McDonald’s sometimes asks drive-through customers to pull over and wait in designated “drive-thru” parking spots—a blatant oxymoron—for orders that will take a while. It’s the kind of scene that makes fast food seem unbearably slow, and the sort of disappointment that irks customers.
The burger chain, which has been talking for some time about improving speed and service at its restaurants, has already trimmed down the menu and added a second pickup window to its drive-through process. Now the 800 McDonald’s locations in Florida are putting their speed to the test: Drive-through customers will be guaranteed their order within 60 seconds or get a free sandwich on a future visit.