When you’ve had a bad day, the “I’ll just hit the drive-thru” mentality is a hard beast to outrun. We know this problem well, and everybody knows that drive-thrus make life easier. A quick trip to Taco Bell or Chick-fil-A could probably turn things around.
There are so many moving parts in fast food, and you don’t want to mess with its delicate nature. Make the most of your meal by avoiding these eight drive-thru mistakes.
Not Knowing Your Order Ahead of Time
At least narrow it down to two or three options before pulling up to the window. You don’t want to be the person holding up customers in line, and you definitely don’t want to be the person making the drive-thru employees’ shift more annoying than it already is. And yeah, ordering additional stuff at the window is just as frowned upon.
Luckily, this will never happen to me because the thought of holding up a line of cars in the drive-thru cranks up my anxiety to critical mass.
Skipping the App
Ordering through a drive-thru box is basically just a bad game of telephone. Nobody can ever understand each other through those crappy speakers, so cut out the verbal communication altogether and use the restaurant’s app. Once you’ve placed your order, all you have to do is say your name or order number.
Missing Out on Rewards
Here’s a second, even better reason to order on the restaurant’s app. Nearly every major fast-food chain has rewards points that may help you score free fast food, and every trip you make through a drive-thru line without acquiring points is a bit of waste. Your next free burger could be just around the corner.
Not Having Payment Ready
Is your wallet accessible? Do you have your cash ready? If you’re bold enough to pay with exact change, have you counted it out? Don’t be caught on the spot in front of the drive-thru workers without your payment ready.
Related: ‘So How Do We Get Out?’: Tesla Dies in the McDonald’s Drive-Thru
Leaving Without Checking Your Order
Friends, a lot of these fast-food employees are making minimum wage and are constantly forced to deal with the most obnoxious customers on the planet. Many of them simply don’t care about their jobs enough to double-check your order, and I can’t blame them.
So, you do it. Give that bag a little look-see before you head out.
Related: These 8 Fast Food Chains Are the Biggest Ripoffs, According to Reddit
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Forgetting To Ask for Sauce
Are you the type that can’t eat fries without ketchup? Then you better make sure you’ve got ketchup packets in the bag.
Related: The Best — and Worst! — Fast-Food Sauces
Ignoring the Receipt
This is one of the easiest drive-thru mistakes you can make. Sure, the food is cheap, but don’t let all that waiting in line stop you from checking the receipt. Mistakes happen … constantly. Don’t accidentally pay for the food of the guy in front of you.
Related: 35 Secrets for Better, Cheaper Meals at Your Favorite Chains
Driving Your Food All the Way Home
Once you’ve left the drive-thru window, you might be tempted to take your food all the way home. Don’t bother, if you can avoid it. This food has such a short amount of time in which it tastes good, and if you’re not cracking into it immediately, you’re asking for trouble.
Have at it right there in the car. I won’t tell anybody.
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