Tommy Siegel | Bluesky

Transcript

Single panel comic

Illustration of a highway with 3 billboards for fast food chains. A bridge is visible in the background, as are power lines running along side of the service road.

Each billboard has a chain logo, with secondary text below.

Wendy’s

  • Your fifth favorite burger is now an app

McDonald’s

  • Will you give us your data for food?

Burger King

  • Guess what: No app? No food
    • DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      16·
      1 day ago

      1. Brand recognition. Makes you more likely to patronize said brand if you are seeing their logo on your phone multiple times a day … Likely hundreds. especially for iPhone where it’s on the home screen

      2. Data collection and tracking . lots of these fuckers run in the background, calling home to report back what apps you have, your location, phone number etc. They’re using this info to market to you more efficiently and to sell to others for profit. My wife had a shit ton these and her battery was dying faster than usual. Got rid of the bastards and battery life improved.

      3. Advertising. Direct. To you. If they have a deal or feel like you haven’t opened the app enough, they send you notification spam. It’s a corporations wet dream. Immediate visual direct to consumer advertising and they paid nothing to achieve it. You just simply gave your permission for them to do so

      4. If you’re ordering via app, this opens up the possibility of giving others different prices depending on if they think you’ll bite or accept it. This is much easier to do on an app or mobile site… But impossible if you order in person

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    1 day ago

    I haven’t been out to eat since the pandemic. And, the more I read about how much it’s changed for the worse, including how ridiculously expensive it’s become, I don’t think I’ll ever eat out again.

    • brucethemoose@lemmy.world
      6·
      24 hours ago

      Whoa nellie.

      I mean, I guess it depends on your area and such, but there still great places to eat out if the situation allows for it. Of course groceries are cheaper, but some places are still affordable.

      I wouldn’t touch any of the comic’s chains though. I think I went to a McDonald’s once since the pandemic, for a quick breakfast while on the road, and it was indeed disproportionately expensive. But (as an example) taco Tuesday at Rosa’s Cafe is still reasonably priced here.

  • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
    6·
    1 day ago

    There’s a major fast food place near my office that is 100% app-ordering only. They have locker lined up like PO boxes on the outer wall where you pick up your order, and you can’t talk to anybody. They call it a “Digital Kitchen”.

  • Rose@slrpnk.net
    4·
    1 day ago

    Whenever I order stuff at McDonald’s, it’s been over a femtosecond since my last visit, so the app has logged itself out. So I always need to sit down and re-login. With mandatory 2 factor authentication. No TOTP, of course, it sends the code to email.

    Welcome to McDonald’s. Papers please.

  • cdf12345@lemmy.zip
    3·
    1 day ago

    Can we talk about the Taco Bell app that was updated last week and looks so absolutely vibe coded that it broke nearly everything and now it takes like 10x times to find or order anything because you get to see pictures of everything that take 45% of the screen real estate ?

  • Etterra@discuss.onlineEnglish
    11·
    2 days ago

    Nope, nope, and nope. My fiance stopped going to Wendy’s because she hated the AI voice. I still go there on occasion, all you have to do is say give me a human being. It is annoying having to wait for the McDonald’s drive-through to ask me if I’m using the mobile app. They’re just doing their job but it’s seriously annoying.

    Although I did make a comment to the teenager work in the register when I went to pay at Wendy’s once because I drove past their slogan that said something about never cutting corners in service, which is hilarious seeing as using an AI menu board is literally cutting corners in service.

  • w3dd1e@lemmy.zip
    53·
    1 hour ago

    McDonald is the only one that I’m aware of which won’t let you order without an app. For this reason I do not eat there.

    EDIT: I mean advance ordering. You can’t place an order for pick up without their app.

    You also pay more for food without the app.

      • w3dd1e@lemmy.zip
        12·
        24 hours ago

        I mean I can go there, but I can’t do it ahead of time on the website.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
      5·
      1 day ago

      You cant buy McDonald’s now without an app?!?! What?

      Ive seen a McDonald’s where they have touch screens inside and you need to use those, do you mean that as well? Those are gross too with the shared screen.

      • w3dd1e@lemmy.zip
        1·
        1 hour ago

        You can’t do an advance order without the app. Other restaurants allow you to order online. You can go into the restaurant and order, yes.

        But the only way to get a “deal” is to use the app. Food is more expensive without it. Which is dumb.

  • orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts
    97·
    2 days ago

    Fast food serves zero purpose now. It’s not cheap and it’s not good. So why on earth would I ever install an app for any of these ghoulish companies?

  • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
    44·
    2 days ago

    It’s not getting out of control at all. Just stop eating at these places.

    I had no idea they even had apps, because I don’t eat at these places.

    • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
      13·
      2 days ago

      They used to have good deals. I was able to order meals with deals and points to get a combo for a dollar. You used to be able to customize better too. I was able to put fresh diced jalapenos on my beef n cheddar.

      Now the customization options are worse and the deals are worse. I hardly go anymore. Just not worth it. I can get a better deal at the sit down restaurants.

      • resting_parrot@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        10·
        2 days ago

        That’s classic enshitefication. First it is good to hook you, then it gets slightly worse but you still use it out of habit, then it gets terrible and there is no other option.

