McDonald's to Replace Cashiers with Computers

[FreeJoe]

http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/mcdonalds-to-replace-cashiers-with-touch-screens-1691/

It looks like they are replacing cashiers with computers in Europe.

[peace frog]

1. Hell, if they do the same here in the US

half the frickin' country will be thrown out of work.

I jest, but still...it's very nearly true.

[onenote]

52. thanks for the hyperbole

No its not very nearly true. Unless you think that there are only around 1 million people employed in the US, since McDonald's employs around 400,000. That's a lot of people but its no more than UPS and its a fraction of what Wal Mart or the US government employs.

[peace frog]

53. You're quite welcome

for the intended diversion, you little ray of sunshine.

[virgogal]

2. Why don't they just get rid of everyone and we can hop behind the

counter and cook our own meal.

[pipi_k]

5. And all that right after...

we capture the cow or chicken, butcher the meat, and bake the buns

[ejpoeta]

6. don't give them any ideas. we already cash ourselves out at the grocery store.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. I was at Home Depot the other day. No live cashier stations open.

I usually refuse the auto lanes but now they are forcing the issue. Bastages.

[JCMach1]

50. Exactly, walk out and complain. I avoid that auto BS and go for real people when they

put that shite up.

[Broderick]

14. I tend to trust my own cooking more.

[napi21]

3. I question the logic of "phasing out cash and the acceptable form

of payment would be dr or cr. cards only." Lots & lots of young people frequent Mickey D's after school & in the evenings, and at 15, 16, 17 years old, how many have cards? I hate to see the elimination of so many jobs, low pay that they may be, but to be honest, I've been to several Mickey D's where the clerks were extremely slow, and so angry they were borderline hostile. In those cases, a machine would be a welcome improvement.

[jberryhill]

10. How many people have METRO cards....

...everyone who rides the METRO.

Stored value debit card dispensers.

[Cid_B]

40. I'm thinking of this in Germany...

Where there is still a huge cash driven economy. I always carried Euro as the EC card or its equivalent was often difficult to use.

[comtec]

42. or unsupported!

I remember my (ex)wife and I going to an Aldi a couple years ago, and our Dutch card wasn't accepted!
We had to leave the store, and go around the corner to an ATM to get Euros!
crazy

Since then we always asked if our Dutch card was accepted or not

[Cid_B]

46. Absolutely... I couldnt use my Debit/Credit card either..

... always cash

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Oh, I can see this now.

I'd like a Big Mac.

(touches Big Mac icon)

Click finish to complete.

Before we process your request, would you like fries? Press Yes or No.

(Press No)

How about a soda? Press Yes or No?

(Press No)

Have you tried our new Garden Side Salad? Press Yes if you'd like to add this to your order or no to continue.

(No!)

Would you like this to be a combo meal? Press yes or no.

(No!)

Is this for here or to go? Press 1 for here, 2 for "to go".

(2)

Would you like try a hot apple pie today?

(No! No! No!)

I'm sorry, your request did not process. Please select the menu item you wish to order.

(BIG MAC!)

Would you care for fries with that Big Mac?

(Go postal on touch screen)

[texshelters]

7. Ha ha, well done

Now, if they would only replace what they serve with food, I might go there.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[bbinacan]

32. .

:eyes:

[sakabatou]

9. ...

[jberryhill]

11. I'm surprised they don't do order taking via VOIP call center in Bangladesh

With the interwebs, the other end of the "intercom" can be anywhere on the planet.

[SoCalNative]

28. They actually did this at some drive-thrus

not in Bangladesh..but not in the restaurant where you were ordering your food either

[Broderick]

17. Add one more

Would you like to complete a survey today following completion of your order, coupon ensues. (50 questions to get that coupon while food goes cold)

OR,

Email address please!


so they can send junk mail.

[comtec]

29. it's a lot more efficient than that and cashiers still exist as such

there have one of those semi-automats in Schipol airport.
if you want a menu, you choose menu etc, then go to a counter to get your order, which is prepared by what used to be cashiers. it's not a faster system, and the old-fashioned human line probably ran at the same speed if not faster.

It is unlikely that McDonalds will be allowed to eliminate the human line completely (EU worker laws are interesting like that) but the increase of these automated ordering points is inevitable.

