BINGHAMPTON, N.Y. — As a new school year begins, thousands of students in the Marketplace and dining halls spend much of their time waiting to place orders, waiting for their food to be prepared and waiting to pay for their meal.
With a new online ordering system, though, the waits may be cut.
Starting this semester, online ordering is available at NY Deli, The Diner and Pandini’s in the University Union Marketplace. Students, faculty and visitors can order up to 36 hours ahead of time and pick an exact time to get their food.
According to Casey Slocum, Dining Services marketing coordinator, the three venues were picked because of their popularity. There is no price difference for ordering online or in person.
“We don’t want students waiting in line that long,” Slocum said. “Pandini’s, The Diner and the Deli were popular and we knew there were long lines there.”
The online ordering, which was designed and tested over the summer, does not include every menu item available at location. It is being purposefully limited until Dining Service staff becomes accustomed to it and retail management can study how students use it.