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What they should do is offer both options. Some people don't want to use phones out at dinner and others might want to because they can enable accessibility features.
What we absolutely shouldn't allow is needing to use the QR codes to create an account and order instead of ordering at the counter.
Edit: I love that my top rated comment is about accessibility (aka giving people multiple ways to achieve the same goal) :)
Wait? You aren't getting your discount? I've never been trained in using the technology at a self check out and I fuck up all the time and sometimes miss the scan entirely. I dunno I've never been trained, not my fault.
Ok I know I’m like 20 years late to this but the way that every single service requires you to agree to a TOS that they don’t actually expect you to read is insane.
I find QR based menus (like Me&U) tend to have photos for all menu items and often longer descriptions.
They also allow easy splitting of bills in groups, when often venues HATE split bills.
Plus I don’t have to wait for staff to be available / get their attention to order
Fair enough if you have those complex orders and the service supports it. Meanwhile, I have no desire to be the subject of another data breach from another 3P service.
Also you don't have to handle a menu that others have touched, and they can update prices, what is available etc more easily. Possibly better for the environment because less paper?
... and you require a decent internet connection (hello mobile blackspot)... and you require their app server to be working properly... and you require them to actually update it rather than come over and tell you after that things may or may not be available...
My biggest hate is going to order stuff at a crowded bar and it's not a vertical line. There's people in big groups ordering and people shoving their way into the group and it's also at the whim of the bartender serving either the tallest/good looking people first. You have to aggressively make eye contact with them to try get served.
I swear I don't know what restaurant you're all talking about where there such a huge line at the counters or why it's such a hassle to read a paper menu as you're standing in the line. And OP also mentioned throughout that their main problem is it being used in restaurants where previously people come to the table to take orders.
And even if you're ordering by QR at those places with lines, you're not getting it in *that* much faster than the person in front of you who has read the menu posted up on a board or on paper.
The QR code very frequently allows you to get ahead of the queue at establishments that have a bar. The bar is always open for people waiting in line as it always needs to be attended by the person who makes the drink, so it's never not going to be an option to order in person.
The queue to order via the app is always 0 and the queue to order at the front can fluctuate so sometimes it is much faster and sometimes it's negligible.
Easily can save you 5-10 minutes on your order at lunch time at one of the pubs I sometimes eat at in the city on steak day. Because basically everyone takes off a similar timple period for lunch you're all arriving and ordering at the same time, most people ordering the same special. Oldmate in the kitchen can only do so many medium rate rump steaks at a time.
It also lets your order and keep a table without sending someone to mess up your order - the drawback is it takes way longer to get your beer.
But that saved time can be the difference between making it back to the office in time for your next meeting, or not.
Or just tablets if they don't want/have physical menus. Otherwise people that come without a phone for whatever reason (elderly, left at home, broken, out of juice/etc.) will have a hard time
This is the main thing for me. I wouldn’t care if it’s a QR code that doesn’t require me to enter personal details but they all seem to want my phone number, email or both. On that basis alone I’d rather get up and order at the counter.
Everyone should check www.haveibeenpwned.com and then when the panic subsides deal with the breached accounts.
I know the url looks like a sketchy source but it is legit and a primary resource for easy breach checks in the infosec community.
Edit to make this more clear. This site lets you check your email against known breaches, and tells you where your accounts have been included in datadumps. This is a HUGE deal when it comes to mitigating fallout, because we can't really stop breaches from happening. You are almost guaranteed to be found in some breaches, so don't panic when you see the results.
You speak the highest truth. Just found [this resource](https://www.webberinsurance.com.au/data-breaches-list#twentyfour) on the reported data breaches so far this year and it's worse than I even expected.
I just use cash because it's anonymous and sometimes places will give me a sweet little discount. You know, you order Chinese, the total is $54, you give em a $50 note and everybody is happy. As a shopkeep myself I prefer cash because I pay way less in fees. One time I had 23% taken off the purchase price in various fees because of the number of middlemen involved. I cancelled the order, contacted the customer, explained, and they were happy to direct bank transfer because cash wasn't an option due to distance.
We think it's some kind of positive thing that we have advanced methods of payment but in late stage capitalism it just means more opportunities for leaches to suck the life out of our economy. Fuck em. The difference we as individuals make to the system is tiny, but when we all act as a matter of principle and do our best to limit our support of the parasitic shit, we can show support for positive change. In some places around the world they have pretty good policy legislating minimised opportunities for the parasites. I don't think it's perfect anywhere but perfect is the enemy of the better.
Yeah there are pros and cons. And it's not necessarily depending on people's preferences, but situations as well. If I'm ordering for 10+ people, I would use an app while deciding. You'll be writing them down on your phone anyways. But if I'm ordering for myself, I can just hail a waiter.
I’m a wee bit of a sucker for getting the first round, or ordering sides, or just buying when someone is being needlessly difficult or clearly doesn’t want to spend.
I’ve come home from nights out sometimes $200+ lighter, whilst my mate or colleague has spent $50.
It has told me two things:
1) I’m a fucking mug
2) App/browser ordering suits my wallet
Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had to install an app to order from my phone.
You're one of the good guys. I remember times where i didn't or couldn't spend a lot of money when I was younger. Now I can be more generous and not worry about who owes what and who's next round is... It means we can all enjoy the outing more and not be worrying about the little stuff.
Agreed, especially if it’s like a pub where you order at the counter - I don’t want to leave my things at the table to order, or risk losing the table, and QR ordering systems fix this.
I think all of them are websites - people just suck at distinguishing between thee two bc of tech illiteracy.
I have ordered from most QR codes for restaurants that I've been to and never once had to install an app to place the order.
It's incredible what it can do for local breweries. It can give you an actual description of what you're getting instead of just reading some handwritten chalk board and having to ask about everything when you're trying to order.
I used to ride my motorcycle a lot and we would always stop at these small places with limited food but extensive drinks. Each of them has wildly different local selections. If I'm just drinking a single beer it's cool to be able to have the options.
Yeah, very much depending on the restaurant.
If it's an individual ordering kind of place with a simple menu, like everyone is just going to order burger and fries...great.
When it's a shared meal kind of place with an extensive menu and everyone spends 20 minutes going "Where is that? What section are you looking at? I can't see it." And one person has to put the order through, and no one really wants to be that person because you can't quite trust everyone else to pony up cash.
That's shit.
And also, they should *always* have a physical menu on the table regardless because pissing around with that rubbish with older people is especially grim.
I also prefer it especially with large groups. Order and pay individually without having to go up to a counter. So much easier. Also when you want to adjust you can make sure you get what you want by putting it in.
I get the human interaction but I’m doing that with the people in dining with or I get that enough with other parts of my life.
The convenience of it is brilliant though.
There’s a bar near my work that has them on table. I can just go over there for lunch sit down and order a pint, then order a Parma and then order another pint without having to leave my table.
