Weird thing happened at a fast food restaurant today, any thoughts?

I'm sure their systems are all computerized.  Cash drawer probably won't even open until rebooted/online.  And I'm sure they are not trained to think for themselves - a good manager would have just given you the food and appologized.

Who needs to wait around for Skynet to take over? The machines are already in charge, and people too dumb to think for themselves without one now. 

I still like to see their expressions when they say the bill is $6.05 and I hand them $10.00, and then I hand them a nickel,you can see the wheels turning and the smoke comes out of their ears.

Hi;

       I was surprised during my last year as a four star Cashier at Wal-Mart. I was asked to go to register 19 and help out. The young new cashier didn't know how to count out change for a Twenty Dollar Bill for a 13.65 purchase.That was 12 years ago my friends. IT makes me ask What ARE they teaching in school now?

        Today if the system goes down the cashiers are NOT allowed to transact any purchase as they cannot give a reciept. So the purchases are frozen or stopped at whatever point they were. This does NOT only include food places but Everywhere. Managers are allowed to manually open a register if the reciept HAS printed! Most choose NOT to. Too much Paperwork later.

This sounds more like a procedural issue than "boy everybody but me is dumb these days" thing. If their policy says they can't take cash that they can't put away then they can't do it no matter how much the customer would like them to. 

   I used to work at a local gas station. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person of middle age, I think on my feet, know how to " work around" some situations. Rob you are correct, the window person should have taken your cash, a copy of your receipt, and sent you on your way with your hot lunch.

     Now picture yourself doing that job, or a cashier at a gas station, you know nothing about the system other than how to ring stuff up. Things are bumping along, your customers are ambivolant if your exsitance other than you are a minor inconvienence.....all of a sudden through no fault on you that system brain farts. NOW that little old lady who wants her cigarettes become a RAGING monster unleashing holy hell on you, NEXT some guy can't use his credit card at the pump for gas, he storms in and starts bitching,NEXT you have some old fart behind you who for whatever reason can't get his LOTTO ticket out of the machine which you have ABSOLUTELY no control over....

     Yes we have become a society reliant on computers, however if you remember that it is still a human who thinks on their feet and give that human time to process the change of usual interactions perhaps our stress would be reduced.

As a retired elementary teacher, they probably said "No" because they were afraid to attempt the math.   All of these new math "curriculums" look great on paper but our kids aren't learning the basics anymore.  I've always wondered if my generation got through school reading a basal, learning basic math operations, and learning about our "real" history, and we survived and thrived, then why can't kids nowadays do the same.  I don't blame you for going to a different restaurant.

tjs

MR TOM SCHRY

As a retired elementary teacher, they probably said "No" because they were afraid to attempt the math.   All of these new math "curriculums" look great on paper but our kids aren't learning the basics anymore.  I've always wondered if my generation got through school reading a basal, learning basic math operations, and learning about our "real" history, and we survived and thrived, then why can't kids nowadays do the same.  I don't blame you for going to a different restaurant.

tjs

 

 Heh, yep!  When I was in undergrad school, I worked at an autoparts house.  ALL paper and pen with an electric cash register, but zero computers (remember the banks of parts catalogs that took up most of the counters?), other than the adding machine that was on the counter for big orders.  We'd add up the bill by hand.  While you could look up the tax (8.25% at the time) on the schedule that was taped to the counter, most of us just calculated it in our head, maybe referring to the schedule if it was an odd number to verify which way to round.  Ask some college kid to do that today, and they're skull would explode.  

I think in the instance noted above, if the reboot time was like 5 mins, I'd ask the customer to wait.  If it were more like 15-30 minutes to reboot, yes, comp the meal and note it when the power came back on.  I'd bet they'd gain more new customers doing that than the business they loose by a couple of free lunches.  But that's just me.  

I'm with Rob on this, no matter what their reasons were for wanting to make him wait.  I couldn't justify waiting 30 minutes just for the "privilege" of handing someone money to complete a business transaction.  I would have moved onto the next place just like he did.  Whether its because of how the register works, a bad management decision, or my assessment of the math skills of the employee in the window, making it more difficult for your customers to do business with you is never a good way to go.  Life's too short to wait around for cold chicken, and time is money.

MR TOM SCHRY

As a retired elementary teacher, they probably said "No" because they were afraid to attempt the math.   All of these new math "curriculums" look great on paper but our kids aren't learning the basics anymore.  I've always wondered if my generation got through school reading a basal, learning basic math operations, and learning about our "real" history, and we survived and thrived, then why can't kids nowadays do the same.  I don't blame you for going to a different restaurant.

tjs

 

Tcoat

This sounds more like a procedural issue than "boy everybody but me is dumb these days" thing. If their policy says they can't take cash that they can't put away then they can't do it no matter how much the customer would like them to.  

