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Ordering Fast Food 101

MotionMan

MotionMan

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

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.
 
Merad said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Merad said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Merad said:
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".
Click to expand...

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."
 
DominionSeraph said:
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."
Click to expand...

well duh. they gotta make it so the idiots can order the big mac and fries!
 
Train said:
The "don't make me think" doctrine applies to everyone, not just dumb McDonalds patrons.
Click to expand...

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.
 
DominionSeraph said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
DominionSeraph said:
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."
Click to expand...

Has more to do with cashiers and point of sale systems currently in use than it does customers.
 
MotionMan said:
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?"
Click to expand...

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...
 
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...
 
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
 
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...
 
Dedpuhl said:
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...
Click to expand...

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

MotionMan
 
MotionMan said:
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."
Click to expand...

d'oh. Works find for me almost every time. I guess Floridian fast food workers are smart.
 
Wreckem said:
Has more to do with cashiers and point of sale systems currently in use than it does customers.
Click to expand...

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

MotionMan
Click to expand...

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
 
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..."
 
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.
 
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