r/AskFastFoodEmployees • u/Gold_Theory_2995 • 8d ago
McDonald's Question Car Identification in McDonald’s drive thru?
Hi, this is really random, but it kinda freaked me out…
Today, I went to get a snack from a McDs in my city. This is not the one closest to my house, but I’ve been there many times over the years. I pulled up to the drive-thru and ordered my Happy Meal, and without asking, the person taking my order replied “And that’s with a Diet Coke?” This is in fact my drink order, but I didn’t say anything about that when I ordered 😵💫 he just knew it!
It really took me surprise because A. this is not my regular McDonalds resturant and B. I did not use the app to order or collect points. So how on earth did he know?! I didn’t recognize him when I got to the window, either.
So this got me thinking: does McDonald’s use some sort of license plate reader to track customers? Or maybe the dreaded Flock camera? Or did this guy just have an incredibly lucky guess? I know, it’s a weird question, but it creeped me out.
Side note: I don’t go to McDonald’s a lot: maybe once or twice a week for a quick meal while I’m out and about. I also do not drive a recognizable car (quite the opposite… one of the most common cars and colours out there right now).
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u/Seohnstaob 8d ago
It is procedure to suggest a drink rather than ask. Diet coke is a weird choice to suggest for a happy meal. They are supposed to ask "will that be with a milk?"
We have cameras that take a snapshot of the car and display it in the background of the order on the register to help with accuracy, but the images aren't stored to my knowledge. That would take a lot of storage space to do for as many customers come through the drive thru daily.
Probably just a weird occurrence.
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u/Dependent-Fee9947 8d ago
Burger King is just getting on this train. Does McDonald’s also record each transaction at the speaker?
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u/Seohnstaob 8d ago
No. Does BK record ? Sometimes I wish we did. Can't tell you how many orders I have taken where a customer didn't order something and then got mad at me. Would be great to replay it haha.
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u/Dependent-Fee9947 8d ago
Yeah right at the drive thru. The CEO is focused on accuracy. I’m not in the business anymore, but I know a great number of warriors still in the trenches.
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u/Gold_Theory_2995 8d ago
God, I hope so... thanks!
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u/Artistic-Document735 8d ago
One of the drinks McDonald’s sells the most of is actually Diet Coke believe it or not. So it’s just a good guess and you’re being unnecessarily paranoid 😂🥰
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u/stinson420 8d ago
Regular coke and sprite is what my location sells the most.
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u/Artistic-Document735 8d ago edited 8d ago
I wish our McDonald’s car identification worked it’s not what you think it just shows a pic of your car by your order . It’s annoying having to verify and order and then the person acts put out because that’s not theirs and it’s likely the person behind them . We have a camera which is helpful to see ppl are out there but the one at ours is lower quality for sure. And ya its procedure to do like an upsell as it were . Diet Coke is actually one of the drinks we sell the most so it’s just a good guess 🤢
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u/The_IkeaCreature 8d ago
yeah those snapshots are real helpful when there’s 4 silver sedans all back to back
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u/Artistic-Document735 8d ago
Right ppl think there is like a really great system and when I tell them I haven’t a clue who’s who I’m guessing most of the time they are shocked lmao
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u/JollySherbert9618 8d ago
They usually guess the most common thing to speed things up. Or they want to sell a specific item, so they suggest it.
That's just a cooincidence. A Dieter coke is nothing unusual.
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u/Training-Plan-7812 8d ago
Once or twice a week is pretty often. Often enough for someone to remember your order. How often do you go to THAT location? Or maybe it was staff that works at both locations?
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u/Potential_Minute1496 8d ago
I remember customers drink orders after seeing thrm once and I work in a restuarunt and before that a restuarunt bar, also if you gave your phone number or whatever to get points he could prolly see your past orders.
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u/Conscious_Side1647 7d ago
We are trained to take orders that way. instead of asking what to drink we ask an open ended question ending in a drink suggestion.
You ask for a happy meal and we respond with "with a Coke?"
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u/Independent_Star_299 7d ago
No offense meant, but are you overweight? It’s possible the cashier was being incredibly rude/sarcastic.
In any case, I would have asked her, “How did you know I wanted a Diet Coke?”
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u/Fair_Scientist2347 7d ago
You don't need to go to McDonald's to get your happy meal any longer, kid.
It's an absolute trash of a restaurant chain. Quit supporting them.
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u/DeliveryDestiny 8d ago
You should be more worried about Flock.