IAMA manager at Wendy's, and I actually have a question for you. (Also AMA)

HeadxDMC · 3 months

I can't stand it when people act like other people in the service industry aren't human. I've gotten in a few confrontations for telling people to shut the fuck up about their tiny little error and quit picking on the girl just trying to do her job. I once shamed a guy into leaving with his messed up food just because he was such a huge cunt about it while the manager had to keep smiling and taking his nonsense. She was throwing in all kinds of free stuff and this obese cancer just kept talking to her like she was dirt. Fuck people like that.

fthecorsage · 3 months

IDK if this is just me, but I DONT FUCK WITH ANYONE WHO MAKES MY FOOD!

stgeorge78 · 3 months

You know what grinds my gears, when they play some fake pre-recorded intro and then you hear the real person...

Go up to the drive thru window
Them: HELLO, WELCOME TO WENDY'S, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Me: Hi, I'd like a #8, medium with a Sprite
Them: HELLO, WELCOME TO ... (different voice) Can I have your order?
Me: (exasperated) I'd like a #8, medium with a Sprite
Them: What number?
Me: A Number 8
Them: Large?
Me: Medium with a Sprite
Them: With a coke?
Me: SPRITE!
Them: #9 medium with a coke?
Me: #8!
Them: Ok, drive through.
Me: How much is it?
Them: ...

torniz · 3 months

Some examples of slight offenses: "Hi! Welcome to Wendy's. How are you today?" "......" or "Hi! Welcome to Wendy's! How's it going?" "YEAH I WANT A BURGER AND FRIES!" "Sure...No problem." Or at the window. We smile. (My smile is genuine) I take money, give change, and give you your food. I asked you how you're doing, and you don't even make eye contact?" Really?

At least for myself, when I get fast food, I'm not trying to be disrepectful, but if I go, it's usually because I'm stressed and in a hurry. I'm not intending to look rude and mad, it's just I'm encountering you at a really bad time.

3ll3hciM · 3 months

I don't eat fast food often, but when I do, im usually very polite. HOWEVER..

that customer you mentioned up there, that bitchy bitch, I don't know about you.. but thats a rarity that i've ever seen someone act THAT rude to a fast food person (but like I said, I don't eat fast food that often).

Yes, I was rude to a fast-food employee, because she was rude to me. It was at a Wendy's ironically, drive thru. I was in NJ for a concert (im from New York), I ordered nuggets. She didn't say hello, she didn't say thank you, she wasn't pleasant. I asked her for an extra sauce and she says "no I can only give 2" (THIS WAS A MANAGER, mind you) without even giving me an option to pay for extra, or being courteous about it. Eventually after much arguing over 1 sauce I screamed "GIVE ME THE DAMN SAUCE OR TAKE YOUR FUCKING FOOD BACK". I got the sauce.

fiveforty · 3 months

I'm polite to servers, unless they are rude. In those cases, I try to limit my interaction with them or in cases where they're overly rude I'll say something. I've waited for my order because employees were talking to each other or distracted by their phones. Someone like the girl in your example is going too far though.

But to play devil's advocate, I can see why someone wouldn't engage in conversation or make eye contact. Sometimes people just want to get their food and leave. Maybe they're tired, maybe they're high and have the munchies, maybe they're in a rush. Whatever the reason, I'm sure sometimes people don't want to make small talk with the person behind the counter, and that's fair. I think that's different than being rude.

Novelty-Account-1000 · 3 months

What did you have for breakfast today? Operating system? Favorite joke? Ever been fucked in the butt? What is your favorite ice cream?

bizzytater · 3 months

Your rant is fine and justified. I personally have not worked fast food, but my daughter worked at MacDonald's and my husband was a manager at Arbys. For me, I did customer service (the service desk) at Target, so I had similar experiences. I can think of only one time that I got ugly with a service worker, and that was because I was drunk and didn't have my ID to buy beer. That was ten years ago, and I still feel like a jackass over that. In low-level service jobs like that, people forget that many are doing them as transitional jobs while they go to college and the like (one of our most crapped-on workers at Target is now working on his masters in aeronautical engineering). And the others are just surviving. Normal people who are not idiots (usually) or worthless. Just people trying to get by. In these kinds on situations I always think, damn, your life must be absolute roses if this is the worst insult you must deal with in your day. At Target, the hands-down nastiest person I ever dealt with was a woman who went ballistic because a hat hadn't been held for her. Seriously. She elevated that all the way to the store manager and took down corporate's number. Cussing is an absolutely disgusting thing to do to a service worker. Both my husband and I have intervened when someone is reaming a service worker. A guy almost took my husband out into the parking lot to fight it out. But dammit, you just don't do that to people who are busting their asses for crappy pay, unpleasant work conditions, and often long hours. Screw anybody who treats those people that way. They can be wonderful people in all other ways, but they will always be ugly and unredeemable to me. Assholes.

