Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

[jr429]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

I have never, ever seen one of these work out "well." Either granny takes 23 minutes to order a turkey sandwich, Jimmy's not paying attention, presses the button too quick, and runs over to the grill to yell "no tomato" at the short-order cook, or Joe, who can usually work the damn thing, clicked something he shouldn't and can't figure out how to get to the last menu, so Jane working the register has to hold up the "pay" line to go show him how to do it. It happens every time it's busy (lunch) in the 2 lunch spots near me that use the touchscreen order system.

Just like every time I'm in Stop and Shop and my baser instincts get ahold of me: "I'm just buying a loaf of bread, may as well use the autocheckout and get out of here quickly..." I think. And inevitably the one person ahead of me can't figure out how to type in tomatoes, can't scan his tuna, and tries to send a 2-liter bottle under the space analyzer, which rolls on the conveyor, which screws up the space sensor's timing, and the red lights go off as the lane number blinks and the guy they hired to "watch" the 4 self-checkout lanes needs to come over to reset the machine.

Machines are only as competent as the public that uses them. It may not take much skill to be a register jockey, but it takes some. A learned-encyclopedic knowledge of PLUs is far better than watching Ralph pour over 27 different 1"X2" pictures of different kinds of tomatoes, scratching his empty skull trying to figure out which goddamn tomatoes he picked up 40 minutes ago when he was in the produce section. These things suck because people suck, especially at activities they don't perform often and in a repetitious manner. And then there's the Windows: I've seen more blue screens of death at order counters and on touchscreen registers than anyone ever should have to. "Ahhh, ma'am, sir, I'm, like, um, sorry, but the computer's not working. Um, I don't know, like, maybe the manager can let us just write it on paper, but like the register's hooked up to corporate, and we can, like, get in trouble or something. Hold on..."

Forget the 5-figure computer program to order and take money. I'll take my local breakfast counter waitresses any day. I know them. They know I only want my coffee black with the paper. The register is just a calcuator and a drawer. And a meal is still cheaper, even with tip, than the places that drop the big money on a bloatware touchscreen order software system running over Windows.

The electronic checkouts are pretty popular at Home Depot and some other stores now probably because you're dealing with a more DIY crowd. Some Walmart shoppers still struggle on occasion though.

The flip side is my JPM Chase branch replaced all the tellers but one with electronic automated systems. No one including myself will use them however because usually the teller's cute and I'll be damned if I'm going to use an ATM for the ~$2k/month they charge me in fees... And I'll have my free coffee thank you. Chase has resorted to have "outages" to force users to use the ATM system which I have to admit is pretty intuitive...

[Woodsman]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

No doubt lets throw out the whirlpool dishwasher, meat slicer, blender so restaurants can employ more.

sat·ire
ˈsaˌtīr/ (noun)
1. The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

• synonyms:

  mockery, ridicule, derision, scorn, caricature; More

Merry Christmas!

[flintlock]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

No doubt lets throw out the whirlpool dishwasher, meat slicer, blender so restaurants can employ more.

And destroy all cars. Think of the boom to the horse and buggy industry. They work hard too!

[Woodsman]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

And destroy all cars. Think of the boom to the horse and buggy industry. They work hard too!

Horse and buggy? Clever, man. That's clever.

You know, I admit that my inability to ignore the suffering of others usually gets in the way of my enjoyment of buying, selling and accumulating. I've always had this character flaw that makes it tough for me to dismiss the fate of millions just so I can have more stuff. I don't know, do you guys think if I work really, really hard I too can join the ranks of the Übermensch when I grow up?

Merry Christmas. Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men [like us]

[jpatter666]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

I pay cash all the time. Cash price is 15 cents per gallon cheaper. I can walk 20 steps for a buck or two.

Plus I'd rather give 15 cents per gallon to the National Highway Trust Fund than pay my FIRE tax.

Must be a New England thing -- no such option here in Virginia. Credit/Cash same price.

[RebbePete]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

So if it means some waitress making $2.13 an hour in direct wages has to hit the bricks, well that's the invisible hand slapping her around like Ike Turner, not me.

At some point, companies are going to have to realize that they're laying off their own customers.

As far as patrons are concerned, it's a death spiral. Lower wages in this economy means that they look for cheaper goods. Cheaper goods usually come with less service/more automation, which means more people are laid off or have hours cut back. That means less wages, wash, rinse, repeat.

It's the "big box" effect coming to food. Stores like Walmart are killing local shops and craftspeople, so the only jobs they can get are crappy ones at those big box stores, and so those become the only places they can afford to shop.

If automated check-outs are so desirable, why is it that the high-end retailers still have personal service from dedicated staff?

Fight back. Patronize little mom and pop restaurants whenever you can, and shun the chains. Same with local shops, if there are any left in your area.

[jpatter666]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

If automated check-outs are so desirable, why is it that the high-end retailers still have personal service from dedicated staff?

Because there's a difference between shopping for a $20 hammer and a $1500 handbag. To an extent it's the same reason people buy from Amazon. When you know exactly what you want (or can determine it quickly on your own) then time is of the essence and I appreciate ways of reducing the time I have to spend.

