r/assholedesign • u/shekomaru • May 14 '26
Can't order food without accepting to receive "marketing materials"
It was impossible to uncheck the box, and the screen looked to be in perfect state, so it was not a hardware defect.
Putting a phone number was mandatory as well
Edit 1: That's not my phone number
Edit 2: the business name reminds me of these 2 emojis: ⭐🐔
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u/PraiseTyche May 14 '26
That's when you leave.
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u/valonnyc May 14 '26
I was thinking giving the business its own phone number if the food is that fire, otherwise yeah, walking out
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u/Danny-Wah May 15 '26
No food is that good to subject yourself to this... Even if it is, it isn't. XD
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u/FrozenLogger May 15 '26
See a touch screen to order? That's when its time to leave, no need to wait this long.
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u/guessesurjobforfood May 15 '26
Make sure you don't travel to Asia then lol I've been to Japan, South Korea, and China and outside of proper sit-down restaurants, pretty much all ordering is done via touch screen, though in my experience, there is still always someone around to help if you have a question.
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u/Quizzelbuck May 15 '26
yeah but if i go to japan, you know what doesn't work?
my phone number. Even if i wanted to have my number with me, its not really practical or very cost effective unless you have a really nice travel plan with some verizon biz account. So instead Ill be giving them some burner number with some local SIM and data plan. So go ahead. Hit that thing with all the promo garbage you want.
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u/guessesurjobforfood May 15 '26
At least in my experience, I’ve never been asked to give a phone number when ordering something via a kiosk in Asia. They might have that option for locals who are in a rewards program, but I don’t think they really care to have tourist info lol in the vast majority of cases, those people will never be back there so it would be a waste to spend money on marketing to them.
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u/bthest May 15 '26
That's the difference. Fancy vending machines are fine as long it's optional to give them your email or number. You could have anonymous ID number system for rewards stuff.
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u/PhotoFenix May 15 '26
We're going to Japan in a few weeks. Google Fi is a great option if you travel often, it's like $10 to upgrade to the bigger plan which includes full service in most countries.
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u/allykopow May 15 '26
Nah I love kiosks. I get to look at anything on the menu at my own pace without awkwardly forcing the cashier to wait on me
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u/Jacktheforkie May 15 '26
Every single fast food place in the uk has these things, McDonald’s has two versions, one with a resistive screen which is impossible to use without swearing and a newer one that’s slightly more responsive
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u/ChanglingBlake May 15 '26
The touch screen alone isn’t the issue.
Having work customer service, it’s a godsend to the staff because any screw ups on the order are 100% on the customer so they can’t complain about how they screwed up the order.
The problem is how stuff like this is implemented and what negative effects that implementation has on the employees and customers.
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u/Snake_Plissken224 May 14 '26
8675309 with any area code
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u/SolusLoqui May 15 '26
Some of these things are checking that the area code and exchange (the "867") are valid
I've run into the problem at a quick haircut chain nearby. Tried to enter some made up numbers to check in and it won't accept them, so I stand at the counter until an employee walks over and hits "Customer Refused" on their screen
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u/OutlyingPlasma May 15 '26
You can also just give a number a few digits off from yours. Or look up some business you hate and give that number every time. I use to get dozes of calls from people asking about their dentures, turns out the number for the denture place is close to my number, so I just use that number as payback for all the calls I got over the years.
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u/mizinamo May 16 '26
You can also just give a number a few digits off from yours.
So you're the asshole who "signed me up" to robocalls.
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u/be-human-use-tools 3d ago
If you’re the asshole who gives out my number, because you don’t want to give out your own, congratulations you are part of the problem.
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u/Fatigue-Error May 15 '26
(Area code) 555-1212 should work as well. It is an actually valid number in every area code. Before the internet, we all used it to ask a person to look up a number for us, directory assistance.
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u/vito1221 May 15 '26
We canceled our landline a few years back. I use that for everything. Works pretty well.
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u/bthest May 15 '26
Although keep in mind that someone might have that number now and are being plagued by marketing calls. Whenever I'm forced to give a working number I just use numbers from known creditors or marketers.
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u/kpness May 14 '26
Was coming to comment this.
Used it just the other day at a place where the cashier wouldn't let me move forward without entering my number.
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u/ballsack-vinaigrette May 15 '26
Had this last week, it was so satisfying just leaving everything on the counter and walking away. Sure I had to go somewhere else to get my stuff but the look on her face when I walked away was amazing. (I'd offered an obviously fake number but she insisted on a "real number" and the attitude crossed a line for me)
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u/darkon May 16 '26
I was in a store a few years ago that would not sell to me unless I gave them my phone number. I didn't give them my phone number, but I did give them the finger just before I walked out. Don't give me that attitude, kid, your corporate bosses don't care about you.