2makaw2 · 3 months

Good timing for this post... I am studying in China right now and went to McDonalds over here... A guy was reallllly pissed off at a worker because his sandwich was messed up (at least I think, because I don't speak Chinese). But anyway, I just shook my head at him because I guess I have a knack for putting myself in someone's shoes. I just want you to know that I appreciate what you guys do, and I cannot stand people who don't respect someone else's job. We aren't all out to get you!

bradysaysblerg · 3 months

The only time I was ever angry enough to yell at an employee at a fast food establishment was when Taco Bell didn't give me back my credit card after I drove through. Apparently "Dwayne had it" for some fucking reason.

Anyway, what is your favorite item on the menu, what are your thoughts on the new fries, and is there anything we should avoid ordering? I'll take my answer off the air.

[deleted] · 3 months

"Be Kind; Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle" - Plato

I wish everyone thought about this every day and applied it.

supersquirrel · 3 months

I am 99% super nice as a customer, but I can see a few of these. I hate tomatoes, and always order my tasty number 6 with no tomatoes. Every single damn time, it has tomatoes. It really gets exasperating after awhile. Maybe this was the tenth time in a row at wendy's the girl got her wrap made wrong? as far as the greeting, half the time at fast food its a recorded message trying to sell whatever new crap is at the store. I don't want a whatever the hell you try to sell me with your greeting, I want a burger and fries!

ChatGarou · 3 months

I've worked in food service, so I am always polite to my server but I don't like small talk. I don't want to be asked how my day is.

ryu4096 · 3 months

So, this is not a Wendy's management question, but a question about Wendy's. I like like to mix chocolate and vanilla frosties; however, I have been told more than once by employees that I cannot order a half vanilla/ half chocolate frosty because they will be fired. They said it is against corporate policy. Is this true or just confused employees? It has happened at a couple of different stores.

ieatpeaches · 3 months

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZXeFPpPJeI

Please tell me you guys still have training videos like this. The first time I heard this I had "hot drinks, really get you goin" in my head all day.

GerniePain · 3 months

I must say I get upset when my meals are made wrong. I bet you 50-75% of the time I eat out my order gets messed up. Its actually a joke with my friends because it happens so often and only me orders. I even ordered breakfast the other day and told the waitress and my friends that they were going to give me sausage patties instead of links, don't you know it its exactly what happened.

sareon · 3 months

Why do you let them be rude? If they are why don't you just refuse to serve them?

You should never be rude to those who serve you food.

TurboGFF · 3 months

Do you guys still train people with videos like these? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZXeFPpPJeI

(If not, I think you should, it's completely awesome)

psychoconductor · 3 months

First, you're awesome, and as someone who used to work in McDonalds (and now at Starbucks), I can totally see where you are coming from. That said, I don't know how you go through your shift and keep that smile. There aren't pants big enough to hold your balls.

When I worked at McDonalds, I was often stuck at drive-thru, and while 75% of the people were either cordial or indifferent, the rest were utter assholes. I had awful things said to me, and stuff thrown at me, because they were fucking cowards and would just speed off laughing before I could properly retaliate. I stopped asking "hi, how are you", and I just wanted them to get their shit and leave, since I was so used to getting either abuse or nothing. Very very very few people actually ask how I'm doing.

Nowadays, I try and ask any person in any service industry how they are doing, because it breaks up their day and they will remember it. Not to mention it gets you better service next time you cross paths.

As for the woman in your op, I bet she is like that to everyone. Assholes are fucking assholes. And as Lewis Black said "pricks live forever"

Oh, and a question. Got a good story about a good customer?

drsebaz · 3 months

I'm always afraid to be discourteous to any fast food or restaurant employee. They have the upper hand; they have my food before I do. I don't want to give them any reason to mess with my food, and I'm pretty sure there are a billion other assholes stressing them out at the exact same time. I like to imagine food service employees like postal worker-esque ticking time bombs. When they finally break, I don't want to to interfere with my delicious burger.

lets_discuss_ur_butt · 3 months

Why do I NEVER get the goddamned straws at the drive through?

Why are you guys so expensive? I can get better food for less quite easily.

blankey2 · 3 months

Don't let the assholes turn you into an asshole. People who are inhumane to other people don't deserve your consideration. Another way to put this is: don't let assholes affect your mood or determine your self-worth. Just ignore them as best you can, and instruct your employees to do their job and ignore the assholes as well. You have very limited freedom in what you can change.

You work in fast food. It ain't gonna ever get better in our lifetimes. If it's any consolation, people are assholes in the corporate world too. Just let them live their sad, unhappy little lives where they are the only living creatures with emotions in their minds. They are living their own punishment.

khannn · 3 months

I feel your pain. Ugh. Working in the food industry for over two years I try to be as positive and kind to the people behind the counter and/or grill because I know exactly how difficult and tiresome those kind of jobs can be. Especially if there are snotty ass people who feel entitled for god know's what reason. A job is a job. No reason to be rude to the people who are just trying to make a god damn living.

Isaac_The_Khajiit · 3 months

I used to work at taco bell, and we were told exactly what to say to customers. Asking people how their day is isn't a personal choice, you are coached by a manager to say that. People aren't stupid, they know this, that's why they ignore the empty question. I don't blame them for it. Although I usually say "fine, thanks" or something like that, we both know its a meaningless formality.

