Why do most fast food restaurants not use their first drive-thru window?

CoolTech

Platinum Member
Jul 10, 2000
2,345
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Why do most fast food restaurants not use their first drive-thru window?

For the most part, restaurants I patronize do not use their first window. If its that commonplace not to use this window, why build it so often?
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Sometimes they take the $$ at the first and give the food at the second. I suppose it depends on how busy they are. :confused:
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
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Well, a McDonalds by me was built with 3 windows. The first one is never used, but the other two are. I guess the architech FUBAR'd up.

 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
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The recently reopened McDonalds has two ordering places and uses both of its windows because of the volume of business it does.
 

The windows are opened corresponding with the volume of business. As well as how many workers on the clock that know how to work the drivethru.
 

laurenlex

Platinum Member
Feb 26, 2004
2,370
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Here is a funny story. In High School, (the late 80's), we found a cool way to get a free lunch. We went to the drive-in during the lunch rush hour. Ordered 3 waters. (They were free back then). So we drive to the first window, and do not give any money. Drive to the second window, and they give us a bag of food and drinks. We got whatever the guy behind us ordered! This worked several times. I would hate to be working there once the string of messed up orders started coming in.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
Originally posted by: laurenlex
Here is a funny story. In High School, (the late 80's), we found a cool way to get a free lunch. We went to the drive-in during the lunch rush hour. Ordered 3 waters. (They were free back then). So we drive to the first window, and do not give any money. Drive to the second window, and they give us a bag of food and drinks. We got whatever the guy behind us ordered! This worked several times. I would hate to be working there once the string of messed up orders started coming in.

LOL, you're going to hell for that. :)

 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
easy.

The volume doesn't dicate that you pay another employee.

Depending on sales/rush having the 1st window open allows a focus of duties at the 2nd window - fill orders.

Taking order, making change, filling order all take time.

If you can segregate those duties you'll realize efficiency (sp?). but if the volume is not there then you won't.
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Originally posted by: KK
Originally posted by: laurenlex
Here is a funny story. In High School, (the late 80's), we found a cool way to get a free lunch. We went to the drive-in during the lunch rush hour. Ordered 3 waters. (They were free back then). So we drive to the first window, and do not give any money. Drive to the second window, and they give us a bag of food and drinks. We got whatever the guy behind us ordered! This worked several times. I would hate to be working there once the string of messed up orders started coming in.

LOL, you're going to hell for that. :)

Yeah, but that'll be long after McDonalds goes to hell for killing so many people with their food. :Q

 

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
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A while ago, all the fast food places I went to always used both their windows. In the recent years, though, they only use the second one, even during lunch hour and stuff.
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
having an extra body to collect money is just another person to pay. If you can't justify paying an extra person with the amount of business you are doing, then why have them there?
 

SelArom

Senior member
Sep 28, 2004
872
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0
www.djselarom.com
Originally posted by: laurenlex
Here is a funny story. In High School, (the late 80's), we found a cool way to get a free lunch. We went to the drive-in during the lunch rush hour. Ordered 3 waters. (They were free back then). So we drive to the first window, and do not give any money. Drive to the second window, and they give us a bag of food and drinks. We got whatever the guy behind us ordered! This worked several times. I would hate to be working there once the string of messed up orders started coming in.

fookin genius. wish I'd a thoughta that :laugh:
 

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
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Originally posted by: SelArom
Originally posted by: laurenlex
Here is a funny story. In High School, (the late 80's), we found a cool way to get a free lunch. We went to the drive-in during the lunch rush hour. Ordered 3 waters. (They were free back then). So we drive to the first window, and do not give any money. Drive to the second window, and they give us a bag of food and drinks. We got whatever the guy behind us ordered! This worked several times. I would hate to be working there once the string of messed up orders started coming in.

fookin genius. wish I'd a thoughta that :laugh:

My morals (or Catholic guilt) is WAY too high for that.