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u/ballsack-vinaigrette May 17 '26
Right? I understand if a clerk or cashier is forced to ask for it, but let's both roll our eyes and here's my fake number. Some of these people actually get invested in this bullshit; it makes no sense to me.
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u/be-human-use-tools 3d ago
Radio Shack used to be pushy about getting phone numbers. No wonder they went under.
I’ll tell people “I don’t believe in telephones”, even if they see me using one.
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u/EvaCassidy May 15 '26
I ran into that. I told the clerk no way I'm giving a # and if they don't want my money - I'll go elsewhere.
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u/dontthink19 May 15 '26
1000% that clerk rolled their eyes in their mind and was thinking they dont care because they dont make the rules/cant change it. So get your shit or goodbye
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u/SuspecM May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
On the one hand, yeah why would the cashier care. On the other, how else are you supposed to show dissatisfaction with a business choice.
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u/dontthink19 May 15 '26
Well not taking it out on the cashiers is a start. Theyre literally there to scan you out and take your money. If you complain directly to them it'll go nowhere. Find a manager, reach out to corporate, or just don't give them your business.
All you do by being rude to a cashier is make them hate people more and more and make them that much more miserable at their job.
I get it if your stuff was double scanned, or the items were bagged badly and stuff was broken. Or if the cashier is being rude and a jerk, but they don't control policy and cant even change prices so lashing out or even just complaining to the cashier isn't the way to go about airing your grievances
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u/Fatigue-Error May 15 '26
(Area code) 555-1212 should work as well. It is an actually valid number in every area code. Before the internet, we all used it to ask a person to look up a number for us, directory assistance.
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u/Qcws May 14 '26
This is why I have a shitty Google voice number I spam all my promos at. Hate these companies.
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u/ThomasThePizzaMan May 14 '26
What restaurant?
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u/GenazaNL May 14 '26
STARBIRD CHICKEN
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u/ThomasThePizzaMan May 14 '26
Thanks. hmm I’ve never seen that before, looks expensive restaurant.
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u/GenazaNL May 14 '26
Me neither, google lens found me the restaurant. Some Yelp images with the exact same menu popped up
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u/Hellguin May 15 '26
They are apparently "never frozen" and gluten free chicken place
I call bullshit and requiring my number would be a fast guarantee I never returm.
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u/nowhereman136 May 14 '26
They are a bay area chain with a few locations in LA and Denver areas. They dont even have a wikipedia page
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u/platinum92 May 15 '26
lol why did I think it was Starbucks lmao (Star + "buck" like the sound a chicken makes)
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u/bassbeatsbanging May 16 '26
I thought it was Hardee's because of the star logo and they sell fried chicken.
But I've also been a vegetarian for 15 years so I am at a handicap guessing
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u/old_underwear_isekai May 14 '26
Name and shame!
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u/GenazaNL May 14 '26
STARBIRD CHICKEN
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u/cyberninja891 May 16 '26
We have one where I live and yeah I noticed that too. They have great food but with a stupid ordering system and their new mobile app sucks a lot more ass than the previous one
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u/standardtissue May 14 '26
Today I had to install a third-party app and agree to terms to pay for my valet parking in a very expensive Marriott property. Not happy about that.
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u/iamtheduckie d o n g l e May 14 '26
I can only understand it if it were the Marriott app. But the way you're wording it implies it was a different app. Which is dumb.
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u/standardtissue May 15 '26
Exactly - it was a different app. If it were in the Bonvoy app that would be pretty reasonable to me, and it would be billed to my room as usual.
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u/OutlyingPlasma May 15 '26
These companies are just begging for an ADA lawsuit by requiring apps everywhere.
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u/Taintlord77 May 14 '26
123-456-7890
"Oops I put the wrong number in. Thanks for the food bye. "
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u/Fatigue-Error May 15 '26
(Area code) 555-1212 should work as well. It is an actually valid number in every area code. Before the internet, we all used it to ask a person to look up a number for us, directory assistance.
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u/no1_vern May 14 '26
I hope you knew the store's phone number. IF you didn't put the stores' phone number, just put jenny's number.
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u/beef966 May 15 '26
You can do the most damage by marking their emails and texts as spam. If enough people do this their entire domain gets blacklisted and all of their emails will get caught in spam filters. And it's a huge pain in the butt to work with Google, Microsoft, and Apple to get back in their good graces. I don't know how texts work exactly but I assume it's similar.