However, I have never been rude to someone for messing up my order, and I always look the person in the eye when talking to them; it bothers me when people give their order while staring at the menu or something.

pandadotcom · 3 months

That girl was a bitch pay no mind to her! In general I'm pretty friendly to people who are nice to me but to address the eye contact thing, sometimes I'm busy looking at the menu and trying to decide what I want, so I don't really look at the person taking my order because I can't figure out what I want.

travisthefairy · 3 months

As far as I know I am always nice to employees. Even when the order is wrong. Sure I might get upset but I try not go lose it (super rare). I understand that some people make mistakes, maybe something is lost in translation or who knows what, but it seems to me that if you are nice to them, they are nice back. The vibe is friendly and laid back with a passing joke or two. I like to make them giggle or at least liven up their day.

I remember one time I went to a local chain and asked for a bacon cheese burger. Granted I only checked it by the time I got home and it had no bacon on it. Seemed strange to me. I tweeted about it and got a reply back. But didn't do much after because I was already home and had a belly full. Oh well :)

I don't feel it's needed to be rude to others like that. And if you're nice and frequent the place often enough you build a relationship with the employees.

I would love to know what makes your day better. What can we as customers do to make you smile?

molrobocop · 3 months

Do you ever see Chick-Fil-A employees and give them dirty looks? Mostly kidding. Food-service bros are still bros, despite me never working fast-food.

To be fair, I feel Wendy's has a superior spicy-chicken. But CFA's classic sandwich and waffle fries is better than a standard Wendy's chicken sandwich and fries. Also, thank you Wendy's Corp for not hating gay people.

MythicMex · 3 months

Wow, I don't know if I have ever heard of someone going quite as psycho as the story you described. I absolutely despise people who treat employees like that. I used to work in a grocery store and dealt with a lot of the same crap. Trying to tell someone that they gave you a coupon for the wrong product was always a fun experience. Ever since working that miserable job, I'm always nice to everyone that provides some sort of service and always tip at least 20%.

whytey · 3 months

I used to work for Burger King, and my friend accidentally made a chicken sandwich for a police officer, however he forgot to put the chicken in the sandwich :). That did not go well.

Fencinator · 3 months

The first two aren't necessarily rudeness. Sometimes people are tired, and just want to get their food and leave. I know sometimes I just don't feel like being polite and interacting with people.

uv0001 · 3 months

Why do managers seem to think it's ok try to save money by cutting hours and doubling the work load; and at the same time whine that stuff isn't getting done?

EDIT: Not to assuming you're the kind of manager that does this. On the contrary, you putting up an AMA means you're probably a better manager. It's just I've seen this crap at waaay to many places.

Vihaan · 3 months

I consider myself easygoing and a respectful person but every time I went through the drive-thru my order was messed up. My orders were not complex and it was usually something simple like "Five cheeseburgers and five medium fries. Some ketchup and tartar with that, please." After getting shortchanged 50 or so times it tends to piss you off because 1. someone you are buying food for doesn't get any and 2. you don't realize the mistake until you are miles away. I am respectful until you habitually steal from me then I am going to be a dick and you need to find a different job were you don't have to count beyond two. This is not directed at you OP and I realize that some people are just assholes but some of us are pissed at times because some of the fast food places we frequent continually fuck up our shit and could care less about customer service. After being treated this way continually we begin to assume that all fast food workers are morons that don't give a shit. I do not go to fast food places anymore because I have been shortchanged so many times. As long as I am driving and picking the restaurant I will no longer go to McDonald's, Wendy's, or Burger King ever again. So, to all the shitty fast food employees out there, "Thank You". Your incompetence has probably added years to my life. End of my rant.

Edit: tl;dr - They fuck you at the drive through

Fo- · 3 months

I've never been a jerk about a mistake like that. But if someone asked me how I was doing in a drivethrough I'd probably ignore the question too. Does it really matter? The truth is you don't actually care. If I had a real problem you wouldn't help me fix it, so why ask?

That being said, I always use please and thank you and will smile back. But don't bother asking me How I am doing? It just comes off as ingenuine.

internetsanta · 3 months

There was only one time that I was rude to a fast food employee, here is the story. A group of my freinds went into a McDonalds for lunch. I ordered my food and got two sodas (bought one for a freind who forgot his wallet). They didn't give me the cups for the soda right away like they sometimes do but it was very busy so I figured I'd ask for them when my food was ready. When my food came out I asked, and I quote "could I please get the cups for the sodas too?". Well there was a larger woman working behind the counter who LOCKED FUCKING EYES WITH ME and said in a condescending voice "he already got his cups." I have never gotten so pissed, so fast in my life. There was a manager that must have noticed how pissed I got because she stepped in right the fuck away and pushed the dude handing me my food out of the way and handed me my cups and said something like "here you go sir, sorry about that". I said "thank you" through gritted teeth and turned around and said quite loudly "Stupid fat bitch. Why the fuck would she say that?". There is no way that she didn't here me.

And that's the only time I've been rude to a fast food employee and the only time I've insulted a complete stranger because of their weight.

Yomigami · 3 months

Do you ever have to balance food costs with customer satisfaction?

