its starts with hello

Rule number 4: Acknowledge the presence of the person who is taking orders.

This rule is not coffeeshop specific. It applies to drive-thrus across the world, or at the very least, across the country. So many times I have encountered this:

Me: Hey, what can I get for you today?

Customer: ...............silence.............

Me: Hey! What can I get for you today?

Customer...........silence............

Me: HEY! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!

Customer: Um, helloooooooo (imagine Robin Sparkles saying this.)

That is SO not cool guys. All it takes is a "Hi, just one second PLEASE" (you can't forget the 'please' because then I might hate you), or "Yes, do you have any recommendations? I 'm not sure what I want today" or "Hi, I would like----" It makes us drive-thru people feel a little less like a mental ward (sorry I'm not PC) patient when someone responds to us quickly.

Also, I would like to say, when you pull up to ANY drive-thru, please make sure you are not still on a phone call. Especially not an important business call. You came to us. We did not park a drive-thru box/menu next to your car because we wanted the business and we happened to do it when you were on the phone. Oh. No. You decided to get something on the run. So why not realize that you are doing this and that you need to order. You cannot be on the phone and order at the same time. It just doesn't work that way. Pulling up to the drive-thru box with your window up and a cell phone glued to you ear makes everyone around you hate you. Think about it, we have to sit there listening to the sound of your car in our ear this whole time, and the person who is probably behind you is now going to be late because you apparently thought it was a sittheronyourcellphone-thru.

I'd like to also note that pulling up there while you're on the phone with someone who doesn't know what is offered at that establishment is not a good idea. We don't want to hear you read off the menu to them and wait for you. Just come inside. It saves the world.

And a final note, we can hear your entire conversation. No, I don't want to hear about the pap smear you just told your mom about. I also don't care about Johnny and Mara hooking up last night. Although, sometimes I think I should just join in the conversation, I mean, you guys OBVIOUSLY want me to. Right?....

(P.S. it is a DRIVE-thru. not a WALK-thru.)