Drive Thru's (22 Viewers)

[Otis]

Not sure if it's just me, but encountered one for the very first time on Sunday evening and I know it may seem a little strange to some, but it just didn't feel right at all ... hard to put into words, but I just found it all really embarrassing and degrading and it just made me feel uncomfortable. It seemed all so anti-social.

It came about because my daughter had a friend over for a sleepover and it was getting late and they were hungry, but both in their pyjamas and dressing gowns.

The friend wanted to go to McDonald's (which I dislike greatly anyway), so rather than take them into the restaurant in their night clothes, we decided to use the drive thru.

As I waited, it occurred to me that people may use this means of obtaining food all the time I sat there in the car and just felt uncomfortable and almost felt the need to tell everyone we encountered (mainly just intercom voices) the reason why we were reduced to doing what we were doing. Felt like I had to make excuses.

Can understand if circumstances are as such that sometimes it is almost a necessity because of timing and being in a rush etc etc., but it all just seemed so lazy and I hated the lack of interaction.

I want to experience stuff. I like to walk into places, interact with the staff, sit down and eat and talk to the people I'm with, face to face, while we're eating. I just want to interact and be a human. This just seemed to my mind to be anything but a human experience. The restaurant was right there. The person I was talking to was just behind a wall on the other side. It just seemed so alien and odd to me.

Anyone else feel the same? Or do people just like them and value the easiness and the simple accessibility of it all?

Maybe a massive overreaction on my part, but I just wouldn't ever want to do it again.

So, how do people feel about drive thru's in general? Guessing it's only McDonald's, Burger King and KFC who have this sort of thing, right?

 

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[jimmyhillsfanclub]

I don't use the drive thru......as the only reason I ever visit McDonalds & "restaurants" of similar standing is to take a dump......and I don't fancy my chances of being able to poo through that little window/hatch without some spillage on my van door....

 

[Otis]

:d:d:d:d:d:d:d

 

[wingy]

Have to really thought about It too much Otis.
Back in the day when I had little ones I possibly used them a couple of times out of time constraints /convenience /travelling etc
The most unfortunate consequence of these
outlets Is the litter strewn (often country rds)
around.
I do understand exactly about the Interaction /social aspect, so apart from the reason you and I In the past used them were time Issues.
The only other people. I could think who would prefer to utilise them possibly being the less socially adequate/ withdrawn /phobic In society.

 

[Nick]

It depends how much time you have on your hands too. People are busy, they don't want to hang about!

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Personally, to me it suits somewhere like McDonalds, which is quick and easy and not the kind of place you go to sit down with a nice meal.

I'd be more concerned if it was a drive-through Sunday roast...

That said, I only ever use McDonalds when desperate (and an enforced diet now means... never!) so it was only ever when passing through. The atmosphere inside just isn't one of taking in the surroundings, supping on a nice drink and watching the world go by with good company.

So as it's not that, get the buying out the way ASAP and just eat!

 

[stupot07]

It's horses for courses. If we're all a bit peckish and in our way back from a day out or in Birmingham and got the kids with us we'll tend to eat in, if we're just grabbing the kids something to eat say on the way back from a party, we'll do the drive through. We probably only use Macci D'd 4-5 times a year.

What I don't understand is these people that go through the drive thru then park up 20-30 metres away from the car park usually blocking the driveway in, to eat it. Morons.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

 

[Otis]

It's horses for courses. If we're all a bit peckish and in our way back from a day out or in Birmingham and got the kids with us we'll tend to eat in, if we're just grabbing the kids something to eat say on the way back from a party, we'll do the drive through. We probably only use Macci D'd 4-5 times a year.

What I don't understand is these people that go through the drive thru then park up 20-30 metres away from the car park usually blocking the driveway in, to eat it. Morons.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

Well this is one aspect that concerns me. People just using them out of pure laziness, just becasue they can't be arsed to get out of their seats.

How many do so out of convenience and time constraints and how many out of pure laziness?

We have neighbours who hardly ever go shopping. Taxis everywhere, all food delivered etc. They don't drive, but I would bet my life on it that of they had a car they would only use the McDonald's drive thru.

These neighbours are incredibly lazy, scruffy, lounge abouts. Never make any effort to dress up. Never make any effort in their apparance and just hang around their front garden watching the world pass them by, while their windows have England and Union flags as make-do curtains and their house is incredibly grubby.

You think they struggle, but they always have money for drugs and taxis etc.

Make my view is also jaundiced by the people I see at McDonald's in the West Orchards food mall and those in the one in the Burges. There you can quite often see very large beer-bellied mums in tracky bottoms feeding burgers to their babies. Everytime I pass I see people just like my neighbours.

