Listen to this articleThis is a business review for Sonic America’s Drive-In Hwy 51, Ridgeland, MS.
I arrived at Sonic around 09:25 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016. Most of the stalls in the entrance and the drive thru was full so I picked a stall on the other side.
It didn’t take me long to decide what I wanted and I pressed the red button to place my order. The screen flashed the message that someone would be with me in a second and the red button was flashing. Very shortly after, the button stopped flashing but no one answered the speaker. I heard the tone from another stall where the cashier took an order from another customer. So I waited and posted on Sonic’s Facebook page about the long wait.
10 minutes past. 15 minutes past. I know from my past work history that no matter how much you press the button, it won’t hurry the cashier up or update your place in the que. I did press the red button again because it was not blinking and no one came back to take my order. After 20 total minutes of waiting, a cashier finally came back on the speaker. I asked if it was customarily policy to make customers wait 20 minutes before taking an order. The cashier responded that they were sort of shorthanded. So, I placed my order for a Honey BBQ boneless wing combo with fries and a Strawberry Cream Pie Shake. The cashier didn’t ask which combo I wanted, the smaller or 12 piece. The cashier did not try to upsale anything.
I received my order by Kheri and it was wrong. Plain chicken. He gave me the shake I ordered and returned inside with the rest of my order. Soon later, I suppose the manager, no name tag, came back with the correct order. I said I didn’t get a receipt and asked his name and the other carhop’s name.
After starting to eat my meal, the manager came back with my receipt.
This is not the first time I received slow service from this location. First time was getting my food. It was no problem because they was busier and food takes time to cook. This time it was placing my order.
If this location is shorthanded, wouldn’t it be wise to hire enough employees especially some that want to come to work?