Wendy’s Serves Up Big Kiosk Expansion As Wage Hikes Hit Fast Food

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• When I worked in Boston, I used to frequent a burrito place called Bolocco's. They had the standard stand-in-line method of ordering, but ALSO had self-service terminals where you could put your order together, submit, and pay, all by yourself. I quite liked it, because the menu options were rather extensive, and I liked being able to rearrange combinations at leisure without the pressure of someone waiting for you to make up yer dam mind or the pressure of the line behind you. There were three or four terminals, I think, and they usually moved quickly enough that there was rarely a lineup at them, unlike the standard lineup, which was often extensive at lunchtime. Or perhaps it's just my innate streak of misanthropy which enjoyed not having to deal directly with people. Oh, when you finished plugging in your order, you got a service number just like always, and waited at the far end of the counter, you got handed your bag and split. So yeah, I DO like this system -- unlike the self-serve checkouts which I loathe. In THAT case, I always feel that I'm being made to do someone else's job without getting any reimbursement for it.

  http://boloco.com/food/menu/

  • http://static.caintv.com/96f8cdb241T-Wend1000.jpeg

• Wendy people are actually very good and nice so it is too bad. They obviously know how to train people. But a business is a business not a charity.

• Looks like the newest growth industry is going to be automation, as in restaurant automation.

• Walmart has been going to self checkout lanes for several years. Go to any Walmart and see how many checkout lanes are open and manned by a checker, 3 or 4 most days? The reason? High labor costs. Walmart has raised their starting wage to $13 per hour in most states, they just hire fewer people and install more self checkout lanes. When I do go to the big city I am seeing more of the same. Fewer clerks, more self checkout lanes. I have gotten to where I use them, I don't have to put up with a rude, incompetent store clerk who cannot even count change. At least the computer can do that right.

  • If they made them larger for bigger purchases I would use them more often. I only use them for small purchases only. The thing is that when there are 8 two or three are always out of order lol

  • I've tried using those lanes. They're a pain in the ass!
    When I go there, I often have large items that I can't fit on the scale, or don't want to bag, like milk, gallons of water, or large juice containers. If you have more than a few items that you don't want to bag, the computer won't accept it, and you have to call an attendant to override it. Then, there are items that don't weigh right, and you have to call an attendant. It's one big clusterfuck.
    Now, for those of you that are familiar with WAWA convenience stores, their deli counter has a keypad at the entrance to the line, where you put in your sandwich order. When you get to the other end, it's ready for you, and it's right too! I can't go through a drive through fast food place and get my order the way I want it.