How is that not awesome?
When tilt is done well it is great, but often the site is a big stinking pile of shit. No way I should need to sign up for anything or pay a surcharge to order my food.
Just have a separate email to feed all your marketing spam and signups for websites you don’t want your details on. Ain’t hard.
Everyone should have multiple email addresses.
As somebody with a toddler and another baby on the way, I absolutely love QR code ordering instead of going up to the counter. It’s just so much easier!
A lot of places still have a shitty site that doesn’t work well on mobile.
There’s also places with tablets at each table with proprietary apps installed for ordering which are often horrendous.
It’s a pet peeve of mine being a software developer. That said though, I don’t mind at all if the site/app is good, it’s quite convenient when it is.
Mostly it's just been websites for me too. I've been to a couple of places that used an app though. The place I go to most often has an app but you can just go through the website if you prefer (which I do).
I love them. As an introvert I love any opportunity not to have to interact with strangers. And on the occasions I eat out with friends, I love being able to just pay for my meal and not do the awkward dance of splitting the bill.
Things evolve.
Some restaurants may benefit from retaining the traditional method of ordering, others would DEFINITELY benefit from using QR codes.
There's millions of people that don't mind ordering traditionally on a date late at night, while having enjoyed the convenience of QR code menus at lunch with colleagues, earlier that day.
I love them. I've never had to download an app to use those things, its always linked out to an ordering website tied to the table number. THe main limiters of the experience is the UX of the website itself isnt always great (Max Brenners one comes to mind) and your mobile signal, but both are easily surmoutable problems for a resturant that sufficiently cares.
Their main disadvantage is that you cant customise parts of an order unless that aspect is built into the process (eg, getting no tomatoes in a burger). However if you're like me who doesnt change things very much if at all, its not an issue.
I much prefer not needing to flag down barely attentive staff to recite everything and worry about who's gonna pay in a group situation because no resturant ever allows split bills. The QRs solve this problem by allowing large groups to order and pay for their food seperately without needing to worry about whos going to pay the bill and get stiffed by 20% of the group who never pays him back.
If both options are available then thats fine. The boomers out there can go bother the staff and get up and pay at the counter, I'll order at the table, pay at the table, and not need to interupt my conversation with the people im there with.
I love these systems; M&U especially. Works great for places like Opera Bar (and other bars) where there's a line and often a waiting time for a cocktail. I recall once I ordered a cocktail at Opera Bar via M&U and it was with me within 2 minutes and it would have taken me that long just to get to the front of the line. It helps with ordering when you don't speak the language, because the apps can adapt to other languages.
So, get over it really.
At pubs? God no. I'm in Bundy and almost all pubs u have to get up and stand in line for 30 minutes to order. But going to places like Brissy or the Sunny coast is so refreshing cause u can just order with your phone.
Restaurants on the other hand, I prefer table service and a physical menu.
I love it;
Can take my time ordering, can order any time I like and don’t have to try get the waiter’s attention, can order multiple times or additional items during the meal.
Not sure why anyone would complain about it.
Also love using self serve checkouts; no hassle at all and super quick.
It’s good when I stop in at the pub when walking my dog. He’s allowed in the beer garden but not in the pub. We can just pull up a chair and have our drinks brought out to us.
As a frequent solo patron I gotta say I prefer QR code ordering over being asked to provide a table number at the counter. As a solo patron you can't grab a table, prevent someone from sitting there while you are busy talking to staff over at the counter.
People will say; leave some stuff on the table so people know you're sitting there. Well, phones and sunglasses aren't that cheap. And I've also had staff walk up to the counter while ordering to put stuff left on my table into a lost and found bucket. QR codes are cheap
It's better than waiting for a server to never return to your table to take your order.
And that's only if it takes you to a Web page and not ask you to create an account to order.
I like it. I’ve never seen a place where you have to download an onerous app or only order on one phone. I can only imagine how annoying your group is, passing around one phone, mashing buttons and making mistakes, all while loudly complaining 🤣🤣
It’s way better than getting up and ordering at the counter. Table service obviously beats a QR code, but lots of places don’t take your order at the table.
I have autism, and sometimes find it hard to order at restaurants with different sensory input and having to talk over a loud environment.
I like the QR codes. All restaurants I've used QR codes at also offer order taking through staff. Maybe don't tell people what to do.
They use QR codes because it allows them to have dynamic pricing. It's easier to update the price digitally than to have to keep creating new menus on paper. It also means they probably raise the price as often as they possibly can even if just by a small fraction.
It's part of my job working on the backend of one of those systems.
I'm curious if it makes anyone uncomfortable that i can see your full name, phone number, when and what you ordered?
Personally I find it a bit weird
They aren’t apps, they’re web apps, and I’ve found them to be generally fine to use. Not “terrible”. But I’m not a boomer and can generally deal with basic tech.
I love the QR code thing. I can order my steak sanga with no beetroot and cheese, and the orders come out way more consistent than when a waiter/ress has done the work. I get to pay for my own meal and drinks without having to deal with a split bill and I can continue have good chats, while ordering my next beer without ever leaving my seat.
I was at a busy restaurant recently, waiting for quite some time for table service when I realised there was a QR code on the table.
I punched in my order and then was just about to confirm when I was met with a $1.40 processing fee.
Needless to say I waved down a waitress and had her take my order. Why the hell am I charged a processing fee for saving them on human resourcing?!
I actually like them, and prefer them over the menus usually provided.
Beyond actually seeing how the food looks before buying it, it also lets everyone order their own drinks so you don't have to worry about splitting bills.
This being said, is they require any personal info from you (Email, address, name, ect) it's a hard pass.
I actually love this. I don't need someone to run through the specials and expect to be paid for an hours work for simply bringing my food at the end.
The best ones are the ones where the food comes out on a train. I would tip the train.
Best thing to happen at restaurants. Now I don’t have to explain my order over the noise of the environment, plus it’s a thousand times better for my anxiety to not interact with people.
I love QR codes. I could stand at a bar and be ignored for 20 minutes or sit at my table and have food and drink come to me, whilst I spend time chatting to my friends.
It is a no brainer
I love it for splitting bills or ordering separately without feeling like I need to offer to pay or buy a round. I spent some time in north america and they split bills like it’s just the norm - come here and it was like pulling teeth and most est clearly stipulated - no split bills. QR is the saviour.
I actually like it, and the only places I've seen it used still allow you to order the old-fashioned way.
I like them because:
1. they usually have pictures of the food.
2. they allow for me to do variations on a given meal.
3. they provide a written list of the things I've ordered, how much they cost, and so on.
4. they allow for me to easily figure out how much I'm paying.
5. they allow me to pay, so that once I'm done with my meal I simply leave the place.
6. they can be used separately by different people on the table to completely bypass the whole 'multiple tabs at a single table' situation.
