Taco Bell and the End of America

[Nobunaga]

... Okay, so I left the country for twelve years or so and returned last year.

... I went through the drive-through at the local Taco Bell. I got up to the speaker and the guy says, "Hello". So, a little confused, I said "Hi". Then I sat there.... waiting. Finally, the guy said, "Whenever you"re ready".

... So I ordered. They messed up my order (bean burritos always need extra onions).

... Anyway, Before I left the States it was, "Welcome to Taco Bell, May I take your order"? If they were in a rush I might just get a "Can I take your order"?

... When did this phrase get cast out in favor of "Hello"? Was the phrase, "Can I take your order" reevaluated as too time-consuming / inefficient? Perhaps it belittled the employees by making them ask if they can help me? ...

... Five of seven times they have messed up my order (but that doesn't upset me much - especially when onions are free and I know they are busy).

... I am leading into something here, believe it or not. Service in the United States sucks, I mean, it absolutely sucks. A friend came to get me at the airport, right? We pull up to the booth where you pay for your parking time and this fat woman is in there gabbing away with some other woman. She takes the ticket from my friend, looks at it, says "Seven dollars" (or whatever it was) and sticks her hand out - not even looking at my friend, still gabbing away about whatever.

... This is criminal. I was in a state of shock for a while over that (I had returned from a country where the "Customer is God"). Pretty much everywhere I went was the same however, so I guess I've grown accustomed to it. Went to get some shirts and the girl at the register was too busy talking on her cell to bother with me for about 2 full minutes. Had an airline lose my bags and nobody gave a sh*t, not so much as an apology.

... When did this happen? More importantly, why did this happen?

...

[heavenly29]

Not just the states, quite common for all of the above to happen in the uk aswell.

[pimpdave]

Your first mistake is in going to Taco Bell over a Baja Fresh.

[muy_thaiguy]

I guess it depends on the area and who is working at the time.

[pancakemix]

I guess it depends on the area and who is working at the time.

[danodukebb]

yeah, I go to taco bell a lot and they are always friendly where I live...whats a baja fresh?? sounds good

[Nobunaga]

... Taco Bell is not the point.

... They're always very nice where I go as well.

...

[pimpdave]

Taco Bell is just shit food, plain and simple. So gross.

Trust me, Baja Fresh is just amazing, especially compared to Taco Bell. Keep an eye out for it, if you see one, check it out. So, so good. And quick, too.

[InkL0sed]

I've been to Japan, so I understand the contrast. I was there for a month, and the States seemed like a barbarian nation after that. I can only imagine the impact it makes after 12 years.

I would suggest that maybe it's simply a matter of perspective, that maybe you're glorifying the manners of the old days...

Of course, you could just be right. *shrugs*

[Matroshka]

Taco Bell is great, especially their new jalapeno chicken melt . Obviously it's not the best Mexican food you can get but it is good, fast, and cheap. That's all I expect from a fast food restaurant.

How can you say it's the "End of America" because you had a few bad experiences with customer service? I wouldn't expect good customer service from a parking lot attendant and airlines are notorious for their bad customer service. I really don't even expect good customer service from most fast food restaurants. Most teenagers first jobs are at fast food restaurants, and most of them can't even speak correctly.

The U.S. used to have the motto of "The customer is always right", until they realized that motto created bitchy, whiny customers. All customers had to do was say that line or throw a fit and they'd get whatever they wanted.

[jonesthecurl]

... Okay, so I left the country for twelve years or so and returned last year.

... I went through the drive-through at the local Taco Bell. I got up to the speaker and the guy says, "Hello". So, a little confused, I said "Hi". Then I sat there.... waiting. Finally, the guy said, "Whenever you"re ready".

... So I ordered. They messed up my order (bean burritos always need extra onions).

... Anyway, Before I left the States it was, "Welcome to Taco Bell, May I take your order"? If they were in a rush I might just get a "Can I take your order"?

... When did this phrase get cast out in favor of "Hello"? Was the phrase, "Can I take your order" reevaluated as too time-consuming / inefficient? Perhaps it belittled the employees by making them ask if they can help me? ...

... Five of seven times they have messed up my order (but that doesn't upset me much - especially when onions are free and I know they are busy).

... I am leading into something here, believe it or not. Service in the United States sucks, I mean, it absolutely sucks. A friend came to get me at the airport, right? We pull up to the booth where you pay for your parking time and this fat woman is in there gabbing away with some other woman. She takes the ticket from my friend, looks at it, says "Seven dollars" (or whatever it was) and sticks her hand out - not even looking at my friend, still gabbing away about whatever.

