7,000 touch-screen Cashiers at McDonalds now. Is this what $15 min/wage buys you? If only we could get CIF to do the same thing!

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 13 May 2014 09:31:33 -0400

http://www.cnet.com/news/mcdonalds-hires-7000-touch-screen-cashiers/
How long until this becomes the norm?

McDonald's hires 7,000 touch-screen cashiers - CNET

Would you like some microchips with that burger? McDonald's Europe strikes another blow against human interaction by installing 7,000 touch-screen computers to take your order and money.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 17 at 2013 9:42 AM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:42:59 -0500

<p>Really SFC W,</p><p><br></p><p>You are going to vote me down and not even provide a reason for the down vote.</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/16563-15p-aviation-operations-specialist-10th-cab-hhc-10th-cab</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="https://www.rallypoint.com/assets/RallyPoint-logo-03989f248440c5e391e15a46e4db94fa.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/16563-15p-aviation-operations-specialist-10th-cab-hhc-10th-cab" target="_blank">Equal Opportunity Advisor at 10th CAB HHC, 10th CAB | Military Profile | RallyPoint</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">See the full military profile of this Equal Opportunity Advisor at 10th CAB HHC, 10th CAB, stationed at Fort Drum, NY | RallyPoint professional military profile.</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2013 9:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:56:36 -0500

This is the future we are heading for.  If people are not willing to view those entry level jobs as starting points then companies will figure out a way to automate them.  Then they can put 5 order kiosks in place and pay one technical expert to be on call to repair them if they break at a cost of two part time employees rather than keeping five part time employees there waiting on customers to come in and order.

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Dec 17 at 2013 10:04 AM

SPC David Wyckoff — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 10:04:42 -0500

A self serve ordering machine? They will probably work with the same quality of efficiency as the self serve check out lines at WalMart or The Home Depot.

I actually see this as an opportunity for large fast food chains to make more profit. They will boost the price of the burger, claiming that the higher cost of labor is causing it, all the while cutting staff. I mean the math shows that hiring 10 people at the current $7+ minimum wage is about the same as laying off four of those people and doing the same work with six. Wages will go up, work load will increase, prices will increase, and companies will make more money. Mostly because consumers will most certainly not stop buying the food.
Forgot to mention that it will decrease competition because the local mom and pop joint doesn't have the operating capital or the bulk buying power of the large chain franchises. So they will eventually buckle under the exponential overhead.
I am not an expert; I don't have any retail management experience so my theory is simply what I have experienced in life. Feel free to flame or dissect my theory as you see fit.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 17 at 2013 2:19 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:19:20 -0500

<p>For those that didn't like the original post, it was a point of humor and a take on a previous discussion forum many of us had participated in about the ridiculousness of giving a fast food part time employee a $15 minimum wage.</p><p><br></p><p>If you took it personal and didn't like the picture, please feel free to vote it down, but at least have the courtesy to justify and explain to the rest of us why it is not liked or in bad taste as you may see it.</p><p><br></p><p>Thank you to all who got the point and agreed and liked it for what it was, slight humor.</p>

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2013 3:06 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:06:37 -0500

If I was a business owner and had 10 employees and was forced to pay them 5 or more dollars to meet minimum wage here is what I would do. I'm not going to raise the price of my product because I have to take care of the customer, I mean Im in business to make money, not correct social justices. Secondly, I would fire the 5 least contribuiting employees and tell the others to make it happen.<div><br></div><div>All these liberal viewpoints who cry it isn't fair, explain to me how you would do it while maximizing profit and keeping your customers from paying more.</div>

Response by SSgt George Brown made Feb 28 at 2014 11:50 PM

SSgt George Brown — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:50:29 -0500

What gets lost in all of this is the McDonalds you see is not corporate, it is a franchise. The franchisee has to pay premium prices to the corporation, has to maintain their store, has to pay taxes on the land that they deed to the corporation (they still own the store, but the corporation owns the land under it AFTER the original franchisee bought it). They have to pay a premium for the cups, bags, meat, bread, machines, etc. all the while charging a corporate set price on the food. Their margins are not very big on profit. The employees do not work for the corporation, they work for the franchisee. If a person is making this their career, they will not be making minimum wage.

BTW, do you want that dollar menu to be changed to the $5 menu? That is what will happen. When people stop coming to that store to buy stuff, where are all those jobs going to go. They are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 9:47 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 09:47:05 -0500

SFC Baber, in the spirit of light heartedness I offer this example of how Service members could be looking at prospectively similar replacement for the sake of long term cost effectiveness.
I put this here in jest; no animosity intended toward your original post.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/robots-replace-troops-battlefield-111500084.html

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made May 13 at 2014 9:36 AM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Tue, 13 May 2014 09:36:33 -0400

What do you expect.
Either it goes to this or you pay $12 dollars for a Big Mac

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 13 at 2014 9:44 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Tue, 13 May 2014 09:44:15 -0400

The only thing that surprises me is that they didn't do it sooner! I believe more will follow suit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 9:47 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 09:47:13 -0400

Lazy gets paid more than hard workers.... always has been that way...always will be.