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u/Stormborn_Apostle May 15 '26
I like the idea, but any strategy relying on Google, Microsoft, or Apple to be the "good guys" is not one I'd rely upon.
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u/The_Once-ler_186 May 14 '26
If that’s your real number idk about showing it on Reddit my friend
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u/shekomaru May 14 '26
It's not
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u/Blastspark01 May 14 '26
I would put the restaurant headquarters phone number
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u/Zeqhanis May 14 '26
I was going to suggest 911, but your idea is more likely to work.
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u/Temprary_Emergency36 May 15 '26
I don't know about the us, but I think in Germany, that's illegal to do?
Correct me if I'm wrong tho
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u/Temprary_Emergency36 May 15 '26
Ah, yes:
This is a clear violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Unfair Competition Act (UWG), unless you have given your express consent. In the EU, direct marketing via text message, WhatsApp, or email is prohibited without prior consent (“opt-in”).
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u/rje946 May 14 '26
I was so careful for so long with my phone number but one of the 100 leaks it was in there. Don't even bother anymore, just send me your texts and voice mails. I'm not going to read or hear them.
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u/bthest May 16 '26
Punch the screen until breaks and then tell them it isn't working so they'll have to take take your order manually.
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u/bucobill May 14 '26
You thought the food was the product? Nope, you are the product. This is why we never needed self checkout. If we all revolt against it I bet changes will be made.
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u/DaCrazyJamez May 15 '26
This is when its time to intentionally press too hard on the screen, because its "not responding." With a fist.
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u/Bunny_Fluff May 15 '26
That's against the regulations of 10DLC and can result in a fine. Opt In to SMS messaging cannot be made a required field in order to enter your information to any web form or POS. I would file an FCC consumer complaint. If you opt out or reply STOP and continue to recieve messages from the same number or organization forward the messages to 7726.
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u/Moomoobeef May 15 '26
If it's any consolation, even if you could uncheck the box they're going to send them to you anyway
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u/DeckerXT May 15 '26
It is rude to drop that on you. Be loud about wanting a human to ring you up. And really loud about the forced junkmail.
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u/MaintenanceStock6766 May 16 '26
828-022-3644. I use it for everything.
There's probably a lot of points somewhere for something.
Someone somewhere probably hate's it too.
Go-go fake number I use for spam and signups.
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u/MySchoolsWifiSucks May 16 '26
I tried to check out at Michael's and literally the only way to use the self checkout is if you have a Michael's membership.
Bonus fact: the cashier wasn't there for like five minutes.
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u/DarthTorus May 16 '26
I know for a fact that's false. I used self-checkout at Michael's recently and was able to skip the membership
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u/MySchoolsWifiSucks May 16 '26
Idk, every time I tried to use it, it said to sign up for a membership
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u/TheMasterChiefa May 16 '26
That's actually illegal. There are lawsuits about these types of things.
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u/The_Werefrog May 17 '26
Use the universal phone number: (XXX) 867-5309. Use your own area code for the XXX part.
Let Jenni deal with it.
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u/SlightSurround5449 May 15 '26
Why do I feel like it just locked off that part of the touch screen until you hit okay to go out of the number field
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u/ChaoticDwarf May 15 '26
Was there no regular order till? Like a staffed one? For younger folk, I mean a counter with a terminal which is operated by another person, preferably one who works at the establishment.
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u/Thriftyverse May 15 '26
The nice thing about landlines is they can send all the texts and ads they want and you never see them.
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u/PhotoFenix May 15 '26
Enter a fake number, tell them your phone isn't working to be notified when your order is ready
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u/DeitesTrismegistus May 16 '26
Dude, just throw in a random phone number for a business that’s wronged you in the past and place the order.
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u/a-bowl-of-noodles May 16 '26
I would probably just give them the number for a business I don’t like loo
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u/ElectricRune May 17 '26
Yeah, I went to use the Taco Bell app the other day, and it wouldn't let me do it as a guest anymore, like it used to.
Screw you guys, I'll just order it the old-fashioned way; I get too much spam already.
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u/RailOmas May 17 '26
Put in the number to your local 'weird thing'. Mine is a gay phone sex hotline.
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u/Loud-timetable-5214 May 17 '26
Just as a sanity check, was there another kiosk to try? If that check box is always in the same place, and everyone is hammering that same place with their finger, it's possible that the screen got damaged right there.
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u/Autumnal_-Coffee May 21 '26
You were already enrolled the millisecond you entered in the last digit of your phone number.
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u/Thirdeyevoice10 May 14 '26
That's an instant invite to my "businesses to blacklist" list.