The Top Four Drive-Thrus
The Top Four Drive-Thrus Save Email Print
Posted: 2:45 PM Oct 6, 2008
 Last Updated: 2:45 PM Oct 6, 2008
 Reporter: The Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
46 comments
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DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - A new study finds that Wendy's offers the
speediest drive-thrus in the fast-food, or quick-service
restaurant, business.

QSR Magazine reports that a survey conducted by Insula Research
found a trip through the drive-thru at Wendy's averages just 2
minutes and 11 seconds.

The researchers also say the number of drive-thru customers has
been declining at Wendy's, which tends to mean faster service
times.

Wendy's finished fourth overall for drive-thru service when
other factors were considered, including how accurately orders are
filled.

Chick-fil-A ranked first, followed by McDonald's and Burger
King.

Wendy's International Inc. is based in the Columbus suburb of
Dublin. The chain is now owned by Atlanta-based Triarc Cos. Inc.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Posted by: To Hey Dave on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Sure, let's pay teachers, too, based on how well they perform instead of longevity only. Many of them won't get paid as much. If you recall, Dems took over Congress in 2006 and the economy started to go down. Obama SUED mortgage companies to force them into lending money to people who could not afford the loans. The DEMS did not want to fix the problem 2 years ago when MCCAIN wanted to fix it. Also, Obama's campaign received a ton of money from Fannie and Freddie. The corrupt CEO's are working for him now. Yeah, let's get him in the oval office where he can appoint the 2 biggest scammers to even more powerful positions and take us for even more money. NO THANK YOU!! Obama will REVERSE the tax breaks the low and middle class received under Bush. MCCAIN wanted more regulation on these people. Get your facts straight before you pull that lever. BTW... how amazing is it that it is Bush's fault people are working at fast food?! At least they have a job and are contributing to society.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 8, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Seriously, how is this news?? How about instead of worrying about how long it takes to get the greasy, heart attack on a bun, you go home and make a decent healthy meal.
Posted by: anon on Oct 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I have found that most of the time any "fast food" isn't
Posted by: fastfoodwrkr on Oct 8, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Just some advice from a 20 year veteran of the fast food industry..(and yes I have made a good living there..they are not all minimum wage jobs.) It really helps speed of service if customers have an idea about what they want BEFORE they get to the speaker. You know what most fast food places offer so decide before you get there. HANG UP YOUR CELL PHONE..it is very rude to try to order and carry on a conversation at the same time and it also distracts the orderer and they may order the wrong thing to begin with. Listen when the order is repeated and ask them to repeat it if they don't. If that part is not right have it corrected then. If you have a coupon mention that right away..not at the window..sometimes there are different buttons for that. Limit your 'seperate' orders to 2. When you come through with 5 or 6 orders thats like waiting behind 5 or 6 cars and the people behind you don't realize that. If you are asked to pull up then please do so..that way we can keep the line moving.
Posted by: Janet on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:23 PM
The Wendy's in Catlettsburg tries really hard to be fast, and they are. BUT in their effort to be quick, they throw your food at you before you even get the window down, and if you have more than one thing, they stick it in your car window so close to your head you can feel it until you can manage to take it. Plus, the order is usually incorrect--i.e. no straw, no sauce, no fries, no utensils, no salad dressing. So fast isn't necessarily best. The managers need to BACK OFF these poor workers so that they can get it right and not be so rushed. I'll wait the extra minute just to get what I ordered.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:18 PM
every fast food place i have went to they have got something wrong. it doesnt matter where its at. Fast food stinks anyways.
Posted by: DISAPOINTED on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:39 PM
YOU MEAN NOT ONE COLD BEER DRIVE THRU MADE THE LIST? MUST BE SOME KIND OF DISCRIMINATION :)
Posted by: Joker on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:30 PM
McDonalds "Hal Greer" is the slowest. Call a day ahead and then pick it up is the best way.
Posted by: anonymous2 on Oct 7, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Wendy's at 29th Street is the fastest Wendy's. Theyalso have really great food. I think some people on this board need to realize that it is harder than it looks to work in the food industry. The employees also have to put up with customers that do not know what they are doing. If we would all be a little more understanding of how hard everyone's jobs are it may help. Try it out Wendy's 29th Street exit. GREAT FOOD and SERVICE!!
Posted by: ex fast food worker on Oct 7, 2008 at 02:20 PM
I am one of the most polite and patient customer because I know how it is to work a fast food drive thru for hours with no break for mean managers and stupid co workers and impolite people barking their orders to you and treating you meaner the nicer you are HOWEVER; the Taco Bell in Kanawha City at the Kanawha Mall is INSANE SLOW through the drive-thru!!! I call it Taco Bell Hell and if there is more than 2 cars I will not for my life get in line! I don't care how loud my kids scream!! But the food is wicked good!! So I guess if you don't like waiting don't go back or just make sure you have 30 minutes to sit and just expect to wait!
Posted by: Kimberly on Oct 7, 2008 at 12:12 PM
If you are so dissatified why do you keep going back to the same stores or even the same chain? If I had went to two or three of the same store and received bad service in them all, I would not go to that chain again. But they are all worth giving a second chance too as it might just be one of those days where no matter nothing goes right for those inside. We all have them, cut them some slack. And no, I don't work in the fast food business. But the business I do work in I have to deal with rude people who think I can read minds and know what they want w/o them having to talk to me or put their cell phones down.... sometimes its the customers that make the place bad and not the workers.
