Timeline for What is the benefit of 2 drive thru lanes at a fast food restaurant?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2017 at 8:13 | comment | added | jpmc26 | @FighterJet I've seen a lot of lines that are blocked off once you pass the speaker. Most have some kind of opening that lets you leave after passing the speaker. This makes sense; if they don't have what you wanted and you never placed an order, it's better for you to get out of everyone's way. You could abuse this by getting out of line after ordering. | |
| Feb 17, 2017 at 19:29 | comment | added | coblr | @FighterJet, you bail by just driving away. I haven't been to many drive thrus that have a wall or curb stopping you from leaving, but I guess it does happen so, fair enough question. Even in the pic in the OP, you just let the person in front move ahead a little (finally!!) then leave. No, it doesn't happen often, but I've been in a situation where I was on the fence about getting fast food anyway, and just decided that after waiting for 15 mins, it was a sign. I do see the point of a shorter line. In&Out always has LOOONG lines, so whenever I see one with a short line, I'll go just for that. | |
| Feb 17, 2017 at 17:44 | comment | added | user69458 | @coblr: How do you bail from a drive-through line? Unless there's nobody behind you, you're boxed in on all four sides, so you have little choice but to keep moving forward. Granted, you could just refuse to pay, but why would you after waiting that whole time? | |
| Feb 17, 2017 at 1:58 | comment | added | Jerry Coffin | @coblr: Actually, there's generally quite a substantial benefit to the restaurant, though it's not in forcing people to pay. The benefit they get is more people getting in line due to the appearance of the line being shorter. Most people going through drive-through could 1) skip eating right now entirely, or 2) move on to a different restaurant very easily. The longer the lines look, the less likely it is that other people will get in line at all. | |
| Feb 17, 2017 at 1:13 | comment | added | jpmc26 | You missed the, "client pays," step, which in theory happens in parallel to preparation. @coblr I think you're assuming that the restaurant isn't willing to risk the loss of preparing food that the client never pays for. I doubt the risk is all that high; most customers pay and get their food. Fast food restaurants already budget in some lost food for things like mistakes in preparation anyway. | |
| Feb 17, 2017 at 0:43 | history | edited | Alvaro | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 213 characters in body
|
| Feb 16, 2017 at 23:46 | comment | added | Alvaro | @coblr well, you are right in that, the client can simply leave at any point before payment. But if the client already ordered, I believe it is more probable he will stay than if he didn't order yet. | |
| Feb 16, 2017 at 23:42 | comment | added | coblr | Since the two lanes are BEFORE the payment window, it doesn't really benefit the "restaurant" at all to have the 2 lanes. I could place an order, land at a cue, then bail before I've paid and AFTER I've executed the order. The only way a place like this would benefit from the 2 lanes would be if the user paid upon ordering because only then are they obligated to wait. | |
| Feb 16, 2017 at 22:36 | history | edited | Alvaro | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 209 characters in body
|
| Feb 16, 2017 at 19:47 | history | answered | Alvaro | CC BY-SA 3.0 |