Do you remember the days when you didn't have to bus your own trays at fast food restaurants?

Question

When I was little (in the early to mid '80s), I remember going to places like Burger King and just being able to leave our tray at the table before leaving the restaurant.

Does anyone else remember that, or do you remember when it changed to having the customers bus their own trays?

Answer 1

no always had to

Answer 2

I remember it, it was the mid-80s when it changed actually. Your family must have caught the tail end of it.

Actually, busing my own tray doesn't bother me half as much as specifically *Telling* folks my order is For Here, ok, while the place is still open, and *still* getting my food in a damn bag...WTF?? It isn't like you people are handling my stuff when I am done with it anyway....

And what IS the deal with so many places going out of business in town...and forcing folks to either drive a car or ride a bus for up to 30 minutes at a time to *get to* a real fast food place? I thought one of the big reasons *why* fast food had an appeal in the first place was because it was, you know, *fast* and *convenient*?? Having to spend half an hour to get there is the opposite of that In My Humble Opinion.

But yeah, it was the mid-1980s when the tray thing changed for the worse. -__- It sucks, I know, it isn't fair, these are multi-BILLION dollar corporations and you'd *think* they wouldn't *be* so cheap and miserly about it all.

Oh well, what can you do, we're all just peons here, right? Only the rich guys have any freedom any more in this country.

Answer 3

I've always dumped my own tray. I was a child in the early to mid 80's and don't remember ever just leaving the tray and food on the table. Maybe it was just your family that did that.

Answer 4

I know from the early 70's to present it has always been the custom for customers to take their trays & trash to the trashcans. Only the rude, inconsiderate customers left their trays of trash on the tables. With the exception of Wendy's... their trashcans were not out in public view until more recently.

Answer 5

I don't remember that - I remember my mom carrying our tray to the table even in the early 80's

Answer 6

I'm afraid I don't remember that either! I always kinda liked bussing our trays at the fast food places - instead of eating at home, and having to do the dishes with my older sister, we got to dump everything in the trash, and go on with the day. It was kind of fun for us!
:D

Answer 7

When I worked fast food, most customers left their trays on the table. Too lazy to bus it i guess. Also they leave their dirty napkins all over the table, floor, half eaten hamburgers on the floor etc.

Answer 8

Some people still think that they don't have to bus their own trays!

Answer 9

To maximize profits levels of service go down. I don't ever remember having someone clean up after me. I suppose today though, you don't really have to clean up after yourself, people will just think you're a jerk if you don't. Fazoli's is one of the few fast food places I still go where they actually still do pick up after you and that it's okay to leave your stuff (atleast in Charleston, SC). They don't even have trash bins, they have a floor attendent who just goes around and pick stuff up. It is however generally a senior citizen, maybe it's part of a program...

Answer 10

I don't remember that. I always remember dumping own trays.
I would rather dump my own tray than pay higher prices so they can pay someone to do it for me.

Answer 11

really i did not know they used to let you do that back then
i thought you always had to bus your own trays