# Can you hear me now? Oh wait, you're a machine **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925 "2004-10-13T01:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/21 "2004-10-14T14:41:34Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Him: I’ll have a cheeseburger. > > Hardees: We don’t have cheeseburgers. > > Him: I’ll have the 1/3 pound cheeseburger. > > Hardees: One 1/3 pound cheeseburger. So…a 1/3 pound cheeseburger isn’t a cheeseburger? :dubious: On what planet is that? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/22 "2004-10-14T15:05:44Z")
> [@nocturnal\_tick](#): > > So…a 1/3 pound cheeseburger isn’t a cheeseburger? :dubious: I think they mean Hardee’s doesn’t have those little 1/8 pound cheeseburgers that Burger King and McDonald’s have. You know, the ones that those chains simply call “cheeseburgers”. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/23 "2004-10-14T15:13:09Z")
> [@nocturnal\_tick](#): > > So…a 1/3 pound cheeseburger isn’t a cheeseburger? :dubious: > > On what planet is that? [John Belushi] 1/3 pound cheesborger… 1/3 pound cheesborger… 1/3 pound cheesborger… No cheesborger: 1/3 pound cheesborger! [/John Belushi] ---
**Author:** ![thomasm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@thomasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thomasm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/24 "2004-10-14T20:46:25Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > I would love to hear “May I take your order?” Instead, I pull up to the drive-through, and the person says, “Welcome to \_\_\_\_\_, would you like to try our \_\_\_\_\_?” > > Wouldn’t it be a lot quicker if I just _told_ them what I want, instead of waiting for them to guess? Oh, but what’s the fun in that? The Discordian in me just loves the idea of playing guessing games with people working drive-in squawkboxes. WorkerBee: Welcome to SleazeBurgers, would you like to try our World Famous SleazeBurger? Me: Nope. Guess again. WB: What? Me: Good guess, but try again. You got two more guesses. WB: Welcome to SleazeBurgers, would you like to try our World Famous SleazeBurger? Me: No, try again, but this time give a _different_ answer. WB: I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t understand. What would you like to order. Me: Oh, you’re no fun. _drives off into the night_ ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/25 "2004-10-14T22:31:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Modern technology is changing the business of drive-throughs. Some fast-food franchises are outsourcing drive-through orders through single location call centers. Thinking of anybody who has used a call center for computer assistance: Fast food speaker: Hello and what would you be liking to have fast today? Customer: Two double cheeseburgers. You know we make these from cows, right, man? FFS: _Aieee!_ ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/26 "2004-10-14T23:19:38Z")
[Joe Pesci as Leo Getz] They fuck you at the drive-thru, okay? They fuck you at the drive-thru! They know you’re gonna be miles away before you find out you got fucked! They know you’re not gonna turn around and go back, they don’t care. So who gets fucked? Ol’ Leo Getz! Okay, sure! I don’t give a fuck! I’m not eating this tuna, okay? [/JPasLG] Sorry, I just couldn’t resist… ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/27 "2004-10-15T20:08:38Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > I’ve been getting that lately at a local Popeye’s. Since I always get the same thing, I like to think I have the order process down pretty well. So it goes like this: > > “May I take your order?” > “I’d like a number 5, spicy, with fries and a lemonade.” > “Spicy or mild?” > Sigh. “Spicy.” > “Would you like a side order?” > “Fries, please.” > “Would you like a drink with that?” > “Lemonade.” > “Would you like to add apple pie or banana pudding?” > “No.” > “Pull around please.” > > If I had wanted a pie or banana pudding (by the way, eww!), I would have asked for it, you brainless invertebrate. I’ve done the same exact thing (Especially at Popeye’s, I love Popeye’s btw). I’ve come to the conclusion to just except it and go through the motions. It’s simple really. A lot of the cashiers (not all) cannot comprehend, “I’d like a number 5, spicy, with fries and a lemonade”. And even if they do, they still need a way to get this to those making your food. So to fix this, they use a computer with prompts. The second you say #5, they hit a button called #5 on the register, and it is then prompted with a series of options for your #5. #5 Mild or spicey? Sauce? Drink? To go? For those that understand you, they will likely just fill in the prompts without asking you twice (it happens). But hey, this is fast food for cryin’ out loud. Quality service demands pay, and fast food is generally low paying which = low quality workers (there are exceptions, but come on, we all know what’s up). But anyway, even if the person taking your order understood everything you said, they still have to input it into the computer so it can print out in the back, or on a monitor for the other cooks and those preparing your food. Now for the automated drive through greetings. To avoid wasting your breath, simply wait for a real person to respond. Works great! ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/28 "2004-10-15T20:52:20Z")
