TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Wendy's To Replace Workers With Self-Service Kiosks Due To Minimum Wage Increases

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Yup.

I can see this.

It's already being used in a lot of restaurants.

ed11563 · Guru

Does anyone else remember The Automat?

Look through glass doors, pick your food, insert coins, open the door and take your food.

Maybe the kiosks will have a menu panel and a place to swipe your credit card, then you get a receipt with a pickup number.

No cashier.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Told you so.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

See how the Dems care soo much about the "working man"?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

6000 locations times just 2 cashiers is 12,000 jobs.

Nice going, liberals.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Well, Sheetz sells a ton of food around here and everyone seems to like it. You order on one of those kiosks and then they make your food and call your number for pickup. It works great. And, we are all used to using them so it is an easy sell. I would think that McD's and others would soon go that way.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

The good news is that it will create jobs for kiosk designers and makers - but those are more skilled jobs. The unskilled labor that thinks they deserve $15 an hour will now have less jobs available. And students will find it harder and harder to find part time work.

Tinydancer · Guru

Come on. Food from a kiosk is freshly prepared and you don't have to pay all those pesky employees. Heavy sarcasm because you didn't think raising the minimum wage would hurt those very employees you thought you were helping. I guess no pay is better than low pay.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I just want Democrats to stop with passing feel good legislation and pushing radical agendas with no actual consideration to the future impact and consequences.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Snooze story, we wrote this many threads ago. And yes, some new good jobs for high tech peeps have just been born.

weltschmerz · Guru

Lol!
Evidently the idea of kiosks for fast food restaurants was implemented in 2014, in Australia, way before the US minimum wage law.
Nice try blaming it on the liberals, though.

"It's the technology, stupid!"

weltschmerz · Guru

France has had them since 2007.

weltschmerz · Guru

Though some might worry this would provide an impersonal experience, Puzder argues that that’s the draw. “Millennials like not seeing people,” he said. “I’ve actually seen young people waiting in line to use the kiosk where there’s a person standing behind the counter, waiting on nobody.”

Additionally, Puzder would never have to worry about an employee lawsuit again. Machines are “always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.”

fortune.com/2016/03/17/automate-fast-food/

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

weltschmerz wrote:
Lol!
Evidently the idea of kiosks for fast food restaurants was implemented in 2014, in Australia, way before the US minimum wage law.
Nice try blaming it on the liberals, though.

"It's the technology, stupid!"

Do you not understand that the liberal drive to increase minimum wage past the point of worth compels companies to evolve and find ways to offer their product at a lower cost than what they will have to pay a person? No one has said the technology didn't exist, it just wasn't in many of the fast food restaurants since it was cheaper to pay an $8 or so hourly wage. Now that the hourly wage is going up, the jobs will decrease. We've been saying that for years. please keep up.

weltschmerz · Guru

Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I don't support a $15 minimum wage.

Self-serve checkouts have been in groceries for decades. Why not fast food places?

flan

Whenitrains · Member

Even if the minimum wages wasn't increased, the companies would have still moved to using kiosks so they could reduce payroll and make more money.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Whenitrains wrote:
Even if the minimum wages wasn't increased, the companies would have still moved to using kiosks so they could reduce payroll and make more money.

Good point.

flan

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

flan327 wrote:
Whenitrains wrote:
Even if the minimum wages wasn't increased, the companies would have still moved to using kiosks so they could reduce payroll and make more money.
Good point.
flan

This is true, but the costs are reviewed all the time and the latest compelling reason is the increasing or threat of increasing minimum wage. It isn't corporate greed. If business cannot contain costs they will no longer be in business. Pretty simple concept.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?

They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.

The why have groceries had them for years?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.
The why have groceries had them for years?
flan

The grocery ones SUCK and I won't use them. They still require someone to be there to fix something every damn time. And they require people to bag and do everything to their groceries. I flat out refuse to use them and I stop shopping at stores that won't have an additional line open. That's why I shopped at Publix for years - because they don't have them.

