Why is the McDonald’s drive through always so challenging?
I decided to take the kids to McDonald’s tonight for dinner; partly because I didn’t thaw anything out and partly because “Ponopoly” (as my youngest daughter calls “Monopoly”) is back. Normally, the drive-thru service is mediocre and 3 out of 5 times the bags contain the wrong order - but it’s still a nice alternative to cooking sometimes. I figured Thursday night, after 7:00pm, how bad could it be? Well, our “quick trip” to the fast food place turned into a 20 minute sit in the drive through lane.The woman in the car behind me was on the cell phone, window down, and obviously wanting the world to hear about her day at work. I can’t imagine any other reason why that call couldn’t have waited until she got home and why she had to continue speaking at a level above normal with her windows down. I was disturbed to see she didn’t even bother to put the phone down when she paid her money. How rude! I have issue with folks using a cell phone while driving as it is, but show some common courtesy and at least acknowledge the guy taking your order and payment.
After sitting for nearly 20 minutes, we finally reach the window where you receive your bags. The girl handling the window tonight was in a deep conversation with a non-employee standing just at the edge of the kitchen entrance. She eventually managed to get our drink order to us - one of which was terrible (too much carbonation, hardly any soda). Waiting another few minutes for her to come back to the window, I got her attention long enough to have the soda corrected. Now, we have sodas, but no sign of food.
Another few minutes passes and she appears with our kids’ meals. They were correct and even had toys (this McD’s seems to forget the toys more often than not, too). So, then I’m just waiting on the grownups’ order. Who knew a chicken sandwich and two plain cheeseburgers could be so challenging! At last, after a 24 minute wait, our final bag arrives. And, it had all the right things. As the girl hands me the bag, she doesn’t even make eye contact - doesn’t offer an “I’m sorry for the wait” - I don’t even get a “would you like some ketchup”.
Man, sometimes I wish I were a secret shopper! What was it Joe Pesci said in Lethal Weapon 2?
