1.) Don’t be on your phone: We get it. You have a busy life. We all have cellphones that practically rule our lives, but when you go through the drive thru don’t be talking on your phone. It’s very rude of you to not acknowledge a worker’s existence. Since when did it become okay to be on your phone when someone is ringing you out? If you are talking on your phone, whether it be in the drive thru line at McDonalds or making a purchase at Walmart, it’s really rude!

2.) Know your order: Here is one rule that many people apparently have never been told: Do not go through the drive thru if you don’t know what you want. A drive thru’s purpose is to be fast and easy. Don’t pull up to the speaker and ask “umm… can I have a minute?” You’re telling me that you couldn’t decide what you wanted on the drive to our establishment? Because of your indecisiveness you are wasting my time and everyone else’s in line behind you.

3.) We can see you: Many people don’t realize that we have a really good view inside your vehicle. Don’t be picking your nose or anything embarrassing like that because we have most likely already seen it. We have a really nice hidden video camera in the speaker.

4.) You don’t have to scream your order: We can totally hear you. You hardly have to raise your voice in the speaker. Nothing makes me cringe more than someone pulling up to the speaker and speaking really loud right into my ear. People in the drive thru are often putting together several orders at once and if you are too loud we may not have an extra hand to turn the volume down on our headsets. The volume of your voice may just lead to our hearing damage.

5.) No large orders: As mentioned earlier, a drive thru is designed to be quicker than going inside for your food or drinks. So if you order 10 sandwiches, 6 drinks, fries with no salt, and a 60 piece chicken nugget, I guarantee you it will not be faster in the drive thru and defeats the whole purpose of one.

6.) Don’t mumble: speak clearly, at a normal volume, with your head turned toward the speaker and we will most likely be able to hear you perfectly. The worst is when we can’t tell whether you said “umm sweet tea” or “unsweet tea.” Also, if we can’t understand you, please don’t get an attitude if we ask you to repeat your order a few times. Not communicating face to face can get really frustrating for us too and we deal with it all day.

7.) Manners still apply: Don’t start out your order with “I will have” or “I’ll take.” First of all, you aren’t my boss. It is not your right to demand your order to me. Second, don’t ever start your order by saying “I’ll do…” It grammatically makes no sense for you to “do” your food. It actually sounds grotesque and inappropriate. Instead, try ordering with “May I have…” or “Can I get…” Sounds a little more polite, yes? Adding in a “please” or “thank you” can’t harm either.

8.) Our parking lot is not a trash can: Don’t dump your drinks out of your car into our parking lot. Your ol beverages get really sticky and disgusting from those who dump out their drinks. Also, don’t open up your car door and leave your empty cup on the ground to make room for your new drinks. Last time I checked, that was called littering.

9.) Don’t just order and iced water: If you want and iced water, please buy something from us. It’s because of these people that some places now charge for a glass of water. We have a customer where I work who comes to the drive thru every day and gets four large iced waters and nothing else. If you actually make a purchase, then I would be happy to give you a complimentary water. After all, it’s just common courtesy.