How long is TOO long to wait for food at fast food place?

@kareng (53375)
United States
October 26, 2007 12:03pm CST
I thought I had seen it all as far as long waits at fast food places. I've sat in drive thru for 15 minutes before and waited inside for over 15 minutes before but last night took the cake! We went to Burger King to grab a quick burger, was going to eat there and go back home to watch Grey's Anatomy at 8 pm. We got there at 7:05 and ordered. There were a few people/parties ahead of us already waiting for food and this should have been a clue but didn't click at the time. Soon I noticed that said people were annoyed and as I waited for our food saw that most of the orders were going to the drive through and people inside were totally ignored. I waited for a good 15 minutes and by this time we were striking up friendships in line. I finally saw our order on the board after a good 25 minute wait. However, it was a good additional 15 minutes before we got our food. I asked the manager for a bag because it was 7:50 and I didn't want to miss Grey's Anatomy. He looked at me like I was weird or something. I got my order before at least two others that placed orders before me. They were really ticked off. I will be calling to complain today. There is no reason for this kind of wait in a fast food place. Sad thing is we went to this location because the other one near us is always SLOW too! So, how long would you wait for food? What is the limit?
2 people like this
15 responses
• United States
27 Oct 07
If that was fast food I would hate to see their definition of not fast food! Sheesh! I would definitely complain!
1 person likes this
@kareng (53375)
• United States
8 Nov 07
No kidding! I would hate to have to wait of a full course meal from this crew. LOL.
@lucky_witch (2707)
• Philippines
26 Oct 07
WEll, for me 10-15minutes allowance from the time that the crew has told me is enough. What i mean, if they say taht 15 minutes, then I will wait for 30 minutes. And if nothing will arrive, I will go there and talk to them. If still no order arrive, then I will ask for my money back. I have no time to waste so much of my time with them, and I will never come back.
1 person likes this
@kareng (53375)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I agree, they don't deserve the business if they make customers wait over 30 minutes. Actually, 15 minutes is too long to wait.
@GardenGerty (157016)
• United States
26 Oct 07
At a fast food place? Fifteen minutes is more than enough. We can get a sitdown meal at a decent restaurant in that lenghth of time. I have done some mystery shopping, including some fast food places, and I know that the industry standard for an order is generally 3-5 minutes. I would have something to say about that long a wait, and I hope a lot of people did.
@kareng (53375)
• United States
26 Oct 07
I'm sure the area general manager will be getting an earful today!
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
26 Oct 07
Oh thats terrible. No you should have not waited that long. There is no excuse for it.JUst like me I waited in kmart today for one hour when it should have taken 10 minutes tops. I think you should call and complaine too. And good luck. The more I write this I get even madder.LOL
@kareng (53375)
• United States
6 Nov 07
This is two locations of this chain now that gives crappy service. And no more near my house...I won't be bothering anymore :) We have a Blimpies near by that gives awesome service and the food is better too :)
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
26 Oct 07
I have worked in local foodchains here in our country, and one of them is McDonald's. It only takes a couple of minutes, since other orders are taken "in-advence" by order-takers who jot down orders before the customers would reach the counter. But now, I believe they were promoting the 60 secs. order or they (costumers) would get a "freebie" in case the service exceeds the limit.
@kareng (53375)
• United States
30 Oct 07
It's obvious that this chain needs better training :)
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
26 Oct 07
I've waited 20 minutes before and that was when it didn't seem very crowded at all. If ours looks busy I won't even bother stopping. Once I sat at the drive thru for5 minutes just waiting for the girl to come back to take my order. We were the only car in the drive thru so I have no idea what she had to go do. Then there have been the 10 minute waits after we've ordered because they ran out of fries or something. I think a 45 minute wait is absolutely ridiculous! You must have a lot more patience than me!