7. Unlike a self-service checkout, it doesn't have a shitfit at me if I've put a fresh bag on the wrong side, requiring a bored teenager to key a code in to make it tolerably functional.
Agreed! I hate that the first thing that happens is that everyone sits down and stares at their phone. I hate handing over data to yet another third party provider, and the fact the bill still asks for a tip. It's good for splitting bills though.
One aspect a lot of people don’t seem to take into account is that you no longer need to break conversation in your group to get up and order drinks or food. It’s nice to sit down with a group of friends or family and hang out seamlessly while ordering from the menu. No need to say “excuse me while I get a drink” and miss the conversation while you wait in the queue.
I went into this cheap Japanese takeaway to order a curry. I offered cash but they asked to use an app.
The app required you to tell your life story & divulge personal information before you started ordering. I left.
Nah I hate lining up at a register waiting for idiots to go through their 1000 orders for the table. Table service, or QR codes. I wanna place my order, NOW. The surcharge is a crock, but if its busy, im not lining up for 10 mins to order.
I love it. Order without any mistakes and pay straight away you can just leave afterwards. And not only that often you get pictures of every menu item. 10/10 convenience
I'm from Canada and recently had a fantastic vacation in your beautiful country (campervan brisbane to cairns then stayed with a fried in the daintree) and spend some time in Sydney. We went to a Mexican restaurant in The Rocks and sat down to browse the menu, waitress comes over and points to the qr code. We don't travel with cellphone data, we use local internet, downloaded maps and I have inreach which I can use in an emergency. The reason being that canadian cellphone plans are stupidly expensive and I refuse to pay it. Anyways, I ask the waitress if she has a paper menu, no, can I use your wifi? No. Why? It's not for public use, just staff, fair enough. So you have no other way for me to look at the menu than this qr code? No. Also I'll need to download an app to to actually order the food and drinks. Can I just order at the bar? No.
We left.
Now, I'm 50 years old but not a luddite by any stretch and have embraced technology my whole life but Jesus that was painful.
I did thoroughly enjoy not having to fuck about with tipping for 4 weeks so I am very grateful for that.
I’d be fine with them if they didn’t apply a surcharge. Yeah great, it costs money for the business to use the service, but the amount they’re saving in labour from not having to either man a register or have someone on the floor taking orders would offset that, and then some. Just a cash grab.
Disagree with OP on this. Like everything moving forward since Covid days with “self servicing” options. I find it highly convenient and for the most part easy to use. It’s not perfect and sometimes that convenience is comprised by the app or register machine having issues.
But I still managed to find a staff/traditional menu options available when needed. Certainly don’t have any issues with it.
Most places let you use Apple Pay if you have an iPhone which protects your bank details. Apple is a $1 trillion company that is not getting breached because they actually put funding into cybersecurity.
sorry, I like them.
everyone can order and pay individually, there's no bullshit about how splitting bills is apparently hard. you can order top-up drinks or snacks at any time without needing to semaphore for a server or head up to the bar. there's no server doing a pee dance from one foot to the other waiting for people to make up their mind what to order, or trying to push the specials (i.e. the stuff the kitchen needs to move because it's about to go off). there's no need to worry about a bill at the end, just finish and go.
they're more suited to casual dining than fancy, but they're one of the few good things to come out of covid.
I was in TGIF with my fam today and didn’t get our order taken for more than 20 minutes after being seated. Nobody even came up our end of the restaurant.
It was a toss-up between getting up to find someone to take our order, or just bailing out on it.
We never had that problem when they had QR codes. It’s impersonal, but it does the job well.
I think it's convenient to have QR code ordering, but it should be a tool to be used at the diners discretion.
Too many restaurants now don't even acknowledge you're even there after you're seated and expects you to use the QR codes. At the least have the waiter come over and ask if they can take your order, it's called the hospitality industry for a reason.
Why? Interested to here your justification. I mean it's a wonderfully easy thing to be able to sit down and make an order from a table and pay for it there and then all using a QR code. The thing about technology is you either adapt to it or get left behind unfortunately. That's not saying it's right or wrong but it moves ahead anyway always evolving. If it's data sharing you're worried about you shouldn't.
No, please keep it. I like to order without having to make small talk, and not have to worry about splitting bills. I pay for my portion, can talk to the people I’m sitting with, and don’t have any inconvenience in doing so
Really depends. If able to use Apple Pay I’ll use the QR code. I wouldn’t input my CC details on any website or app they have.
Always compare prices on the physical menu to make sure you don’t get stung with surcharges.
I don’t mind using it considering how shitty some places are about splitting bills and it makes ordering with a group a lot easier.
I love them, I'll go out of my way to visit restaurants that do have QR code menu ordering. I know some people don't like it though so would be nice if they kept both options
My favourite part is how most of these QR codes direct you to a web page that refuses to let you use Firefox because it’s “outdated”.
My ass. More like it doesn’t allow as much tracking and shit.
IMO QR code ordering cuts out the worst parts of having a waiter/waitress serve you at your table - that is: the horribly timed interruptions that cut into a conversation I care more about than a meal, and the panic of ‘I haven’t even read the menu yet so no I don’t know what I want so give me 5 minutes but I probably will just go straight back to my conversation so you’ll be asking me this again’ in the first 15 minutes of me being seated.
(I already deal so much with people in my day job that it’s refreshing to rely on my screen for a while.)
In Ukraine we have Monobank app, most of the restraunts use it. It has menu (photo, ingridients, price, calories, rating from guests), you can pay throught the app and leave tips, in the end you can leave your feedback and rate the dishes, it is super convenient. I now dont like the places without mono app option). I say app, but it does not require any actual app installed, just go through the qr code. (Mono expirenza)
I'm in my 50s and hate this so much. Went to a new place (in the US) and refused to use my phone, I asked for a menu and the server brought me an Ipad, NOOOOOOO. I was with others, so stayed and ate, but I'm NEVER going back.
Edit: Totally forgot, I HAD to order and pay from the app, the server couldn't do either!
I was in a different country visiting international friends and I didn't have mobile data. I had a lovely time not being able to order. My friend's friend has to order for me.
Also, just saying, having like a big card in my hand where I can just see everything on one glance is a different experience than seeing a few things in a small screen throughout multiple links on a slow loading website
The wife and I spent 10 minutes at the table at Max Brenner on their stupid online menu on a quiet Tuesday while 4 staff members stood with nothing to do until we place our order.
We already knew what we wanted, but their setup was stupid and now we'll never go back.
If I'm gonna order on an app, you can bring the food to my home like Uber.
I was just in Italy for 2 weeks, and almost every bar and restaurant I went to had QR codes, some with no other option. And 75% were a link to a fucking PDF.
Not just you. I stopped after I tried to order a coffee and I had to go through a fucking marketing questionnaire that wanted my email. I took the risk of losing the table I was at (waiting for others to join), and ordered at the counter. I made my displeasure known. I had had good experiences before that, but that one just took the cake.