I have only been in McDonald's about 2 or 3 times in the last 30 years, so I am guessing I am biased, but then at the same time I couldn't then explain the overwhelming desire to go inside the place rather than sit on my car talking to someone through an intercom.

 

[Nick]

Well this is one aspect that concerns me. People just using them out of pure laziness, just becasue they can't be arsed to get out of their seats.

How many do so out of convenience and time constraints and how many out of pure laziness?

We have neighbours who hardly ever go shopping. Taxis everywhere, all food delivered etc. They don't drive, but I would bet my life on it that of they had a car they would only use the McDonald's drive thru.

These neighbours are incredibly lazy, scruffy, lounge abouts. Never make any effort to dress up. Never make any effort in their apparance and just hang around their front garden watching the world pass them by, while their windows have England and Union flags as make-do curtains and their house is incredibly grubby.

You think they struggle, but they always have money for drugs and taxis etc.

Make my view is also jaundiced by the people I see at McDonald's in the West Orchards food mall and those in the one in the Burges. There you can quite often see very large beer-bellied mums in tracky bottoms feeding burgers to their babies. Everytime I pass I see people just like my neighbours.

I have only been in McDonald's about 2 or 3 times in the last 30 years, so I am guessing I am biased, but then at the same time I couldn't then explain the overwhelming desire to go inside the place rather than sit on my car talking to someone through an intercom.

Surely they have got up to get to their car to drive there? If they were that lazy they would get a takeaway delivered?

I'd say if we ever get a McDonalds 90% of the time it is a Takeaway, I'd much rather eat one at home than sit in McDonalds to eat it. It is usually if it's late and one of us is driving past and a bit of an emergency.

They don't drive, but I would bet my life on it that of they had a car they would only use the McDonald's drive thru.

Jeez! Now I am not McDonalds biggest fan and have one probably 6-7 times a year at most but people have shit to do, that's why it makes a drive thru convenient. If I could get a drive thru healthy meal I'd always use it, mainly because I don't have time to go and dine.

 

[ccfctommy]

Never ever used one. Does not appeal to me. My mate however, has been though one in a taxi on more than one occasion.

 

[Grendel]

I would imagine in most cases the drive thru takes longer than going in to be served.

Funny how people are getting snobbish about it - it's a successful franchise. Sets customer expectation at a low level as well. I don't go much as I'm not a huge Burger fan (but we eat plenty of trash like Pizza Hut which has as much resemblance to a pizza as a McDonald's burger does to fillet steak) but I did go once and remember being actually pleased the burger was hot.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I use the drive through at Nuneaton as my daughter is scared by certain lighting in places so to queue with her would be a nightmare, there is always a queue at the drive through and it normally takes about 15 minutes start to finish.

 

[Grendel]

We have neighbours who hardly ever go shopping. Taxis everywhere, all food delivered etc. They don't drive, but I would bet my life on it that of they had a car they would only use the McDonald's drive thru.

These neighbours are incredibly lazy, scruffy, lounge abouts. Never make any effort to dress up. Never make any effort in their apparance and just hang around their front garden watching the world pass them by, while their windows have England and Union flags

Make my view is also jaundiced by the people I see at McDonald's in the West Orchards food mall and those in the one in the Burges. There you can quite often see very large beer-bellied mums in tracky bottoms feeding burgers to their babies. Everytime I pass I see people just like my neighbours.

Welcome to Coventry.

 

[Nick]

I use the drive through at Nuneaton as my daughter is scared by certain lighting in places so to queue with her would be a nightmare, there is always a queue at the drive through and it normally takes about 15 minutes start to finish.

I'd rather sit in the car and queue than queue in the actual place. I get rage!

 

[blueflint]

i can't stand mcdees or burger king as the food is shite

 

[Marty]

I'm a fairly regular visitor (once a month) to McDonalds and always use the drive in. I can't stand their food and only go for the Milkshake, so seems pointless for me to get out and queue up.

 

[Houchens Head]

Never use Old McDonalds, Bugger Kings, Piss Hut or any other so-called fast food outlet! UUURRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Disgusting shite served up by spotty kids!

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Its a fast food restaurant, no different really to have to getting a pizza/chinese/chippy takeaway and eating it at home. People don't go to Mcdonalds for the dining experience.

Unless I didn't have any other option, I would never really go into Mcdonalds to have a sit down meal

 

[wingy]

I'm a fairly regular visitor (once a month) to McDonalds and always use the drive in. I can't stand their food and only go for the Milkshake, so seems pointless for me to get out and queue up.

Ouch
The Brain Freeze.

 

[Otis]

Surely they have got up to get to their car to drive there? If they were that lazy they would get a takeaway delivered?

