04/19/2012 – Apple Scent, IKEA Marriage, and Drive-Thru Etiquette
Editor’s Note: The Blip includes short headlines with odd, feel-good, informational, or pointless material. Stories are presented in a fast, easy-to-read format with news that will make you laugh and be enlightened. The Blip is updated daily.
The scent of Apple
No, that title does not contain an error. It’s not the scent of apples, but the scent of Apple, as in technological giant Apple Incorporated. Artistic group Greatest Hits decided to bottle the distinctive scent that releases when first opening a MacBook Air package, for an art exhibition in Melbourne, Australia. The group turned to French perfume company Aroma Air for help in this endeavor. The scent is comprised of everything present in the laptop’s packaging: Plastic, Ink, Paper, Aluminum, Glue, and Rubber. If you’re excited to start smelling like an Apple product, don’t be. The scent is only available at Melbourne’s art exhibition and will not be released to the general public.
Read more here: http://techland.time.com/2012/04/17/like-the-smell-of-new-apple-gadgets-theres-a-fragrance-for-that/?xid=newsletter-newsfeed
Couple marries at IKEA
Julie Rogers and Willie Pittman married Tuesday in the restaurant of the College Park, Maryland IKEA. The store did not charge for the space, and offered their famous Swedish meatballs for the party of around twenty-five guests. The two went to high school in Washington D.C. together, and grew apart after graduating. But they later reconnected through social media and had lunch at the IKEA. What better location than your first date to get married at?
Read more here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/couple-picks-ikea-restaurant-as-wedding-venue/
A list of things to keep in mind when ordering through a drive-thru
Being a drive-thru worker, I get all kinds of annoyances. People seem to take drive-thru lanes for granted and don’t realize they are run by human beings. Seldom is there a person who comes through with respect and haste. Here is a general list of things to follow when choosing to drive-thru.
1. Know what you want before you get there
Yes, there is a menu there for people who don’t know what we have. And we don’t mind giving you a few seconds to peruse our variety. But our performance at work is timed. Taking three minutes to look at the menu ruins the average time we need to attain, and we get in trouble for it. If you need a few seconds, say something (don’t just be silent for two minutes and start talking suddenly), quickly decide something, and tell us when you’re ready.
2. Get off your cell phone.
In a world where everyone talks over a cell phone constantly, it is hard to believe that the drive-thru doesn’t want to be a part of that conversation. But coming to the speaker while talking on a cell is rude. Talking on a cell while at the window is even ruder. If your call is so important that you must take it, don’t come to the drive-thru.
3. Know where your money is located and have it handy.
When you come to the window, you should know where your money is. Furthermore, you should have it within arm’s reach. Many times customers have taken five minutes (seriously!) at the window to look for their money. This wastes our time and the time of customers behind you. Also, it’s a good idea to have cash, even if you want to pay with a credit card. Several times cards have been denied and a customer, with no other forms of payment, has had to drive away empty-handed.
4. You may not know the menu as well as you think you do.
Customers often try to argue with us, saying they were able to get something their way before. A common phrase is, “I eat here all the time. I know you have it.” Well, we work here all the time, and we know that we don’t. If a contradiction like this occurs, ask for help. We like to help customers who are unsure of the menu (it creates variety in the work). But please don’t argue with us.
5. The window is not a parking spot.
Often customers take an extra minute at the window to unpack everything and check that it is all there, the way they want it. Most restaurants require the order be checked twice before handing it out the window. Yes, mistakes can occur, but please don’t do it at the drive-thru window. If there’s a mistake, circle back around, and we’ll correct it for you. If you want something else, contain it in one sentence. Don’t say you want ketchup, wait for them to give it to you, say you need a fork, wait on them to give it to you, ask for napkins and butter, wait on them to give it for you, and then say your Diet Coke is flat. Finally, some customers take one bite of something before leaving. That bite can wait.
6. Use the manners your mother taught you.
When the person takes your order, please do not say, “I’ll take a hamburger.” Say, “I’d like a hamburger.” Do not yell (but don’t whisper). If you’re angry, do not take it out on the drive-thru. When the person at the window says, “Hello,” or, “How are you today?” do not stare coldly at them.
7. Do not pay completely in one-dollar bills.
I once had a forty-three dollar (and change) order that paid in forty-three one-dollar bills. No joke.
Follow these, and the entire process of the drive-thru will go smoothly and efficiently for both you, and the workers.
