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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

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Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#261
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In Paris or Marseille I didn't really see this That's probably this then, I've lived in Lyon all my life.

I wish I had spent more time in Lyon. The countryside around there probably seems boring to you, since you grew up in the city. But coming from America, it's obvious that the smallest village in France is light-years more advanced, more educated, clever and civilized than the country I grew up in. It has its problems of course, but it's paradise compared to most other places I've been. Funny, slightly dark story abou…

On the contrary, the countryside has a lot of appeal to me. For a few years we lived in a rather isolated house in Dardilly and I have fond memories of them. Not really the same experience as the countryside but I'm really glad I spent some of my youth here and not directly in the city.

Thank you for sharing that story, it's thanks to people like you that bring some new perspective I started to love my country for what it is.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#262
post #190
post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Then destroy and replace them with every service?

it's only a printed sheet

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#263
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…

I had a completely different situation last year. Checked in via QR (no account needed), ordered my drinks, got them quick, could also pay them with PayPal. The last thing was great because I hate waiting for a waiter to get my bill and pay it. And I could add tips in this 'app' as well. But maybe I was just lucky that my first experience with QR-codes in a restaurant was so positive.

I've had similar really good experiences, but it's probably just luck. The last place I went to they used https://pos.toasttab.com/. It was quick, easy, everyone at the table was able to pay for their own food without having to worry about dividing up the bill, it was easy to order additional items without having to wait for the waiter to come around, etc. And, fwiw, it didn't seem to affect the social aspect of my dinner at all. Normally we all would have been sitting quietly looking at the menu, instead we all sat quietly and looked at our phones. After we ordered, everyone put their phones away and we had a good time.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#264
How long before someone exploits this?

- Build an app that injects malware but also shows the restaurant's menu. Give it the same name as the restaurant.

- Go to the restaurant, overlay your QR code sticker on top of the restaurant's.

- When someone scans the code they are asked to install "[Restaurant's name] menu", obviously they are going to do it.

- They open the app -> malware is activated, menu is shown. Profit.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#265
post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most, if not all restaurants I've been to around my area, were already either using or switched to using laminated sheets, sometimes bound in a plastic or leather cover. Plastic-enclosed paper is trivial to sanitize and lasts a VERY long time, plus I would like to imagine a laminator is quite a bit cheaper in the long-term than maintaining separate menu websites for every individual location. It's amazing how some ca…

It is not for tech sake, this is building a database. Never attribute to incompetence what can be adequately explained by bogus engagement KPIs

Orders are typically stored anyways?

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#266
post #190
post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I could be wrong, as I often am, but I think getting covid from a surface is recently proven to be highly unlikely.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#267

I read an article a few years back (Though I am unable to find it now) that complained about diners taking longer and longer to order these days, especially because they play around with their phones instead of perusing the menu. (I think this conclusion was based on surveillance tapes) I do wonder if having the menu on your phone could actually be more engaging to these kind of diners (or at least prevent them from…

I also recall that. This 7-year-old article pretty much says the same thing:

https://gothamist.com/food/restaurant-finds-phone-zombies-sl...

A less-polite phrasing of your theory: Fed-up restaurant owners are trying to claw back as much as they can from the overhead and miseries of dealing with phone-addicted customers.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#268
post #253

I've never seen a QR code menu. I wasn't aware that this is a thing. An I the only one?

It seems to be a regional thing. I never noticed em much in the wider region where i live in Belgium but then i went to Brussels and suddenly every restaurant and bar had em.

Some at least did have regular menus too and the barcodes mostly served as a quicker alternative until said menu was brought.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#269
post #265
post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not for tech sake, this is building a database. Never attribute to incompetence what can be adequately explained by bogus engagement KPIs

Orders are typically stored anyways?

But not how long you stared at the deserts, or what side of the "give me lobster" button you pressed.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#270
post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is this entitlement? Dining at a restaurant is a luxury, if I’m going to spend my money on a luxury, I’m going to choose an experience that is safe, enjoyable, and to my interests. Why are you so upset? Why do you feel that the conditions in place are acceptable? Personally, I grew up quite poor and never got to go to restaurants. It wasn’t until I started making a little money in my late 20s that I could start t…

> why do you feel like the conditions in place are acceptable? “Acceptable”? To whom? This is why you sound entitled. The alternative is not dining out . You make it sound like restaurants are letting you down or should try harder . The word “acceptable” has no place in this conversation. It’s fine that you don’t want to go out to restaurants right now. But you’re complaining about how inconvenient it is for you like…

I disagree. You are allowed to have an opinion about something you would pay for. In fact you are allowed to have an opinion period. That doesn't make you entitled.
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