If they do indeed have a policy like that, it's still dumb.  Never, ever turn away a customer who wants to give you money.  And however dumb a policy it is, it's a dumb manager who is so bound by the policy handbook that he doesn't see the stupidity of the decision.  In a case like this, customer service at a fast food restaurant, good customer service is to give the customer his meal, take his money, whatever the state of the system, and take care of it later.

I had an experience when I had to buy a new truck in 2020, that illustrated a poor grasp of customer service.

My old 2002 Ranger died; the transmission was shot, it wasn't worth the couple thousand dollars to repair or replace it. So I was looking for a new truck.  I decided on a Honda Ridgeline, and I contacted the local dealership, about 8 miles away.

I called and talked to a young salesman, probably starting out, maybe not yet 21.  I explained that I very interested in coming in for a test drive and probably would buy the one they had on the lot.  But I had no transportation to get to the dealership, so would they be able to send their shuttle out to pick me up?

The young man said he wasn't sure, he had to check with his manager.  He came back on the phone and said his manager said, no, they couldn't do that, because I wasn't a customer.  I told him, thanks, but that's too bad.

Meanwhile, I got contacted by a Honda dealership 20 miles away, and in another state.  I explained my situation to them, and the salesman said, "I'll bring it out to you."  Which he did.  I test-drove it, and bought it on the spot.

The first dealership made a mistake.  I might have been a customer, but they guaranteed that I would not become their customer.  Meanwhile, the second dealership went the distance-literally-and gained a dedicated customer.

And I say this as someone who has spent his 30+ years in the workforce in customer service in one form or another, starting as a teller in a small community bank. The first dealership did not have a good understanding of customer service.  The second one did.

Yea,sorry,corporate policy. It is what it is. Drive off and get fresh food. When the system comes up pay role and inventory get up dated with a loss. What amazes me is you had the exact amount of cash.

Maybe it was God's way of saving you from a heart attack, Rob.

Bill

Tojo72

I still like to see their expressions when they say the bill is $6.05 and I hand them $10.00, and then I hand them a nickel,you can see the wheels turning and the smoke comes out of their ears.

SO many times.........gahhhhh!

Rob Gronovius

I told them I'm not paying for $27 dollars worth of chicken that is ready now but you'll give to me in 30 minutes.

Went next door to another restaurant and gave them my $27 for lunch.

 

 

Rob, something similar. Several days ago I was in a large city in Oregon, had to be there the next day as well and didn't feel like doing the 180 mile round trip just to be home for the night. Stayed at a nice hotel, at 03something I heard a car pull up outside my room, engine remained running, then two doors opened and closed and the car drove away. I could hear muffled voices, peaked out through the division in the curtains.

I could see they were using a flashlight inside the nearby car, (naturally a luxury car, not a Pinto,) used my cell phone and called 911. A female voice recording said "this call will be handled in the order received." The Luxomobile was gone in less than 5 minutes, the call was answered in seven. I gave the description of the stolen car and the headcount of the thieves, the end. Had the call been answered fast, there might have been a police unit close by that could have rolled up on them, and the car owner would still have it.

What's next??? "You've reached 911, your call is very important to us and will be answered in the order recieved."

"To expedite handling, press #1 if someone is breaking in, press #2 if they are inside."

"Press #3 if they have a gun, press #4 if they have a knife."

"Press #5 if you have already been shot, press #6 if stabbed."

Too much machinery, electronics, computers, etc. these days, not enough human interaction. Let a piece of equipment slow down or stop, all that's left is a blank stare in front of you.

Patrick

templar1099

Yea,sorry,corporate policy. It is what it is. Drive off and get fresh food. When the system comes up pay role and inventory get up dated with a loss. What amazes me is you had the exact amount of cash.

I was surprised, but I had two $20s, a $5, three $1s. So, I took out a $20, the $5 and two $1s.

I had about $3 in assorted coins, like eight 25¢, several dimes and a bunch of pennies. I probably could have made any combination of change from 1¢ to 99¢.

Since the change was 78¢, it was three quarters and three pennies.

I wanted to pay for the food. I already waited about 10-15 minutes in the drive-thru lane from the time I got into the lane, ordered my food and moved to the window.

As I pulled away, so did the next two cars behind me after they each had a short stop at the window. Maybe more cars left, but I was already out of the parking lot on my way to a sandwich shop.

disastermaster

You handled it better than I would.....  imagine the smell of burning rubber.

 

 

LOL, the next two cars behind me left as well. I'm not sure about any of the other handful of cars, because I left the parking lot. I assume they lost a bit of business that day; losing cash registers during lunch is probably their biggest crowd.

    "Press #7 if you are already dead."