    • Raiderkev@lemmy.world
      13·
      2 days ago

      Agreed. Supposedly all the best deals are on the apps, and the food is reasonably priced like it used to be if you play your cards right. However, to use those apps, you’re agreeing to binding arbitration in perpetuity should they fucking kill or maim you with their shitty food. That’s not a tradeoff I’m willing to make. I’m also not fond of ever giving anyone my data unless it’s absolutely necessary, so I just don’t go to these places unless I’m desperate and it’s the only thing open.

  • NateNate60@lemmy.world
    1274·
    2 days ago

    I doubt the person who drew this comic has had the misfortune of trying to order food in China. It’s basically a literal form of what the comic is poking fun of, and it’s ubiquitous.

    In China, you can go up to the counter, but you cannot place an order. Sometimes, you cannot even read a physical menu. Not even so much as a menu on the screen. You have to scan the QR code using the Panopticon app (also known as WeChat) and then get bombarded with advertisements. Like us and get a free drink! Click here for a random coupon! Join our WeChat group! No, no, no, no. Then click through their garbage UI to find the one thing you actually want. Make sure you don’t accidentally replace your order with one of their “recommendations” that pop up! Then, try to check out. Do you want to join our WeChat group for exclusive deals? Do you want to create an account? Dismiss, dismiss, dismiss.

    Click here to pay. Only WeChat Pay is accepted. No cash, you backwards peon. Enter your mobile number here. Required to order. Ha ha, nice try, 123456789 is not your mobile number. No worries, we got it from WeChat. You’ll get 3 order confirmation texts and 2 advertisements a week for the next six months.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      573·
      2 days ago

      Mfw the “communist” country that can do no wrong according to the tankie instances out-enshittifies the home country of enshittification and capitalism in general 🤦🏻😄

      Meanwhile, the best baseball player in the world is Japanese, the number one ranked player in the NBA is Serbian, and they’ve even been overtaken as the most obese people by the citizenship-deprived residents of American Samoa!

      If not for Handegg and money hoarding, the US would hardly be #1 at ANYTHING anymore!

    • stumu415@lemmy.zip
      32·
      1 day ago

      I’m so sorry but you are full of shit. You can definitely order on the counter, all restaurants still have physical menus. I see it all the time with the elderly. They struggle with wechat or AliPay - which are apps western countries can only dream off - hence all stores can serve you normally.

      And most shops have AliPay over wechat anyway except in 3rd and 4th line cities.

      If you use AliPay, nothing gets bounded. Not your phone number or anything. The mini app isn’t even available again until you go scan or NFC again.

      And the UI of the miniapps in general is very good and intuitive because they want you to order quickly.

      Also you don’t have to link your wechat account, nor your phone number. This is specifically forbidden by the Chinese version of the GDPR in regards to personal privacy.

      I know it is extremely popular to shit all over China because ‘China bad’. Most western that come here are amazed at the technology and convenience of shopping, travelling and ordering. My parents who speak no Chinese and are in their late seventies, happily go to any small local shop and order their meal without my help.

      You clearly want to karma farm and keep the negative western propaganda flowing, up to you but be real and do not tell such bullshit.

    • ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      612·
      2 days ago

      I’ve seen this in Abu Dhabi. A bit creepy but it came with inbuilt convenience like letting your party members each pay for their items or splitting into X portions (you can pay for n*X portions if you want). Sure it’s handy but just give me a paper menu for fucks sake, let me ask the staff for a recommendation

  • GreatWhiteBuffalo41@slrpnk.netEnglish
    20·
    2 days ago

    That Burger king one is legit by me. They cut their staff so much they have 2 people cooking and one kiosk you can self order at that’s broken half the time. Half the time you to to the drive through and they have a sign that says “app orders only.” It’s insane.

    • Newsteinleo@infosec.pub
      6·
      2 days ago

      I have not had this experience at the BK I went to last, but I assume it’s a matter of time. We need consumer protection that protects people from needing invasive apps to use services.

    • NateNate60@lemmy.world
      50·
      2 days ago

      I’ve never seen a restaurant in the US or Europe that requires you to download an app to order. They bribe you with coupons and discounts to download the app, which is fair enough, I suppose, but you’re not obligated to. You can still walk up to the counter, tell your order to a human, and then pay with cash. No algorithm will ever know who you were or what you ordered.

      • oh_@lemmy.world
        19·
        2 days ago

        Sadly, you get forced to a digital kiosk most places in my city if you walk up to the counter and expect to order there… but at least you still can avoid downloading the app. It’s actually been helpful for me as I eat less fast food now, lost some weight.

        • arrow74@lemmy.zip
          6·
          2 days ago

          I think the vast majority of stores with the kiosk still have a cash option, but it takes forever to get an employee for the register

          • lyrial@anarchist.nexusEnglish
            6·
            2 days ago

            Taco Bell (here) does not. They expect you to use the filthy kiosk and then eat with your hands. I am surprised that there hasn’t been some kind of outbreak from this.

