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McDonald's Says Goodbye Cashiers, Hello Kiosks
Forbes ^ | 11 july 2018 | Ed Rensi

Posted on 07/18/2018 1:38:23 AM PDT by Cronos

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To: Getready
Technically...you can use other parts of a push door other than the plate...some door handles(the lever types)...can be opened by the side of your hand...and you don’t have to grasp the handrail(unless you have balance issues or strength issues)....suggest using the 2nd joint of a curled finger to punch in your selections....or a stylus...

These days, I mostly interact with my phone via voice. I can no longer be bothered to type. Plus, it's a kick to see the wrong text briefly appear, then get corrected, and then the answer appears, all in less than a second!

The hygiene problem can be solved by voice ordering. Just like the drive-thru. Only with silicon on the other end (in both cases).

21 posted on 07/18/2018 2:21:12 AM PDT by cynwoody
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To: snarkytart

Or at least until they greatly improve voice recognition software.


22 posted on 07/18/2018 2:24:17 AM PDT by jmcenanly ("The more corrupt the state, the more laws." Tacitus, Publius Cornelius)
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To: jmcenanly

Well, maybe at least robots can get the order right....


23 posted on 07/18/2018 2:45:59 AM PDT by snoringbear (W,E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
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To: snarkytart

“cashier’s aren’t going anywhere”

Wrong,ever go to a drive up ATM?


24 posted on 07/18/2018 2:59:16 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: Cronos

Say thank you to another Unionization stunt forcing corp USA to circumvent their BS


25 posted on 07/18/2018 3:02:10 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: Cronos

Gee, who could have predicted this with dems constantly trying to raise the minimum wage to $15 and beyond - it all of a sudden becomes much, much cheaper (shorter payback) to invest in computers/robots then giving min wage people there first job.


26 posted on 07/18/2018 3:02:50 AM PDT by qwerty1234
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To: Cronos

I find there is simply nothing “fast” about it anymore - and while there are great bargains on the value menu, in general the combos have become expensive in comparison to alternatives (pizza, subs, etc.).


27 posted on 07/18/2018 3:03:18 AM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: snarkytart
cashier’s aren’t going anywhere as long as there is a drive thru. who eats INSIDE a fast food place anyway?

People who want to use the restroom. People on long drives who want to stretch their legs. People with kids who need to get out of the car for a bit. And yes … in many very small towns and rural areas, the local fast food places, including McDonalds, become gathering places for friends and small groups. Even in an urban area with more options, the fast food joint may be a neighborhood hangout, and not just for kids.

28 posted on 07/18/2018 3:06:16 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: Cronos


29 posted on 07/18/2018 3:09:09 AM PDT by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
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To: snarkytart
I’ve been to Wawa to grab a coffee and bagel and I see people standing at the damn kiosk when I arrive, and same person standing there as I’m checking out and leaving. just looking at their options for a sub, I guess.

Absolutely. Having said that, how long would it take a person to customize their sub with a cashier? (making sure that the cashier, who likely only speaks a little English, gets it right)

The other thing with delays is a matter of "customer training."

The first time you walk into any kind of an establishment (restaurant, grocery store, department store, etc), it will always take you longer than when you are thoroughly familiar with the place. In the case of a retail establishment:

Once you're familiar with the store's layout, it becomes a whole lot faster.

Same thing with a restaurant of any kind. The first time you go in, you're going to peruse the menu. Once you are familiar with the menu, you can just order what you'd like without even looking.

I don't see that much different with the fast food kiosks. You have to train yourself how to use the kiosk. And then you have to know what it is you want. Before you learn how the individual chain's kiosks work, it takes a while. After you've self-trained, it's a pretty fast process...as long as you actually know what you want to order before getting to the kiosk.

30 posted on 07/18/2018 3:10:12 AM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good -- Leo XIII)
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To: Cronos

Actually one of the McDonalds branches here has the ordering kiosks, but I ordinarily skip that.

But I will repeat what the one FReeper posted from (Europe?)

It is like a middle level upscale place, here.

I little bit higher priced than you would anticipate, actually.


31 posted on 07/18/2018 3:11:00 AM PDT by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
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To: Getready

are you as worried about the person handling your food? How about the ticked off person actually making your burger. Worried about them spitting in your food?

Germophobes unite alright, stay at home and fix your own food.


32 posted on 07/18/2018 3:13:41 AM PDT by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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To: Cronos
McD in the USA or UK versus McD in Poland or India or Japan are completely different — in Poland and India they are treated like “premium fast food” and are clean and neat always. In Italy or japan they are kind of middling but still clean. Only in the US and UK did I find MCds pretty bad - the worse were in San Fran when I last visited in 2011 — besides which I found the entire city disgusting (and that was after visiting Mumbai...)

Agreed wholeheartedly. I actually don't hesitate eating at Mickey D's when in Europe (other than the fact that I like the local food better). Not so much in the States. (As for old Blighty, I try to avoid it when I can)

33 posted on 07/18/2018 3:15:11 AM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good -- Leo XIII)
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To: Cronos

Rising wages or not, ways to lower costs would still be coming. While we over 40 aren’t so much in favor of them, those under 40 wonder what we’re fussing about. We’ve been pumping our own gas for 40 years. We’ve been checking ourselves out at the grocery for a decade. I first bumped into the self ordering kiosk at a convenience mart almost 20 years ago that had a deli (Sheetz). My then 20 something was marveling about the place and the unique ordering system.


34 posted on 07/18/2018 3:17:54 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: snarkytart
and another thing (jeesh didn’t think i’d have so many opinions about a Big Mac ordering machine), its gross to touch that big flat screen after a thousand people are pushing on it. YUCK

So you have NEVER used a card swipe machine at a grocery store and pressed "YES" to confirm your purchase?

35 posted on 07/18/2018 3:20:56 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Cronos
Ed might not be a bad guy but I tried a kiosk - once - and the wait was no shorter.

Outside of their urban blight stores, McD's is tied to their drive-thru. Going inside is a waste of time and hygiene.

36 posted on 07/18/2018 3:21:49 AM PDT by StAnDeliver ("Mueller personally delivered US uranium to Russia.")
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To: snarkytart

That’s a good point, but we touch ATMs, too. Guess it’s not a bad idea to remember the hand sanitizer.


37 posted on 07/18/2018 3:24:49 AM PDT by AmericanMermaid
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To: jmcenanly

Real improvements in drive thru speakers and mics would be great.

All of the communication technology around and drive throughs sound like vintage phone calls.


38 posted on 07/18/2018 3:30:09 AM PDT by wally_bert (Just call me Angelo or babe.)
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To: snarkytart
its gross to touch that big flat screen after a thousand people are pushing on it

My mom's old-people phone came with a little padded stylus to help her push the buttons on the screen. It's probably not hard to find those...maybe they will work on other touch screens. I think I'll find one to carry on my purse. I like Sheetz when I'm traveling and their touch screen order service is very efficient...and the sandwiches are good.

39 posted on 07/18/2018 3:30:55 AM PDT by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: Cronos

In related news, a gigantic robot Ronald McDonald broke free from the McDonald’s research facility and is on the loose. The huge but cheerful and lovable robot has smashed cars and toppled some buildings. Commuters are warned to avoid the freeway near the Main St exit.


40 posted on 07/18/2018 3:33:34 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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