... This is criminal. I was in a state of shock for a while over that (I had returned from a country where the "Customer is God"). Pretty much everywhere I went was the same however, so I guess I've grown accustomed to it. Went to get some shirts and the girl at the register was too busy talking on her cell to bother with me for about 2 full minutes. Had an airline lose my bags and nobody gave a sh*t, not so much as an apology.

... When did this happen? More importantly, why did this happen?

...

Do not, repeat not, go to the UK. I've been in the US for two years, and was struck on a recent visit to the UK by how badly, in so many cases, the service there sucks compared to the US.

[apey]

My problem has been my local sonic. It has been there for two years I have gone there maybe ten times, and every single time they screwed up my order. I quit going after a while. So one day I was in a hurry I just needed to feed the kids so I figured, what the hell, sonic isn't busy (they never are) I ordered TWO yes TWO corndogs you know what they gave me THREE yes THREE................











hamburgers haven't been back and never will

[Juan_Bottom]

?

Try working with banks/credit companies. Some days I seriously contemplated suicide.

I think that's where it all started...
Evil corporations who really are concerned with shaving nickels...
Nexth thing you know it trickled down...... through business seminars and stuff maybe...

[pimpdave]

through business seminars and stuff maybe...

no, it was definitely through 7 Layer Burritos.

[bbqpenguin]

a lot of this comes from unions, minimum wage, etc. theat drive through person will get paid the same amount whether they treat you like garbage or like you're jesus with the munchies. they have no motivation to work hard, and thus, don't. we've evolved into a society of obgligation, where people feel they are 'owed' by society a job with a good wage, whereas it used to be in order to have a job and reasonable wage you had to earn it. this is why socialism will never work.

[Juan_Bottom]

we've evolved into a society of obgligation, where people feel they are 'owed' by society a job with a good wage, whereas it used to be in order to have a job and reasonable wage you had to earn it.

I hear you on that. But I've also worked for businesses that were afraid to fire anyone.

[PLAYER57832]

we've evolved into a society of obgligation, where people feel they are 'owed' by society a job with a good wage, whereas it used to be in order to have a job and reasonable wage you had to earn it.

I hear you on that. But I've also worked for businesses that were afraid to fire anyone.

WE are also in a society where the "real" poverty level is roughly $40,000. WELL above what you make at many factories, never mind jobs like Taco Bell. AND, you can work your life, safe and follow all the "rules" and then see it all wiped away because you or your child has the nerve to be so lazy and negligent as to get seriously sick.

So, if that is all you have to look forward to, many folks just say "why bother".

[danodukebb]

Apey, if you know about sonic you must be close to the south like me, the comercials they air on tv are shot like 50 miles away from me in north carolina


and is Baja Fresh like a northern or western chain??

[Iliad]

we've evolved into a society of obgligation, where people feel they are 'owed' by society a job with a good wage, whereas it used to be in order to have a job and reasonable wage you had to earn it.

I hear you on that. But I've also worked for businesses that were afraid to fire anyone.

WE are also in a society where the "real" poverty level is roughly $40,000. WELL above what you make at many factories, never mind jobs like Taco Bell. AND, you can work your life, safe and follow all the "rules" and then see it all wiped away because you or your child has the nerve to be so lazy and negligent as to get seriously sick.

So, if that is all you have to look forward to, many folks just say "why bother".

I don't see how getting seriously sick has anything to do with negligence or laziness.

[Juan_Bottom]

It was an observation of this great nation and her policies toward her own citizens. Not to be taken literally.

[MeDeFe]

we've evolved into a society of obgligation, where people feel they are 'owed' by society a job with a good wage, whereas it used to be in order to have a job and reasonable wage you had to earn it.

I hear you on that. But I've also worked for businesses that were afraid to fire anyone.

WE are also in a society where the "real" poverty level is roughly $40,000. WELL above what you make at many factories, never mind jobs like Taco Bell. AND, you can work your life, safe and follow all the "rules" and then see it all wiped away because you or your child has the nerve to be so lazy and negligent as to get seriously sick.

So, if that is all you have to look forward to, many folks just say "why bother".

I don't see how getting seriously sick has anything to do with negligence or laziness.

It's called "irony".

[Hologram]

Yeah, service does suck, but as for the Taco Bell, it might just be the one you're going to. You might get slightly better service from a different one in town.

But yes, when you find those places that actually value customer service, give them as much business as you can afford. I'd like to see a resurgence of service here in the states.