Ordering Fast Food 101

[MotionMan]

When did ordering a "No. 3" at a fast food place require an answer to the question "A meal or just the sandwich?"?

If I wanted the sandwich, would I not order the sandwich by name instead of asking for a "No. 3"?

The only reason I am even mentioning this is because it was raining and I wanted to close my window after placing my order. IMO, the interaction took about 8 times as long as necessary.

/rant

MotionMan

 

[ahenkel]

Because illiterate people.

 

[DominionSeraph]

When did ordering a "No. 3" at a fast food place require an answer to the question "A meal or just the sandwich?"?

When "Americans" happened.

 

[Merad]

When did ordering a "No. 3" at a fast food place require an answer to the question "A meal or just the sandwich?"?

Um, look at the signs. Usually the meal/combo and the individual item are both listed under #3.

You want a meal, say "#3 combo".
You want the sandwich, say "#3, sandwich only".

If you're too lazy to say two extra words fine, but you usually end up wasting 30 seconds clarifying what you want.

 

[eldorado99]

I agree with the OP.

 

[Phoenix86]

Um, look at the signs. Usually the meal/combo and the individual item are both listed under #3.

You want a meal, say "#3 combo".
You want the sandwich, say "#3, sandwich only".

If you're too lazy to say two extra words fine, but you usually end up wasting 30 seconds clarifying what you want.

That doesn't answer when or why the change was necessary.

I have had to clarify several times even when ordering "combo" or "sandwich only". Even after clarifying I have still been handed just a sandwich when ordering a combo.

The point of making numbered orders is to simplify the process, this change has made it worse because the order takers are also confused.

 

[waggy]

Um, look at the signs. Usually the meal/combo and the individual item are both listed under #3.

You want a meal, say "#3 combo".
You want the sandwich, say "#3, sandwich only".

If you're too lazy to say two extra words fine, but you usually end up wasting 30 seconds clarifying what you want.

yeah. the local Mcdonalds have that too. its #3 and they have price for sandwich and combo.

so if you say number 3 you need to say combo or sandwich. its insane.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Um, look at the signs. Usually the meal/combo and the individual item are both listed under #3.

You want a meal, say "#3 combo".
You want the sandwich, say "#3, sandwich only".

That's a response to stupid customers.
Instead of teaching them the right way, the fast food industry just decided that Americans were too stupid and went with "the numbers mean the food."

 

[waggy]

That's a response to stupid customers.
Instead of teaching them the right way, the fast food industry just decided that Americans were too stupid and went with "the numbers mean the food."

well duh. they gotta make it so the idiots can order the big mac and fries!

 

[Train]

That's a response to stupid customers.
Instead of teaching them the right way, the fast food industry just decided that Americans were too stupid and went with "the numbers mean the food."

The "don't make me think" doctrine applies to everyone, not just dumb McDonalds patrons.

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-T.../dp/0321344758

 

[DominionSeraph]

The "don't make me think" doctrine applies to everyone, not just dumb McDonalds patrons.

Except this took a convenience item and reduced it to the point where you have to think again.
Because of stupid customers who couldn't tell the difference between a combo and a sandwich, the #1 combo is no longer the #1 combo -- it is both the #1 "sandwich" and the combo.

Nobody does "stupid" quite like an American.

 

[MotionMan]

Because of stupid customers who couldn't tell the difference between a combo and a sandwich, the #1 combo is no longer the #1 combo -- it is both the #1 "sandwich" and the combo.

Exactly. Why not just get rid of the numbers and replace it with:

"May I take your order?"
"Big Mac, please."
"Combo or just the sandwich?"

Since we are getting rid of the convenience of ordering by number, this is actually less confusing to everyone involved.

MotionMan

 

[Wreckem]

That's a response to stupid customers.
Instead of teaching them the right way, the fast food industry just decided that Americans were too stupid and went with "the numbers mean the food."

Has more to do with cashiers and point of sale systems currently in use than it does customers.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Exactly. Why not just get rid of the numbers and replace it with:

"May I take your order?"
"Big Mac, please."
"Combo or just the sandwich?"

Then you'd get, "What happened to the numbers?"
"What do I get in a combo?"
"How does the combo's price compare to ordering separately?"

Americans are too stupid to figure out what they want when there are three sizes each of fries and drink. Adding in an unlisted combo...

 

[Imp]

At least they know their own menu...

Mother eff, I go to a coffee place almost daily, occasionally getting a breakfast combo, give them the number AND the name, yet they have to look at the menu themselves to figure out what I want. FML...

 

[MotionMan]

I have also found that knowing exactly what you want is of no help.

For example, if I order (inside, not drive through);

"No. 3 combo, medium size, regular fries with a diet coke to go."

The following exchange always happens:

"So, that was a No. 3 combo?"
"Yes."
"What size?"
"Medium."
"Regular or curly fries?"
"Regular."
"What kind of drink?"
"Diet coke."
"For here or to go?
"To go."

<sigh>

I have given up saying the whole order at once, but sometimes, ironically, if I am in a hurry, I forget and end up engaging in the dance of fools quoted above.

MotionMan

 

[Dedpuhl]

I usually say "I'll take a #6, medium (if there's the option), with onion rings and a coke..and that's it." 99% of the time I'm told the total and drive around.

There are no extra questions and no confusion. I guess I make things too easy...

 

[MotionMan]

I usually say "I'll take a #6, medium (if there's the option), with onion rings and a coke..and that's it." 99% of the time I'm told the total and drive around.

There are no extra questions and no confusion. I guess I make things too easy...

That never works for me (see my post above).

MotionMan

 

[Dedpuhl]

I have also found that knowing exactly what you want is of no help.

For example, if I order (inside, not drive through);

"No. 3 combo, medium size, regular fries with a diet coke to go."

d'oh. Works find for me almost every time. I guess Floridian fast food workers are smart.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Has more to do with cashiers and point of sale systems currently in use than it does customers.

No, the cashiers know what the number means so it does nothing for them. And it doesn't change anything from a POS standpoint.
When I worked at McDonalds as a teen, a Big Mac was the "Mac" key and for a #1 combo it was "combo + Mac". So it wasn't some arcane setup where the combo was an entirely different thing than the sandwich and this change brought them back together.

 

[lxskllr]

That never works for me (see my post above).

MotionMan

That's my experience too.

It's like they have one precise way of accepting information, and any deviation from that throws sand in the works. I like WaWa and Royal Farm(though their sandwiches suck). You type your order in on a touchscreen, and you know it's exactly right. Sometimes I do it in Spanish for an extra challenge :^D

 

[Corporate Thug]

that's why they work at the fast food place.

 

[MotionMan]

that's why they work at the fast food place.

Yeah, except the front-line workers did not change the menu layout and it is so prevalent that it must be part of the training.

MotionMan

 

[bearxor]

The one that gets me every time is Jack in the Box.

The #8 combo is clearly listed on the menu as a Jumbo Jack with Cheese, yet every time I order it I get asked "With cheese?!"

YES! FUCKING WITH CHEESE! IT SAYS RIGHT ON THE MENU IT COMES WITH FUCKING CHEESE!

The couple of times they haven't asked and I've been relieved, they end up not putting cheese on it because I guess I didn't specify. I'm tempted to start saying "#8 with cheese" but then I know some smartass will say "It already comes with cheese sir..."

 

[Ichinisan]

I almost always find that menus now have numbered areas, and each shows prices for the food item and for the meal. Makes sense to me.