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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

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Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#181

Post by squiggleblaz »

RalfWausE wrote: post #134
vmception wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an American that visits Germany, I absolutely hate how eating at a restaurant is seen by many as an event where you hang out forever, as opposed to a routine service I expect as a fairly quick and formulaic pitstop between other obligations. There seems to be no difference between classes of dining out, in this regard. I also suspect you are out of touch. QR code menus and payments were not a thing in the US befor…

As i mentioned: No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Your observation is correct: Many germans like to stay in an restaurant es an event , not just to eat something quick ... for this purpose there are tons of Pommesbuden, bakerys or Dönerläden.

> No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally).

Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? I've eaten in restaurants in Hamburg, Berlin and Munich during pandemic (summertime last year until about November, and since June this year). Eating this year has been limited to outdoors, but that's fine.

(None have had this crazy QR code link menu idea. I have always received a traditional menu and ordered by asking the staff what I want at the appropriate time.)

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#184

Post by nly »

HelloNurse wrote: post #145
NamTaf wrote: post #79

I understand the benefits of phyiscal menus, but I for one relied on QR codes when working in China. I could go into a restaurant alone and use screenshots + google translate to essentially feed myself. Without a QR code, it was a gamble as to whether there were photos for me to see to order. Moreover, I didn't have to assume the waiter knew English, they'd just ferry out my food to my table when it was ready. I reli…

Google Translate has been using OCR to replace foreign text in live camera input for several years. Didn't it work on Chinese printed menus?

When I was last in China (I've been last twice in the last 5 years) I still couldn't even get data on my phone. Does GT work well offline?

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#185

Post by dkdbejwi383 »

I really despise when the QR code just sends you to the App Store to download some (crappy, probably web-to-native) app, where you have to create an account, verify your email, then add credit card details manually. Extra points off if there's no wifi and the venue is somewhere with poor signal, so it takes 10 minutes and rinses my battery.

A web-based menu that just opens the browser and lets me pay with Apple Pay is acceptable given the current circumstances.

I dislike having several single-use apps for random pubs and restaurants cluttering my phone.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#186

Post by ubercore »

Jiro wrote: post #62
_delirium wrote: post #41

My biggest surprise in these comments is that people seem to have actually successfully used a QR code! I always assumed they were an iPhone only feature, so I ignore them. I've read that the Android camera app is supposed to recognize QR codes, but it doesn't seem to on my phone.

I believe earlier Android versions did use camera, but now you have to use Google lens. It's extremely well hidden. On my phone, I have to open up the Google app and click on the icon after the microphone on the search bar to open up Google Lens. Once I am in it, clicking on the three dots icon gives an option to add Lens to home screen.

Not necessarily. On my android phone the link provided by the QR code shows up in the regular camera app.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#187

Post by jbluepolarbear »

makach wrote: post #158
sksksk wrote: post #129

When they work well, they're really good, but when they work badly, they're _really_ bad. The other week, I went for dinner at a place that had a online ordering system. My experience was as follows... Arrive at the table, scan the QR code No phone signal in the restaurant, so I need to connect to the wifi. Connect to the wifi, get a captive portal Need to put my phone number in to connect to the wifi; there is no si…

this. I do not miss 400 options(!) nor the icky stick menus that sticks together like a 80's playboy magazine. Its good to see digital revolution embrace restaurants. I'd much rather struggle with my phone and my own grime than fiddling with the menu.

It’s hostile to the experience. It takes me out of why I went to a restaurant I the first place. I want to sit down and focus on my present company and forget about my digital life. This isn’t a new experience, Red Robin and Ruby Tuesday have/had a tablet checkout system that was a chore to use. I started removing restaurants that used similar systems from my rotation because they ruin the experience.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#188

Post by jbluepolarbear »

dagmx wrote: post #72
dheera wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh. Why can't we have both? First of all it takes a shitton of steps to scan a QR code if you don't have WeChat. On a default Android device you have to click 7 or 8 times to get into the QR scanner thingy inside Google Lens. I carry a 2nd phone with WeChat and I can scan things in 0 seconds flat, but most people don't have it around here in the US. And then many restaurants' QR menus just redirect you to their webs…

The default camera app on both AOSP and iOS phones will scan QR codes, so it's really just a single step.

Yes, but you still need to click the link, open in the browser. I don’t trust the average restaurant to make correct security decisions on their online menu/payment system. So pass.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#189

Post by RalfWausE »

squiggleblaz wrote: post #181
RalfWausE wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As i mentioned: No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Your observation is correct: Many germans like to stay in an restaurant es an event , not just to eat something quick ... for this purpose there are tons of Pommesbuden, bakerys or Dönerläden.

> No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? I've eaten in restaurants in Hamburg, Berlin and Munich during pandemic (summertime last year until about November, and since June this year). Eating this year has been limited to outdoors, but that's fine. (None have had this crazy QR code link menu idea. I…

>Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation?

Its a personal obligation: My wife and i, we life in the same building as my older parents (in a big old half-timbered farmhouse)... so, until now (both parents are vaccinated, my wife got her second shot yesterday and i will get it soon) we were careful...

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#190

Post by bloak »

nly wrote: post #166
topicseed wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With covid, many restaurants removed paper menus to avoid transmission. I hate QR codes so that was a move I was not in favour of.....

Laminated menus that you can spray and wipe off would make a lot more sense.

On the other hand, pathogens survive longer on a smooth surface than on a rough absorbant surface, and I would guess that they are more likely to be transferred from a smooth surface onto somebody's hand than from a rough absorvant surface. So, taking account of people perhaps not doing all that spraying and wiping properly, a paper menu might turn out to be safer after all.
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