A kiosk to simply order food is not going to have the same "please remove you item from the bag and scan it again" issues.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

And the grocery store ones don't REPLACE cashiers, they SUPPLEMENT them.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

The service at most our fast food places here is so crappy I'd be glad to use a kiosk. At least they don't roll their eyes and snap their gum.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.
The why have groceries had them for years?
flan
The grocery ones SUCK and I won't use them. They still require someone to be there to fix something every damn time. And they require people to bag and do everything to their groceries. I flat out refuse to use them and I stop shopping at stores that won't have an additional line open. That's why I shopped at Publix for years - because they don't have them.
A kiosk to simply order food is not going to have the same "please remove you item from the bag and scan it again" issues.

I totally agree. I've done Kroger & Meijer...different problems in both stores.

Customers bag their own groceries here.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
And the grocery store ones don't REPLACE cashiers, they SUPPLEMENT them.

Maybe they use them elsewhere, but that's not the impression I get.

flan

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.
The why have groceries had them for years?
flan
The grocery ones SUCK and I won't use them. They still require someone to be there to fix something every damn time. And they require people to bag and do everything to their groceries. I flat out refuse to use them and I stop shopping at stores that won't have an additional line open. That's why I shopped at Publix for years - because they don't have them.
A kiosk to simply order food is not going to have the same "please remove you item from the bag and scan it again" issues.

All our grocery stores got rid of self scan, except Walmart. They don't work for crap.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Southern_Belle wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.
The why have groceries had them for years?
flan
The grocery ones SUCK and I won't use them. They still require someone to be there to fix something every damn time. And they require people to bag and do everything to their groceries. I flat out refuse to use them and I stop shopping at stores that won't have an additional line open. That's why I shopped at Publix for years - because they don't have them.
A kiosk to simply order food is not going to have the same "please remove you item from the bag and scan it again" issues.

All our grocery stores got rid of self scan, except Walmart. They don't work for crap.

And Walmart has a little cashier stand for the cashier to watch you do self check-out.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

But an order kiosk doesn't really have to DO anything. It's not scanning items, or have a weigh scale, or have to figure out a produce code - it just has pictures of items and you push a picture to say - I want that. Jojo uses ones at QT to order her ice cream.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

All our grocery stores got rid of self scan, except Walmart. They don't work for crap.
And Walmart has a little cashier stand for the cashier to watch you do self check-out.

Yep, poor things stay busy too. One usually has to wait for them to finish helping someone else. I was a grocery store cashier in high school so I'm not totally clueless on ringing up my own stuff. The system is just too flawed.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I like using the self check outs. Not sure why, but its fun!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
Southern_Belle wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
They haven't done it until the wage hike. McDonald's has had them in Europe where employees are more expensive but they didn't bring them here until this.

If you cannot understand causation, your college degree was a waste of money.
The why have groceries had them for years?
flan
The grocery ones SUCK and I won't use them. They still require someone to be there to fix something every damn time. And they require people to bag and do everything to their groceries. I flat out refuse to use them and I stop shopping at stores that won't have an additional line open. That's why I shopped at Publix for years - because they don't have them.
A kiosk to simply order food is not going to have the same "please remove you item from the bag and scan it again" issues.

All our grocery stores got rid of self scan, except Walmart. They don't work for crap.
And Walmart has a little cashier stand for the cashier to watch you do self check-out.

It's more like 1 cashier for 10 lanes.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Southern_Belle wrote:

All our grocery stores got rid of self scan, except Walmart. They don't work for crap.
And Walmart has a little cashier stand for the cashier to watch you do self check-out.
Yep, poor things stay busy too. One usually has to wait for them to finish helping someone else. I was a grocery store cashier in high school so I'm not totally clueless on ringing up my own stuff. The system is just too flawed.

Seriously. And God forbid you want to use a coupon...

flan

huskerbb · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
Lol!
Evidently the idea of kiosks for fast food restaurants was implemented in 2014, in Australia, way before the US minimum wage law.
Nice try blaming it on the liberals, though.

"It's the technology, stupid!"

BS. Just because the technology is available, does not mean any one business has to implement it. If the cost of doing so was more prohibitive than the cost of labor, they may not have.

You FAIL.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I said a long time ago that while progression is great, one day we would progress our way out of jobs.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Not really. Less time at work means more leisure time etc. So now we have industries for all our electronics etc

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
I said a long time ago that while progression is great, one day we would progress our way out of jobs.

That isn't true, the jobs merely evolve into other, less mechanical work.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

But if it takes less people to do the job, that's less jobs.

I've seen how automation has taken jobs in manufacturing.

