How do you order a sandwich at a deli? (Chose the closest approximate answer to what you most frequently use). (Duh, if you don't eat sandwiches, imagine something close).

I'll have...

Large Veggie Grinder, Cold + Dry, no hots

Actually it is: "May I have a turkey on rye please? Thank you."

One of the reasons that Europeans think Americans are rude is because they don't say "please". It's a bit of an oversimplification, but a brit would say "May I have a turkey on rye, please?" and an American would say "I'll have a turkey on rye, and put cheese on it." It's a subtle distinction, but one that really irritates non-Americans. On the other hand, Americans are very generous with their thanks, "Oh, thank you very much, you've been very helpful", but by the time it comes time to thank anyone, we don't want to because the service hasn't been good, and the service hasn't been good because the brits have already been pissed off by the rudeness at the beginning of the interaction.

Can I have a Turkey on Rye please, with a close second of Turkey on Rye.

I just about always say: "Um, I think I'll have..."

...but it does change a lot.

I try to be concise; the fewest words is best. ...though, I often have to repeat (it's still easier to repeat fewer words)
*** I like how in milktree's example, the American asked for cheese (another distinction?).

Depending on the deli, either "the usual" (or rather, I will be asked "the usual?") or "turkey on rye, please". It's the minimum amount of words necessary to convey what I want while remaining polite. If they're not busy, then preface with "I'd like..."
**milktree: Hah! Are you british? While learning Swedish, it bugged the hell out of me to find that there is no direct equivalent to "Please".
**bill: You couldn't tell by me. I put cheese on everything. (almost)

I'll have the spinach wrap, all the vegetables, cheese, no hot peppers, please.

Close: 'Could I have a Turkey on Rye, please?'

In (my rather lousy) Spanish, I translate very literally: Puedo hablar un pavo en centeno, por favor? but I don't think this preserves the level of formality I want.

closest to the first answer - "can i get a turkey on rye?"

About the only time I eat a sandwich out is when there is something very, very tempting such as a Mufaletto at the Central Grocery in New Orleans or a good Reuben in a neighborhood Chicago deli.

I always say "hi" first....occasionally add a "how are you today?". ***Milktree...I work with the public over the phone. I'd much rather have them be rude in the beginning of the conversation and end up with a "Thank you..you've been very helpful" than have them start out sweet and end up being a real jerk. (just my humble opinion)

Except I usually use "get" as the verb.

more like: turkey on rye with mayo, hold the tomato, add the pickles and I'd like a glass of iced tea to wash it down (hey, why leave it to chance? when asked 'you want everything on that' I ALWAYs ask 'what's everything?') ..and I say Thank You when the order is delivered.

Usually either "I'd like" or "I'll have".

Usually, there's a line, and I try to be as succinct as possible..

a tech pizza order is like nothing else.

Something like: "Turkey... rye... mayo." That is, everything but the actual nouns tends to drop out of the sentence. I'm also prone to things like "steak and eggs... medium rare... over easy" which has been known to cause some confusion. On the other hand, I do chat with waitstaff, just not typically as part of the ordering process itself.

Wow - not the question I was expecting. I thought this would be choices between "Turkey on Rye with lettuce, light on the mayo" vs. "A turkey sandwich. I'd like that on the rye bread, with lettuce, but no tomato, and mayonaisse, but just a little of that."

"Uuum, turkey on rye, please..."

Ask for what I want and always say please. I also use the phrase "thank you" when I get it. ***Reality: it's Friday at 20:53 for 7 more minutes you are strictly customer service. Until Monday you are somewhere in between. On Monday you will be tech support. I don't know what your game is. ***Reality: because our customer base stinks

This ignores the fact that I hate rye bread.. **dustbunny: really? howso? (I do tech support/customer service) ***JJG: thhppttt.. I will continue to do some customer service when I am officially tech, just as I did some tech when I was officially customer service. for a good while I might as well have been tech support. why don't you take some calls? **jjg: I will not disagree...

"Can I have a..." (no "please"). I do use "thank you" once they actually give the item to me.