A (not so) fast food story.
It was 1pm. I walked in to a local “fast food” establishment. There were four people in one single line, myself included. The One register open was staffed by an obviously newer employee.
A manager was packing orders and another drive-up employee was on duty.
The customer at the front of the line orders a confusing mix of special-requests inside happy meals, giving the counter person a struggle. We waited.
A woman walks through the middle of this only line and stands at a spot at the counter to my left, where clearly, no one is working.
A second order is being taken in my line.
Another older gentleman walks up just to the side of the line with an empty coffee cup and removes the lid.
The counter person is struggling.
The manager has her back to the entire lobby.
The woman continues to stand alone “in line” to my left.
The gentleman waits patiently for a coffee refill on the right.
The man with the second order now requests his change which the counter person failed to issue. The counter person calls the manager to open the drawer.
Passing by, the manager asks if she can help the woman to my left who previously waltzed through the line to the open, unattended spot. The woman says she wants a #4. With no register open currently open, the manager does not respond at all to the woman. She opens the cash drawer of the rookie counter person. The manager does not acknowledge the gentleman still patiently waiting for coffee.
I finally make it to the counter and as the counter person asks for my order, I invite the counter person to help the gentleman waiting for coffee. She does so. No thanks from the gentleman for my deferral.
The manager then opens a register and takes an order from the woman to my left, who obviously does not understand the meaning of a “line”. She places an order.
I place my order.
“Not in line woman” receives her food.
I wait. I wait.
I finally receive my food and sit down to enjoy lunch.
What’s wrong with this story?
Oct 8, 2010 at 3:34 p.m.
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Customer service sucks all over. I am tired of the "I have to wait on you look" YES you were hired to help people. The day will go by faster if you are actually doing something.
For the man waiting for coffee- SAY THANK YOU.
For the lady NOT IN LINE. Pull your head out and LOOK AROUND.
My thought was Mcd- thanks for the Happy meal that I missed. I think I didn't put the two together because I already decided it was McD.
The one in Jefferson sucks too. Not much to pick from here!
Culvers is mostly always nice.
They need a dollar menu.
The snack menu or what ever it is for around $4 is decent price though.
My fav story is at Burger King- YES I SAID SOMETHING on deaf ears to manager I am sure!
I bump into girl coming DIRECTLY out of stall and OUT THE DOOR. Pregnant too. My point is the next part of story not that preg is bad. Goes outside to smoke comes in and returns DIRECTLY to the counter. GROSS!!!!
If you don't wash hands when people aren't looking I will never know but to pass a person in the bath and not do it- WOW- idiot.
Can't she read sign that businesses leave on the doors for the dumb employees to WASH HANDS BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK??
Sep 28, 2010 at 7:36 a.m.
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I've recently noticed many people don't have a "common sense filter." Right, wrong, polite and rude seem to be confused and clustered into one big sloppy mess. I thought this filter was activated at birth and developed through a proper upbringing, but some parents have depended on teachers, day care, television, etc to teach and practice these values which isn't their job.
Sep 28, 2010 at 3 a.m.
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The only fast food restaurant I go to is Culvers. There is never, ever, a problem like that there. No frustration... end of story.
Sep 27, 2010 at 7:44 p.m.
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What is wrong? Your first mistake is to take your hard earned capital to this fast food place. Bring your lunch, skip lunch, or choose to spend your money elsewhere. Easy choice.
The fact you remained patient and did not speak to the manager tacitly allows boorish behavior to be tolerated. However, I am not certain I would do anything differently. That being the case, fast food companies want to provide a quick meal at a resonable price and probably would appreciate to know about this experience so they can improve the customer's visit the next time.
Tim, you seem like a very patient person. You have an easy opportunity to name the place of the incident (happy meal might give it away)-but you took the high road, despite your experience-something no line or coffee refill may know nothing about.
Clearly there are customer service issues handling a coffee refill, a person who is not in line (looking to bypass the 4 who are in line), the manager not being in tune to the lobby, the failure of the newer employee to give the customer his/her correct change, serving people out of order....and probably not thanking you for your business either.
Sep 27, 2010 at 4:57 p.m.
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That is SO frustrating, Tim.
I once found myself at a crowded fast food place in the middle of lunch rush. The woman in line directly ahead of me turned around to complain to me (a complete stranger) how "every day" she had to wait in line at this restaurant and how "every day" the service was slow.
I shrugged. "I would stop coming here, then."
Did she?
Dunno. I never went there again.
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