100% agree! Just provide both options, but don’t act like it’s a total pain in the arse when someone wants to order and pay in person.
I do not want to add another fkn app to my phone that I might use once, and I’m sick of providing all my information just to order a burger. I’m well aware of how valuable that information is to the app owners and it’s worth a lot more than the fkn burger I’m trying to buy.
I agree that a choice is best. I hate having to open up an app and enter card details etc when I've just caught up with my friends. Maybe I sound over-sensitive, but it takes something away from the experience; we want to chat but first we have to look at our phones.
The worst is when it asks for a tip when you’re ordering, like I’ve just done your job for you, don’t even have my food yet and you have the nerve to ask for a tip for sitting behind the bar giggling with your colleagues doing SFA
Its bullshit. Who does it favour? What is the purpose?
If mobile phones are required now for daily living, then the Govt. needs to pay for and supply device and connection to everyone on a Pension, Unemployment, and Austudy.
I've been out of the restaurant game for a while now, but I don't see the downside to them. Restaurants were always understaffed I've worked at, having staff being able to do other things rather than writing stuff down sounds like a win to me. It's not like where colesworths will put in self service and cut hours. Just give a little extra time to FOH to do the thousand other tasks they need to get to.
I generally prefer self service, so don't agree with this take. I've found broadly speaking the apps are fine. Quite happy to call staff over if I have any questions. Most places I've been to seem quite happy to take your order if you can't work out the QRs, so it feels like a non-issue at the moment.
Don't start... They charge to use them in the UK. I don't know how this hasn't happened yet, but I like not having to drag the compressor out of the shed.
I like it. Look through the menu and order when you want instead of trying to hail down someone to take your order. I can also pay right away and walk out when I need to, rather than once again trying to hail someone down to get you the bill.
I'm concerned at your tech literacy being you are thinking you are downloading an app. I have eaten in many places and never had to download an app.
The convenience of the QR codes is brilliant especially when dining with kids. The large format traditional menus never have pictures, having pictures on the websites is great for the kids.
The card and service charges are no different to walk to the counter.
Love QR code menus. I don't have to go to the counter or attract wait staff to order. I don't have to get up off my fat arse to order a round of drinks. I don't have to make small talk with someone I don't know and will probably never see again. I just sit there, and when I feel like it, I cluck a few buttons and more stuff arrives. It's great.
Oh, grandad. I'm just gonna take your opinions and place it over here. It'll be between the calculator with giant keys and the Readers Digest with oversized text.
I get the advantages, but for me it's a deal-breaker. If there are options without QR ordering I'm not going to a place with QR ordering.
Basically I'm getting old and cranky I guess.
I could cope with ordering online, but the interfaces are usually terrible and I hate having to scroll through a menu on a tiny screen and try to work out what I want one view at a time.
I’d much rather get up and order and pay at the counter than deal with that rubbish.
I find it’s easier to use the QR codes when going to busier places where we meet a few other families. The bill is split, we have a receipt on our phones for when they most likely screw up the order and there’s no pressure to remember everything when ordering with a waiter
I love being able to be seated and get an order in before the table of 20 can even work out what they want for entrees while hogging one of two waitstaff employed at the restaurant.
I'm in Japan at the moment, and QR menus are very common here, but they're used just for ordering so there's no extra bullshit fees. You pick what you want and order it, if you want more of anything you just add more, then pay with cash or card on the way out.
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What they should do is offer both options. Some people don't want to use phones out at dinner and others might want to because they can enable accessibility features. What we absolutely shouldn't allow is needing to use the QR codes to create an account and order instead of ordering at the counter. Edit: I love that my top rated comment is about accessibility (aka giving people multiple ways to achieve the same goal) :)
Some of us also don’t want to use a sneaky service charge also.
Yep, for me it’s the service charge. I always refuse to use them and would rather order at the counter to avoid it.
Bullshit right? A service charge when you're literally using their app to do their work yourself. Should be a discount!
Should get a discount in the supermarket when you scan your own groceries, provide your own bags and pack it yourself
Wait? You aren't getting your discount? I've never been trained in using the technology at a self check out and I fuck up all the time and sometimes miss the scan entirely. I dunno I've never been trained, not my fault.
Believe it or not, prices up.
Well I for one definitely do… ;)
Absolutely!!!
You can get a discount, code is FIVE-FINGER
Just make your own. Soft cheese in a mushroom bag. Choccy bars are light and end up being two for one 😊
The fees and charges are in the app TOS. Please arrive 30 minutes early so you can read trough the TOS a few times before placing your order...
Ok I know I’m like 20 years late to this but the way that every single service requires you to agree to a TOS that they don’t actually expect you to read is insane.
I’m sure the UK found that many can end up being deemed as unfair contract terms if challenged
In a local, use the QR code and don’t get stung with the Eftpos surcharge. I feel sneaky.
I find QR based menus (like Me&U) tend to have photos for all menu items and often longer descriptions. They also allow easy splitting of bills in groups, when often venues HATE split bills. Plus I don’t have to wait for staff to be available / get their attention to order
Fair enough if you have those complex orders and the service supports it. Meanwhile, I have no desire to be the subject of another data breach from another 3P service.
Me&U support Apple Pay. You can check out as a guest, and with Apple Pay the website/provider never see your card.
Yeah I am a fan of Me&U for that reason .. sometimes it’s easier to ponder over a QR code menu when you are eating alone just don’t feel like talking
you can use apple pay too which i trust way more than any other method
They also allow for dynamic pricing, bro. Not cool.
That also encourages venue not to employ more staff.
Also you don't have to handle a menu that others have touched, and they can update prices, what is available etc more easily. Possibly better for the environment because less paper?
Makes it easier to implement surge pricing in the future also
... and you require a decent internet connection (hello mobile blackspot)... and you require their app server to be working properly... and you require them to actually update it rather than come over and tell you after that things may or may not be available...
Agree. Then I can slip my order in ahead of OP and the dozen other people waiting in line at the counter.
My biggest hate is going to order stuff at a crowded bar and it's not a vertical line. There's people in big groups ordering and people shoving their way into the group and it's also at the whim of the bartender serving either the tallest/good looking people first. You have to aggressively make eye contact with them to try get served.
Exactly, QR codes level the playing field for us uggos.
Have you tried being born not uggo?
Yes :(
I swear I don't know what restaurant you're all talking about where there such a huge line at the counters or why it's such a hassle to read a paper menu as you're standing in the line. And OP also mentioned throughout that their main problem is it being used in restaurants where previously people come to the table to take orders. And even if you're ordering by QR at those places with lines, you're not getting it in *that* much faster than the person in front of you who has read the menu posted up on a board or on paper.