Centurio · 3 months

I have never been rude to anyone who makes food for me. I never understood why my older brother and mom would be so mad or how they could take their anger out on someone because of food.

Then again I can barely make eye-contact with anyone let alone blow-up over a simple mistake.

Thank you for being such a good person, though. Glad someone is genuinely kind with the customers. (Figured most if not all fast-food workers hated their job.. ergo the bad attitude.)

MeLikeYou · 3 months

people who have worked in food service or retail generally show it by not being d bags.

shaggyzon4 · 3 months

Personally, I would have absolutely no respect for my manager if he/she let a customer walk all over him/her (especially a 19 y/o customer). You need to set some boundaries, or you will lose all of your self-esteem.

jbrown209209 · 3 months

Do you go cheap on the fries? I'm just curious because whenever I go to get fast food anymore it seems like the fries are never full and it gets to the point where I have to go inside and tell them to fill it all the way up so I get what I paid for. Everyone is worried more about money than actually makin their customers happy.

dpistheman · 3 months

You know, I have a funny feeling the you would really like my friends and I.

Every week we get together to shovel toxic mixtures of ground of beast meat and corn byproducts at Taco Bell as high school seniors/college guys are often want to do. Normally, my friend drives, but lately we've been opting for the middle-of-the-week trips. He's got work then, so the lofty task of driving falls upon my dainty white boy shoulders.

For some context, here is a picture of my car.

Our last order went a little something like this: we roll up to the drive-through around 11:00 PM

Magical Talking Box: Good evening and welcome to Taco Bell. May I take your order?

Me: MMMMMMNNNNGOOOOD EEEEEVENING my fair madam! How are you on this marvelous Wednesday evening?

Box: Good, thank you. May I take your order?

Me: My order! Why goodness me! How could I have forgotten that I came here to purchase delicious Mexican food to voraciously consume an alleviate starvation for one more day! I must be some sort of imbecile!

Box: What will you be having?

Me and friends: Might we have not one, not two, but three, yes, THREE of your finest cheesy gordita crunches, your most persnickety crunchwrap supreme, with a twist of lava sauced mixed into it, to keep things interested, as I have been known to do in the bedroom!

Box: (laughing) Will that be all, sir?

Me: GOODNESS no! We are three manly men with chest hair, fierce appetites and delusions of grandeur! We haven't even scraped the surface of this order! Can you please tack on one of your most violent, vehement, vigilant volcano burritos and perhaps, if you're feeling generous or sinister, two cheesy double beef burritos? On top of that crazy addition, could you include a beefy five-layer burrito and your gentlest of soft tacos, made just to order, with love and that feeling of butterflies you get when you see the cutie with a booty you've been crushing on?

Box: Will that be all, my good man?

Me: Of course not! What sort of masochist would I be if I didn't quench my hero's thirst with a flagon of your finest Mountain Dew Baja Blast? And, for the fun of it, let's include a medium (pronounced meed-jum, of course) Baja Blast for my friend here!

Box: Your total is 22.53. Please pull forward, chap!

So we pull forward in the Jetta (which does not look nearly as good as it did in the picture I posted. That picture was just the most recent/only one of it) to the next window. The transition of what seems to be about 15 pounds of ground-up cow muscle, vegetables and tortilla is completed and I fetch forth 23 dollars to pay the kind maiden working the drive through window tonight. She hands me my change and bids me to have a nice night.

I locked eyes with her and said, with complete sincerity, "My dear...your eyes sparkle like a thousand stars scattered across a cloudless summer night sky." She started giggling and blushing and told me that was the sweetest thing she had heard all night.

I punched my fist in the air and screamed "FOR NARNIA!" and spend off with the pedal to the floor. We haven't been to that Taco Bell since. Not so much for lack of desire, but more because we're working on rehearsing our next performance, instead of ad-libbing it, and we set a very high standard for ourselves to exceed, or at least we'd like to think so.

megggasaurus · 3 months

I would never be rude to anyone in fast food unless they were first. Which has never happened.

MrDerpDerp · 3 months

My usual order conversatoin:

Them: "Hi welcome to x. How are you today?"

Me: "Hi I'm good and you?"

Them: "Good, what would you be having today?"

Me: "I'll be having x today"

Them: "Ok, that will be $x.xx, thank you have a good day"

Me: "thanks, you too! :D"

spaghetti_policy · 3 months

What's Wendy's spaghetti policy?

ta1ntdude · 3 months

I doubt this is the reason, but it's my line of thinking. Your food is good, it's cheap and it's quick. Lazy shitheads who want everything now the way they want it go there cuz they get everything they want. When one thing goes wrong those indignant shitheads get offended cuz for a slight moment the world didn't revolve around them.

vertekal · 3 months

This is a broad generalization, but:

Fast food is bad for you. People that eat fast food don't care about themselves, therefore they don't care about you. I bet the rude people are the ones that eat fast food 3 or 4 times a week

(I know fast food places offer 'healthy' options)

astroteacher · 3 months

When I was in college I had never been to a Wendy's because there was not one in my hometown. A classmate from Nigeria actually introduced me to them. His name was John. A very nice fellow, he told me: "You have to go to Wendy's man, they haff the bes' hamborgors." Shakes his head. "The bes' hamborgors ever." So I did, and he was right.

