# The Ten Commandments of Drive-Thru Etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 11, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607 "2005-08-11T16:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/141 "2005-08-12T12:25:22Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Speaking of which, how come nobody knows how to count out change anymore? They just count out the amount that the register tells them. In the old days, we were taught to start at the sale amount and count up to the amount tendered. I went to an Applebee’s last night to pick up a take-out order. The pick-up spots were taken so I had to go inside. The girl who rang up my order did something which caused the register to pop open but apparently didn’t tell her how much change to give me. She worked on it mentally for at least five minutes, then handed me the wrong change. I gave it back and told her how much it should be. She then tried to work it out with a pencil and paper and got it wrong again. Finally I put all my stuff down, rooted around in my purse for a calculator, and showed her. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/142 "2005-08-12T13:13:06Z")
> [@wring](#): > > but of course, as a comeback from some one chronically over the age of 5 years old, it’s still pretty fucking lame. Blow me ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/143 "2005-08-12T13:15:45Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > Dude … read the thread. \ ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/144 "2005-08-12T13:39:10Z")
> [@micahjn](#): > > It’s not like I’m sitting there for 10 minutes, I’m talking 30 seconds tops. > Oh give me a break. I didn’t say I can’t understand it, I’m saying all those big pictures are disorienting at first. What if what I want isn’t on the big pictures? Then I have to cycle through the entire menu looking for what I want. I’m going to guess that you need to lay down when you get a catalog in the mail, lest you be overcome by the vapors? ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/145 "2005-08-12T13:46:53Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > I’d like to hear each and every one of you complain just as loud about order takers who try to up-sell or push the trendy McItem of the month. See post 48. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/146 "2005-08-12T13:50:52Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > \ If you are too lazy to read the thread and we are boring you, why do you bother to post? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/147 "2005-08-12T14:05:01Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > And, since there was no one behind me, when I **finally** got to the damn speaker, I order a McHaggis just to see what the order-drone would say. Around here anyway, you have a good chance of hearing “The Dropkick Murphys rock, dude!” Um, they’re a punk-Irish band with a bagpiper nicknamed Spicy McHaggis. Story is they were on tour in Scotland, saw a Mickey D’s advertising Spicy McChicken, made a bad joke, and it turned into [The Spicy McHaggis Jig](http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/dropkickmurphys/thespicymchaggisjig.html) (lyrics not work-safe). As if you care. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/148 "2005-08-12T14:08:42Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > If you are too lazy to read the thread and we are boring you, why do you bother to post? No, no … this thread is fun to follow. “\” just means “I am unmoved”. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/149 "2005-08-12T14:16:23Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > As if you care. On the contrary, I was greatly entertained. Thanks for the link. Now I have even more fodder to work with the next time I, and a bunch of other travel-weary punch-drunk nerds on expense accounts, roll into a Scottish establishment after midnight in a strange city. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/150 "2005-08-12T14:17:31Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > “\” just means “I am unmoved”. Yeah, I know how you feel. I haven’t taken a dump this morning either. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/151 "2005-08-12T14:18:51Z")
No shit? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/152 "2005-08-12T14:22:15Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > No shit? > Daniel Just a little prairie-dogging. Maybe I’ll be able to drop the kids off at the pool later. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/153 "2005-08-12T14:29:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’ve never worked in fast food but I’ve eaten at enough to have the gut to show for it (lawsuit pending), so may I please add > > **If thou hast an unusual order, one that is far larger than normal (as in for an entire football team), or yea is even just more complicated than normal [cut the burger in half with mustard on the left side and mayonaisse on the right and a pickle on top of the bun] or requires several different payors, PLEASE go inside.** This one is applicable to the drive-up bank window,as well. I get my paychecks direct-deposited to minimize use of the drive-thru, but people occasionally cut me paper checks. I seem to always get behind: 1) People with tons of coins who can’t read the signs telling them to take large amounts of coins inside. 2)People with 4-th party checks who argue with the teller,make the teller get a supervisor, argue with the supervisor, finally yell “Fuck You” and speed off.3) People who try to get credit card cash advances via drivethru DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS at the walk-in side (I realize that emergencies happen on weekend afternoons or after 5 pm weekdays, so I’ll cut some slack there). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/154 "2005-08-12T14:32:19Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Just a little prairie-dogging. Maybe I’ll be able to drop the kids off at the pool later. Probably all that fast food you’re eating. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/155 "2005-08-12T14:35:16Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > I’m going to guess that you need to lay down when you get a catalog in the mail, lest you be overcome by the vapors? Psh, like I can read a catalog. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/156 "2005-08-12T14:45:23Z")
> [@zenith](#): > > This one is applicable to the drive-up bank window,as well. Drive-up bank windows merit a thread all by themselves. My favorites are the asshats who wait until they get up the little vacuum tube kiosk thing to fill out their deposit slip. For crying-out-loud! Fill the mutha fucka out before you leave the house! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/157 "2005-08-12T14:50:00Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Probably all that fast food you’re eating. > Daniel Naw, I figure it’s caused by having to hold it back while waiting in line behind slow-menu-reading, indecisive, vegans at the fast food place drive-thru window. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/158 "2005-08-12T14:51:05Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Naw, I figure it’s caused by having to hold it back One of the benefits of vegetarianism is comfortable bowel control. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/159 "2005-08-12T14:52:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I agree that customers shouldn’t pull up and change their minds 20 times while arguing with their boatload of brats and someone else on a cell phone, but if they’re just looking at the menu your service numbers are your own goddamn problem. If the customer spends the same total time in the drive thru, but your numbers vary depending on whether they looked at the preview board first, then management has their heads up their ass. Well, I never said anything about where the heads of our corporate overlords may or may not be located. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607/160 "2005-08-12T14:53:08Z")
> [@Ashes](#): > > I detest being asked to pull ahead. What a way to tell your customers that they don’t mean crap to management and/or corporate, they’re just a reason to put the spurs to your harrassed workers. I love being the cause of stress to someone who’s already working hard and just trying to make a living. > > I also dislike that policy because it’s now going to take forever for my order to be readied and someone is free to walk it out. The Jack’s that is worst about this has the longest walk in the world from the door to the drive way, as well. Then I’m also forced to make people behind me drive around me in a busy, but tiny parking lot. I have often been tempted to refuse to pull forward and say “No, thanks. I’ll just wait here until my order is ready.” But I’ve never actually had the guts to do it. Has anyone ever actually done this, and what were the results? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-of-drive-thru-etiquette/316607.md?page=9)