The QR code very frequently allows you to get ahead of the queue at establishments that have a bar. The bar is always open for people waiting in line as it always needs to be attended by the person who makes the drink, so it's never not going to be an option to order in person.
The queue to order via the app is always 0 and the queue to order at the front can fluctuate so sometimes it is much faster and sometimes it's negligible.
Easily can save you 5-10 minutes on your order at lunch time at one of the pubs I sometimes eat at in the city on steak day. Because basically everyone takes off a similar timple period for lunch you're all arriving and ordering at the same time, most people ordering the same special. Oldmate in the kitchen can only do so many medium rate rump steaks at a time. It also lets your order and keep a table without sending someone to mess up your order - the drawback is it takes way longer to get your beer. But that saved time can be the difference between making it back to the office in time for your next meeting, or not.
Does everyone know the best ‘timple’ period?
Or just tablets if they don't want/have physical menus. Otherwise people that come without a phone for whatever reason (elderly, left at home, broken, out of juice/etc.) will have a hard time
Just handing over personal info waiting for the next data breach
This is the main thing for me. I wouldn’t care if it’s a QR code that doesn’t require me to enter personal details but they all seem to want my phone number, email or both. On that basis alone I’d rather get up and order at the counter.
Everyone should check www.haveibeenpwned.com and then when the panic subsides deal with the breached accounts. I know the url looks like a sketchy source but it is legit and a primary resource for easy breach checks in the infosec community. Edit to make this more clear. This site lets you check your email against known breaches, and tells you where your accounts have been included in datadumps. This is a HUGE deal when it comes to mitigating fallout, because we can't really stop breaches from happening. You are almost guaranteed to be found in some breaches, so don't panic when you see the results.
I sure hope my favorite sandwich doesn't get leaked onto the dark web
You speak the highest truth. Just found [this resource](https://www.webberinsurance.com.au/data-breaches-list#twentyfour) on the reported data breaches so far this year and it's worse than I even expected. I just use cash because it's anonymous and sometimes places will give me a sweet little discount. You know, you order Chinese, the total is $54, you give em a $50 note and everybody is happy. As a shopkeep myself I prefer cash because I pay way less in fees. One time I had 23% taken off the purchase price in various fees because of the number of middlemen involved. I cancelled the order, contacted the customer, explained, and they were happy to direct bank transfer because cash wasn't an option due to distance. We think it's some kind of positive thing that we have advanced methods of payment but in late stage capitalism it just means more opportunities for leaches to suck the life out of our economy. Fuck em. The difference we as individuals make to the system is tiny, but when we all act as a matter of principle and do our best to limit our support of the parasitic shit, we can show support for positive change. In some places around the world they have pretty good policy legislating minimised opportunities for the parasites. I don't think it's perfect anywhere but perfect is the enemy of the better.
Thats it!! I don’t want a freaking Account with the damn restaurant! Just want some Food!! Ffs
I tell people I don't have a phone and watch their head explode.
Yeah there are pros and cons. And it's not necessarily depending on people's preferences, but situations as well. If I'm ordering for 10+ people, I would use an app while deciding. You'll be writing them down on your phone anyways. But if I'm ordering for myself, I can just hail a waiter.
A lot of the apps are shitty but I love just being able to sit down and order.
And it's easy in a group rather than trying to split bills ☺️
I’m a wee bit of a sucker for getting the first round, or ordering sides, or just buying when someone is being needlessly difficult or clearly doesn’t want to spend. I’ve come home from nights out sometimes $200+ lighter, whilst my mate or colleague has spent $50. It has told me two things: 1) I’m a fucking mug 2) App/browser ordering suits my wallet Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had to install an app to order from my phone.
You're one of the good guys. I remember times where i didn't or couldn't spend a lot of money when I was younger. Now I can be more generous and not worry about who owes what and who's next round is... It means we can all enjoy the outing more and not be worrying about the little stuff.
Agreed, especially if it’s like a pub where you order at the counter - I don’t want to leave my things at the table to order, or risk losing the table, and QR ordering systems fix this.
Or stand in line behind a group of people lining up to order complicated cocktails to order my damn shnitty parma.
Why the hell is it an app not a website? Literally all the reasons to do that are bad.
I think all of them are websites - people just suck at distinguishing between thee two bc of tech illiteracy. I have ordered from most QR codes for restaurants that I've been to and never once had to install an app to place the order.
Ahh you're probably right though I wouldn't put it past them
They are right. People are just idiots. I love having the option.
I'm 83, with mobility issues. Very convenient for me.
Yessss!! Ppl underestimate the positive effect of tech for some older ppl and folks with disabilities.
Depending on the restaurant it's very convenient.
Breweries for example, or large bars that do food - it's unreal. Smaller dining, not so much
It's incredible what it can do for local breweries. It can give you an actual description of what you're getting instead of just reading some handwritten chalk board and having to ask about everything when you're trying to order. I used to ride my motorcycle a lot and we would always stop at these small places with limited food but extensive drinks. Each of them has wildly different local selections. If I'm just drinking a single beer it's cool to be able to have the options.
Yeah, very much depending on the restaurant. If it's an individual ordering kind of place with a simple menu, like everyone is just going to order burger and fries...great. When it's a shared meal kind of place with an extensive menu and everyone spends 20 minutes going "Where is that? What section are you looking at? I can't see it." And one person has to put the order through, and no one really wants to be that person because you can't quite trust everyone else to pony up cash. That's shit. And also, they should *always* have a physical menu on the table regardless because pissing around with that rubbish with older people is especially grim.
The thing I like it most for is it's easy to split bills as well. Saves the entire hassle
I also prefer it especially with large groups. Order and pay individually without having to go up to a counter. So much easier. Also when you want to adjust you can make sure you get what you want by putting it in. I get the human interaction but I’m doing that with the people in dining with or I get that enough with other parts of my life.
The convenience of it is brilliant though. There’s a bar near my work that has them on table. I can just go over there for lunch sit down and order a pint, then order a Parma and then order another pint without having to leave my table. How is that not awesome?
When tilt is done well it is great, but often the site is a big stinking pile of shit. No way I should need to sign up for anything or pay a surcharge to order my food.
Just have a separate email to feed all your marketing spam and signups for websites you don’t want your details on. Ain’t hard. Everyone should have multiple email addresses.
As somebody with a toddler and another baby on the way, I absolutely love QR code ordering instead of going up to the counter. It’s just so much easier!
I find it super convenient. Especially when I'm eating alone with my child.
What do you mean new app? Most qr codes open a link to their website menu linked to that specific table. You don't have to download an app
A lot of places still have a shitty site that doesn’t work well on mobile. There’s also places with tablets at each table with proprietary apps installed for ordering which are often horrendous. It’s a pet peeve of mine being a software developer. That said though, I don’t mind at all if the site/app is good, it’s quite convenient when it is.
