Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Schooled at the drive-through

I consider myself pretty effective at communication.  It is a skill that is required in my field.  I send messages in a corporate environment and even teach some classes.  I believe that clear communication is somewhat important.

I pulled into the drive-through of a local fried fish fast-food establishment for lunch today.  I was in a bit of a rush.  A product of today's budget crunching environment is the typical question "would you like some condiments."  I was lucky enough to be asked this time and I replied "one of each."  I received a simple nod and the window closed.  Now, my usual request is: one cocktail sauce packet, one tartar sauce packet, one ketchup packet and one malt vinegar packet.

The employee handed me my bag of food with a smile and I drove away.  When I arrived back at work and began pulling my lunch and condiments from the bag, I issued an audible laugh which garnered looks of concern or confusion from some co-workers (I couldn't really tell which).

My meal was simply a piece of fish, a piece of chicken, a few shrimp and a smattering of french fries.
From the bag containing my lunch, I extracted:

1 ketchup packet, check
1 tartar sauce packet, check
1 malt vinegar packet, check
1 cocktail sauce packet, check

along with:
1 hot sauce packet
1 lemon juice packet
1 buffalo wing sauce tub
1 spicy thai dipping sauce tub
1 ranch sauce tub
1 condiment cup filled with barbecue sauce
1 condiment cup filled with honey-mustard

Literally, one of each and every condiment in the establishment as I had requested.  Touche, drive-through employee, touche.  I had no idea they even had some of these sauces.  Words mean things and I failed the test.  Thanks for the humorous reminder and I'll be more specific next time.

14 comments:

  1. teeheehee. what did you do with all of the extra condiments?

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Oh, kymber, you have busted me. This is where I admit that I am a sauce junky. I actually tried most of the different kinds to see how they were. Some of the extra sauce packets I left on the break-room table. They come in handy when you don't get them if you forget to ask. I should take Duke's advice and keep them for the survival bag.

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  2. Well, it is what you requested. Live and learn!

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    1. Too true, Rev Paul. Even a bag of condiment packages can be a lesson from which to learn if you're looking for it.

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  3. With my luck I'd of received, nada.

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  4. At least you will have something on hand if they forget next time.

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  5. Stephen and John, you both seem to have my luck. I forget to ask and they conveniently forget as well. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya. :)

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  6. LOL, yep, you just had a gotcha moment... :-)

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    1. You're right, NFO. I wish someone would have taken a picture. From the look on everyone's face when I pulled them out it was probably hilarious.

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  7. lol that may have been a gotcha moment BUT kudo's to the employee there for actually paying attention to the words coming out of your mouth and understanding - i can't remember the last time i ordered something from a drive through and they got the order right...

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    1. and i'm not being sarcastic - i really can't remember the last time...

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    2. I was definitely impressed with this one. You're right, it's hard to find one to get it right.

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  8. The customer is always right and they did right by you! You could have been an under-cover manager checking to see if the establishment stocked all the proper sauces...

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  9. You're right, DirtCrashr. Usually they never even ask and you leave condimentless. :)

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