Rant: Fast food and drive thrus

[bikerchick68]

mmmm... yeah. It's really tough being in the service industry and remaining cordial considering the way many consumers act and treat the employees. I'm in the restaurant biz myself, so believe me, I feel for you!

[Brandi]

Oh I hate doing fast food for that reason too! I travel for a living so I have to eat at a lot of those places. My fav's are windy's cause of the salads and potatoes. And then subway. But what we do is wait till after lunch to eat lunch then all the lazy people are gone and we can have the whole place to ourselves.

[susiej]

Drive-through everything made no sense to me until I started running errands with the baby. Ugh! An infant in a carrier/car seat is amazingly heavy and awkward and prone to waking and fussing. Then I became a fan even of drive-through ATMs. But I still turned my engine off!

Living in the sidewalk-free 'burbs, walking to errands with a stroller isn't an option.

--S

[Deanna]

I agree, if you're going to eat that stuff, at least exercise to do it. This reminds me of an incident that happened to me some years back. My husband and I tried to bicycle up to the window at a Wendy's (because it was late and the dining room was closed and only the window was open) and they refused to serve us because we weren't in a car! Is that the dumbest policy you've ever heard. It's not like the line is moving so fast it would be a hazard.

[sydney_b]

My husband and I tried to bicycle up to the window at a Wendy's (because it was late and the dining room was closed and only the window was open) and they refused to serve us because we weren't in a car! Is that the dumbest policy you've ever heard.

Certainly ranks in the top 10, if not the top 5. Sheesh.

/s

[bcipam]

I believe in drive thru etiquette - here it is:

If you are in a hurry and are ordering for yourself - use the drive thru...
If you have one child in the car and strapped to a baby seat - use the drive thru...
If you are picking up orders for the entire soccer team, go inside. Or at least, know your order before pulling up to the order box if you can't find another parent to watch the kids...
If you are a single and don't have a clue what you want and have to ask alot of questions - please go inside!
If the entire office has asked you to pick up orders, go inside, please!

Also - Drink Station Etiquette: Get in get out. Do not stand around and talk to your friends. Do not sip and fill, sip and fill, sip and fill. Do not let your children play with the machine - get it for them! Fill the cup and then move to the side to add the cover and straw, get out of the way for gosh sakes!!!!

One of my major peeves is the person who think they are the only one in the world and no one is behind them and in a rush. Sorry, I won't be polite to you!

[Trekhawk]

Aaahhh USA home of the drive thru. I had never seen a drive thru ATM or postal box until I came here. I must admit to using them sometimes though when I have all the kids in the car and its raining and I need money it is very handy.

[MomOnBike]

I use the drive-throughs at the bank all the time. So much easier than parking/locking bike, removing helmet/gloves, etc. And I love the look on the teller's face. They've gotten used to me, now, durn it.

As for fast food drive-throughs, I haven't figured out how to eat a hamburger on my bike, so I just go in. We used to drive through occasionally, but then we'd just be eating in the car, and that's just not very classy. I don't like to do it.

[CR400]

Bcipam, I totally love and agree with your rules for both places. It would also be nice if the really huge orders could give a few min of advanced warning. I'm really glad to see that most of you agree and aren't being lazy. Not to shocked, I guess because it's difficult to be lazy and climb a hill, ride 50 miles, or anything else we do on our bikes.

[KSH]

I have to say that Whataburger is the SLOWEST drive thru ever!

But... on the upside... I was able to wolf down a big burrito in their drive thru... before I got my large onion rings.

[SadieKate]

Also - Drink Station Etiquette: Get in get out. Do not stand around and talk to your friends. Do not sip and fill, sip and fill, sip and fill.

So, what are your rules for the person who has to doctor, stir, taste, re-doctor, re-stir, sip again ad nauseum at the coffee house during commute hour? Of course, this is also the person who leaves 1/2 a tsp of cream in the pot and stuff spilled all over the counter.

[bcipam]

So, what are your rules for the person who has to doctor, stir, taste, re-doctor, re-stir, sip again ad nauseum at the coffee house during commute hour? Of course, this is also the person who leaves 1/2 a tsp of cream in the pot and stuff spilled all over the counter.

With someone like that, I always have the urge to yell at... er... "educate" them about the necessary etiquette in living in a world with other people. I am always amazed at how many people go through their daily routines totally oblivious to the occupation of the same space by other people... while on a ranting note... sorry - but I have to get this off my chest, cell phone users, really, I don't want to hear your conervsation with your boyfriend, husband, mother, friend, child whatever in the elevator (I work in a high rise). Cell phones can take messages. Really! Mine does all the time! Better yet turn it off for a few minutes. Give it and us a break.

Getting back to fast food, I do like the fact the drink station is now outside the order window and I can get a fill up to go but geez when it's busy or there is aline, just to get some ice tea, I go crazy. How hard is it to out ice in a glass and get some drink. Apparent very for some people. We need to teach this (apparently) in school along with other social skills. Ever get the person that gets ice, empties some out, fills up some more, empties it out... what? why?????