I'm not saying progress is bad.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?

I love how nothing is ever the fault of liberal policies when people lose their jobs, but everything is the fault of Repubs to you. Yeah, the technology exists. Businesses enact technology when and if it becomes cost effective to do so. Doubling the cost of their labor force overnight has made this an issue worth looking at more seriously and so they shall. But, pretend it has no effect. Whatevs.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Our business just committed to paying a livable wage to each employee. It meant everyone got about a $3 raise. It was tough to figure out but we managed to work it out. Because our people are important to us. It's a matter of priorities, and people are one of our biggest priorities.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Mellow Momma wrote:
Our business just committed to paying a livable wage to each employee. It meant everyone got about a $3 raise. It was tough to figure out but we managed to work it out. Because our people are important to us. It's a matter of priorities, and people are one of our biggest priorities.

To most big corporations, the biggest priority is profits. And if they have shareholders, that's actually a duty. So, it's great you worked that out, but you can't make anyone else do it when there are other options available to them.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Do you really think that if the minimum wage hike didn't exist, and the technology's available for the fast food companies, that they wouldn't take advantage of it regardless? In order to save craploads of money?
Or do they care so much about their minimum wage workers that they they'll eschew it because they're just so magnanimous and care so deeply?
Are you going to stick with your answer and blame the minimum wage?
I love how nothing is ever the fault of liberal policies when people lose their jobs, but everything is the fault of Repubs to you. Yeah, the technology exists. Businesses enact technology when and if it becomes cost effective to do so. Doubling the cost of their labor force overnight has made this an issue worth looking at more seriously and so they shall. But, pretend it has no effect. Whatevs.

Kiosk technology has been around a long time. They didn't implement it until the minimum wage hike. It only takes a minimum of intelligence to see that.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I can see how and why this is happening.

It was just a matter of time, no matter who was in the white house or what the minimum wage is.

This isn't new.

Anything that can be done to decrease cost and increase profit will be done.

It's practical business sense.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lawyerlady wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Our business just committed to paying a livable wage to each employee. It meant everyone got about a $3 raise. It was tough to figure out but we managed to work it out. Because our people are important to us. It's a matter of priorities, and people are one of our biggest priorities.
To most big corporations, the biggest priority is profits. And if they have shareholders, that's actually a duty. So, it's great you worked that out, but you can't make anyone else do it when there are other options available to them.

I actually have shareholders too. Paying a living wage is important to my shareholders. I am not trying to MAKE anyone else pay a living wage, I am just making the point that it is possible to, that it isn't the corporate death knell people seem to think it is and that there are ways to remain profitable while doing so. It is a matter of priorities.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Our business just committed to paying a livable wage to each employee. It meant everyone got about a $3 raise. It was tough to figure out but we managed to work it out. Because our people are important to us. It's a matter of priorities, and people are one of our biggest priorities.
To most big corporations, the biggest priority is profits. And if they have shareholders, that's actually a duty. So, it's great you worked that out, but you can't make anyone else do it when there are other options available to them.
I actually have shareholders too. Paying a living wage is important to my shareholders. I am not trying to MAKE anyone else pay a living wage, I am just making the point that it is possible to, that it isn't the corporate death knell people seem to think it is and that there are ways to remain profitable while doing so. It is a matter of priorities.

As I said, that may be your priority, but you can't force it to be anyone else's.

huskerbb · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Our business just committed to paying a livable wage to each employee. It meant everyone got about a $3 raise. It was tough to figure out but we managed to work it out. Because our people are important to us. It's a matter of priorities, and people are one of our biggest priorities.
To most big corporations, the biggest priority is profits. And if they have shareholders, that's actually a duty. So, it's great you worked that out, but you can't make anyone else do it when there are other options available to them.
I actually have shareholders too. Paying a living wage is important to my shareholders. I am not trying to MAKE anyone else pay a living wage, I am just making the point that it is possible to, that it isn't the corporate death knell people seem to think it is and that there are ways to remain profitable while doing so. It is a matter of priorities.

Then why a $3 raise now? Did it suddenly just become a priority? What about before?

Also, it depends on the job. Some jobs it is difficult to find someone to replace your people. Others, not so much.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

We stopped at Sheetz today. A convenience store for those who don't have that in their area. And, they are now have self checkout in addition to the ordering kiosks.