Diversion Rant

[Ivan the Butcher]

To take our minds off the bridge collapse, here is a Luddite rant.

Last Thursday, SWMBO and I went on a small road trip. We stopped by Fin, Fur, & Feather in Ashland, Ohio and I managed the find 2 thousand primers (NO LIMITS) at a reasonable current price. We went looking for dinner and I got off the wrong exit, so we decided to have Steak & Shake for our meal. We went in and ALL orders were to be placed at the kiosk! (Human Free!) there were 4 touch screens, we tried using 3 of them, but they were unresponsive.

There were two human cooks that looked at me but made no semblance of recognition of the fact I existed. There were two customers waiting for their food to be prepared, that watched our dilemma. The stood there laughing at us and made no comment. So due to lack of useful humans we left and found food at the next fast-food restaurant.

Due to lack of intelligent life, "Steak And Shake" has lost a customer.

Are non-functioning automated service devices the wave of the future?

Ivan

 

[BKLooney]

Yeah, if I can't tell someone behind the counter what I want to order I'll go elsewhere..I also despise talking to a drive-through box...

 

[dockmurgw]

You hung in there longer than I would have, I would have been out the door a millisecond after discovering I had to use one of those idiotic kiosks.

 

[Onomea]

I am with ya, Ivan.

It seems to me businesses increasingly want the customer to do as much of the work as possible — e.g. self check out or those endless automated robo response menus when you call customer service before you can actually get to a human, IF you can get to a human — and then when you are finally done with them they send you endless demands to fill out their customer service surveys...

Gimme a break already!

 

[walter o]

The machines were programed to imitate the human employees GET USED TO IT

 

[old bear]

Are non-functioning automated service devices the wave of the future?

It's a shame but I am afraid this will be what we will have to look forward to

 

[Rudi]

They aren't going to pay moron kids $15-$20 an hour to learn how to work.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[CalifEd]

Maybe the AI app scanned both of you and determined that you just did not measure up the their high standards, thus the 'broken' kiosks...

 

[arjay]

We're the testers of beta automation.Got to get those labor costs down!
(Think of the stockholders!)

 

[grover99]

Getting to a point that I can't make an appointment to get an oil change, see a Doctor, order medical supplies or have work done at the house by talking to a real person. It is all done on line and I am old school and I just hate that.

 

[s&wchad]

I can deal with just about anything after growing up with greasy horse-meat tacos in the middle of the night!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Rusty and Rudi, both had the same point! Kids don't know was an entry level position is ffor!

My wife & I did the unthinkable: We taught our kids to work. Set the plan for the day, determine the best/most efficient order to accomplish that list, and even plan on the fun afterwards! We had a family business also, so there was some physical labor involved in sweeping streets, emptying trashed out apartments. In 1997, when the oldest got a job, as a laborer, on a framing crew, I ask the boss what he was paying the boy? He said, $6.50 an hour, if I keep him!" His first paycheck was actually for $7.50 an hour, because he already knew how to work and do more than just look like he was doing something!

Except for the oldest, (a senior helicopter mechanic with a BS in business management) the other 3 are all in management of one type or another. Why? Because their employers know they will get their teams to accomplish something today!

Ivan

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

To take our minds off the bridge collapse, here is a Luddite rant.

Last Thursday, SWMBO and I went on a small road trip. We stopped by Fin, Fur, & Feather in Ashland, Ohio and I managed the find 2 thousand primers (NO LIMITS) at a reasonable current price. We went looking for dinner and I got off the wrong exit, so we decided to have Steak & Shake for our meal. We went in and ALL orders were to be placed at the kiosk! (Human Free!) there were 4 touch screens, we tried using 3 of them, but they were unresponsive.

There were two human cooks that looked at me but made no semblance of recognition of the fact I existed. There were two customers waiting for their food to be prepared, that watched our dilemma. The stood there laughing at us and made no comment. So due to lack of useful humans we left and found food at the next fast-food restaurant.

Due to lack of intelligent life, "Steak And Shake" has lost a customer.

Are non-functioning automated service devices the wave of the future?

Ivan

Yes, these devices are the coming thing.

They are cheaper, require little manpower, don't have to be paid like a cashier, and since many businesses are encouraging pay by app or card, safer (debateable) as they require no cash.

Another fact is that a lot of places using these pay very low wages...as a result, you get people working checkouts that couldn't tell the difference between an American dollar or a Chinese Yuan nor even know how to make change. Not to mention staffing shortages and often the staff they get don't want to work...but want to be paid for being on their phones/social media/etc etc etc.

To me, the good ole American dollar is still legal tender for all debts public and private. If a business won't take it, I'll find one that will.

But back to the post at hand, big box retail and fast food will all eventually be this way.

 

[pharman]

The PROBLEM with kiosks...

Try ordering a burger PLAIN which means NOTHING ON IT...NO CHEESE...NOTHING MEANS NOTHING...ONLY MEAT AND BUN...it can't be done at a kiosk and if you are lucky enough to get a clerk and you ask for PLAIN, they stare at the order screen and do NOT know what to do...VERY VERY FRUSTRATING...

 

[SmithNut]

Yeah, if I can't tell someone behind the counter what I want to order I'll go elsewhere.... snip.....

Bingo.... I"ll wait for a small amount of time, usually someone shows up, most showing a bit of annoyance - but tough, that's the way it is....

I order from a person or I walk....

On occasion I'll use the drive-thru, nowadays the first thing they ask is "are you using the mobile app????", the answer is, and will always be, "NO".

Drives me crazy..... )(*&^%$

 

[Narragansett]

Should have gone to Waldo.

 

[Krogen]

Look at it this way, Ivan. Had you have prevailed over the infernal machine and managed to enter an order, it would have demanded a tip.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Saturday afternoon I fought my way into Costco. Being a new member I didn't realize what a crowd. I wanted a hotdog and a drink. There were a bunch of people standing around waiting and I noticed they have a kiosk with 4 terminals. I stepped up and tried my luck with the machine. Really simple,not many choices and easy to use. I just don't understand using my debit card for $1.65. In true efficient Costco manner, my wait was only 7 minutes. And no tipping. I've tried my luck at other places and it wasn't as successful. But you can leave a custom tip. Usually.01 cents.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Should have gone to Waldo.

G&R Tavern in Waldo, Ohio is almost a 2-hour drive from Fin, Fur & Feather. I Truely wish that had been an option! BTW, G&R won't take credit or debit cards, only cash or checks. (I don't believe I have ever written a chech for my dinner.)

Thanks for rubbing it in!

Ivan