Aloha. Would you super size that for me?

[techs]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/11/techn...2af5ee011af1e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"Would you like your Coke and orange juice medium or large?" Ms. Vargas said into her headset to an unseen woman who was ordering breakfast from a drive-through line. She did not neglect the small details ?"You Must Ask for Condiments," a sign next to her computer terminal instructs ? and wished the woman a wonderful day.

What made the $12.08 transaction remarkable was that the customer was not just outside Ms. Vargas's workplace here on California's central coast. She was at a McDonald's in Honolulu. And within a two-minute span Ms. Vargas had also taken orders from drive-through windows in Gulfport, Miss., and Gillette, Wyo.

Ms. Vargas works not in a restaurant but in a busy call center in this town, 150 miles from Los Angeles. She and as many as 35 others take orders remotely from 40 McDonald's outlets around the country. The orders are then sent back to the restaurants by Internet, to be filled a few yards from where they were placed.



Wow. While the story says they are doing it now for efficiency, I guess when they have the system down pat they will then outsource it to India.
I can see the day where department stores like Wal-Mart will have tv cameras and if you need help you go to a phone and talk with someone in India who can see you.
It is really scary how many American jobs can be outsourced.

 

[imported_xaguynamedguyx]

holy ******, that's rpetty ****** crazy

 

[alien42]

and then?...no and then
and then?...no and then
and then?...no and then

 

[jrenz]

Who is left to yell at?

 

[fornax]

Ha-ha, and I thought Dave Barry was joking! I just read recently one of his blurbs about outsourcing, and he was joking that when you order at MacDonalds, your order is taken in India and then the whole hamburger is transmitted to the restaurant via high-speed DBPL (Digitized Beef Patty Line) I guess we're not far from that actually happening.

Did you know that commercial airliners are in fact controlled by 10-year old Indian girls with joysticks, and the pilot is just a retired security guy who's only role is to warn you about turbulence when the girl's hand starts shaking?

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: fornax
Ha-ha, and I thought Dave Barry was joking! I just read recently one of his blurbs about outsourcing, and he was joking that when you order at MacDonalds, your order is taken in India and then the whole hamburger is transmitted to the restaurant via high-speed DBPL (Digitized Beef Patty Line) I guess we're not far from that actually happening.

Did you know that commercial airliners are in fact controlled by 10-year old Indian girls with joysticks, and the pilot is just a retired security guy who's only role is to warn you about turbulence when the girl's hand starts shaking?

Thats too funny. Apparently biting sarcasm can become real in today society.

 

[Genx87]

May as well outsource it to India, I cant understand 95% of the people working the drive through anyways.

 

[makken]

they better have some good quality lines.

Last time I pinged something in asia, i got over 1000ms and a packet loss of 75% "WHERE ARE MY FRENCH FRIES DAMNIT!" =P

 

[dullard]

I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes. Either way, most of us win (except for the few here who's job it is to sit around waiting for a car to drive up).

 

[spikespiegal]

Micky Dee's has been playing with outsourced drive-thru's for awhile, but other fast food chains have been slower to adapt it. Big language barrier going to foreign country callcenters which is likely to play with the nerves of customers. Unlike IT tech support, fast food customers can just drive to the next one if they don't like the service.

I can just see you trying to return an erroneous order to McDonalds, and be greeted with the same branch problem solving that the Indian's so methodically follow when you call them for IT support.

"Was that a hamburger sir, and you wanted extra pickles? Did you check you hamburger sir? Is your hamburger plugged in and did you reboot it? Would please take a bite of your hamburger and verify it has has extra pickles? Where did you buy your hamburger from? Did you reformat your entire hamburger and reinstall the condiments?

 

[spikespiegal]

...And Beavis and Butthead had the best attitude towards fast food jobs of all time.

"You want, uh, fries with that sir? Ours are extra crunchy"

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: makken
they better have some good quality lines.

Last time I pinged something in asia, i got over 1000ms and a packet loss of 75% "WHERE ARE MY FRENCH FRIES DAMNIT!" =P

Hey, that can be their new excuse for completely screwing up your order.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: catnap1972

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

And god forbid the owners of the company get paid for their investment.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: catnap1972
No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

See option (b) in my post. There is plenty of competition in the fast food industry. If one company can cut costs and pass it (partly) on to the consumer, that company profits doubly.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: techs
Wow. While the story says they are doing it now for efficiency, I guess when they have the system down pat they will then outsource it to India.

What's really sad about this is that this is one of those few jobs that would remain in the U.S. McDonalds sure will feel funny when few Americans can afford to eat out, even at fast food restaurants (not that McDonalds is a driving force behind this problem).

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Genx87
May as well outsource it to India, I cant understand 95% of the people working the drive through anyways.

Yeah. It probably makes more economic sense to deal drugs and risk getting busted.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes. Either way, most of us win (except for the few here who's job it is to sit around waiting for a car to drive up).

Not really. You'll pay for it in terms of: (1) Higher taxes to support people who might otherwise have been working poor at McDonallds. We're already supporting those employees and their children in the areas of health care and education. (2) Higher taxes and the personal/social costs of increased crime to pay for more criminal justice expenditures and increased crime as a result of having more impoverished people with even less to live for.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
Not really. You'll pay for it in terms of: (1) Higher taxes to support people who might otherwise have been working poor at McDonallds. We're already supporting those employees and their children in the areas of health care and education. (2) Higher taxes and the personal/social costs of increased crime to pay for more criminal justice expenditures and increased crime as a result of having more impoverished people with even less to live for.