gordoha · 3 months

You sound pretty sensitive. If you say to me "Hi welcome to wendys, how's it going?" I will in fact just say that I want a burger and fries, because it's fast food, and I just want my damn food and let's cut out the chit chat. Plus, I know you say it to 2,000 people per day so you don't really give a shit how my day is going. That being said, I try to be polite when you fuck up my order.

daftpunkalive · 3 months

Wendy's costumers are terrible people, my brother's girlfriend has to deal with them too. I know that feel, bro.

mrfancyhat · 3 months

I love Wendy's and I love you <3 c:

Numlocks · 3 months

I agree with you about people being hostile to you. Thats ridiculous but do I really gotta sit there and make small talk with you? Come on man I just want my greasy ass shitburger and gtfo. I won't cuss at you or yell or talk down to you but do I really gotta make an effort to say some idiotic nonsense to you?

carrotman424 · 3 months

Just put all the spicy chicken in the bag and no one gets hurt. And a small chili please. Also your iced tea is good. I fucking love Wendy's. None of this is questions but I just want you to know I love you and everyone else who helps to bring Wendy's to the world and I ever saw someone giving a Wendy's employee a hard time I would follow them to where they work and put up flyers everywhere saying they pay homeless people for oral sex, then I would shit in their chimney. I love you.

taxpayerman · 3 months

I'm sorry your Wendy's is in an area populated mostly by blacks and hispanics

bdaniel44 · 3 months

I'll fess up. I'm a guy that is generally an asshole to you people in the drive thru. Several reasons for this. Generally, i hate people. I don't like wasting my time, and i don't give a shit about your day or formalities. Second, my orders are nearly always wrong, as they are complicated, and i'm always pre-emptively annoyed by the fact that i know i'm going to have to send it back/wage war with the drive thru lady for more barbecue sauce. you make delicious fucking bbq sauce wendy's, stop guarding it with your life. its the only reason i go there.

Also, i know i'm going to have a battle whenever the line is busy. Wendy's likes to take your money in the drive thru, and tell you "please pull forward and park, and somebody will bring your food out. Fuck that. I always politely say, "no thank you, i'm going to sit right here". I'm not moving so you can backlog more orders and forget about my food and let it sit and get cold until some random employee can remember what my car looks like enough to hunt me down in the parking lot. i'll wait right there, thank you. you don't have to wait for me to pay you, now do you?

And to top it off, i'm the guy that won't pull away from the window until i've checked all my food and made sure its right. Just being honest. most fast food restaurants suck at actually delievering fast food. So thats why i'm generally the type of asshole that makes your drive thru worker upset.

braces for downvotes

WaywardWayfarer · 3 months

I'll be forward in how I feel about how you're treated by your patrons -- the type of person who eats fast food regularly (these days), or, dare I say, in general, is one who has little disregard for their own life, let alone who they feel to be beneath them.

blankey2 · 3 months

Do you eat the food at Wendy's? Sorry if this has already been asked.

Tilx · 3 months

Can I come to your store and have you purposely fuck up my chicken wrap so I can have a free Frosty?

freemarket27 · 3 months

Why do you ask people how they are? That requires them to respond in order to be polite.

jpGrind · 3 months

I'm typically very nice to fast food employees, even if my very simple order is screwed up three times in a row (BK, don't worry). I've never worked fast food, so I'm not going to be that person that says "HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO JUST NOT PUT CHEESE ON A BURGER?!?!" and totally lose my cool about it. Just like any other job, no matter how easy it looks to an outsider, it's likely not as easy as it looks, and can get pretty overwhelming at times. No matter where I am, I try to be as polite as possible. Shitty customers are very common, but a polite, friendly, customer who treats you with respect can really turn your day around. That's the one I try to be.

There are more important things in this world to get all pissed off about, no matter how bad your day is. The types that blow their top over fast food typically aren't very bright to begin with.

Having said that, there's this guy that works at a local Wendy's who almost made me lose my cool. He must have been having an off night, because he was usually just fine. My girlfriend and I come through the drive through, we place two separate orders, and pull ahead. We pull up to the window, and he just gives me a total. I ask "Is this for the first order?" and extremely sarcastically, and angsty goes "YEAAHH...OBVIOUSLY." I came close to canceling my entire order, taking my card back, and giving him some choice words. Instead I kept quiet, and told the manager at the next window how extremely rude he was. I forget what she said now, but her tone implied it wasn't the first time she'd heard complaints about him that night.

FIN9450 · 3 months

Why did Wendy's/YOU get rid of Honey packets?!

Wolf2121 · 3 months

I hate fast food place's.. They don't pay there people enough so they get morons or people who don't care working there. I love when I go in or do the drive though and go to leave and they get my order wrong. I don't want a free meal I want the order right is that to much to ask?

doobles · 3 months

First off, I try to be as friendly as possible to all fast food employees. But I have a question, if you guys do happen to mess up my order, or I'm simply lying because I'm high and want more food, what is the policy on that? Do you have to give it to me, even without a receipt? Or can you ask for the food to be returned?