1 person likes this
@kareng (53375)
• United States
31 Oct 07
I think the time just slipped up on us. Then everyone waiting in line started talking and that helped pass the time. We just wanted a quick dinner...lol, which we did not get.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
13 Nov 07
I haven't frequented a fast food place for years now, probably because I am a health freak in that I go to the gym five times a week, and besides I can't stomach all the grease and salt and E numbers etc... But back in my youth (many eons ago) I used to go to fast food places and if there was a queue I would walk out, I hate queuing for food, you wait to get served then you have to wait for the food on top of that, I'm not a patient man when it comes to food! Over 15 minutes is far toooooo long. Sorry but I think five minutes tops! Told you I was impatient!
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
27 Oct 07
That is outrageous. We went to a Sonic when we were in St. Marys, Georgia, a few weeks ago. There were 4 of us, we ordered, 4 burgers, 4 fries, 4 drinks...not a difficult order. Three burgers, three fries and 4 drinks come out. One of the burgers was wrong. We complain, they come out with the extra fries. Then about 5 minutes later, 2 burgers come out, both wrong ones completely. A few minutes later, one burger right, one burger wrong. Finally, after everyone is done eating, we get the last burger. When the girl explains that she did not charge us for one of the burgers and one of the drinks. Do you think that maybe she would have said, sorry for the delay but we did not charge for these, but nope she got the rest of her money. What happened to customer satisfaction. BTW - the shakes were good, the burgers were not.
• Singapore
6 Nov 07
Hmm... doesn't fast food mean FAST food? Where I am, fast food is pretty fast. Unless it is peak hours, you get your turn at the counter within minutes. Whichever, the food itself usually comes instantly. When it is real crowded, then we might have to wait a bit - but nothing ridiculously long enough to get one too worked up. :P
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
30 Oct 07
Oh boy, that sounds like the Burger King on our military base. There could literally be no one in there ordering and you still have to wait...and by God do not go through the drive through window either and order a meal including drink. They were making us take our cups inside and fill up our drinks in the restaurant! So what's the point of having a drive thru! I would say 15 minutes would be my limit.
• United States
27 Oct 07
I agree with you, yes they take way to much time serving at FAST FOOD places I guess no one explained FAST FOOD to them yet lol ! I think if they don't have you served by a certain length of time your food should be free. McDonalds use to do this I am not sure if they still do. Contact the district office and bring up the issue to them. You can also sign up to do Mystery Shopping and that is the best way to get even with a place.
• China
27 Oct 07
in fact i don't want to wait at any time. i begin to eat food in the resturant in 5 minutes. in fact i will be crazy if it is more than that. fast food is fast. so i get it without 1 minutes. and it may last i minutes if they are busy. but you know i am impatince. i will go another place if there are too much people. i think 15 or 10 is too long. five minute is my limit i can stand up.
• United States
27 Oct 07
Yeah if I am not sitting down within 10-15 mins I either leave or get loud. I have seen situations where they are short handed and I can understand that. Frankly, I'm surprised that they can get enough ppl to fill a crew as often as they do!! But the only time I ever waited 45 mins was the morning after a huricane when the McDonalds was the only place open to get a cup of coffee and it was PACKED. I was glad they were there. the KFC near my house is notoriously slow. I went in there once and saw a person leaning on the counter. After about 5 mins or so The person came out to TAKE HER ORDER. I thought she was waiting for food! I asked for the manager and gave him an earful. I think they are so jaded that they don't even care about Complaints any more. Let alone actual Customer Service. I go to the grocery store more now.
• India
27 Oct 07
in our country v hav to wait for over 30 minuted=s in a high end restaurant...that really tests our patience...but if v go to a smaller restaurant v get our food very qiuckly.....i dont no y this difference in delivery time....are the high end 1s making us wait just to give the feeling tat the restaurant is full......
• United States
27 Oct 07
Seriously, no more than 5 minutes. Fast food should be instantaneous. I would probably never wait in a drive thru line for more than a couple minutes. I have been known to drive off after waiting in line too long. If I walk in a place and see a crowd I just leave. These days you can get "fast" food at groceries stores: rotisserie chicken, salad bar, hot bar. So if I'm in a rush, I know I have other options. Incidentally, I hope you got your food in time and didn't miss any of Grey's!!!