Monday, April 26, 2010

An Unusual Order

I would like to start my essay by saying that I’m one of those people who don’t like to be persistent or extra specific with their orders in restaurants. Even when I see that my order was clearly done wrong (like getting my coffee with milk instead of cream at Dunking Donates) I keep quiet. I just take my order and leave. So, when I got an assignment to go to McDonalds and get not only very strange and super specific order but also double check if it was done according to my request, I was dreading doing it.
Finally, yesterday, I toughened up and made my husband drive me to McDonalds. He of course was laughing at me and refused to walk in with me, he said he’ll enjoy the show watching from the outside. The McDonalds that I went to is located in the area where I live, in Brooklyn on 86th street and 20th Ave. When I walked in the restaurant there were a couple of people before me, so when the time came for me to place my order all those people were standing aside and heard everything.
First I warned the girl behind the counter that I have a rather specific order and all the requirements have to be reflected on the receipt. I stressed that it is very important. She smiled but very calmly and even kindly and said “No problem”. When it came to ordering pickles she said that since they put 2 pickles on each hamburger, she needs to put on the receipt “1 extra pickle” in order for me to get 4 pickles. I trusted her authority, because she sounded very reassuring. I need to mention that during the whole process of putting the order into the system she was really nice and friendly, which I totally didn’t expect from McDonalds worker in Brooklyn at 8.30 pm.
She got my order into the system and asked me to wait a bit. As I watched, she went and put fresh French fries into the fryer, I figured it’s because the ones that were already precooked are mixed with salt. Then she just went on with helping another person in line with their order. And that was it! I was in shock.
First of all, I expected her to tell me that she is not able to generate this kind of receipt for me or that she’ll have to make her supervisor to make this kind of receipt for me. Second of all, I thought that she would have to go and instruct people in the kitchen who make hamburgers on the exact amount of pickles on my hamburger and people who make fries - on making an order of fries with no salt. And finally, I didn’t think she’ll be so friendly and accommodating during the whole experience!
After waiting for few minutes I received my order, I went to one of the stands there, unpacked my hamburger and counted the pickles. There were exactly four of them. I went back to the car.
I can truly say that I was pleasantly surprised by how everything went. The girl behind the counter was able to quickly and efficiently assist me with my order without going to her manager or involving and at the same time destructing people from the jobs that they are doing. There is a really good communication system between the front and the back of the restaurant, because she didn’t have to go to the kitchen staff which would waste her time. Of course I’ve heard on the commercials that McDonalds’ staff is very friendly, efficient and professional in what they do, but I never tried to put it to the test. Well, they really are. At least the ones I had a chance to deal with yesterday.

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