3 months

[deleted]

opsomath · 3 months

It's almost like both customers and fast food servers both behave in an inappropriate manner sometimes. Weird.

grooveliketravolta · 3 months

I don't really have a question but I feel your pain. I work at a movie theater and it makes me lose faith in humanity daily when I try my best to be genuinely easy-going and helpful and people treat me as if I'm below them. And as you said, getting people who are great puts a pep in my step and I will go out of my way to help them more so than any other people. Its really not that difficult to be nice to your servers.

JakeGonzoph · 3 months

Not to try to make myself a GGG or anything, but I always treat everyone I encounter at any store or restaurant with the upmost respect. I will always smile to the person taking my order, ask about their day, wish them a good day. And when it comes to my food getting messed up, I'll either deal with it, or apologize profusely before asking to get it fixed. Most people tend to forget they they're (myself included as an Olive Garden server) humans themselves. They just go about their day not even considering that other people exist other than themselves.

As a server at Olive Garden, I see this bullshit constantly. Sometimes I can't even get out "Hi, I'm jake, how are you all doing today?" before getting cut off with "YEAHHH I WANT A COKE AND...". I feel your pain, miss. Sorry our society is fucked.

fightbcicantfly · 3 months

I only got rude once, it was at an A&W. I asked for a hamburger with just mustard and ketchup. first time: cheeseburger. took it back politely. second time: chili cheeseburger. took it back still polite, but confused. third: onions, lettuce,etc. got frustrated. fourth: cheeseburger with nothing else on it. After that I gave it back and gave up and told them they were complete fucking morons. I should mention that there were only like 2 other people in the restaurant, and no one going through the drive through. The employees accidently burnt the place down a few months later. Can't say I was surprised.

ty12004 · 3 months

I am not 100% sure where and when the crazy switch gets flipped for some customers. I was working at a Tim Horton's and I see the lady at the front take an order for this polite 16 y/o girl. Well the lady got the order wrong (wrong bagel type) and the customer snapped, threw her bagel at the her (full strength) and pushed the coffee over onto the register. It was surprising to say the least.. also sad because I had to clean it up.

everydayfromwork · 3 months

I order fast food pretty regularly and I usually try to be cheerful and interact with them. It always depresses me though because I just think about how they get to work, clock in, look at their position, and then go stand there and do the same thing over and over for hours. I used to work in a dining hall and those first ten minutes of being at work were the most difficult.

But I wish more people were kind to people in your profession. People who take out their aggression on those who don't deserve it are cowardly. I mean damn, at least apologize if you blow a gasket.

Anyway, Thanks. Have a good day!

Herpbees · 3 months

A lot of people feel self-entitled. I've worked a lot of retail so I'm usually ALWAYS nice to anyone working a register, wherever it may be. Usually if they're rude I just call them a bitch or something once I leave. "Geez...that guy/girl was a bitch"

However, at the Wendy's in my hometown I would normally go through the drive-thru and get a drink on my way to work. The guy who hands customers their stuff was pretty much cracked out. He was ALWAYS hyper, and intrusive and it made me feel really anxious because I don't particularly enjoy people I don't know being overtly friendly. I was never rude to him, I just gave very short, "Fine" "Thank you" "you too" answers.

So...is there crack in your chili? Because even though I'm aware of what it's made of, I just can't help but always want to eat it. I crave it. I haven't been to a Wendy's in over 6 months, but I still think about that damn chili sometimes.

softmod · 3 months

I'm always polite to fast food employees. Actually, it goes for anyone providing me with a service. My first job was in fast food, so I always make a point to be extra nice to the kids or people working, because I know they get treated like shit by customers and management.

hipnerd · 3 months

The main problem is that Wendy's has decided that the $0.30 they will make of a sale is more valuable than your dignity. The customer is not always right and if a customer acts that rudely, they should be shown the door. I am sure corporate policy forbids that in almost every circumstance, but try pulling that crap at an upscale restaurant.

The second you start dropping f-bombs over the wrong sauce, you've lost the right to eat as far as I'm concerned.

Vyylent · 3 months

I'm not rude to them, per se, but oftentimes their friendliness feels forced and I don't really give a damn.

You can always tell when its genuine though, and I'm always friendly back in such cases.

niccirahl · 3 months

I don't understand why people are rude in the first place. You would be surprised at how far being obnoxiously nice will go, whether you mean it or not. In any type of customer service where you are the client, being patient and wearing a smile is going to make someone's day.

scrofunk · 3 months

I am generally polite to a fault most of the time and saying please and thanks after every 3 words but I can see where the "examples of slight offenses" happen. I am not saying it is right and you may very well be genuine in your remarks and pleasantries but that is not the case in about 99% of someone in your position. A lot of people do not care, they do not want to know if you are having a good day or anything like that so when you get asked "How are you today?" it is just taken as a decent way of saying "Hey, what do you want?" and not really looking for a valid answer.

The girl, you should have thrown scalding chili on her.