Posted by: anon on Oct 7, 2008 at 11:23 AM
i have to agree with "Sick of cold fries and bad service" on the west end of huntington. I stop there at least once a week for food and there are so many complaints i could file.. a.) the order is wrong, b.) the cashier would rather talk to her friend on her cellphone than take my money and send me on my way, c.) fries are cold and not worth feeding to the dog and d.) if i order nuggets, regardless of the location, they ask what type of sauce i'd like when im ordering and then 9 out of 10 times i dont get that sauce in the bag so im stuck w/o my beloved honey mustard and have to settle for ketchup or whatever else i can scrounge up at work..
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Taco Bell in Ravenswood is the fastest. The Wendy's...I hate going there, I waited in line for two plain hamburgers the otherday for 10 minutes!
Posted by: taco jim on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:38 AM
taco bell rules baby.........
Posted by: Me on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:20 AM
The Mcdonalds at the Huntington mall is really bad. They mess up the order everytime I have went there. How hard is it to make a plain hamburger. And if you order a double you have to look because they try to get by with a single.
Posted by: DDCJ on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:54 AM
The McDonald's in Chesapeake OH is the slowest. They hardly ever get your order correct. If I would just order a coffee, they would still find a way to get that wrong and heaven forbid, I would ever order a meal for 2 or 3 people! I think it just all boils down to teenagers. Some of them are just lazy and really do not want to work and could care less. Now, that's not every one of them, so people don't get bent out of shape on my comment here.
Posted by: booger on Oct 7, 2008 at 09:42 AM
The Wendy's by the Capital is ok if you go in and order. Quicker and more accurate that way. The Kanawha City Burger King I'll never go back to. Went there once, ordered a chicken sandwich and got charged $11. I asked the guy if that was right, he said prices went up. I asked for a manager. He told me "Don't you know how to read? Pay more attention when you order." Jerk. I didn't know BK managers were so important that they could talk to customers like that. I guess he's better than me. I still didn't get my money back. So I paid over $11 dollars for a chicken sandwich and fries. Oh, I never even got my drink. By that time, why bother to ask about it? Of course I tried calling the corporate to complain, but how can you explain to a recording that tells you to call another number, then after calling THAT number, it's a number for a Personals chat line. So sad, because I like BK food. I guess I just can't afford to give up everything in my wallet for a chicken sandwich.
Posted by: Hey Dave on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Hey Dave - if you ask me, people should be paid relative to the work they perform. Teachers are grossly underpaid. Fast food jockeys, however, are not. It doesn't take much education to push a hamburger-shaped button, take money, give change and bag burgers and fries. I'm sorry, but the problem is that the people taking these jobs are not high school and college kids working their way through school - it's adults, former inmates, drug addicts and the like who have no other option. So they become disenchanted and you get crappy service. Vote Democratic this Novembmer and you'll see things change for the better. You talk about Wall Street and the bailout...well why do you think America got there in the first place? Republican "leadership" and the lack of oversight and regulation.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:21 AM
the wendys on the east end by the capitol is horrible. the last time i went there, the manager was working the window and would turn around and tell the employees, "window open" so they would watch their horrible language. little did he know that i could hear through the window because they were so loud. and i never ever get a receipt. do u think i would trust giving those rejects my credit card ? no !!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I have to say at some of the wendy's stores you do get the lazy one's and the one's that just don't give a crap and even some of the most disgusting & inadequate people working for them,But I also think its because they're not making much more than about $6.00 an hour (if that) so they don't care if your service is good, fast, hot or fresh and I think thats pittyful. I agree with you Cindy also about the burger king in fairplain, I've stopped in that one before also and they were slower than a 7 year itch on a cold winters day, the fries were cold as if they hadn't even been cooked and the pop was flat.
Posted by: how to deal on Oct 7, 2008 at 03:41 AM
Anytime I've had a problem with at the drive thru I've went to the restaurant's website and reported the problem. Every time I've received a written apology and a coupon for a free value meal. There are those who complain and do nothing, then there are those who complain and get results. What I find ridiculous is me waiting in line with the rest of the crowd in the drive thru, a woman in from of me ordering a "special order", getting her food and pulling immediately into a parking space to make sure it is right. She then didn't think she had enough chili on her chili cheese fries and walked up and knocked on the drive thru window while I was at the window waiting on my food. Her order may have been not she wanted, but I find it quite rude that she would feel entitled to go back to the front of the line just for more chili on her cheese fries. The way to handle this is to file a formal complaint which every restaurant has online and not interfere with other customers and their orders.
Posted by: Dave on Oct 7, 2008 at 02:48 AM
