it reduces overhead by not requiring the position to be filled at each location. if a greeter (or whatever they're called) is on shift and stands around for 15 min between each order, that's money that could be saved if several greeters take orders from a central location as soon as the next one comes in. one greeter can then take orders from all across the country. in other words: no downtime

ah, you beat me to it

Why haven't gone to voice recognition?

And if they did go to India, then wouldn't half of Redmond be able to order in Hindi?

My company was trying voice recognition for Mc d's actually, they are one of our largest customers besides Walmart. Anyway, the outside noises varied from location to location too much and we never got it off the ground. I suppose when they get a bit better technically they will. They are introducing a picture driven pos system that requires no counter employee interaction.

you may have a point

Actually, I had heard somewhere that some restaurants had outsourced their drive-thrus to India. Apparently, the Indian employees were supposedly MORE cost-effective, as they not only obviously cost less, but apparently were also more skilled at maximizing the amount that people would order (i.e. supersizing, ordering more stuff, etc.).

I see your point but this outsourcing has to cost much more than the $6.55 per hour then McD's is paying one of their indentured carnival slaves. Back in ye' olden days my first job was working the "drive-thru" at McDonalds and had very little down time during my 4 hour shift. If I wasn't taking & filling orders I was cleaning, mopping, or filling the dreaded shake machine :( . Now granted this was back in the McDLT days (the hot side stayed hot & the cool side stayed cool!), but I can't imagine there being less need for warm bodies to do the menial tasks performed between cars.

'

Gads, I remember the McDLT. That was a good burger when it was fresh off the grill, eh? I worked at one too back in '88 or so briefly....same time they discontinued the DLT and brought on the ghastly McRib. We had fistfights in our store...:eek:


As for how it remains cost effective, FXeditor, remember that Min wage in all states is not the same...what do you want to bet that the state they're outsourcing to has a MUCH lower McMinimum Wage?

Outsource the whole damn place...isn't anyone here old enough to remember "Automats"?

http://forum.belmont.edu/cornwall/automat.gif

mmmmmmmm McRibs, after all those bbq threads I'm ready for a real taste sensation.

where is that green font button

What would be cool is if the chick was in India like all the tech support lines. Yes her name would be sally!

oh lawd! I all but forgot about the ole' McDLT! that was a while back...

much like you, I entered the workforce at a competitor (Wendy's) manning the grill and had to do pretty much the same things whenever there was downtime for me. (for us it was the dreaded salad bar) it seems that things have changed, however. perhaps McDonald's has figured out a way to pressure-blast the whole kitchen at the end of the day...

actually, I think it's because of the fact that some stores now have at least two, if not three, windows in the drive thru. that may make it more likely for downtime to become an issue

The Burger King I went into in Dana Point a while back didn't have a grill. Everything was done in a nuke oven, I looked all over, watched as they prepped my burger, came out of the nuke oven.
I just can't go back.

As an aside, Geoge Castanza did the McDLT commercials
http://adweek.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/mcdlt.jpg

Some of the reasoning may be the quality of the work force.

I will list some of the problems I face on a daily basis.

Using cell phones.

Having conversations with other employees or customers while they a waiting on other customers.

Ignoring customers

Bing rude and short with customers.

Not doing their assigned tasks.

Stealing food

Giving food to their friends

Cursing out loud

Yelling in the restaurant

Basically they have no self control.

Some of the reasoning may be the quality of the work force.

I will list some of the problems I face on a daily basis.

Using cell phones.

Having conversations with other employees or customers while they a waiting on other customers.

Ignoring customers

Being rude and short with customers.

Not doing their assigned tasks.

Stealing food

Giving food to their friends

Cursing out loud

Yelling in the restaurant

Basically they have no self control.

basically, they have no respect

oh, and the Chevette was available in a Diesel??

Oh, Yeah

Hmm... trying to work up some angst about this. Oh, what the hell... I give up. Can't remember the last time I ate at one. They could all disappear in a blinding mushroom cloud of deep fat fryer grease tomorrow, and the only impact on my life would be the smell.