through. At least a quick scan. I do pull ahead if there's someone behind me, but if not, I'll stay long enough to be sure that the food at least looks like what I ordered.

[Becks]

After you get your food, GET THE FUCK OUT!! We have a timer tied to a pressure sensor that ticks until your car leaves. If our times are shit, we have to listen to some soulless corporate zombie bitch about being too slow. If you want to double check the order, fine, but park your ass out of the way.

Uh...no. If I'm going to check my order, I'm going to do it at the window.

Why? The reason why I'm in the drive-thru in the first place is because the lobby is closed for the night.

And while I understand that employees are only human, I think it's their job, not mine, to make sure an order is 100% correct in the first place.

[PepperElf]

Tipping IS optional. IF you have to rely on the generosity of the public to make a living then you're in the wrong line of work. I ALWAYS tip when i eat out BUT NOT because I have to but because I WANT TO.
Places that automatically add a tip to one's bill aren't doing anyone any favors. So IF you have exceptional service then by all means you should give a generous tip BUT if the service is lousy then don't expect one red cent.
& IF you don't get a tip are you supposed to act all whiny cause you didn't get one? Too bad. Life happens-DEAL WITH IT & move on.
Most people I know try to leave a tip when they can but for those that don't then all I can say is this...Cest La Vie.

Had a guy once take me on a first date... it wasn't even an expensive meal, but ...yeah no tip. It kinda struck me as cheap.

Current bf tips about the same way i do... we follow the local custom. In a Japanese place we don't tip (cos that's how they do it here), but if we're at a Gaigin restraunt we do 15%+ depending on service.

(Gaigin being the Japanese phrase for "foreigners")