            • oh_@lemmy.world
              3·
              2 days ago

              Taco Bell is for sure the worst with forcing the stupid kiosk, they just hate hiring staff for a register. It’s a terrible experience all around going into a Taco Bell anymore because of the terrible customer (none) service.

            • arrow74@lemmy.zip
              2·
              2 days ago

              I’ve seen a few of those stores around, but they seem to be the minority. At least as of a year ago. I used to travel quite regularly for work and taco bell was a common place to go. Living out of hotels sucks sometimes

      • [deleted]@piefed.worldEnglish
        10·
        2 days ago

        They bribe you with coupons and discounts to download the app, which is fair enough, I suppose, but you’re not obligated to.

        They jack up prices and then offer what their menu prices should be through the app. It isn’t a discount and this deceptive pricing practice is not fair enough.

      • Taldan@lemmy.world
        5·
        2 days ago

        Of course they don’t require it, but you pay way more at some without it

        Subway near me is $11.50 for the footlong I’d normally get. They regularly offer $7 footlong on the app, or buy one, get one free

        At $11.50, I’d never eat there. For $7, it’s a decent deal

      • gukleszl4hs48ughgxhr5xgd@fedia.io
        10·
        2 days ago

        I’ve never seen a restaurant in the US or Europe that requires you to download an app to order.

        Same. So far it’s only been the perks of some sort sell. But either way, it’s gonna be a hard no from me. I refuse to install apps from significantly more consequential businesses/organizations even; restaurants are just never going to make the list for me personally.

      • whelk@retrolemmy.com
        2·
        2 days ago

        All the places around me are installing ordering kiosks inside, which not only removes even more human interaction but also tracks data I’m sure because you have to use a card to pay. I hate it so much

        • NateNate60@lemmy.world
          1·
          2 days ago

          The places I’ve been to either allow you to pay cash at the counter or they have a machine that accepts cash.

    • arrow74@lemmy.zip
      8·
      2 days ago

      I was broke and in college and the app deals were so incredibly cheap then. I used to exploit a burger king coupon that was a free kids meal with a $1 purchase. At the time you could get a 10 count nugget for $1. That kept me fed for sure

      Fast forward to today, and now you have to have the app to get a still expensive meal. It’s a bit more expensive than full priced meals used to be. It’s not even worth it anymore

    • binarytobis@lemmy.world
      22·
      2 days ago

      Just curious about the lemmy consensus, what is it about the app specifically that people find distasteful? Is it the concept of ordering through your phone instead of in person, the app making a profile of your ordering habits, or some nefarious third thing the companies do by getting an app on your phone to steal data?

      • Taldan@lemmy.world
        12·
        2 days ago

        I think the answer is generally all of the above

        Privacy is a big one

        For me, I don’t think they make any sense. Ordering through the app is slower. I have to add a credit card and select a location before I can even start ordering. Half the time I get to the end to find out the discount/deal I was using isn’t honored by that specific location. In all, it would be much faster to just order at the restaurant than use the app at the restaurant

        Most seem to assume you’re ordering before arriving, which requires pre-plannung that defeats much of the convenience of fast food IMO

        Also I really dislike the fact the vast majority of the time, the reality is people are ordering while driving. It’s a safety hazard

        • bountygiver [any]@lemmy.mlEnglish
          4·
          2 days ago

          As someone who walks, I love ordering before arriving. You just order it as you walk to pick them up, don’t even need any pre-planning.

          The bigger problem with apps is because each app takes quite some space and you can only use it for one franchise per app, when WEBSITES exist. I do still often order through website on places that have them.

          • binarytobis@lemmy.world
            4·
            2 days ago

            Also, it’s quick to repeat your last order with an app. I eat at a subway-style pizza place called Mod, and there’s at least 20 pieces of information to relay to the person making the pizza. I’d rather have it print out an easy to parse list for them to work with.

      • toddestan@lemmy.world
        6·
        2 days ago

        It also forces you into the iPhone/Android phone with Google Play services duopoly. And I simply don’t want some stupid app on my phone.

        Plus it’s also just inconvenient. I give you money, you give me food. It should be that simple.

  • HerbGrower@slrpnk.net
    371·
    2 days ago

    Stop buying fast food. The companies are scum, its terrible for you and you will save a lot of money.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      161·
      2 days ago

      Fucking hell fast food costs as much as a sit down meal these days, of far better food.

      I just haven’t done fast for for so long that I didn’t know the prices had skyrocketed.

      • this_1_is_mine@lemmy.ml
        12·
        2 days ago

        Have started carrying out from local restaurants by calling ahead instead of any fast food for this reason.

        I found I was spending near too or as much each time anyway I was going out and this way I help put money into the local family businesses instead of it going to CEO profits.

      • limelight79@lemmy.world
        8·
        2 days ago

        Your sit down meals must be incredibly cheap. In this area, they’ve gone up, too. We usually don’t get out of a sit down meal for less than about $50 these days. And we’re not ordering extravagant meals or any alcohol. Fast food will be $20-$30 for the two of us.

      • stylusmobilus@aussie.zone
        2·
        2 days ago

        It does

        Maccas: Double Quarter Pounder Deluxe meal: $17

        Local bowlo: grilled fish, chips and schooey for $15