Listen to everyone whine. Wall Street gets a $700B bailout and CEOs are raking in $500 million yet we can't even pay the people that serve us daily a decent wage. Not to mention the percentage of workers in this industry without healthcare is sky high. I bet service, quality of the product and customer experience would rise if workers made a wage that motivated them. It's time to end corporate greed and give more Americans a better chance at living well for the good of all of us. Not to mention a chance at proper healthcare for everyone. If your attitude is "these people screwed up and they're working here so they deserve what they get paid..." is only supporting the greed of the smallest percentage of Americans and working against the common good of us normal people.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 12:23 AM
The wendy's at Chapmanville is bad fast service but they almost always give you what you dont order
Posted by: Fastfood Stinks! on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:40 PM
I hate Wendy's food. It taste terrible, the burgers and fries are always cold, and the service is awful. I would much rather stay at home, and cook a nice hot meal for my family.
Posted by: BOB on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:38 PM
IM SURE THEY DIDNT SURVEY ANY LOCALS HIRE CRACK HEADS GET ANYTHING. I GET REG COKE WHEN I ORDER DIET SOMETIMES NO ICE IN CUP. I USUALLY ANSWER BY TELLING THEM TO JUST THROW SOMETHING IN BAG AND CHARGE ME NO NEED TO ORDER THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME WHAT THEY WANT TO ANYHOW.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:45 PM
How about the Wendy's in Charleston, by the Capitol building, terrible drive-thru service, no receipt, the girl had an ugly hickey on her neck and she tried to short change me. i would never go there again.
Posted by: Earl on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Try getting behind a van load of welfare rejects and screaming kids.It cant go fast enough.
Posted by: lol on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:32 PM
taco bell needs to bring back the clock if it's not done in that time frame it's free cause dude i was honestly at the window waiting for a big bell box the other day for i clocked it 8 minutes i was the only one inline and there was like 2 people at the counter it was pitiful
Posted by: Me on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I don't know how the declining number of customers in wendy's drive-thrus STILL makes them have faster wait-times. I could be the only person in line and still have to wait forever... usually to have ice cold fries (if I get them at all) and an incorrect order. Great job Wendy's! *gag*
Posted by: Sick of cold fries and bad service on Oct 6, 2008 at 09:55 PM
The Wendys in West Huntington is horible. The service is bad 9 out of 10 times. The fries are usually never hot and the employes are not professional. I can't believe this resturant is still open. I love Wendy's when I CAN get good service and FRESH HOT FOOD.
Posted by: anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 08:24 PM
They should go to the McDonalds in Point Pleasant, WV. You can be sure to get terrible service there. That is if you get service at all.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Oh come on now, you know they are understaffed. That's always the reason that I am given. You know what, I don't care if you're understaffed. The Wendy's by the civic center screwed up my order after they handed me a ripped drink tray that had three drinks in it. Of course the large tea ended up in my lap. I was livid. The manager wanted me to come back the next day so he could give me a free meal then. NOT. Give me my free meal now, I am here and you're hear. I won't be coming back after this day.
Posted by: dave on Oct 6, 2008 at 06:54 PM
thank god KFC isn't on this list.They are by far the slowest people inside or drive thrus.Had to wait in line for about 20 minutes just for a snack wrap on the one out on route 60.
Posted by: Ahhhhh... on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Don't we all love to be pampered....God forbid we eat at home more often.....
Posted by: J. on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:42 PM
That's so true about Wendy's. I've stopped eating at both the West End location & the one by the Civic Center because at least 75% of the time the food will be completely incorrect. The employees are poorly trained, apathetic and lazy.
Posted by: CINDY on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Evidently they didn't go to the Burger King in Fairplain. I had to repeat an order one night 4 times and they still didn't get right and had to go back inside to get it corrected.
Posted by: I Know... on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Everytime I go to Taco Bell here in Logan they ask me what kind of sauce I'd like...I always reply mild...well I could see if they gave me hot or fire...but no after asking me if I want it they NEVER give it to me. So I always have to drive around, go in and get it!
Posted by: ps on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:17 PM
The only drive thru i agree with is chick-fil-a. the rest leave half of your food out or get your order wrong. so who cares if they are fast.
Posted by: KB on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I'm surprised to see McDonalds in the list. I had to stop going to the one on Hal Greer Blvd in the morning as I was late getting to work. Their service is extremely slow and 8 out of 10 times, I was given the wrong order. I mentioned it to management, but they do not seem to care.
Posted by: Wink on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:08 PM
The Wendy's in Cross Lanes quick, even during the lunch rush. McDonald's and Taco Bell are the slowest.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Apparently these researchers have not been to the Southridge McDonalds. They are so slow and NEVER get the order right. They put the correct tag on the burgers with no onions but when my kids start to eat them they always have onions. ALWAYS. Then I take it back in there and they act like its a crime im demanding them to fix the burgers. If I sit in the line for literally 25 minutes and still my order is wrong hell yes im gonna be upset and start demanding them fix it right.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 03:20 PM
I like to know what Wendys they go to. The one in the west end of Huntington sucks.
Posted by: CW on Oct 6, 2008 at 03:10 PM
The peoples that did this survey have never been through the drive through at Wendy's by the Capitol. They are so slow and by the time you do get your order it is stone cold and 9 out of ten times it is wrong.
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