I had the register computers go down at a grocery store as I was unloading and had people lined up behind me, but did have something similar happen at Chick Fillet, but they had things up in a minute or two.

One time I was at a local McDonalds, waiting in line to order and was watching a girl lifting a plastic container to fill the shake machine when for no reason I could see, it exploded and went all over the place, just missing me and the person behind me.  The poor girl and the milk shake/ice cream machine were covered in white liquid.  I have never ordered ice cream or milk shakes from there agian.

I will never go into drive throughs again. A number of times I have been trapped in the McDonalds or Arby's drive through when the machines go down to sit and wait.  The last time was an hour and still didn't get my food and missed work.

I also am getting tired of going to the gorcery store, spending an hour filling my cart, and then waiting in line just to find the system won't take my card or cash, but I can use a phone app.  Well, I don't use the app for security reasons that I will never link my bank accounts to a phone.  This last Sunday took four hours to get my groceries at Walmart.  

I think they are pushing us into a internet only shopping society, where we pick everything on line, pay for it, then go, pick it up, and then when we get it home find a bunch of outdated or substituted items.

Its why I am now growing my own food, raising chickens, and buying my meat from local farmers.  

The bright side of that is that I am saving money and am a lot healthier and a lot less stress than dealing with modern, so called, convenience shopping.  

Several times, yeaterday being the latest, I have been stuck in line while somebody that is using their phone to check out, seem to be going through all sorts of steps that take longer if they just used their card or cash, and paid for it.

I don't know if it's their first time doing this, they think they are cool, or it's a roblem with their, or the store's system.  I use my card and just breeze through   The only thing I use my phone for in stores is to check what's in my account if I think I might be getting low, or call my wife to see if she needs anything I might have forgotten.

I never use drive ups,don't see the value most of the time every time I go to Mickey Dee's or Dunkin,there is a huge line at the drive up,I simply walk in and pick up my order and see the same cars still waiting.The same people probably should get a little exercise and walk in to get it.

Tojo72

I never use drive ups,don't see the value most of the time every time I go to Mickey Dee's or Dunkin,there is a huge line at the drive up,I simply walk in and pick up my order and see the same cars still waiting.The same people probably should get a little exercise and walk in to get it.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Tojo72

I never use drive ups,don't see the value most of the time every time I go to Mickey Dee's or Dunkin,there is a huge line at the drive up,I simply walk in and pick up my order and see the same cars still waiting.The same people probably should get a little exercise and walk in to get it.

 

 

 

This place is notorious for messing up orders and has a sign at their window to check your order before you pull away. Because of this, I parked and went to the lobby door, but it was locked and the worker inside said drive thru only (at 11 am!). So I got into the drive thru line because only three cars were in the line.

 

 

A general comment not directed at you,but yes because of worker shortage some don't even open the lobby,but even where it's open,many prefer the drive up.

MR TOM SCHRY

As a retired elementary teacher, they probably said "No" because they were afraid to attempt the math.   All of these new math "curriculums" look great on paper but our kids aren't learning the basics anymore.  I've always wondered if my generation got through school reading a basal, learning basic math operations, and learning about our "real" history, and we survived and thrived, then why can't kids nowadays do the same.  I don't blame you for going to a different restaurant.

tjs

 

The problem in our schools today is that they are to busy teaching CRT and "Gender and Sexually" to waste time in teaching something unimportant such as math.

Joe

MJames70

Who needs to wait around for Skynet to take over? The machines are already in charge, and people too dumb to think for themselves without one now.

It has been discussed by several scientist that one of the more dangerous things for humanity in the near future is AI (Artificial Intelligence).

What needs to be implement is a protocol added to any AI system that would prevent it from become too intelligent and become a tread to us humans. Something like Issac Asimov rules for machines:

1.- The system can not hurt a human

2.- when in conflict, rule one is more important.

I am a retired Network engineer/system programmer, so I have some knowledge of what I am talking about

Joe

A great couple of lines of dialog from 1982s Tron come to mind here, and they are turning out to be prophetic.

Allan Bradley: Some programs will be thinking soon.

Dr. Walter Gibbs: Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop.

Tojo72

I still like to see their expressions when they say the bill is $6.05 and I hand them $10.00, and then I hand them a nickel,you can see the wheels turning and the smoke comes out of their ears.

Not making this up, my bill was $5.06, gave her $5.11 to get back a single nickel to avoid 4 loose pennies backDANGER DANGER WARNING WILL ROBINSON!! I thought she was gonna blow a gasket Lol!

I'm surprised the Popeyes employee  didn't put the $27 and change in their pocket and give you your food.  The employee is $27 richer and you have delcious chicken.  Sure, it's stealing but sometimes you gotta say WTF.