When I'm not sure or are there for the experience, then having the personal touch/assistance is welcome and yes, we'll pay for that.

But yes, in ways companies *are* laying off their customers -- certainly cannibalizing things at the low/medium end and ever marching upwards -- which was the original comment on this thread.

Edit: BTW, my wife would *never* pay $1500 for a handbag -- was simply an example.

[jiimbergin]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

I pay cash all the time. Cash price is 15 cents per gallon cheaper. I can walk 20 steps for a buck or two.

Plus I'd rather give 15 cents per gallon to the National Highway Trust Fund than pay my FIRE tax.

Here in NC that is not an option.

[gwynedd1]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

I rarely even eat out. What is the fuss all about?

[ProdigyofZen]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

The electronic checkouts are pretty popular at Home Depot and some other stores now probably because you're dealing with a more DIY crowd. Some Walmart shoppers still struggle on occasion though.

The flip side is my JPM Chase branch replaced all the tellers but one with electronic automated systems. No one including myself will use them however because usually the teller's cute and I'll be damned if I'm going to use an ATM for the ~$2k/month they charge me in fees... And I'll have my free coffee thank you. Chase has resorted to have "outages" to force users to use the ATM system which I have to admit is pretty intuitive...

This is onging: http://www.technewsdaily.com/6186-vi...k-tellers.html

They will replace real life tellers with machines that have interactive real tellers but in cheaper locations. Namely India or Florida where they can pay a lower wage to the tellers.

Hey! Anything for the bottom line! Gotta make those profits!

[Woodsman]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

I rarely even eat out. What is the fuss all about?

Right on, gwyn. This is boring the Applebees out me.

Since there's no fighting the Cult of Impersonality, let's dance while we wait our turn to circle the drain!

"And during the few moments that we have left, we want to talk, right down to earth, in a language that everybody here can easily understand

Look in my eyes, what do you see?
The cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you wanna be ohhh
I'm the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the cult of personality
The cult of personality
The cult of personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face of your T.V. ohh
I'm the cult of personality
I exploit you; still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three ohh
I'm the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi, ohh
I'm the cult of personality
The cult of personality
The cult of personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a leader speaks, that leader dies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
You gave me fortune, you gave me fame
You gave me power, in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be, ohh
I'm, the, cult, of, per, son, al, ity
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
I am the cult of
Personality
Ask not what your country can do for you
The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself"

[lektrode]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

.... I'll take my local breakfast counter waitresses any day. I know them. They know I only want my coffee black with the paper. The register is just a calcuator and a drawer. And a meal is still cheaper, even with tip, than the places that drop the big money on a bloatware touchscreen order software system running over Windows.

+1

I rarely even eat out. What is the fuss all about?

and on the rare occasion when i/we do, prefer joints where ya bypass the waiting line (in full view of EMPTY TABLES), walk right in and SIT AT THE BAR, where one gets _instant_ attention, snappy service and - typically (in the places i frequent) - a bit of _friendly_ personality to go with REAL SERVICE

vs the typically fashionable/overpriced/snooty brass&hanging plants-themed places with waitstaff that act as IF their farts dont stink...

[gwynedd1]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

Even now I have plenty of food service work to do. I looked for a touch screen for it but no luck. I need to get around to cracking more walnuts and acorns. The walnuts need to be roasted, and the acorns need to be leached and ground to flour. I also need to do a second racking to 6 gallons of apple and 6 gallons of wild grape , the hooch of my labor. I also need to make another loaf of rye...Nobody with a touch screen can seem to give me what I want, so I gotta grind it myself. But then that was the point. I see people buying tread mills which is just too much stick and not enough carrot. Why walk on a tread mill that doesn't mill anything? And talk about boring. What are you going to talk about? How ya ordered it? Even if I had to chew on a hoof, at least I could hear the story and the thrill of the hunt. My acorn flat bread has a history, an identity. Restaurants are the eradication of culture. Even a recipe can be a family heirloom. Today people feed their primal appetites while grown adults suck on their pacifiers, paying a monthy fee to mill the air.

There is technology that adds sharpness to one's claws , but I see far too much of it that gives occasion to hibernate.

[jiimbergin]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

+1




and on the rare occasion when i/we do, prefer joints where ya bypass the waiting line (in full view of EMPTY TABLES), walk right in and SIT AT THE BAR, where one gets _instant_ attention, snappy service and - typically (in the places i frequent) - a bit of _friendly_ personality to go with REAL SERVICE

vs the typically fashionable/overpriced/snooty brass&hanging plants-themed places with waitstaff that act as IF their farts dont stink...

Yes, my Mom and Dad taught me that you can always sit at the bar and always get food there. It is still my Mom's favorite place to sit even at the young age of 89!

[flintlock]

Re: Waiters to be replaced with iPads?

People are becoming superfluous. That's the uncomfortable truth that no one ever wants to address. The rest is just a symptom of this.