Question: Why does no other fast food serve baked potatoes like you guys. Is there not a decent profit margin or something about them because they seem like something really simple to keep on stock and delicious.

sweet_static · 3 months

Have you ever heard a drive-thru cashier say, "thanks, see you tomorrow " while the customer is leaving?

Either, it's just in my area or I'm haunted by the "see you tomorrow" ghost.

Aplasticbag32 · 3 months

hey im 17 and havent had a "job" yet as i was focusing on a militairy career witch is no longer an option just wondering about the working conditions of a fast food place

Rooster_Munchies · 3 months

What is in secret sauce you put on the W burger?
Why does Wendy's continually lie to me about "spicy" nuggets, when in fact, they are not spicy AT ALL????

I <3 Wendy's, my fav fast food joint but man their definition of spicy is a joke

gnomies · 3 months

I fucking love Wendy's.

fleelix · 3 months

Some people are dicks, you can't let it get to you. Simple as that.

cheesefan · 3 months

Wendy's is the only fast food I eat besides Chipotle. I wouldn't call lack of eye contact rude, some people just don't like human confrontation. if you are a pretty girl some guys may be shy to look you in the eyes. my question: do you dip your fries in your frosty?

p.s. love Wendy's ranch

tehaleks · 3 months

Sigh, I used to be a really nice person before I started working in food service. Even in retail I didn't have many problems, but food service... customers are so rude.

I don't mind if people are short with me, if they don't want to chat or whatever - in fact I don't either, I need to get things done on time so I don't get yelled at, and I mostly don't care about the soccer game you're going to or whatever. But when someone cuts me short because they're on the phone, or they yell at me because we're out of ____ or don't sell _____ anymore... it's not my fault. Also, I'm just the cashier, I didn't mess up your burger, I'm sorry and I'll get you a new one free of charge and even let you keep the old one if you want it (we'll just throw it away anyway) but if you're yelling at me, I'm not going out of my way to be helpful.

I don't like people anymore. :(

sofaking · 3 months

NEVER, NEVER EVER EVER be rude to the people who make your life easier or make you food for that matter.

I am a father of three and I visit Wendys a few times a month with my family. All of my kids know to say please and thank you to anyone they deal with. My only complaint with Wendys is from time to time in the drive through they forget the small things. Toys in the kids meals is the one that stands out. Not a big deal to me as it is one less thing I have to throw away later, but to my kids it is like losing a puppy.

Don't let the Idiots get you down.

zach2093 · 3 months

To answer your question its simple, people are in a position of power over you and they know it. They know they have a free pass to treat you like shit and you won't do anything because you could be fired.

cheesefan · 3 months

do you ever deal with late night drunk people? if so, whats the funniest thing you've ever seen?

videogameexpert · 3 months

All the Wendy's employees around my place are all nice. I know how to best order the meal so that it's efficient for them and always say my please and thank yous. I check my bag EVERY TIME in the drive through though. It's missing something 5% of the time.

I'm not mean to other people though except once at McDonalds. I ordered a 20 piece nugget and they gave me 1 sauce package. I asked for more and they gave me 1 more. So I parked my car, went inside, and asked them how many 4 piece nuggets in a 20 piece and how many sauces that makes. He just looked at me like he didn't know math so I just demanded a handful at the top of my lungs.

CSec064 · 3 months

... that story you have in there makes me want to camp out in the local Wendy's and give a stupid cunt like that a reply she deserves.

Chaim · 3 months

My gf will be rude to people running the drive through, she's worked in food service before, so I have no idea why she is so rude.

Necrotopsy · 3 months

I've never seen that happen in my area... but then again we are predominately asian here so we kind of talk shit when we leave(at least we don't tell you i guess? :/)

colieshark · 3 months

I know what you mean. I've worked as a waitress, in multiple retail jobs, and am currently a pediatric secretary and I know how bad it is. I never get why people have to be so obnoxious to complete strangers. There have been many times I've had customers/patients make me cry. I'd never do that to someone, I don't know why these people think they're entitled to treat people like crap.

mrsapphire · 3 months

Why can't you people understand that 'no mayonnaise' means I would actually not like mayonnaise on my sandwich? This concept seems so simple in practice but no wendys franchise I have ever been to can comprehend this simple simple request. I've become so jaded that I simply ask for extra napkins so I can wipe the shit off myself in the parking lot.

mlzr · 3 months

Thanks for posting! I did a fast-food stint in High School, and though it was surprisingly difficult, I actually enjoyed it. I was always respectful to customers, even when they were dickheads. The time really ended up teaching me a lot about people.

I'm always respectful to people in service industries, and almost always have great service. People are almost always great if you're great to them (as a customer, it sucks that it didn't work both ways!). I also kind of use it as a litmus test around women. If I've seen a girl a few times I try to randomly drop in at a fast-food joint and see how she treats other people. I've definitely decided to discontinue a thing or two based on this, and it's always turned out to be a good decision. If you can't even be pleasant around people who are giving you food you're probably going to be a shitty person to have a relationship with.

VeeBe · 3 months

Do you live in the US ? By the by, Wendy's is fucking delicious !