I'd say if we ever get a McDonalds 90% of the time it is a Takeaway, I'd much rather eat one at home than sit in McDonalds to eat it. It is usually if it's late and one of us is driving past and a bit of an emergency.



Jeez! Now I am not McDonalds biggest fan and have one probably 6-7 times a year at most but people have shit to do, that's why it makes a drive thru convenient. If I could get a drive thru healthy meal I'd always use it, mainly because I don't have time to go and dine.

You can't get a MCDonald's delivered can you? From what I can see, many people just go to McDonald's cause it's cheap and pretty instant.

The neighbouring family would most definitely go to McDonald's and if they could get it delivered, they would. That's why I say they would go to the drive thru if they had a car.

They get taxis all the time and that means walking to the edge of the pavement outside their house to wait for the taxi. How many inches further would they have to travel to get into a car?

 

[Otis]

I would imagine in most cases the drive thru takes longer than going in to be served.

Funny how people are getting snobbish about it - it's a successful franchise. Sets customer expectation at a low level as well. I don't go much as I'm not a huge Burger fan (but we eat plenty of trash like Pizza Hut which has as much resemblance to a pizza as a McDonald's burger does to fillet steak) but I did go once and remember being actually pleased the burger was hot.

Who's getting snobbish about it Grendel?

Certainly not me. I think the restaurants look okay inside. Bright and cheerful and overall pretty clean. I do think the food is pretty rank though.

 

[Otis]

Can I just add, this thread for me wasn't anything to with any kind of snobbery, it was just about the lack of social interaction and the feeling of laziness and almost a non human experience.

We regualrly go to Burger King. I don't eat there because I'm vegetarian and their veggie option isn't at all nice, but my wife, my daughter and both my mum and dad, say that Burger King is 10 times better than McDonald's and that they don't like McDonald's food at all, comparing it to like eating cardboard. We go to Burger King all the time, but pretty much never to McDonald's.

We eat in Pizza Hut too and my daughter loves KFC. It's not a snobbery thing, it's McDonald's food being the very worst of the worst and people just going there out of pure laziness that bothers me and of course, the drive thru thing too.

I have no problem with people using the drive thru's for good reason, but if people are simply choosing them because they can't be arsed, then yes, I do have a problem with it. hence my asking the question.

 

[Nick]

Can I just add, this thread for me wasn't anything to with any kind of snobbery, it was just about the lack of social interaction and the feeling of laziness and almost a non human experience.

Do people really go to eat inside Mcdonalds for social interaction or just because they are hungry? Is going through a Drive Through really non human?

Choosing them because they can't be arsed with what? I don't get the problem? People usually get a McDonalds because they can't be arsed to cook, or are in a rush. It is a lazy option, I am pretty sure it is one of the main reasons that people get them.

If I have been at work since 7am and it is 5pm and my wife is going to work at 7pm but she has been busy all day she might phone me and say pick something up as a "treat". Yes it is lazy, it is convenient which is why so many people buy it.

People are busy nowadays. It is why they will use the Argos at Gallagher over the one in town for example, it is less hassle. It is why they buy things online rather than going in a shop to buy it. If I want a pair of trainers I want to buy them, if it is either go to down or buy them online I'd buy them online. It isn't unsociable, it is just easier.

 

[Otis]

Do people really go to eat inside Mcdonalds for social interaction or just because they are hungry? Is going through a Drive Through really non human?

Choosing them because they can't be arsed with what? I don't get the problem? People usually get a McDonalds because they can't be arsed to cook, or are in a rush. It is a lazy option, I am pretty sure it is one of the main reasons that people get them.

People are busy nowadays.

As I said Nick, I found it non-human. Perhaps it's just me like I said. To talk to someone through and intercom and then just drive off. I found it all rather surreal.

Don't know why people are seemingly having a bit of a go ... I did say 'is it just me?' It probably is just me. I just found the whole episode cold and empty. And yep, we do go into McDonald's to be social. The kids go on the tablets and we sit there and talk face to face. It's not ideal, cause I don't like McDonald's but the girls do have a very good experience there.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It is a lazy option, I am pretty sure it is one of the main reasons that people get them.

If we're honest, any takeaway of ready meal is the lazy option, isn't it.

 

[Nick]

If we're honest, any takeaway of ready meal is the lazy option, isn't it.

Exactly, I'd love to have the time to cook full meals every night but it is not always the case.

 

[Otis]

If we're honest, any takeaway of ready meal is the lazy option, isn't it.

It is. A lot of Chinese and Indian though give a 20% discount for takeaway, so I can see why people choose that option. Our local is the Ocean. Very rare we have a takeaway. We nearly alwys plump for sitting in because we like the social aspect of it all.

