Rants of a Fast Food Worker...

[Imogene]

15.) Don't think you can get away with using 6 coupons by saying something like...I have 6 separate orders...or by giving each of your kids a 5 dollar bill and a coupon each.

When I worked at McD's, just before I moved, we had a promotion while the Cards were in the playoffs, any day they played, a customer could buy BigMacs for a $1, limit two per customer. I distinctly remember seeing a group of kids standing back from my register, one would come up, order two BigMacs, go back to the group, another would come up. Repeat, three times total. On the third one, I just said, "Okay, how many are left in your little group?"
"Two...?"
"Four BigMacs, then? I can do two per person, as long as they're here."
"Oh, okay, yes, then."

[Rapscallion]

Me: What to drink with the number 2?

I read this. I reread it. I'm killing myself laughing with the unintentional humour...

Rapscallion

[LewisLegion]

I go to McDs quite a lot, at least once a week. Yeah, I know its not good for me, but I don't cook at home, and while I eat at my mother's one of my days off, the other day is left to me and I'm lazy. The McDs is five minutes from my house and 9x out of ten I use the drive thru.

I can always tell when its someone new at the window, because I usually order the exact same thing, and the new person always screws it up however simple and clear I make it. "I would like a number four, no pickles, large sized with a pibb, please". Thats exactly how I order nearly every time, all clear and slow enough to be understood but not with any pause of any kind. Always the newbie will start punching in the medium sized number four before I get past the 'no pickles', necessitating a rekey, or do the following:

Me: "I would like a number four with no pick-"

Them: "Would you like cheese on that?"

Yes, I know the cheese is an extra option but the way I was raised is, do not interrupt someone speaking until they're done. Wait for me to finish, then ask me about the cheese if you must. I will happy say 'no thank you'.

That said, here are a few of my warstories from when I worked at the McD myself.

1: If you put your money on the counter when paying instead of in my hand which I am holding out, do NOT then snark at me 'Put it in my hand', when I return your change in the same manner as you delivered your payment. I WILL simply say 'next!' and good luck getting the manager to care. Scoop up your damn quarter yourself.

2: No, I don't think you're all that and a bag of chips. My reply to your request: "I'd like a small sprite and hook me up with a large fries" will be to answer you, "That will be three fifty". When you then point out a small sprite only costs 1.25 I will then point out that the large fries cost 2.25. When you then reply, "No, sweetie, I said, 'hook me up'.' I will reply in a very shocked and VERY loud carrying voice, "Let me get this right, you EXPECT ME TO GIVE YOU FREE FOOD????"

Yeah, you're not worth losing my job, even if it does suck. Pay for the damn fries or get out.

3. Whatever you may think, I will not fall into instant love with you and run off swooning into your arms if you place your order at the drive-thru speaker in the following manner: "I'd like two hamburgers...and your phone number, baby". I know for a fact that you can't even see me at this point, and the only reason you're asking for my number is because my voice is clearly female. For all you know I'm a yeti beast. You are NOT charming and no, you will NOT get my number...that's just creepy.

Same as above goes for giving me your number. I will throw it away right in front of you. I have no desire to date a ghetto wanna-be ten years younger than me, nor a greasy old man who smells like a barn sewer.

4. I do understand big words. If you have some sort of bet with your friends and come up to order using words longer than four syllables (i.e. "Salutations, It would be advantageous to me if you would provide me with the more lucrative size of fries..."), I will respond in like manner (i.e. "Many pardons, but we have just descended a new recepticle of said fries into the vegetable based oil to cook. If you like, I can substitute another item or you can patiently loiter until the fries are done, about three minutes hence").

Don't then stare at me like I'm a fungus that managed to talk, then ask me what 'loiter' means in normal words...like a normal person.

And yes, the above all really happened.

[chrislb]

I f you did num. 4 when I order my food, that would make my day.

[derangedperson]

1.) You don't have to YELL INTO THE ORDER BOX! We can hear you, we have the technology...and if you are in a diesel truck that is the size of your house...TURN IT OFF for crying out loud...nothing beats trying to take an order and some idiot is trying to SCREAM AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS OVER HIS TRUCK!

Welcome to Burger King, can I please take your order?
WHOPPER!
Um, what was--
WHOPPER, NO ONION!

[I See Stupid People]

I can always tell when its someone new at the window, because I usually order the exact same thing, and the new person always screws it up however simple and clear I make it. "I would like a number four, no pickles, large sized with a pibb, please". Thats exactly how I order nearly every time, all clear and slow enough to be understood but not with any pause of any kind. Always the newbie will start punching in the medium sized number four before I get past the 'no pickles', necessitating a rekey, or do the following:

Me: "I would like a number four with no pick-"

Them: "Would you like cheese on that?"

Yes, I know the cheese is an extra option but the way I was raised is, do not interrupt someone speaking until they're done. Wait for me to finish, then ask me about the cheese if you must. I will happy say 'no thank you'.