Wow, I found an advancement in drive-thru technology today that’s actually positive. I went to a McDonald’s\* and they had an _actual human being_ standing outside with a wireless computer pad, taking orders! No squawkbox - a guy, smiling, standing within clear earshot who I could understand and who could understand me. Amazing. \*McDonald’s of Des Peres on Manchester east of I-270, for you St. Louis Dopers. I haven’t eaten inside, but I hear it’s the nicest McDonald’s on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/29 "2004-10-15T21:30:23Z")
Now that sounds pretty cool… ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/30 "2004-10-15T22:10:35Z")
The McDonalds near me had a sign up that said “Personal Face to Face service” and you would drive up to a window to order. They took down the sign and put up a speakerbox. The only good thing is it’s one of those that displays the order so you can be sure it’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/31 "2004-10-17T01:49:56Z")
I am reminded of the old bit called “Fast Food.” “I want a double cheeseburger, onion rings, and a large or-ange drink!” (In the Charlie-Brown-adult voice) “Waa waa waa waa.” Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/32 "2004-10-17T03:07:42Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a chain of McDonald’s (IIRC) franchises in Illinois whose owner has outsourced the drive thrus to a company in Colorado. Gee, that would be my dream job. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/33 "2004-10-17T13:47:54Z")
Back to the suggestive sell drive thru’s, I experimented yesterday. Normally, in response to "Would you like to try ‘X revolting experimental food with chipper name’ I say "No thank you, but I would like … " This always makes me feel a bit rude. So, this time, it went something like this: “Thank you for choosing Taco Bob’s, home of the Taco Yahoo, would you like to try our Mega-Cheese ‘n’ Cow Taco Artery Explosion today?” “No, thank you.” _abnormally long pause_ Then, at the same time: Guy: “_sigh_ What do you want–?” Me: “But I would like–” _both of us pause for other person to talk_ Me: Uh, a bean burrito please. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/34 "2004-10-17T14:41:12Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > Wow, I found an advancement in drive-thru technology today that’s actually positive. I went to a McDonald’s\* and they had an _actual human being_ standing outside with a wireless computer pad, taking orders! No squawkbox - a guy, smiling, standing within clear earshot who I could understand and who could understand me. Amazing. > > \*McDonald’s of Des Peres on Manchester east of I-270, for you St. Louis Dopers. I haven’t eaten inside, but I hear it’s the nicest McDonald’s on the planet. Wouldn’t it be cool if they (whoever “they” is) could rig up an ATM-like setup where you could just punch in your order and do away with the whole squawkbox thing? There’s a chain of gas/convenience/sandwich stores in PA called Sheetz that uses a touch screen system so customers can choose exactly what they want on their food. If a fast-food chain could adapt that to the drive-thru, it’d be wonderful. Robin ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/35 "2004-10-17T15:21:03Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Wouldn’t it be cool if they (whoever “they” is) could rig up an ATM-like setup where you could just punch in your order and do away with the whole squawkbox thing? > > There’s a chain of gas/convenience/sandwich stores in PA called Sheetz that uses a touch screen system so customers can choose exactly what they want on their food. If a fast-food chain could adapt that to the drive-thru, it’d be wonderful. > > Robin MTO is definitely great and seems to be a good system for getting orders in (not to mention it’s sometimes the only food available very late-night!), though I never really thought of applying it to a fast food drive-thru menu…not a bad idea!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925/36 "2004-10-17T18:23:17Z")
Uh, folks, as someone who’s worked in the servile, er, service, industry before, I should point out that it’s never a good idea to piss the help off **before** you get your food. And the ATM food ordering idea is great on paper, but put it out in the real world and we’re pretty much boned. You ever been stuck behind someone who didn’t understand how to use an ATM? And spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to do the thing? Same thing will happen at a drive-thru “ATM.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-hear-me-now-oh-wait-youre-a-machine/268925.md?page=1)