However this is nothing new for Holland, the company Febo invented Wall Food in Europe. (muur voed is very handy actually, esp when it's late and cold)

However you can never completely get rid of the human element, if for no other reason it's cheaper to hire people than it is to build/maintain a machine for most things.

[Curmudgeoness]

45. You make me laugh out loud. I scared the cat.

:spray:

[HockeyMom]

8. Walmart, Home Depot, and many supermarkets

have scanners. Look around and see how many people use them. I was once at Home Depot on a very long line with the ONE cashier. The manager came around telling us there were THREE scanning machines. To a person, they all said, "No, thank you".

Bottom line when push comes to shove, people want to deal with a REAL PERSON. Do you know how many times I have hung up the phone when I get those "Menu" messages?

[Samantha]

19. I too was standing in a line when a CVS manager approached

me and pointed to a scanner. "You can scan your purchases right over there," he said. I handed him my purchases and said, "I don't work for CVS and it is not my job to help you keep track of your inventory. I am a customer and I want customer service."

He handed the items back to me and walked away.

I do not use the scanners at Home Depot nor the grocery store. In days gone by, I shopped at a large grocery store and switched to MOM's when I discovered it not too far away. They have no scanners, they have people bagging the groceries, and they carry your groceries to the car.

I will avoid scanners for as long as I can. I am tired of having to work for corporations (including banks) for nothing as I watch them lay off people. Enough is enough.

Sam

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HockeyMom]

39. I will give Publix in Florida that much

There are no scanners at all. They not only bag your groceries, but they will push your grocery wagon to your car. How about umbrellas? Yep, they have those too for customers when it starts raining, in addition to antibacterial wipes to clean your cart, and plastic bags to hold your wet umbrella.

[Stevenmarc]

38. I use them all the time, I prefer them

I also don't hang up, there are some cheats to get through to a human.

http://www.get2human.com/

[comtec]

41. at 2 am, or when i'm sick i prefer scanners

I admit to being mildly anti-social, but I don't want to infect another person if i can avoid it.
sometimes i just want to get in, get my medicine, and get out bothering as few people as possible.

and on a purely selfish note, It also means i don't have to turn off my ipod (which I always do with a person) when i get to the register.

[underpants]

12. Krusty Krab training video "the ever-so-necessary human resource that keeps this business afloat"

And now you, the humble employee off the street, the ever-so-necessary human resource that keeps this business afloat, will learn the sacred and dark secrets of how to prepare, with your very own hands... (Spongebob gasps) the sumptuous, lip-moistening, spine-tingling, heart-stopping pleasure center that is a Krabby Patty! Are you ready? (Spongebob nods) Are you sure? (Spongebob nods his head harder) Ok! The secret formula is...


End


http://sbmania.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=363


http://spongebob.nick.com/videos/clip/krusty-krab-training-video-full.html

[flvegan]

25. Actually, if you think of it

with enough touch-screen options, specific to condiments, etc, it really wouldn't be THAT hard to replace cookstaff. If robots can build big portions of automobiles, surely someone could put together an automated assembly line for hamburgers. The footprint/square footage might be the only thing that keeps that from happening, but then who knows.

[underpants]

43. The McDonald's where I was stationed in Germany had the food come up on an elevator

like a dumbwaiter. We always wondered exactly who or what it was that made the food down there.

A McD's right outside an American military base is printing money. At 2 AM (it was open all night if I remember correctly) we didn't care if there where C.H.U.D.s down there.

[WinkyDink]

13. "....IN EUROPE." Kind of a crucial point.

[Gregorian]

15. Well they already replace their meat with rubber.

[Yo_Mama]

16. This has been happening for a while in Europe

In the higher-minimum wage countries, at least.

It's not really new - I think they are just planning to expand this equipment to most stores there.

[OutNow]

18. In some places in Europe people do not carry cash

In Belgium and some other countries people don't carry cash. Almost all purchases, even at the flower vendor on the street, can be done via a smart card. It's not a debit card, it's a cash card that is filled with money at any ATM and the value of a purchase is subtracted from the card. So buying something at McDonalds is simple : pick up the food bag and swipe the card. This isn't new - it has been that way for over 10 years.

I hate to say this, but our country is being left in the dust by the rest of the world in so many ways.

[Taverner]

20. It was bound to happen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat

The Automat was just years ahead of it's time

[Shagbark Hickory]

21. Makes sense. Why pay someone to push the buttons when the customers can do it for free.

And computers don't steal from you.