(Example: Hard worker-> Ditch Diiger $10./hr (circa)
Lazy worker-> Security Guard $15./hr (circa) )

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made May 13 at 2014 10:10 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 13 May 2014 10:10:59 -0400

Not surprised in the least. Unskilled workers demanding higher wages than many with degrees and skills are making? I would replace them all too.

Have to get rid of the dissenting opinions before they revolt.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 10:11 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 10:11:02 -0400

Chili's allows you to do the same from your booth or table.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 13 at 2014 10:48 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 13 May 2014 10:48:16 -0400

If you went to use this at CIF for turning in your gear, a message would come up on the screen everytime that just says, "NOT CLEAN ENOUGH! STATEMENT OF CHARGES!"

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made May 13 at 2014 11:00 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:00:03 -0400

There may be a cost savings to the franchise owner, but will not help the economy with jobs.... well, actually, I suspect it will help the economy about the same amount as $15/hr. Just sayin.

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made May 13 at 2014 11:08 AM

SFC Craig Dalen — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:08:59 -0400

This is where it all starts and people have less interaction with less job opportunities as well. Sad...

Response by SSG Robert Burns made May 13 at 2014 11:10 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:10:52 -0400

I think as time goes on and technology continues to advance, basic non and low level skilled jobs will become things of the past.
People will have to begin to compete with technology in order to remain a valuable resource to business. We've been doing it for years.
Farmers do it. Should I pay 200 people at the airport to open and inspect everyone's bags or should I use 3 x ray machines?
People have to start investing in themselves and their education.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made May 13 at 2014 11:11 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:11:45 -0400

In fact this may have been coming despite min. wage increases.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made May 13 at 2014 11:20 AM

SFC Stephen P. — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:20:37 -0400

Regulations have consequences.

Response by SGT James Elphick made May 13 at 2014 12:16 PM

SGT James Elphick — Tue, 13 May 2014 12:16:50 -0400

Wait until the cooks aren't even needed anymore

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made May 13 at 2014 12:23 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Tue, 13 May 2014 12:23:01 -0400

It is about time people see the cause and effect of wanting hire wages for the same work. This makes perfect business sense. The better part is the IT person who will be on site will get paid $25 an hour ro make sure the machines don't go down.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 12:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 12:51:38 -0400

I see this as the future. I have many comments about how, why, and the cause/effect, however, I will keep them to myself. Political debates are for facebook lol.

Response by SSG Adam Miller made May 13 at 2014 2:08 PM

SSG Adam Miller — Tue, 13 May 2014 14:08:52 -0400

Most fast food employees where I'm from are rude, so I prefer this method.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 2:10 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 14:10:32 -0400

Sadly as cost effective as it is...folks will be out of jobs. But I can't say that I blame them for coming up with this. There is a similar system at Sheetz gas stations to order food there. Give it time it's going to become the standard.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 3:05 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:05:31 -0400

I did this numerous times while in Japan. I purchased tickets for the items I wanted out of a vending type machine that had pictures on it. I turned those tickets over to the hostess who then brought them to the kitchen and set up my table with water and cutlery. This not only eliminated the awkwardness of asking what the food you were about to consume was but also got rid of any language barrier while I was adjusting to living in a new country. I like the idea and have seen it used in a few markets already in the US when doing special orders at a deli counter.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made May 13 at 2014 3:44 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:44:40 -0400

When the cost of labor goes up, innovation leads to alternatives. Most people forget that a lot of fast food franchises are owned by small business owners who scraped together the money to afford the business, and aren't usually rich people that are pocketing profits while underpaying their employees.

Response by PO1 Joseph Feldhaus made May 13 at 2014 3:45 PM

PO1 Joseph Feldhaus — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:45:16 -0400

Automation is the future, and those who don't get with the program will be left behind. It's sad that the personal touch is going away, but I have learned to accept change.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 3:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:56:10 -0400

Technology does not replace jobs, technology replaces unskilled labor. We still need programmers to program machines, (skilled) factory workers to build these machines, analysts to analyze data, engineers to build/test machines, installers to install machines, and many others. If we can build quality machines, we can export these machines and grow the economy. Business improvement is good for the economy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 7:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 19:16:43 -0400

Sad but it is more cost effective to do that when you have greedy unions and idiotic governmental policies that deliberately stifle progress and improvement. Makes no sense to me, both logically and financially. It would be like have $100,000 in a ROTH IRA then saying I'm going to try to grow the account by withdrawing $50,000. Makes absolutely no sense.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Jun 15 at 2014 6:31 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:31:58 -0400

