The following entry is what is written by my fiancee, Chris (Rogue Marine/Der Schlick Meister) Please check out his homepage.

Click here to read more of his Rants and Raves

Please keep in mind that the views expressed here are the sole opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any staff or persons of Angelfire.com or Der Schlick Meister's Realm. This opinion is posted without the intent to harm or defame anyone or any group in particular.

Der Schlick Meister's Rants And Raves

Is it really so hard?

Date originally posted: 08/14/01 21:26 MST

Author: The Rogue Marine

Lately I've noticed a rather nasty trend going on in today's fast food market. I also hate to say this because, like most people, my first real job where the Imperial Federal Government took money from me, was in fast food.

A couple of days ago I was driving to my old place of employment, the McDonalds on 10th Avenue South. My stomach was constantly communicating to me in a language normally reserved to express a Havanna Omlet coming on.

I pull up to the drive-thru line when I finally noticed a 5-car backup. Keep in mind that this might be normal for lunch, but not for 8:00 at night! I mean, come on!

I prepared to make my escape, but unfortunately my Schlick Das Slippery Fish was sooned pinned between the Das Nazi Whale mini-van in front of me and a Das Nazi Destroyer (an aged Cadillac or Lincoln, I couldn't tell) sliding up behind me.

Alas, I was trapped, and forced to ride out the storm. McDonalds management, as of when I was working there, make it clear to the drive-thru people that the DT time (from when they place their order to the time they get the food should be no more than 180 seconds.

After about two minutes of not moving at all, I shut down my engine to save the gas. Another four minutes went by and no progress. Actually, no movement at all. Rather amazing. Just as I situated myself to sleep my lunch hour away, the Whale infront of me moved forward a bit.

Amazed, I restarted my engine, thinking that the day or reckoning was finally at hand and I would receive the blessing of placing my order, the Whale started to veer to the right, pulled out of the line, and parked in the nearby parking lot. God knows how long they had to wait to get their order inside.

Well, did I get to place my order and end this story? Hell no! There was another car in front of Das Whale! Raising my fist at the dusk sky as I pulled forward, I screamed to the Heavens "Never again!". Disgruntled, I shut down the engine and prepared to wait once more.

Finally, after another long two minute wait, the van in front of me moved forward. Refusing to build up my hopes, I pulled cautiously forward. I got further and further, and finally, I madeit to the order-speaker-thingamaboob. I parked the car, and waited patiently for the ordertaker to address me.

A minute went by, and no one was talking. Stunned, I drew my breath to speak, when finally a bored-yet-annoyed voice greeted me saying "may I take your order," making it a statement, not a question.

I placed my simple order (#4 with a coke, medium sized) and waited for the lady(?) to announce my total so I could write my check. Another two minutes went by and "she" finally came back, and said "Is that all?" What else am I going to say lady, that I like wasting your time and breath filling your paycheck? Am I supposed to break down and confess that I'm only here to be blessed to speak with an ordertaker from drive-thru? That I'm just there in the hope of making it this far? Fortunately for her, I exercised GREAT restriant and simply replied in a calm and cool manner, "Yes." Sounding even more agitated than before, she announced my total and told me to pull forward. Looking ahead and seeing that that was not possible, I bit my tongue and waited.

After having to shut down my car twice more, I finally survived the order to be greeted, fortunaely, by a chipper young gentleman who delightfully announced my total again and took my check. Peering into the drive-thru window, I got to finally see the "runner", or person that is responsible for gathering all the items in a customer's order and taking to the drive-thru team.

Although I know who this person was, I will refrian from using a name for true fear of retribution. However, upon recognizing this person, I really wasn't suprised at the long wait. Actually timing all of this, my final time from pulling up to taking off? 15 minutes and 37 seconds.

Point #1 is, McD's have three parking spaces near a side entrance that are supposed to be used to "park" customers that have large orders (i.e. 4-5 value meals or when the kitchen team has to cook a particualr item of the order). The team, from what my observations suggest, never used these spaces, and this is actually commonplace for night crews.

Point #2 is, as it always is in the rule of customer service, that no matter what happens, no matter the conditions you work in, you must ALWAYS be polite to the customer. If you think you're being rude to the customer, you probably are. Ass-kissing usually is the general rule of thumb when it comes to customers, because they are the ones that ultimately fill your paycheck. Besides, if I acted like how my ordertaker did to my customers, I would be fired in a heartbeat.

Point #3 is, McD's is unique in having these parking spaces. Burger King doesn't, Wendy's doesn't, Taco John's doesn't, Taco Bell doesn't. McDonalds has a unique tool here to deal with large and small orders. My advice: USE THESE TOOLS! If I really want to wait, I'll take my business and money elseware.

McDonalds, and all of fast food in general, needs to wake up to this fact and start devising means to deal with this issue. some suggestions:

1. Hire and retain people who are fast, courteous, and responisble. The people who deal with the customers represent your company. If they appear stnadoffish or rude, this does reflect on your store and your company.

2. Accountability. I hope that a manager was wearing a headset also so that they could have heard what this lady said. This person needs to be taught how to treat customers right. And employees who disobey or behave badly should be punished.

3. Appear like you care about the customer. Even if you really don't. Appearance is all. If you know that it's going to be a while before you get your food, tell the customer that. Burger King, I know, likes to do this to customers. This stops 90% of people who would otherwise be aggravated.

But then again, who am I? Who cares if I spout the truth? No fast-food places really seem to give a damn once they have your money. Maybe we should make them prep the food first, have it ready, and then ask for payment. I bet that would change customer service.

Please keep in mind that the views expressed here are the sole opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any staff or persons of Angelfire.com or Der Schlick Meister's Realm. This opinion is posted without the intent to harm or defame anyone or any group in particular.

Click here to read more of his Rants and Raves

Past Five:
12 May 2006 * Workaholic
16 April 2006 * It's Easter!
20 March 2006 * And she comes back
07 January 2006 * Starting over, elsewhere. I think.
02 January 2006 * Face your fears