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What happened to the fast in fast Food? I asked myself this question while standing in line waiting to order a square hamburger. Some of my gray haired friends were wondering the same. We all had come inside because the drive thru line was so long. I’m trying to figure out the problem. Maybe I’ve been around too long and remember the days when you walked into the golden arches and got your burger and fries and you were out.
While we were waiting in line we attempted to solve the problem. The first thing we spotted was there was not enough help. There was a big help wanted sign posted in the window. The people that were working— let me say some of the people— appeared to have a poor work ethic. I spotted one employee eating while working, another placing items (cleaning rags) in an improper place while attempting to clean up. The manager seemed to be indifferent and somewhat timid. I could see this restaurant would be a good candidate for a secret shopper.
I’m thinking that I will write a letter to the headquarters because I have experienced this behavior on more than one occasion at the same location. The other issue that we believed to be an issue in the slowdown is too many options. You know “having it your way.” The menu is too darn big. I think the line is so long because the people can’t make up their minds. I watched one man stare at the menu for minutes trying to decide what to have. One fast food giant just added baked sweet potatoes and chili cheese fries. Now the fast food restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and try to be all things to everyone.
In the words of Judge Karen, “stay in your lane,” do what you do best. If it is hamburgers and fries do that. If it’s chicken or fish do that, don’t try to do it all. I’ve seen the employees struggling with the ingredients in some of the recently added items. For instance many of the young people don’t have a clue what kind of cheese is in their new gourmet salads. They don’t know the difference between feta cheese and blue cheese. I met one young lady who didn’t know what a dill pickle was. The pickle is a standard ingredient on the hamburger. I wonder what she thought it was. I asked for extra dill pickles and she asked me what is a dill pickle? Are you kidding me?
All of these restaurants are competing for dollars. The hamburger restaurant doesn’t want to let their customers go anywhere else and order a coffee or smoothie so they get in that business too. I’m sure we will soon see Starbucks selling hamburgers and fries and the donut shop will be tossing pizza.
One day while I was in the drive thru line I got so frustrated I got out of the line and drove over to the grocery store, picked up something to fix at home and when I drove past that same line on my way home, I saw the same cars still inching thru.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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