This looks like the future, by the way there might be a Mr. IRobot doing your the hamburgers lol
All preprogrammed.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 16 at 2014 11:52 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:52:32 -0400

2 & 3 go hand in hand. I'm not a McDonalds person but you see it in a lot of other places as well. The future, for good or bad and for the pocket lining of rich companies is to take the menial tasks that can be automated out of the hands of human beings. For some strange reason personnel costs - above all others - are the first thing to go when downsizing. Yes, salaries and benefits(or what's left of them) are a big expense, but machines can not do it all - at least until DoD invents "terminators".

Similarly self checkout at Walmart and other retailers. What am I paying for if I have to unload, scan and bag my own items? I used to bag groceries, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, for $3.25 an hour. Granted gas was still under a buck and movies about $2 in those days (damn I'm getting old) but wages were proportional to the economy.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jun 17 at 2014 12:14 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:14:03 -0400

Not only at Fast Food Places. I believe you will also see this at many upscale restaurants as we become more and more automated. Smartphones and auto tellers are now going to replace personal services and personnel at many places. Most of you will not remember the days of gas station attendants, but PEOPLE used to come out and fill your tank, check your oil and tires and provide many other services including washing your windshield.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 12:50 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:50:58 -0400

Minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 12:53 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:53:26 -0400

Unfortunately, all big businesses want profits. Profited over people...which leads to unemployment.

Response by SGT Eric Lorenz made Jun 17 at 2014 1:07 PM

SGT Eric Lorenz — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:07:26 -0400

As soon as folks demand more than market-value, business will engineer around the problem. You could see this coming 100 clicks away.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Jun 17 at 2014 1:10 PM

CPT Richard Riley — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:10:16 -0400

Systems like this are infiltrating many types of restaurants. I've seen two or three restaurants here in the Tampa Bay area that are using tablets for menu's and ordering so it seems to be the way things are moving to.

Response by Cpl D. Blake Wilson made Jun 18 at 2014 12:38 PM

Cpl D. Blake Wilson — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:38:58 -0400

I see it as a good thing. If I'm going to be ignored by an automaton, I'd prefer that I didn't pay for its crappy education, kids, and listen to it demand more money for jobs that aren't meant for them to raise said kids on.

See the glorious Carls Jr touch screen menu I ran across on a road trip to Oklahoma. I talked to the manager and she said that they had to do this, as they can't trust many who live in the area to handle cash (meth) and they can't find enough people to work there due to the limited labor pool in their small town.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2014 10:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:38:39 -0400

Try CIF in the guard. I don't know if every state in like MA, but my unit can only get CIF appointments every 8 weeks. Prior Service solders show up to first drill with no gear to go to the field.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 12:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 12:59:22 -0400

And all them folks who protested for a min. wage increase will be replaced by these. Therefor furthering thier living arrangements with mom and dad

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jun 22 at 2014 4:15 AM

SSG Ed Mikus — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 04:15:25 -0400

there are a lot of gas stations with these at their food service counters in Maryland, i like them, i get exactly what i want and do not have to worry about my order being taken correctly.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 4:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 16:48:56 -0500

I can't believe this was not thought of sooner. But you will always have the BK or McD's employee to mess up you order or not give you the sauce you asked for. But ya, they deserve $15 an hour, and I deserve $50. Wouldn't deployment be wonderful then!

Response by SPC John Conners made Nov 10 at 2014 12:55 PM

SPC John Conners — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:55:56 -0500

I cant wait for this. Maybe now they will get my order right.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 11 at 2014 1:23 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 01:23:28 -0500

When I deployed in 2011, we ordered replacement clothes online and got them in the mail. CIF may be heading that way

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 10 at 2015 12:11 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:11:18 -0400

Robots are coming for everyone's jobs. Innovate or die.
http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/humans-need-not-apply

Humans Need Not Apply

Further Reading: Script Every human used to have to hunt or gather to survive. But humans are smart-ly lazy so we made tools to make our work easier. From sticks, to plows to tractors we’ve gone from everyone needing to make food to, modern agriculture with almost no one needing to make food — and yet we still have abundance. Of course, it’s not just farming, it’s everything. We’ve spent the last several thousand years building tools to reduce...

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Mar 10 at 2015 12:33 PM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:33:50 -0400

It's sad that those who enact new policy (in this case, $15 min wage) using their heart instead of their brain don't recognize ahead of time the 2nd order effects of what the policy will do. This one motivates businesses to switch to technology solutions earlier than planned...hurting the very people they hoped to help. What's even sadder, these same policy makers will not recognize or admit the results, even when they see them, after the fact.