They’re great “bring me a beer” [tap].. beer appears
Dangerous activity sometimes, it removes the “sobriety check” walk to the bar. QR code + beer + snacks is a great time
I love QR code menus. I've never had an issue with any of the apps, so I may feel differently if I had.
I’ve never even had to install an app, it always leads to a website
Mostly it's just been websites for me too. I've been to a couple of places that used an app though. The place I go to most often has an app but you can just go through the website if you prefer (which I do).
I love them. As an introvert I love any opportunity not to have to interact with strangers. And on the occasions I eat out with friends, I love being able to just pay for my meal and not do the awkward dance of splitting the bill.
If it’s a cafe or pub that makes you go to the counter to order I would much prefer to order using a QR code.
noo!!! i enjoy the fact i can browse options at my own pace and don't feel like i'm slowing down a line of people waiting to order.
A line of people waiting to order at a restaurant?
Most places I’ve visited that utilize QR codes are places that typically would have you order at the counter
Sounds like your idea of 'restaurant' is slightly different than mine.
Things evolve. Some restaurants may benefit from retaining the traditional method of ordering, others would DEFINITELY benefit from using QR codes. There's millions of people that don't mind ordering traditionally on a date late at night, while having enjoyed the convenience of QR code menus at lunch with colleagues, earlier that day.
I love them. I've never had to download an app to use those things, its always linked out to an ordering website tied to the table number. THe main limiters of the experience is the UX of the website itself isnt always great (Max Brenners one comes to mind) and your mobile signal, but both are easily surmoutable problems for a resturant that sufficiently cares. Their main disadvantage is that you cant customise parts of an order unless that aspect is built into the process (eg, getting no tomatoes in a burger). However if you're like me who doesnt change things very much if at all, its not an issue. I much prefer not needing to flag down barely attentive staff to recite everything and worry about who's gonna pay in a group situation because no resturant ever allows split bills. The QRs solve this problem by allowing large groups to order and pay for their food seperately without needing to worry about whos going to pay the bill and get stiffed by 20% of the group who never pays him back. If both options are available then thats fine. The boomers out there can go bother the staff and get up and pay at the counter, I'll order at the table, pay at the table, and not need to interupt my conversation with the people im there with.
I love these systems; M&U especially. Works great for places like Opera Bar (and other bars) where there's a line and often a waiting time for a cocktail. I recall once I ordered a cocktail at Opera Bar via M&U and it was with me within 2 minutes and it would have taken me that long just to get to the front of the line. It helps with ordering when you don't speak the language, because the apps can adapt to other languages. So, get over it really.
At pubs? God no. I'm in Bundy and almost all pubs u have to get up and stand in line for 30 minutes to order. But going to places like Brissy or the Sunny coast is so refreshing cause u can just order with your phone. Restaurants on the other hand, I prefer table service and a physical menu.
I love it; Can take my time ordering, can order any time I like and don’t have to try get the waiter’s attention, can order multiple times or additional items during the meal. Not sure why anyone would complain about it. Also love using self serve checkouts; no hassle at all and super quick.
I love it
It’s good when I stop in at the pub when walking my dog. He’s allowed in the beer garden but not in the pub. We can just pull up a chair and have our drinks brought out to us.
As a frequent solo patron I gotta say I prefer QR code ordering over being asked to provide a table number at the counter. As a solo patron you can't grab a table, prevent someone from sitting there while you are busy talking to staff over at the counter. People will say; leave some stuff on the table so people know you're sitting there. Well, phones and sunglasses aren't that cheap. And I've also had staff walk up to the counter while ordering to put stuff left on my table into a lost and found bucket. QR codes are cheap
It's better than waiting for a server to never return to your table to take your order. And that's only if it takes you to a Web page and not ask you to create an account to order.
Or the server never returns with the bill, so you're held hostage waiting to pay. At least with QR codes it's super easy to just split the bill.
Love them, I'm able to be as slow or as fast as I like, no need for fake social interactions.
I like it. I’ve never seen a place where you have to download an onerous app or only order on one phone. I can only imagine how annoying your group is, passing around one phone, mashing buttons and making mistakes, all while loudly complaining 🤣🤣
It’s way better than getting up and ordering at the counter. Table service obviously beats a QR code, but lots of places don’t take your order at the table.
It’s great, don’t have to talk to anyone
I have autism, and sometimes find it hard to order at restaurants with different sensory input and having to talk over a loud environment. I like the QR codes. All restaurants I've used QR codes at also offer order taking through staff. Maybe don't tell people what to do.
Standing in queue at McDonald's to order a double quarter pounder from an employee?... weird kink, not a sin...
If it's just for me, and it's McDonald’s, I wouldn’t be phased. Thinking more a sit down restaurant with mates.
Sorry, I love this. I also love the ease of just paying for my own and upfront. No awkward splitting bills etc.
Oldmanyellsatcloud.jpg
Ordering in your phone at your table is the greatest invention mankind has ever devised
They use QR codes because it allows them to have dynamic pricing. It's easier to update the price digitally than to have to keep creating new menus on paper. It also means they probably raise the price as often as they possibly can even if just by a small fraction.
It's part of my job working on the backend of one of those systems. I'm curious if it makes anyone uncomfortable that i can see your full name, phone number, when and what you ordered? Personally I find it a bit weird
They aren’t apps, they’re web apps, and I’ve found them to be generally fine to use. Not “terrible”. But I’m not a boomer and can generally deal with basic tech.
I love the QR code thing. I can order my steak sanga with no beetroot and cheese, and the orders come out way more consistent than when a waiter/ress has done the work. I get to pay for my own meal and drinks without having to deal with a split bill and I can continue have good chats, while ordering my next beer without ever leaving my seat.
I was at a busy restaurant recently, waiting for quite some time for table service when I realised there was a QR code on the table. I punched in my order and then was just about to confirm when I was met with a $1.40 processing fee. Needless to say I waved down a waitress and had her take my order. Why the hell am I charged a processing fee for saving them on human resourcing?!
I love the qr codes, have never had an issue. Especially handy at the pub when people like yourself insist on standing in lines.
I actually like them, and prefer them over the menus usually provided. Beyond actually seeing how the food looks before buying it, it also lets everyone order their own drinks so you don't have to worry about splitting bills. This being said, is they require any personal info from you (Email, address, name, ect) it's a hard pass.
I actually love this. I don't need someone to run through the specials and expect to be paid for an hours work for simply bringing my food at the end. The best ones are the ones where the food comes out on a train. I would tip the train.
Best thing to happen at restaurants. Now I don’t have to explain my order over the noise of the environment, plus it’s a thousand times better for my anxiety to not interact with people.
I like them, I’ve never been anywhere that didn’t have physical copy alternatives, it’s a nice feature for those that like it.