 

[Nick]

As I said Nick, I found it non-human. Perhaps it's just me like I said. To talk to someone through and intercom and then just drive off. I found it all rather surreal.

Don't know why people are seemingly having a bit of a go ... I did say 'is it just me?' It probably is just me. I just found the whole episode cold and empty. And yep, we do go into McDonald's to be social. The kids go on the tablets and we sit there and talk face to face. It's not ideal, cause I don't like McDonald's but the girls do have a very good experience there.

That's a bit of a different scenario isn't it as you are going there with others and talking to them. There may be 3 people in a car who are socialising while eating a drive through. Do people go there to socialise with the people who work there?

I am not too sure what you would want to feel like after ordering fast food? I'm not having a go I am just confused

 

[Otis]

That's a bit of a different scenario isn't it as you are going there with others and talking to them. There may be 3 people in a car who are socialising while eating a drive through.

I am not too sure what you would want to feel like after ordering fast food? I'm not having a go I am just confused

Because when you are out it's a different social interaction. We are in our houses all the time aren't we. My family would always choose the going out option over the takeaway or delivery option. It's a different experience.

When we did the drive thru we just picked up the food and came straight back home. The girls didn't have the fun they have when we go into the restaurant. They wanted to go into the restaurant but had their pyjamas on and therefore I wouldn't let them.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Isn't it a bit non human to be discussing this behind a computer screen, perhaps we should all meet up at Mcdonalds to discuss this in person.

 

[Otis]

Basically all I am saying is it is a worse experience isn't it if you have chosen drive thru simply because you can't be arsed to go in and do have the time, are not in a rush and there's no other reason. If you could go in, but simply choose not to because you simply cannot be bothered to get your arses out of the car.

I don't quite get McDonald's but some people do see it as a treat and an outing and lots of the kids I see there do seem to be having a lot of fun. I would always choose the fun option over the impersonal pick up and drive off and go back home option.

 

[Nick]

Because when you are out it's a different social interaction. We are in our houses all the time aren't we. My family would always choose the going out option over the takeaway or delivery option. It's a different experience.

Weh we did the drive thru we just picked up the food and came back home. The girls didn't have the fun they have when we go into the restaurant.

But then not everybody has the time do they? If I've been at work all day and have been non stop, absolutely knackered I might not want to go and sit in a restaurant. I'd just want to come home, have a shower, get comfortable and have something delivered. Or just pick something up on the way home and come home and eat it.

Otherwise to go out it would be come home, have a shower, get changed. Wife have shower, get changed, daughter get changed. Then by the time I am home and ready it is 6 - 6.30, by the time we get there, seated and ordered it is 7.15, food comes at 7.45, eat and faff about it's 8.30, sort the bill and pay it's 8.45. Get home it's 9, daughter still worked up and excited, she gets to sleep at 10.

Then compare it to order a takeaway before I leave work at 5 - 5.30, get home and it's here for 6. Plate it up and eat it, job done.

If it is a pre arranged thing "lets go out for a meal" then it is a different scenario.

 

[Otis]

Isn't it a bit non human to be discussing this behind a computer screen, perhaps we should all meet up at Mcdonalds to discuss this in person.

You go to McDonald', I'll go to Burger King.

We all discuss on these boards, behind computer screens simply because we don't know each other. If I knew you CCFC I would much rather meet up at a pub or a cafe for a chat about the City.

We all come on here for a shared interest, but we are all pretty much total strangers. Big difference.

 

[Otis]

But then not everybody has the time do they? If I've been at work all day and have been non stop, absolutely knackered I might not want to go and sit in a restaurant. I'd just want to come home, have a shower, get comfortable and have something delivered. Or just pick something up on the way home and come home and eat it.

Otherwise to go out it would be come home, have a shower, get changed. Wife have shower, get changed, daughter get changed. Then by the time I am home and ready it is 6 - 6.30, by the time we get there, seated and ordered it is 7.15, food comes at 7.45, eat and faff about it's 8.30, sort the bill and pay it's 8.45. Get home it's 9, daughter still worked up and excited, she gets to sleep at 10.

Then compare it to order a takeaway before I leave work at 5 - 5.30, get home and it's here for 6. Plate it up and eat it, job done.

If it is a pre arranged thing "lets go out for a meal" then it is a different scenario.

Which, if you read what I'm saying Nick, I totally don't have a problem with at all.

 

[Nick]

Basically all I am saying is it is a worse experience isn't it if you have chosen drive thru simply because you can't be arsed to go in and do have the time, are not in a rush and there's no other reason. If you could go in, but simply choose not to because you simply cannot be bothered to get your arses out of the car.

Most people aren't going for an experience, they are going to get food because they are hungry.