True enough, we are not suppose to interrupt while you are ordering. We are suppose to ring it up just as you order it, so indeed if you order a number 4 no pickle, then that will be rung up before you say Large sized. Unfortunate, but true. Now, I do try to pause myself and see if you will alter your order, but if I do that I will often fall behind on the rest of your order and possibly miss something.

Now let's say that someone who does like cheese orders in the same way, customizing, large sizing, then adding cheese. This means I've altered the order a minimum of three times, and puts me in danger of locking up my screen if you alter much else. Then the manager must be called over to over ride it and possibly re-ring the whole thing. Having that happen several times does tempt one severely to attempt to get the whole order correct on the first go-round, even if it does mean interrupting the customer.

Short of forcing customers to take a class on how to place an order, I don't see a solution. And in truth, such a class would be pointless, because the rules/menu keys change so darn often it's hard to keep up, customer and employee a like.

***sigh*** Back in the day, we had a lovely little button that would large size a meal without having to re-ring a thing. Naturally, that made things far too easy and had to be removed.

[AirHostess]

OMG I could never work in fast food, I would go insane!

[tintaglia]

I lasted six and a half years at bk, and reading this made me realise 2 things;
1) things managed to get worse
2) glad I got out (and will not be going back!)

when visiting fast food places I always smile at my server, use please and thank yous, and always clean up after self (having to nag my friend to put her stuff in the bin tho, as she feels 'thats what the staff are for', but I willl keep trying to train her)

[BookstoreEscapee]

4. I do understand big words. If you have some sort of bet with your friends and come up to order using words longer than four syllables (i.e. "Salutations, It would be advantageous to me if you would provide me with the more lucrative size of fries..."), I will respond in like manner (i.e. "Many pardons, but we have just descended a new recepticle of said fries into the vegetable based oil to cook. If you like, I can substitute another item or you can patiently loiter until the fries are done, about three minutes hence").

That is just stupendously awesome! Indubitably!

[HYHYBT]

You are not being sneaky people! If you are not allowed to have salt on your fries...I understand because I am a nursing student also, but what is with you ordering fries with no salt and then asking for salt at the window?!? This gives up the charade...we KNOW that you just want fresh fries...NEWS FLASH...you don't get fresh fries...you get the old ones that have been re-dropped to get rid of the salt.

Oh, so *that's* why I've never liked that place's fries. I'll be sure to eat the ones at work instead. Redropping the fries makes them nasty, plus the salt ruins the oil faster.

There is corn in EVERYTHING, even those "all white meat" chicken nuggets.

Of course there's corn in chicken nuggets. They're fried in vegetable oil. But since corn is not harmful (except to people with allergies or whatever), not many people care.

Yes, I know the cheese is an extra option but the way I was raised is, do not interrupt someone speaking until they're done. Wait for me to finish, then ask me about the cheese if you must. I will happy say 'no thank you'.

The thing is, a Big N Tasty and a Big N Tasty with cheese are, as far as the computer and pricing are concerned, completely unrelated. Meaning they can't put in "no pickle" until they know which #4 you want. I try to wait, and for something this simple sure, but if it's a more complicated grill or, for example, multiple items that you leave off necessary size and/or flavor information, I'll have to stop you and ask. (We do, however, have a handy "lrg-up" key that, added to a medium meal, means it's large. Which is good because no one ever says the size first. I usually use neither, preferring to let the Automatic Value Meal function take care of it)

[BookstoreEscapee]

Of course there's corn in chicken nuggets. They're fried in vegetable oil. But since corn is not harmful (except to people with allergies or whatever), not many people care.

OK, you got me there...I wasn't referring to the oil, though. Aside from the corn flour and corn starch in the breading, a lot of the unpronouncable chemical names in the ingredient list are actually derived from corn. There is sooo much corn grown in this country it's ridiculous. (But I'm from Jersey, gimme some fresh sweet corn on the cob any day!)

[I See Stupid People]

(We do, however, have a handy "lrg-up" key that, added to a medium meal, means it's large.

You guys still have that key???? I'm so jealous!

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe you can just start and stop a big diesel truck anytime you want. I believe that if it's cold outside--and correct me if I'm wrong, a diesel truck may take too long to re-start to be convenient for the rest of the cars.

[jnd4rusty]

?"

Whew I feel better now...take my warning if you want good food and don't make us mad...please....

Actually I can relate to all things said but I can't and won't ever tolerate anyone doing anything to undermine the quality of the food that I serve. To do so, even if the the customer is being a jerk is WRONG! I take pride in serving the highest quality food and even if my job gets sucky I still like it. I would never allow my employees to do anything like that either. I guess I am a bit irritated with that comment. You are a manager, you need to set good examples and you are responsible for the quality of the product that your establishment sells. To imply that you would harm someone else's food just because they are not living up to certain standards is just plain neglectful.

[AFpheonix]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe you can just start and stop a big diesel truck anytime you want. I believe that if it's cold outside--and correct me if I'm wrong, a diesel truck may take too long to re-start to be convenient for the rest of the cars.

Depends on how elderly the glow plugs are. However, once the vehicle is warmed up, it's just fine to turn off the engine and restart as needed, especially in the newer diesels.