[izquierdista]

23. They don't??

Please feel free to use my computer any time you want, then. :evilgrin:

[KoKo]

36. Most Digital Menus on "Touch Screen" show "Pictures" where you can add or delete

items on your MacBurger and condiments. :eyes: If they don't it's easy to add them so you an "Customize"

[Shagbark Hickory]

55. And the customers will find it fun to boot. A Win-win all the way around.

[jp11]

22. I demand buttons to remove mayo, tomatoes, onions, and anything else I can think of.

Like the extra 300 calories I don't need, oh wait I only go there like once every 2-3 years.

[bbinacan]

24. And I hope they do it here. n/t

[slackmaster]

27. I'll have a Royale with Cheese and a GLASS of fucking beer

[saras]

30. I don't get it

I understand people's excuses for shopping at Walmart, especially the "300 miles to anyplace better" one.

I don't understand people's desire to eat at McDonalds. Either the food or the institution alone would stop me, NO MATTER WHAT the other was like. But both of them together?

I guess it's kind of trying to understand why people smoke based on the taste of cigarettes.

[comtec]

35. then you are blessed with a well paying job

i hate shopping at wally world and avoid doing so whenever possible.
Generally I go to rainbow foods. they are a tick more expensive, but I can afford it to salve my conscience.

however there are places where that's all there is, and/or you're on a fixed income, and despite looking elsewhere, wallyworld is the only place you can afford to feed your entire family for what little money you have.

it must be wonderful to live in such a high ivory tower, as to be able to pass judgment on all us poor, mundane little people. we who do not goto whole foods, and eat organic bullshit.

what a truly pathetic existence you must see us as living.

go
to
hell

Out here in the real world, it's not always a choice of where to shop.
I'm fortunate where I'm at, I have options.
Personally I prefer Aldi who buys from mostly American suppliers, when they don't have something I goto Rainbow.

But I have options, many, most of middle America doesn't, or can't afford the gas.

Welcome to the depression.

[mmonk]

33. Pretty soon, the public will be paying to cook their burgers.

[KoKo]

34. Seriously...it's a good thing. Just punch the "Touch Screen" in the car line up..

get your order and get the hell out. Same thing with "In House Service." It's all automated, anyway so why do you need a "person/human" there to take your order. Just punch the "Big Mac w/fries/Coke and get the damned order. It doesn't take an "intermediary" to punch in that?

Does It?

[marmar]

48. I'd rather see people employed.

nt

[KoKo]

49. So would I...So would I...but Business wants efficiency..and as long as they can

use technology to cut and cut workers..they will do it. :-(

[W_HAMILTON]

37. Cool!

I guess that means we can now expect the "Dollar Menu" to be the "50 Cent Menu," right? All these cost savings are going to be passed onto the consumer, ESPECIALLY given that we are now required to do more work to place our orders. Right? Right?

:sarcasm:

[underpants]

44. WaWa already does this BTW

not that I eat there much but you order from a touch screen, the make it for you, and you take it to the main register area to pay for it.

[Blue Owl]

47. It's all very RadioHead

:scared:

[AndiMer]

51. If you're going to get your order fucked up, then

it might as well be fucked up hi-tech.

[jmowreader]

54. I would like this

Scenario: When I was stationed in Berlin, one of my favorite things to do was to go to the Klo, get two sheets to the wind, then go to McDonald's for eine McRib, grosse pommes and eine Bier. One fine day here in not-so-sunny Idaho I decided that sounded like a tasty snack, so off to McDonald's I go.

"May I help you?"
'Yes. This is to go. I'd like a McRib and large fries, please.'

(Punches order into computer.)

"Okay, so I have a McRib and a large Sprite. Would you like anything else?"
'No, a large fries. French fries.'

(Punches into the computer.)

"I have a McRib extra value meal, large size. Will there be anything else?"
'Why do you have me down for an extra value meal? I don't want a soda.'
"What are you going to have to drink with this?"
'A beer.'
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't sell beer."
'I know that. I'm going to take this home and eat it there.'

This shit went on for about five more minutes. Finally I paid and waited for my meal.

I received one McRib and a large Sprite.

On the other hand...if they had these little machines in the US, I could go up, feed in my non-standard order, give the machine money and go home with a sack of food.