So I was out running errands yesterday, and rummaging through my purse when I ran across a coupon for 99 cent mozarella sticks at Sonic. I looked at the clock and realized it was Happy Hour. Honestly, is there a better combination???
So I went to my local Sonic and drove through the drive-through. I reached the window, paid, and then sat there while the girl handed me my drink. I waited, and she looked at me and smiled politely, saying, "Have a great day!"
"Um, my mozarella sticks?" I asked.
"Oh!" she replied. "I'm sorry, I'm so used to you getting just a Diet Dr. Pepper that I forgot about them." Then she hurried around and handed them to me through the window.
And at first I thought, you know, when the car hops at Sonic know your drink order by heart, perhaps that's a sign that you spend too much time there.
And then I thought ..... naaaawwwwwwwww, it just means they're good at their jobs. I drive through there practically every day (shamefully, sometimes more than once a day) so it only goes to figure they would recognize the hot mom in the mini-van and know what she usually orders, right? (you know I'm being tongue-in-cheek about the hot mom part, right?)
Then today I drove through like I do every Monday on the way to piano lessons to get the kids happy-hour slushes. And when I pulled up to the window, a different car hop looked at me and said, "Oh, you're the one whose kids like to eat their slushes with a spoon. Hang on and I'll get you some."
So you tell me. Am I at Sonic way too much, or do we just have damn talented car hops???
30 comments:
I'm going with the thought: "Blaine's Mom has got it going on!"
Too. much. Sonic. One more word: intervention.
That Sonic provides some serious customer service! I'm thinking you might be frequenting that particular Sonic too often!!!
Man, I wish we had Sonics here in Portland, preferably somewhere in my slice of Portland.
We get the commercials for Sonic and man, it looks so darn good. Especially their shakes and desserts ...
Then again, maybe it's a good thing they're not nearby me? :)
I'm thinking they may have a 12-step program for that....if not maybe you could start one:).....just saying
~Debbie~
Aviva,
Sonic is spreading across Oregon. Just wait. It's coming.
this is almost as bad as the time i drove through our local mickey d's (no sonic for 150 miles) and the manager asked how our disneyland trip went...no problem except that it was 3 weeks PRIOR to my driving through the drive thru!! hate it when that happens...
let's just chalk it up to talented staff, shall we? :D
your fellow TSO fan,
cathy
santa clara, ca
This is a comment for Aviva - are you in Portland, OR? Because if you are - there is a Sonic in Hillsboro!!! I LOVE Sonic, and would go whenever I was in Kansas visiting family, and wished SOOOO much there would be one in Oregon. And now there are THREE!!! One down by Medford, one in Salem and one in Hillsboro! Too bad I'm in Eugene!
No Sonic here in upstate NY, and I can tell I'm really missing something!!
I went into Hollywood Video this weekend, and when my card didn't swipe they said, don't worry, Rosemary, we'll just use your name... I had no clue that she knew my name! I guess I need a Hollywood Video intervention! (love that MVP, and watch all the HBO and Showtime shows on DVD)..
Just THINK if Sonic had something like the Frequent Flyer miles airlines have! You'd be set. ROTFL!!
I am totally going with the car hops! Maybe they need to receive a little something in the mail to headquarters about how good they are. I mean. you might get another coupon for free ddp or cheesesticks! :) Tammy in the now officially snowing OHIO!
Grrrr...no Sonics in MD yet. Two are in Lancaster and Ephrata, PA...a two hour plus car ride away.
I find it odd when a cashier at Walmart or Safeway will say "thank you, Mrs. _____." I look around and wonder if they are talking to my MIL. I've been married for 18 years and am not used to the "Mrs."
I do the drivethru thing at McDonald's, too. Nothing ensures compliance from my kids as the prospect of a milkshake or flurry!
You have some awesome car hops ;)
Oh that is WAY too funny!
In my opinion, that is just good service though. If you are a 'regular' they should know what you get and what you like! =)
I worked at our local Sonic as a teenager and believe me if you're a regular those carhops know what you normally order. When I worked there you also knew who gave great tips. I enjoy your blog. Praying for your husband!
Lynn
Talented car hops! lol! :)
The same thing happened to me recently at the Chik-fil-a drive thru by my office. I usually go there once a week for lunch. Instead of ordering through the box, though, they have a person outside taking your order. He's just about got my order memorized. It's kind of sad. But I like your theory that they are just really good workers who pay attention to their customers. Yeah, that's it.
I know the feeling.....the first time the gal at my local coffee shop turned around and started making my 4 shot Americano before I ordered, I was flabbergasted! Sometimes they see me coming, start the expresso shots and ring up the cash register before I get there to order!
Well...I've lived here a lot longer then you, and have a Sonic obsession myself......but they've never recognized me. You must be at the celerity status!
The McDonald's lady used to know my voice when I'd order breakfast at the drive-thru, even though she couldn't see me! She even knew me by name! That's why I go to a different location now, although a couple of the employees have kids at my school. Hmm, maybe I should stop going to McDonald's???
Sheila in MN
Step. Away. From. The. Sonic. :)
Actually, I drive through McDonalds almost every day for their .99, 42 oz. iced tea. Yeah, they know me, too.
I think that they must be hiring very attentive customer service professionals at the fast food establishments, that is all. :)
Wow! You have some damn good car hops there. I'm jealous, we don't even have a Sonic.
Definately the good car hops !!
That would be my story.
Hoping the Blaine is feeling better these days.
Mel - Canada
It could be like the convenience store where I get my daily soda fix, they tell me, "oh, your husband was in here earlier this morning for his Mt. Dew", and "this is a refill, right?" and then don't bother count the handfull of change I give them to pay because it's always the exact, and finish with "we'll see you tomorrow!"
You are SO not alone!
Lenaya
That's nothing! My family tends to frequent a diner that's near our house. The waitresses often see our car pull into the parking lot -- every time we get in the building, our drinks are on the table and our order is already in the kitchen. EVERY TIME.
GIRL! Nothing beats a Diet Dr. Pepper from Sonic- who cares if they know you by name! All the perks of a small town, love that!
I had to de-lurk to comment on this one. When my husband places something *different* than a Route 44 Orange Slush that he orders at least once sometimes more per day, they act all surprised. Thus the nickname "the orange slushie guy" at our local Sonic.
Don't worry, you are not the only one out there with those problems! I have 2 - the guys at Subway know that when it's Wednesday, its turkey, and when its Friday, Tuna!
Then, the diner down the street has our whole orders memorized down to the drinks- my boxing team goes out to breakfast every Saturday morning, so when we al trickle in, the hostess just says "over there, table back there, the rest of the girls are already here! Bring yor iced tea in a second".
Just talent and good service!
Jen
Actually there are four in Oregon now. Hillsboro, Medford, Salem, and Bend. They're adding another in Bend and one in Redmond.
Not that I spend a lot of my time there or anything. But it's right down the street from my office which makes the afternoon go faster if you hit it during happy hour. They'd probably have mine memorized too, but I go for the Apple Juice Slush sometimes to throw them off.
It's not just fast food places, either. I plan in a community band and there's a group of us that go to the same Applebee's after rehearsal every week. The regular night manager for a while knew all of our regular orders. Beverages would meet us at the table that was already set for our 10-12 member group. We'd get food without even having to order it. He whipped up special stuff for us in the kitchen. One yr. he even brought in special food to give us a little Christmas party. Now THAT's service! We also tended to tip him 50%, if not more, on many occasions.
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