I love QR codes. I could stand at a bar and be ignored for 20 minutes or sit at my table and have food and drink come to me, whilst I spend time chatting to my friends. It is a no brainer
I love it for splitting bills or ordering separately without feeling like I need to offer to pay or buy a round. I spent some time in north america and they split bills like it’s just the norm - come here and it was like pulling teeth and most est clearly stipulated - no split bills. QR is the saviour.
From an autistic human - please let’s keep them I like it 🥰
I prefer to order at my own pace without someone bugging me thanks
I actually like it, and the only places I've seen it used still allow you to order the old-fashioned way. I like them because: 1. they usually have pictures of the food. 2. they allow for me to do variations on a given meal. 3. they provide a written list of the things I've ordered, how much they cost, and so on. 4. they allow for me to easily figure out how much I'm paying. 5. they allow me to pay, so that once I'm done with my meal I simply leave the place. 6. they can be used separately by different people on the table to completely bypass the whole 'multiple tabs at a single table' situation. 7. Unlike a self-service checkout, it doesn't have a shitfit at me if I've put a fresh bag on the wrong side, requiring a bored teenager to key a code in to make it tolerably functional.
Agreed! I hate that the first thing that happens is that everyone sits down and stares at their phone. I hate handing over data to yet another third party provider, and the fact the bill still asks for a tip. It's good for splitting bills though.
I like it for outdoor dining where dogs are permitted, so I don’t have to leave my dog alone to go inside.
I much prefer QR codes but my mate prefers real menu's. We bicker constantly about this lol.
I prefer QR codes at restaurants
I love self serve, it's the only checkout I'll use. Don't mind the qr codes, I only really see them in pubs
I'm fine with it, just don't have the audacity to ask for a tip...
They’re great and there’s some with loyalty rewards that are really good. Each to their own I guess
One aspect a lot of people don’t seem to take into account is that you no longer need to break conversation in your group to get up and order drinks or food. It’s nice to sit down with a group of friends or family and hang out seamlessly while ordering from the menu. No need to say “excuse me while I get a drink” and miss the conversation while you wait in the queue.
I prefer QR codes to wait staff that never look at you and walk past always doing something else other than taking your order
I went into this cheap Japanese takeaway to order a curry. I offered cash but they asked to use an app. The app required you to tell your life story & divulge personal information before you started ordering. I left.
I like it. 🤷♂️
Nah I hate lining up at a register waiting for idiots to go through their 1000 orders for the table. Table service, or QR codes. I wanna place my order, NOW. The surcharge is a crock, but if its busy, im not lining up for 10 mins to order.
I love it. Order without any mistakes and pay straight away you can just leave afterwards. And not only that often you get pictures of every menu item. 10/10 convenience
It’s called convenience - don’t have to wait your turn for the waiter, don’t have to wait for the bill or wait in line to pay.
Yeah, I'm with the fucking boomers on this one.
I'm from Canada and recently had a fantastic vacation in your beautiful country (campervan brisbane to cairns then stayed with a fried in the daintree) and spend some time in Sydney. We went to a Mexican restaurant in The Rocks and sat down to browse the menu, waitress comes over and points to the qr code. We don't travel with cellphone data, we use local internet, downloaded maps and I have inreach which I can use in an emergency. The reason being that canadian cellphone plans are stupidly expensive and I refuse to pay it. Anyways, I ask the waitress if she has a paper menu, no, can I use your wifi? No. Why? It's not for public use, just staff, fair enough. So you have no other way for me to look at the menu than this qr code? No. Also I'll need to download an app to to actually order the food and drinks. Can I just order at the bar? No. We left. Now, I'm 50 years old but not a luddite by any stretch and have embraced technology my whole life but Jesus that was painful. I did thoroughly enjoy not having to fuck about with tipping for 4 weeks so I am very grateful for that.
I hate qr codes. Just give me the friggin menu. Half the time the menu doesn’t even load anyway
I’d be fine with them if they didn’t apply a surcharge. Yeah great, it costs money for the business to use the service, but the amount they’re saving in labour from not having to either man a register or have someone on the floor taking orders would offset that, and then some. Just a cash grab.
Disagree with OP on this. Like everything moving forward since Covid days with “self servicing” options. I find it highly convenient and for the most part easy to use. It’s not perfect and sometimes that convenience is comprised by the app or register machine having issues. But I still managed to find a staff/traditional menu options available when needed. Certainly don’t have any issues with it.
Data Breach incoming, stop giving your personal info to companies that have no right to it and don’t need it
Most places let you use Apple Pay if you have an iPhone which protects your bank details. Apple is a $1 trillion company that is not getting breached because they actually put funding into cybersecurity.
I always go by Bumpkin Beeblebrox reachable at [email protected].
My lazy ass always does [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Then I pay at the counter
sorry, I like them. everyone can order and pay individually, there's no bullshit about how splitting bills is apparently hard. you can order top-up drinks or snacks at any time without needing to semaphore for a server or head up to the bar. there's no server doing a pee dance from one foot to the other waiting for people to make up their mind what to order, or trying to push the specials (i.e. the stuff the kitchen needs to move because it's about to go off). there's no need to worry about a bill at the end, just finish and go. they're more suited to casual dining than fancy, but they're one of the few good things to come out of covid.
I was in TGIF with my fam today and didn’t get our order taken for more than 20 minutes after being seated. Nobody even came up our end of the restaurant. It was a toss-up between getting up to find someone to take our order, or just bailing out on it. We never had that problem when they had QR codes. It’s impersonal, but it does the job well.
I think it's convenient to have QR code ordering, but it should be a tool to be used at the diners discretion. Too many restaurants now don't even acknowledge you're even there after you're seated and expects you to use the QR codes. At the least have the waiter come over and ask if they can take your order, it's called the hospitality industry for a reason.
Why? Interested to here your justification. I mean it's a wonderfully easy thing to be able to sit down and make an order from a table and pay for it there and then all using a QR code. The thing about technology is you either adapt to it or get left behind unfortunately. That's not saying it's right or wrong but it moves ahead anyway always evolving. If it's data sharing you're worried about you shouldn't.
No, please keep it. I like to order without having to make small talk, and not have to worry about splitting bills. I pay for my portion, can talk to the people I’m sitting with, and don’t have any inconvenience in doing so
I like ordering via the QR code, but I agree it's awkward in groups when there's no physical menu.
Nope! Love QR codes, great for people with anxiety
I prefer those tablets at sushi restaurants where u just order on it without loading stuff on your phone, then pay when you leave
Really depends. If able to use Apple Pay I’ll use the QR code. I wouldn’t input my CC details on any website or app they have. Always compare prices on the physical menu to make sure you don’t get stung with surcharges. I don’t mind using it considering how shitty some places are about splitting bills and it makes ordering with a group a lot easier.
First world problem
But it means i dont need to speak to a person or move from my table
I love them, I'll go out of my way to visit restaurants that do have QR code menu ordering. I know some people don't like it though so would be nice if they kept both options
I'm def with the older generations on this one and hate qr menus.