3 months

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sliverworm · 3 months

Do you really make the chili and let it simmer all night? and are the patties ever frozen?

dirtysoap · 3 months

please don't say anything bad about the Chili. It is literally the only thing I will eat at any fast food restaurant.

JuzPwn · 3 months

It's a worldwide problem. Some people are not aware of their surroundings and treat people, or other Humans as a trademark of the company. They see the employee as their chance to vent (be it positive or negative). They do not understand there is another person that is taking their order for them, and that person has feelings too.

Forgive them, for they do not know.

[deleted] · 3 months

Sounds like you need to take a trip to retail hell.

3 months

[deleted]

uv0001 · 3 months

As far as being rude to other service employees? No, as I currently work in a Deli so I am a service employee. Having seen both sides, I try to be as understanding as I can when I'm a customer, yet I don't let myself be walked on. So I'll go as far as "not being polite", if that makes any sense. But I won't be an outright jerk. The worse I'll do is just walk out, not tip, or at the very worse tell the manager. But like I said you'd have to do something to really piss me off for that to happen.

songwind · 3 months

I have never worked food service, but I have worked a service job (swimming pool desk monkey and pool cleaner) and retail. I always try to at least wish my servers a good day in return, and say thank you.

I can't imagine what was going through that woman's head.

smegroll · 3 months

Because trash is abundant in all its forms.

[deleted] · 3 months

Thank you for being an awesome human being!

To all the people who get frustrated when a cashier can't hear your order, or keeps repeating it back to you wrong... I understand your contempt to some degree, but in most cases the person is trying REALLY hard to get your order right. I worked at Chik-fil-a, and I'd be trying to listen to someone's order above the static on the headset, while simultaneously filling drinks, making milkshakes/ice cream, and then punching their order into the computer. Sometimes I had to be away from the register while taking orders because if we didn't have the drinks, ice cream etc ready to go then all hell would break loose, si I had to memorize the orders. I learned quickly that I'm not that great at multi-tasking, so I utterly fail at fast food.

Anyway, my point is as a fast food employee, I tried really hard to get everyone's order right, and would repeat it back as many times as I needed to to ensure I got it right... and this resulted in people yelling at me, laughing at me and calling me an idiot, and once or twice making me lose it and break down into tears.

Just... be nice, people. Please. :(

edit: misplaced ice cream

ThePowerOfGeek · 3 months

How tough is it to find and retain competant, good, reliable employees?

On the topic of being rude to fast food employees, I've only ever done that once. At a busy McD's I was handed my order. I said thanks and went to get condiments. at that point the gal who had handed me my food came up to me, snatched it out of my hand, gave me something else, and angrily demanded to know why I had taken the wrong food. If she'd have said "excuse me, you have the wrong order. Here's your order" I would have said "oh! Thanks". But she didn't so the gloves came off. I yelled back "Well, why did you give me the wrong order you fucking moron?!" She said nothing back skulked back behind the counter at that point. Not sure if she was stupid or just having a bad day, but either way, her behavior was not cool. But other than that I try to be very nice to fast food workers (smiles and thank yous, etc), as I'm sure most people do.

Good luck to you Miss Manager, and kudos on your positive attitude and hard work! :-)

kidl33t · 3 months

I'm never rude to people who handle my food... that's just not wise.

therealandrew · 3 months

I once ordered a Egg Mcmuffin at the drive thru, I drive off, 5 minutes later I start to eat while driving and realize that I just got a english muffin with no egg or ham or cheese in the middle. This pissed me the fuck off. I turned around and went into the Mcdonalds and walked right up to the counter and slammed my incomplete mcmuffin down on the counter in a fit of rage and yelled at the asshole kid who was working The drive thru. I got a new egg mcmuffin plus 3 apple pies and 2 free big mac coupons.

quv · 3 months

A friend of mine made me proud the other day. He was at some fast food place when this bitch ordered. She was rude to the guy at the counter. After she got her food, she brought something back up, cut in line, and started bitching. My friend told her to get in the back and quit bitching. I can't stand rude people.

quesrah · 3 months

"Hi! Welcome to Wendy's! How's it going?" "YEAH I WANT A BURGER AND FRIES!"

Sometimes when I am trying to place an order, I've been repeating it in my head to get it right, and it surprises me when someone asks me a question that is not the one I'm expecting. My reaction in a case like that is usually something like "I'd like a #4 and-- oh, hi. Yeah, I'm fine. A #4 and a coke please."

madamquidam · 3 months

I used to work at a Wendy's and I actually loved it (I did the late night shifts). One time at my Wendy's, an elderly lady I worked with made a mistake on a sandwich and the guy came back and literally threw it at her. Just absurd behavior. Whenever I see people treating others like that I always think to myself "This is how the whole Nazi thing started..." For no good reason it just becomes more and more acceptable to treat a particular group of people poorly.

tiedyegal · 3 months

Just remember these are just angry people looking for someone to lash out on. They are probably upset with something else or just have miserable lives in general. It's easier to take it out on an employees at your establishment because you HAVE to be nice, You can't flip out on them like they did you. It's a safe way to dispel anger. so Just smile tell them hae a nice day and know it has nothing to do with you.

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