Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Help is on the Way

 The federal government is throwing its mighty resources behind an effort to fix a problem that has bedeviled us for years.  The Wall Street Journal reported: 

As many customers of McDonald’s know all too well, the fast-food chain has struggled for years to keep its ice cream machines working. Without them, people can’t get a milkshake, soft cone or above all a McFlurry, a cup of soft ice cream with candy and cookies that is whipped about in a blender with a specially designed hollow spoon.

Enter the United States Federal Trade Commission. The FTC reached out to McDonald’s franchisees this summer seeking information on what, exactly, is going on with the broken ice cream machine problem, according to a letter it sent, viewed by The Wall Street Journal, and people familiar with the matter. The FTC declined to comment.

For McDonald’s devotees, not to mention the company itself, a dysfunctional ice cream dispenser is no small matter. The shiny metal machines crank out concoctions that account for about 60% of the chain’s dessert sales in the U.S., according to a consumer survey by research firm Technomic Inc. Repeated breakdowns have led customers to draw up petitions demanding that something be done.

Owners of McDonald’s outlets have long complained the devices are overly complicated and their breakdowns hard to fix. The machines require a nightly automated heat-cleaning cycle that can last up to four hours to destroy bacteria. The cleaning cycle can fail, making the machines unusable until a repair technician can get them going again, owners say... Article



20 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is nothing wrong with the ice cream machines. The problem is that most Mickey "D" employees don't have the smarts to operate said machine!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dairy Queen's machines seem to work ok. McDonald's should buy DQ.

Anonymous said...

If Joe Biden fixes this shit, I’ll personally hand him all of my guns and let him inject the initial two vaccines and the next required 27 boosters directly into my delt. (Caveat: he must also go after every goddamned gas station with dead Icee machines)

Anonymous said...

Do they try to find ways to waste tax dollars?

Anonymous said...

The machines are tired of putting out vanilla and no chocolate! Just can’t take it anymore!

Anonymous said...

I thought is was the employees too, until I watched this while traveling

https://youtu.be/SrDEtSlqJC4

Turns out the machines have been engineered to fail and the manufacturer makes huge money being the exclusive service/repair provider.There is currently an intellectual property lawsuit winding its way through the courts over a device that was made by a 4rd party to allow the franchisees to fix their own machines.

https://www.wired.com/story/they-hacked-mcdonalds-ice-cream-makers-started-cold-war/

Anonymous said...

You mean the fed gov’t is throwing its credit card at the problem.

shadyal said...

Watch the movie "The Founder"...see how simple and fast McDonalds used to be, I even remember those days....ever been to an IN & OUT....simple menu, quick service ....There needs to be a MAC CLASSIC burger place...KISS..Keep It Simple Stupid....

Anonymous said...

A scheme to keep the repair man busy. Same machine in DQ and others. As stated with a manager or employee knows the basics no issues.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't shed a tear if every fuckin McD's restaurant all over the world shut their doors for good!! That is one shitty fast food chain. It's been years since I've been to one, but about the only thing you are guaranteed to get from McD's is a BIG serving of attitude. I'll go to my grave not taking another bite of food from McD's.

Krusatyr said...

Even as a child, I thought McDonald's were fake hamburgers with gray meat, processed cheese, no lettuce, no tomato, that left a grease bomb in the gut.

Anonymous said...

My son had a part time job at a mall located chain for a while in college. After he quit the owner paid him a decent amount just to come in and clean the ice cream machine because no one else did it correctly.

Anonymous said...

The problem is not McDonald's. The problem is Parker-Hannifin Corporation which manufactures the valves and other dispensing hardware. They only have 60,000 employees in 48 countries. Same company that made the failed space-shuttle 0-Rings which most of you have forgotten.

Napkins? You want Napkins? said...

How you gonna trouble-shoot a machine if you only know how to punch a button with a number or photo on it?

"Choose among the following four options" would trigger 90% of the shift managers and at least half the franchisees.

Anonymous said...

i don't dispute that there are a million civilian experts in this state on mcdonalds.

the people in this state eat there probably 5-7 times per week.

that's part of the reason why mississippi is the run away leader in morbid obesity.

drive by any mcdonalds, especially the one at old fannin and spillway in rankin county, at about 5pm on a sunday evening and check out the crowd both inside and in the drive through getting ''sunday dinner''.

its where the beautiful people of rankin county get supersized.

Anonymous said...

Having worked in the industry of fast food : Stay away. Guaranteed that they spit in your food. 100 % guarantee every store has at least one punk ass that does it every shift. I fired several over a couple years for doing it.

Anonymous said...

You've. Got. To. Be. Kidding! I hit a paywall and didn't want to pay.

So if, in fact, Uncle Sugar is going to try to fix the problem (in which they have no business being involved), he's going about it in typical government fashion: the MANUFACTURER of the machine is the one at fault, NOT McDonalds! Plus, again, what business does the government have getting involved in a (a) private property and (b) inconsequential issue? I'm betting that Dementia Joe or some other socialist happens to love McDonald's ice cream, so since it affects them directly, they're going to make something happen.

Ever notice how quickly Washington moves when one or more of the "important" people are affected directly? That's why they force all of these crazy-ass laws on us, because they know they've insulated themselves from the impacts (both intended and unintended).

Bastards.

Anonymous said...

Back in the day, the Seale-Lily ice cream machines worked just fine.

Hell, even Woodie Assaf would eat a bowl of their ice cream while giving a live weather report on WLBT.



Anonymous said...

Pretty ironic that the world's leading fast food place, founded by an milkshake machine salesman, can't fix the milkshake machine.

Calm Down said...

Anyone find it funny that Biden, who we see eating ice cream every day on CNN, decides to tackle this as a life or death issue?


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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