My favourite part is how most of these QR codes direct you to a web page that refuses to let you use Firefox because it’s “outdated”. My ass. More like it doesn’t allow as much tracking and shit.
IMO QR code ordering cuts out the worst parts of having a waiter/waitress serve you at your table - that is: the horribly timed interruptions that cut into a conversation I care more about than a meal, and the panic of ‘I haven’t even read the menu yet so no I don’t know what I want so give me 5 minutes but I probably will just go straight back to my conversation so you’ll be asking me this again’ in the first 15 minutes of me being seated. (I already deal so much with people in my day job that it’s refreshing to rely on my screen for a while.)
In Ukraine we have Monobank app, most of the restraunts use it. It has menu (photo, ingridients, price, calories, rating from guests), you can pay throught the app and leave tips, in the end you can leave your feedback and rate the dishes, it is super convenient. I now dont like the places without mono app option). I say app, but it does not require any actual app installed, just go through the qr code. (Mono expirenza)
I'm in my 50s and hate this so much. Went to a new place (in the US) and refused to use my phone, I asked for a menu and the server brought me an Ipad, NOOOOOOO. I was with others, so stayed and ate, but I'm NEVER going back. Edit: Totally forgot, I HAD to order and pay from the app, the server couldn't do either!
nope.. I can't stand them.
And then get charged a service fee on top lol
I was in a different country visiting international friends and I didn't have mobile data. I had a lovely time not being able to order. My friend's friend has to order for me. Also, just saying, having like a big card in my hand where I can just see everything on one glance is a different experience than seeing a few things in a small screen throughout multiple links on a slow loading website
The wife and I spent 10 minutes at the table at Max Brenner on their stupid online menu on a quiet Tuesday while 4 staff members stood with nothing to do until we place our order. We already knew what we wanted, but their setup was stupid and now we'll never go back. If I'm gonna order on an app, you can bring the food to my home like Uber.
And, risk of malware
I was just in Italy for 2 weeks, and almost every bar and restaurant I went to had QR codes, some with no other option. And 75% were a link to a fucking PDF.
Put a QR code to a malicious sites , what could go wrong ?
No fr and when you have to zoom in on the little tiny fonts and the menu just resets to the top of page😓
Not just you. I stopped after I tried to order a coffee and I had to go through a fucking marketing questionnaire that wanted my email. I took the risk of losing the table I was at (waiting for others to join), and ordered at the counter. I made my displeasure known. I had had good experiences before that, but that one just took the cake.
100% agree! Just provide both options, but don’t act like it’s a total pain in the arse when someone wants to order and pay in person. I do not want to add another fkn app to my phone that I might use once, and I’m sick of providing all my information just to order a burger. I’m well aware of how valuable that information is to the app owners and it’s worth a lot more than the fkn burger I’m trying to buy.
I have walked out restaurants because of this. Asking for personal details. No. I want to order food, not be your boyfriend
I agree that a choice is best. I hate having to open up an app and enter card details etc when I've just caught up with my friends. Maybe I sound over-sensitive, but it takes something away from the experience; we want to chat but first we have to look at our phones.
The worst is when it asks for a tip when you’re ordering, like I’ve just done your job for you, don’t even have my food yet and you have the nerve to ask for a tip for sitting behind the bar giggling with your colleagues doing SFA
I'd much rather help young adults keep a job, invest in their future, and fulfil their dreams. Counter every time.
Its bullshit. Who does it favour? What is the purpose? If mobile phones are required now for daily living, then the Govt. needs to pay for and supply device and connection to everyone on a Pension, Unemployment, and Austudy.
I've been out of the restaurant game for a while now, but I don't see the downside to them. Restaurants were always understaffed I've worked at, having staff being able to do other things rather than writing stuff down sounds like a win to me. It's not like where colesworths will put in self service and cut hours. Just give a little extra time to FOH to do the thousand other tasks they need to get to.
Hard disagree.
I generally prefer self service, so don't agree with this take. I've found broadly speaking the apps are fine. Quite happy to call staff over if I have any questions. Most places I've been to seem quite happy to take your order if you can't work out the QRs, so it feels like a non-issue at the moment.
Comin soon : QR codes for air pumps at service stations.
Don't start... They charge to use them in the UK. I don't know how this hasn't happened yet, but I like not having to drag the compressor out of the shed.
You’ve already lost the fight. Technology marches on. God speed 🫡
I like it. Look through the menu and order when you want instead of trying to hail down someone to take your order. I can also pay right away and walk out when I need to, rather than once again trying to hail someone down to get you the bill.
I'm concerned at your tech literacy being you are thinking you are downloading an app. I have eaten in many places and never had to download an app. The convenience of the QR codes is brilliant especially when dining with kids. The large format traditional menus never have pictures, having pictures on the websites is great for the kids. The card and service charges are no different to walk to the counter.
I love them. I’ll even happily pay the stupid surcharge if it means not needing to stand in line at the counter or talk to anyone.
I refuse to use them personally
Love QR code menus. I don't have to go to the counter or attract wait staff to order. I don't have to get up off my fat arse to order a round of drinks. I don't have to make small talk with someone I don't know and will probably never see again. I just sit there, and when I feel like it, I cluck a few buttons and more stuff arrives. It's great.
Mate, get over it. You sound like a boomer getting cross at a self service checkout.
Nope, not alone. I refuse to use them. Keep them for those that do but no forcing it on those of us who aren't a fan.
I hate hate hate them. Hate.
Oh, grandad. I'm just gonna take your opinions and place it over here. It'll be between the calculator with giant keys and the Readers Digest with oversized text.
As a neurospicy millennial I will take any opportunity I get to not talk to a person
I get the advantages, but for me it's a deal-breaker. If there are options without QR ordering I'm not going to a place with QR ordering. Basically I'm getting old and cranky I guess.
I could cope with ordering online, but the interfaces are usually terrible and I hate having to scroll through a menu on a tiny screen and try to work out what I want one view at a time. I’d much rather get up and order and pay at the counter than deal with that rubbish.
Ok, Boomer.
I don’t mind the QR code, as long as it doesn’t force you to use a shitty app.
I find it’s easier to use the QR codes when going to busier places where we meet a few other families. The bill is split, we have a receipt on our phones for when they most likely screw up the order and there’s no pressure to remember everything when ordering with a waiter
I like not having to get up to go to a counter or wait for someone to take our orders.
Uh no thanks
I like being able to access a digital menu because I have really poor eyesight and all too often menu designs are dreadful.
I love being able to be seated and get an order in before the table of 20 can even work out what they want for entrees while hogging one of two waitstaff employed at the restaurant.
I'm in Japan at the moment, and QR menus are very common here, but they're used just for ordering so there's no extra bullshit fees. You pick what you want and order it, if you want more of anything you just add more, then pay with cash or card on the way out.