roy

Most people don't care about most of the decisions they make. They just want to generally follow the schedule for the day and not have to think hard about every decision. So please, restaurant/food industry workers, make our lives easier. Please post questions in the "yes" or "no" format, and not in the "pick one of the following" format; this is something I learned back when I worked at Country Junction in Carrboro...

For example, Country Junction serves fantastic breakfast plates (two eggs, choice of meat, grits/hashbrowns and biscuit/toast). Now, most people are happy to go with the default (bacon or sausage, two scrambled, grits (yummy!), and biscuits. However, because some people liked toast, I would want to clarify their choice of bread.

But the WRONG question is "with biscuit or toast?" To most people, they are both equally good. If you ask them this question, their poor sleep-deprived minds will go into overdrive weighing the two equal choices. Not only does asking this question hold up the line, but it makes people think (which is the last thing they want to do). The MUCH better question to ask is, "with a biscuit?" Most people will just answer "yeah." But those that did not already like the biscuit will then inquire about alternatives.

I only bring this up because I went to Bagels on the Hill for breakfast this morning, and they kept asking me multiple choice questions. "Plain or toasted?" (better: "Toasted?") "Which bagel?" (better: "On a plain bagel?") For here or to go? ("For here?")

This also applies to web design usabiilty, although I'll spare you guys of that.

This also works well in persuading friends to go to events that they're iffy on.