When should you hand immediate service items to guests at the drive-thru window?

Handing immediate service items to guests at the drive-thru window while accepting payment is the best practice for several reasons. This approach enhances the overall customer experience by providing quick service, and it allows guests to start enjoying their items without delays.

By presenting the items during the transaction, guests appreciate the efficiency and feel valued as they wait to complete their payment. This practice can also help manage time more effectively during peak hours, allowing subsequent orders to be processed more smoothly. Additionally, it maintains a flow in service, as it ensures that customers have their food ready to go once they have completed their transaction, avoiding any unnecessary waiting at the window.

In contrast, presenting items after payment or before an order can result in longer wait times or confusion regarding what the guest has ordered, which may detract from the service quality.