One of three things can happen when a person is fired from a job that involves sitting around for most of their day.
(1) That person doesn't get a new job and what you said above is true.
(2) Since we have a very low unemployment rate, that person just gets another job that is easilly available (heck, what job isn't better paying than fast food).
(3) That person gets an education and gets a much better paying job and provides a lot more to society than he/she did when sitting around waiting for a car to drive up.

In the grand scheme of things (3) and (1) will roughly offset. If one person moves up in the world for every 3 that go on unemployment, everything is offset.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: catnap1972

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

And god forbid the owners of the company get paid for their investment.

GenX87 you have what I can only term a religious belief in the free market. It is astounding how every problem can be fixed by allowing the free market to work.
I have had discussions with religious fanatics who compare to you.
And when anyone DARES to suggest that the free market may not work best in a specific instance or needs some control you take it in a way that a religous fanatic does a heretical belief.
The truth, for those not blinded by the religion of the free market, was very nicely pointed out by by John Nash. While each company will act in the way that best benefits themselves the actions of all companies will work AGAINST what is best for themselves.
Example:
Yes, McDonalds will eliminate every possible employee and therefore make the most money for themselves. Thats acting in their best interests and in the interests of the God of free markets.
But when ALL OR MOST companies act in this manner than the number of employed people goes down, the wages of employed people goes down due to unemployment and the wealth of most people goes down.
Which REDUCES the number of people who can afford to eat at McDonalds.
I really think that the new 'free market' believers who deny the 100 plus years of the industrial revolution need to be de-programmed. Free markets only work WITH regulation. Otherwise you get huge depressions and inefficient distribution of wealth.

 

[spikespiegal]

'Round here in Michigan, given we have one of the worst economies in the nation, fast food restraunts are typically manned by decent, polite employees because of job competition. At least 9-5.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: catnap1972

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

And god forbid the owners of the company get paid for their investment.

GenX87 you have what I can only term a religious belief in the free market. It is astounding how every problem can be fixed by allowing the free market to work.
I have had discussions with religious fanatics who compare to you.
And when anyone DARES to suggest that the free market may not work best in a specific instance or needs some control you take it in a way that a religous fanatic does a heretical belief.
The truth, for those not blinded by the religion of the free market, was very nicely pointed out by by John Nash. While each company will act in the way that best benefits themselves the actions of all companies will work AGAINST what is best for themselves.
Example:
Yes, McDonalds will eliminate every possible employee and therefore make the most money for themselves. Thats acting in their best interests and in the interests of the God of free markets.
But when ALL OR MOST companies act in this manner than the number of employed people goes down, the wages of employed people goes down due to unemployment and the wealth of most people goes down.
Which REDUCES the number of people who can afford to eat at McDonalds.
I really think that the new 'free market' believers who deny the 100 plus years of the industrial revolution need to be de-programmed. Free markets only work WITH regulation. Otherwise you get huge depressions and inefficient distribution of wealth.

So you think regulating how McDonalds handles their drive through will magically fix the world? Your devout fantacism towards govt regulation and programs is amazing.

btw I have a strong belief in the free market because it is the only form of economic system that has created a middle class where people if so inclined can better themselves and accomplish their dreams.

No amount of govt overcontrol has ever produced such a thing.

 

[0roo0roo]

fine by me, i can barely understand many of the drive through workers...there are certainly more competent indian english speakers than mexican engilsh speakers

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: catnap1972

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

And god forbid the owners of the company get paid for their investment.

GenX87 you have what I can only term a religious belief in the free market. It is astounding how every problem can be fixed by allowing the free market to work.
I have had discussions with religious fanatics who compare to you.
And when anyone DARES to suggest that the free market may not work best in a specific instance or needs some control you take it in a way that a religous fanatic does a heretical belief.
The truth, for those not blinded by the religion of the free market, was very nicely pointed out by by John Nash. While each company will act in the way that best benefits themselves the actions of all companies will work AGAINST what is best for themselves.
Example:
Yes, McDonalds will eliminate every possible employee and therefore make the most money for themselves. Thats acting in their best interests and in the interests of the God of free markets.
But when ALL OR MOST companies act in this manner than the number of employed people goes down, the wages of employed people goes down due to unemployment and the wealth of most people goes down.
Which REDUCES the number of people who can afford to eat at McDonalds.
I really think that the new 'free market' believers who deny the 100 plus years of the industrial revolution need to be de-programmed. Free markets only work WITH regulation. Otherwise you get huge depressions and inefficient distribution of wealth.

So you think regulating how McDonalds handles their drive through will magically fix the world? Your devout fantacism towards govt regulation and programs is amazing.

btw I have a strong belief in the free market because it is the only form of economic system that has created a middle class where people if so inclined can better themselves and accomplish their dreams.

No amount of govt overcontrol has ever produced such a thing.

You really are a fanatic. You can't even have a debate when someone challenges your divine belief in the free market as a cure for everything.
Try rebutting what I said instead of engaging in hyperbole.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: catnap1972

Originally posted by: dullard
I'm all for it. It means either (a) lowered prices or (b) less incentive for future price hikes.

No...it means McD's CEO and stockholders will make more money...you'll still pay the same as you were before (if you're paying it now, no reason to reduce the price)

Executives make me sicker every day. "Wah, I only make $50M a year. I can hardly get by on that! I know! Let's screw over even more American workers so that we can make another $5M!"
Goddamn greedy SOBs in charge. Not just McDonalds either. This affliction is unfortunately quite common in many corporations.