13 Common Habits You Should Avoid in the Drive-Thru
Updated: Dec. 12, 2023
Love to save time by using the drive-thru rather than going inside? You definitely won't want to slow down the line!
Not Knowing Your Order
Think of the drive-thru as the express lane of the restaurant. Don’t know what you want? Need some time to decide? That’s totally fine—just go inside so you can take your time, ask questions and so on without slowing down the express lane.
Some restaurants even measure the time it takes their staff to process each car’s order, so slower cars can actually affect a worker’s performance rating. See what fast food chain has the fastest drive-thru.
Making It Hard to Hear Your Order
Your turn to order? Pull up and talk clearly into the speaker. Don’t mumble or face the back seat while ordering. Likewise, don’t yell or shout into the speaker. That’s just bad manners.
One of the top pet peeves of drive-thru workers? Having everyone in the car say their own order, especially your kids. It’s hard to hear, which slows things down and increases the likelihood of a mistake in your order.
Don’t Interrupt the Order-Taker
You know this one. It’s just bad manners to interrupt. Let the cashier tell you what the Flavor of the Day is at Culver’s first (even if you’re not interested). Chances are these extra tidbits of information are just part of their job. Wait until the order-taker is done with their greeting (or questions) and then place your order.
Talking on the Phone
If you must chat on the phone in the drive-thru, take a pause in the conversation to place your order. It’s confusing for the worker to parse out which words are directed to her. Wait until the entire transaction is finished, so you’re sure to hear them repeat back the order, give the total and so on. McDonald’s is ready to make a huge change to its drive-thrus.
Ordering for a Crowd
Again, the drive-thru is like the express lane. It should be quick and streamlined. If you’re going to order for a huge group, especially if there are any special requests in the mix, be courteous to your fellow drivers and go inside.
Splitting the Check Between Car Passengers
Grabbing food with a group of friends? If everyone is paying separately, then go inside. Creating a separate tab for everyone in a car, or trying to split a bill over multiple cards, is difficult and slows down the drive-thru line. Here’s a healthy option to order at every fast food chain.
Failing to Pull Ahead Promptly
Keep the flow of cars moving! When it’s your turn to order, pull right up. When you’re told to proceed to the next window, hop to it. And make sure to stay close enough to the window to make it easy to pass back and forth food bags and credit cards.
Changing Your Order At the Window
Once you’ve pulled up to the window, the restaurant is already preparing your food. Changing your order is effectively making them start over—again, a major slowdown. If you need to get a different item, it’s probably best to park and head inside.
Need extra items? (Think extra napkins, cream in your coffee, etc.) That’s OK, just ask right away.
Idling at the Window, Even to be Friendly
Whether you’re checking the items in your order, fumbling for your wallet or fiddling with the radio, it’s a major faux pas to dawdle at the pick-up window. It’s even bad form to chat with the worker. It’s nice to say good morning or evening but then stick to business. See all the polite habits that fast food employees secretly dislike.
Being Unprepared to Pay
Are you one of those people who takes pride in offering exact change? If so, get those bills and coins ready to go as soon as you hear your total. Otherwise, cards are quicker. Psst: This is what McDonald’s employees aren’t telling you.
Playing Music Loudly
Even a quiet radio can make it hard for an employee to hear your order over those crackly speaker systems. Turn it off when ordering, and don’t blast loud music when you’re waiting in line, as it can interfere with other customers’ hearing or ordering.
Changing (or Adding to) Your Order at the Window
Making changes to your order after you’ve left the speaker is a no-no. Adding items once you’re up to the window is going to slow the whole drive-thru down. Remember: It’s an express lane, not a sit-down experience. The one exception here would be something quick like adding on a soda or asking for a dipping sauce you forgot.
Paying It Forward
Paying it forward happens when someone chooses to pay for their own order and the order of the person behind them, and so on, forming a chain where everyone pays for the next person’s order. It’s a nice gesture and can brighten the days of both customers and employees. But it’s a headache for already underpaid fast food workers or baristas, who have to deal with figuring who’s paying for what order, especially around holiday time when lines are long and such gestures are common. If someone pays for your order, appreciate the gesture, and then pay it forward by leaving a big tip for the person serving you that day.
Originally Published: June 28, 2021
