Do's and Don't's of Fast Food

         The following are things that can make a trip to your local fast food joint more enjoyable for you and the people who work there.  Remember, although the typically younger people that work at fast food joints exist to serve you (trust me on this one, they really do want to serve you!), they can get frustrated when customers make the system much more difficult than it has to be.  Here are some pointers and tips:
1)          Never get frustrated when the cashier (or other restaurant worker) asks you questions.  This especially applies to questions like, “Is that for here or to go?”, “Did you want anything else?”, “Did you want anything to drink?” etc.  Chances are that they have to ask you these questions.  99.99999% of the time, these questions are absolutely integral to getting your food to you the way you want it.  Even if the question isn’t absolutely needed (which is rare indeed), it is probably required of them by the restaurant chain to ask you that question.
2)          Remember the following when ordering drinks:  If you have to get your own drink (when the soda machine is in the lobby), don’t bother telling the cashier what kind of soda you want; promptly tell them the size soda you want only.  If you don’t get your own drink (when you are in the drive through or the soda machine is behind the counter), tell the cashier the size, then the type.  Example:  “A medium Dr. Pepper.”
3)          The following applies especially to combos:  If you order multiple items, don’t go back and say things like, “No cheese on anything.”  Chances are that to modify an item (or items) that you’ve already ordered (here, I mean that the order is punched into the computer, not that you’ve paid yet or that you have your food already.  This applies to when you are still ordering.), the cashier must erase them (which may or may not require the help of a manager, depending on the restaurant you are at) and go back and enter them again.  Always order one item at a time and tell the cashier changes one at a time.  Here is an example situation: Let’s say you want two number 4 combos.  On one combo you don’t want ketchup.  On the other you don’t want ketchup or mustard.  Don’t order like this:  “I would like two number 4’s—one without ketchup and the other without ketchup or mustard.”  Do order like this:  “I would like one number 4 without ketchup.  I would like another number 4 without ketchup or mustard.”
4)          Be specific.  Cashiers don’t like guessing what you want, and neither will you once you get your food.
5)          Avoid getting emotional.  If your food or order got screwed up, don’t get freaked out.  It’s not a big deal.  It was probably an honest mistake, and it might have been made by the new guy (if it was the new guy, he was probably working his hardest, and you should appreciate his effort).  Don’t get emotional, just be nice and tell them what the mistake is.  They will be more than willing to fix the mistake free of charge.
6)          If you are having trouble at the drive through, don’t sweat it.  There are lots of possibilities.  They might be having trouble with the headset.  Your car (or the one behind or in front of you for that matter) might be too loud, or you might need to speak louder.  It is often very hard to decipher what people are saying over the headset.  Also, if the same person who takes your order is also the cashier and the person who gives you your food and gets your soda, they might be stuck in the middle of a rush.  It is very hard to do all those things at once with a long line of impatient people, so just be patient.  Another possibility is that there might be random things that have gone wrong in the restaurant.
7)          Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever . . . . . . ever, ever, ever get impatient or angry if you aren’t greeted right away when you pull up to the window in the drive through.  99.999% of the time, the cashier is doing something important like getting your food or taking an order.  Please be patient.  If you aren’t greeted right away, remember, you will probably end up waiting a few minutes for your food anyways, so what's it to you if you have to wait those two minutes without being greeted.  I guarantee they haven't forgotten that you're there. 
8)          Also, when ordering a food item, never tell them what you want on it (example: only meat and cheese).  Always tell them what you don’t want on it (example: without lettuce).  Note—there is (most likely) no “only” button.  Probably just “+” and “-“.  Ordering this way makes it a whole lot easier and accurate.
                If you glean one thing from this, remember, be patient and specific.  This will make your stay much more enjoyable.