Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible • Hacker News Board

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#671

Post by seanmcdirmid » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:04 PM UTC

whimsicalism wrote: post #649

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #646

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I use Google Fi which gives has agreements with providers in almost every country, I had data as soon as I walked off the plane in China That sounds really nice...and a bit surprising considering nothing else Google works in China without a VPN. So...does it also work as a normal phone with a Chinese number so you can logon to wifi at Starbucks in China?

> a bit surprising considering nothing else Google works in China without a VPN. It is a bit surprising, although Google does have offices in China. It also has a VPN built in, which I recall would intermittently bypass the GFW. > So...does it also work as a normal phone with a Chinese number so you can logon to wifi at Starbucks in China? No, I don't think so, but I had unlimited data.

Were you in Guangzhou by any chance? They weird connections for foreigners that bypass the firewall, things that don’t exist in Beijing or Shanghai.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#672

Post by canadianfella » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:05 PM UTC

alisonatwork wrote: post #464

infecto wrote: post #417

It's really interesting to see how a crowd of tech workers who generally are trying to pave the way are so quick to attack and be negative. Like all things in life, when its implemented well it works and when it does not it is terrible. I still think there is room for this to be the future though. I say this as a westerner but perhaps the west is not ready for it yet but I really enjoyed the experience of using QR co…

This process was one of my most hated "innovations" in food ordering in China. It turns every restaurant into a production line fast food operation, exactly like American chain restaurants. At that point, why even bother going to a restaurant at all? Might as well just order a Sysco-equivalent microwave meal at the supermarket or 7/11, because the flavor and the service will be exactly the same. For me the best resta…

How does a physical menu improve the taste?

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#673

Post by whimsicalism » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:06 PM UTC

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #671

whimsicalism wrote: post #649

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a bit surprising considering nothing else Google works in China without a VPN. It is a bit surprising, although Google does have offices in China. It also has a VPN built in, which I recall would intermittently bypass the GFW. > So...does it also work as a normal phone with a Chinese number so you can logon to wifi at Starbucks in China? No, I don't think so, but I had unlimited data.

Were you in Guangzhou by any chance? They weird connections for foreigners that bypass the firewall, things that don’t exist in Beijing or Shanghai.

No, I was in Beijing, Kunming, and Shanghai. But I honestly don't recall the specifics of the firewall bypass - I was using Outline (another Google sponsored project, funnily enough) to skip it most of the time anyways.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#674

Post by vmception » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:36 PM UTC

brummm wrote: post #312

vmception wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although I do hate it when aspects of Germany become more like America, I do wish that sit down nice restaurants had wait staff that checked on us a little more frequently with the expectation that maybe we want to leave!

I actually find this super irritating in American restaurants. Just let us enjoy our meal in peace...

Yeah there is a happy medium that alot of wait staff gets wrong here in the states

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#675

Post by brewdad » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:57 PM UTC

conductr wrote: post #501

msrenee wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not really voicing your dissent at that point. The server gets no tip and doesn't get any indication why. Why not just bring cash to tip? Or call the restaurant and talk to the manager? Not tipping doesn't accomplish anything and the server who has no control over the system and is already underpaid gets screwed over.

> Why not just bring cash to tip? Or call the restaurant and talk to the manager? We're talking patron UX here and point is I don't what to shoulder the burden. I didn't even want to calculate 15% tip in my head and you want me to start carrying cash everywhere, something I haven't done since Y2K was a concern. Spend 15 minutes waiting for the manager to come over? No thanks. > Not tipping doesn't accomplish anything…

Pre-pandemic, some restaurants in my area started adding separate tip lines for servers and kitchen staff. While nice in theory as a way to recognize the work they do it left me feeling confused more than anything. Am I still expected to tip 15-20% or more to the server AND an additional amount to the rest of the staff? Do I split my regular tip amongst both lines? If so, 50-50 or some other breakdown.

In the end, I left my usual tip to the server and zero to the rest and left it for them to figure out, just like in every other restaurant on the planet. Servers make full, much higher than Federal minimum wage in my state plus tips, so really we should be abolishing tipping at this point IMO.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#676

Post by pyrale » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:01 PM UTC

apurtbapurt wrote: post #104

In Sweden the QR menues tend to be based on Facebook messenger. The restaurants that use this system also tend to push very hard for avoiding manual orders and payments. It is a complete farce every time, since most of the people I go out with don't use Facebook. We are usually not the only patrons annoyed by this, so I hope they give up soon. I will never go pack to a place that don't let me order normally.

> The restaurants that use this system also tend to push very hard for avoiding manual orders and payments.

This is the real issue I see with this system going forward. Becoming a second-class client simply because I don't have a cell-phone on me at all times is not going to be great.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#677

Post by brewdad » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:02 PM UTC

conductr wrote: post #580

twiddling wrote: post #569

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In several states they are. Washington St. doesn't have a lower minimum wage for servers.

I've visited and really enjoyed that model. I'm in Texas and we're not progressive at all in this realm; or many other realms when comparing to a progressive state like Washington.

You are still expected to tip the same as other states with the $2.13 minimum for tipped employees. In fact, you should be tipping more, so goes the rule of thumb, since cost of living is higher.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#678

Post by brewdad » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:11 PM UTC

syshum wrote: post #661

jbluepolarbear wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s closer to $3/hr before tips. If they don’t make minimum wage from tips and $3/hr the restaurant must supplement to at least minimum wage. That’s a lot to just make minimum wage.

Well lets do some math. Around here an average meal at a restaurant would be about $14 lunch and $18 dinner per person. So to make the often promoted $15/hr wage, the server would need to clear $96 in tips over the base wage of $3/hr. At an average of 18% tips that would mean the ticket revenue would need to be $534 for the shift. @16 avg per person that is about 4 people per hour, or 1 or 2 tables per hour If the re…

> Most of the people calling for a $15/hr base wage have a delusional belief they will make $15/hr PLUS tips... that is never going to happen

It almost does in Portland. Starting July 1st, it's $14 plus tips. There is no "tipped employee" minimum wage. It's the same for all. I think it will be $13 per hour in the rest of Oregon outside the metro area but there may be a third level for the most rural counties.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#679

Post by pyrale » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:21 PM UTC

xyzelement wrote: post #31

bluedays wrote: post #21

I do wonder how this effects accessibility. What if I don't have a device with me? What if I have a disability that prevents me from using a device? Seems like this might be an ADA compliance liability.

I am guessing you then ask for a paper menu and they give you one. You can probably just do that even if you don't have any issues. I've done that a few times when the online menu was annoying.

With two competing channels, we won't have to wait long until one becomes an afterthought. I personally hope that QR codes (or whatever requires to use a smartphone) will be the one going the way of the dodo.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#680

Post by pyrale » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:24 PM UTC

kerng wrote: post #562

I think online menus are much better and environmentally friendly than physical ones. Really hope many places just stick with online menu - also allows for quick updates and changes. If navigating there is done via QR code, NFC or some other means is a different question. but QR codes seem to work really well for this sort of thing and even non tech users can easily figure it out.

> but QR codes seem to work really well for this sort of thing and even non tech users can easily figure it out.

Good luck explaining that to my grandmother who doesn't own a smartphone.