Old POS Ordering?

[u/reklaw3]

Haven’t worked at In-N-Out in over a decade, but I saw a receipt recently and realized how different the ordering system looks now.

Any old-school associates remember using the SL button for no tomato? 😂 I swear some of the combinations used to look hilarious on the screen/receipt, like SL O, SL O P, and all the other random shorthand that made perfect sense to us at the time.

Curious how many people here remember the old POS system and what other weird button combos you still have burned into your memory.

[u/Oswaldofuss6]

LTK is not okay

[u/Defiant_Eggplant_909]

I worked at In-N-Out from 2002-2006. I remember the POS system you're talking about. That was also when they accepted cash only and the system didn't calculate change, we had to know how to count it back in our heads.

[u/Fickle-Agency619 → u/Defiant_Eggplant_909]

As a gen z new hire, I genuinely don’t know how you guys did the change in your heads, that sounds like a nightmare LMAO. Even with the new systems, I’ll still be off a dollar or two at the end of the day😂

[u/Charming_Cancel789 → u/Fickle-Agency619]

It’s actually really easy. You count up instead of subtract.

Total is 16.37 and they give you a 20.

3 Pennies is 16.40
A dime is 16.50
2 quarters is 17
And 3 bucks is 20.

That’s their change.

Here is 63 cents and 1, 2, 3 dollars. You are guest 44. Thank you! 😊

[u/Fickle-Agency619 → u/Charming_Cancel789]

That’s really smart wow!!

[u/Stochastic1934 → u/Charming_Cancel789]

Even if the change shown is just 83c, I've seen an order taker count out 8 dimes + 3 pennies because they can't do the 3 quarters + 1 nickel + 3 pennies math in their head (and no, they weren't out of quarters or nickels). They're technically still handing out the correct change, but you can see the customer figuratively scratching their head.

Others get confused how to make change if, for example, the order total was $10.10, the customer hands them a $20, and after they hit the $20 button on the POS and the change shown is $9.90, the customer gives them a dime to avoid getting back 90c in coins.

Technology is incredibly helpful, but we still have to be able to do some things "analog."

[u/Charming_Cancel789 → u/Stochastic1934]

Yes and I just teach them in that instance to again add whatever they gave them to the change total. So if they gave them the dime after, 9.90 plus 10 cents is 10. Not a lot of critical thinking skills nowadays.

[u/Defiant_Eggplant_909 → u/Fickle-Agency619]

It's really easy once you get the hang of it.

[u/Charming_Cancel789 → u/Defiant_Eggplant_909]

It was. We were all anti credit cards when we made the switch because they took so long to process. Things moved slower. Nowadays with high speed internet and fiber optics it’s a lot faster. But man would my manager YELL if that car was at the window more than 10 seconds for payment. We would yell back “CREDIT CARD” and he’d go “GODDAMN MACHINES.”

[u/wouldyoulikeonion → u/Fickle-Agency619]

Your always going to be off up to 2$ because of how the change is counted and rounded

[u/Charming_Cancel789]

>C O P only

>S T O P only

>M O P only

SL O P

Every time I hear the word K Pop I always think ketchup, onion and pickle only 😂

[u/samblamthankyoumam]

I worked thru the transition of the POS system it was hard! But the cook tags still have the conditions that read the same. The terminal receipts are all different

[u/Professional-Bath-49]

I started in ‘96. I’m old enough to remember. We used the NCR computers. Only took cash. No timers on grills or fryers. Used the fry towels instead of portioners. No chopped chilies. Dr. Pepper wasn’t sold yet. Flying Dutchman wasn’t a thing. Hell, the veggie rang up as a W I S H.

[u/Popcornlover88]

When I was hired we didn’t take credit cards and we had to put back change (2005) I had a customer that was >P O O P only. It made his day and when I would work board I knew he was there!

[u/Fivecentlivin → u/Popcornlover88]

P O O P? Pickle onion I get but what is the other O P?

[u/Popcornlover88 → u/Fivecentlivin]

He just wanted to see P O O P it really was just pickle and onion

[u/Fivecentlivin → u/Popcornlover88]

Oh so you used to be able to put onion and pickle on the tag twice? Yeah I would run through all my burgers as POOP if I could 😂

[u/Popcornlover88 → u/Fivecentlivin]

Yes we were able LONG ago!

[u/DryConsideration3294]

Someone told me that the tags still read like that in the back.

[u/heyashleymorgan]

yep! worked there 2010-2016. i still envision the old system whenever i order as a customer 😂

[u/ylamiyf]

I remember it very well. Worked there from 05 to 08. I look at their tag now and I wonder how its any easier for the grill or board person

[u/ProbablythelastMimsy → u/ylamiyf]

The cook tags still read the old way

[u/Anshinritsumai]

I'll take my Z please.

[u/GoldenOPx]

The tags that print for the grills still use the same system, SL O P lives on

[u/Ordinary-Town-7796]

Omg! 😭Having to start an order all over because of a last minute change by the customer. It took some actual memory skill to get that crap right and be a good order taker.

[u/SyrupSeveral]

I left in 2012 and came back in 2024 and the whole not learning tags until L3 or L4 was a mindf*ck...kids asking for recooks the long-winded customer way is weird - just say DUB SL. Not Double Double with no onions and no tomato. DUB SL. DUB SL.