Now, more and more restaurants are launching scan code ordering, and even can only be ordered by scanning the code. Recently, a reporter from the "Workers' Daily" visited a number of restaurants in Beijing and found that many restaurant waiters turned around and left after guiding customers to take their seats, as if scanning the code to order food and check out has become a "prescribed action". However, seemingly convenient services have not been recognized by all consumers, especially many elderly people.
Can only scan the code to order food to stump the elderly
Recently, Uncle Yu, who is over 70 years old, walked into three fast-food restaurants in a business district near Lishuiqiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, and found that they could only scan the code to order food or order food through a specific network program. At that time, it was lunch time, there were many customers in the store, and the waiter defaulted that each consumer could scan the code to order, and his attitude towards customers was relatively cold.
Uncle Yu told reporters that in fast food restaurants, there are QR codes on every table, there is no paper menu, and you can only scan the code to order. "It's very inconvenient. Don't think for us old people, I'm in my 70s, how can I operate. Finally, with the help of a young girl, the old man successfully ordered food using a small program.
Uncle Du, who lives in Longtengyuan Community, Changping District, Beijing, told reporters that when eating at a McDonald's restaurant near his home, the waiter was too busy to let customers order food on their mobile phones or using the self-ordering equipment in the store, but both operations made him difficult. "Sometimes I pick up my grandson from school and my grandson wants to eat fast food, and I usually have to wait for him to come before I can order food, and I don't operate these myself."
The reporter learned that in the process of scanning the code to order, some merchants even force consumers to pay attention to the official account, authorize mobile phone numbers and other information, or require consumers to download the APP before ordering.
Why scanning the code is favored by merchants
Many elderly people believe that scanning the code to order food is not friendly, and more and more restaurants only allow scanning the code to order, which brings inconvenience to the elderly who go out to eat alone. Uncle Yu said: "My eyes are not good, and I don't know how to use mobile phones, and I can't use WeChat and Alipay." When it comes to restaurants, I hope to keep the human service. ”
In addition, some young people also have complaints about scanning the code to order. Ms. Ding, a Beijing resident, told reporters: "Now some restaurants have to pay attention to the official account, click on the mini program, and receive coupons, there are many steps. We young people sometimes find it troublesome, and it is even more difficult for the elderly. ”
Since scanning the code to order food will bring inconvenience to some consumers and may cause merchants to lose some customers, why are more and more merchants still actively implementing it?
The person in charge of a chain restaurant revealed the real reason to reporters: after opening the code scanning service, most customers will choose to scan the code to order and checkout, which saves a certain amount of labor costs for the restaurant. "In the past, you might have to hire about 10 waiters, but now seven or eight is about the same."
The reporter learned in a restaurant on Wenhua Road in Beijing that the traditional ordering mode takes about 10 minutes, scanning the code to order saves the waiter manual ordering, the front desk order two links, customer orders directly to the back kitchen, customer ordering time can be compressed to a few minutes. "When time is saved, efficiency increases and daily turnover increases." The owner of the shop told reporters.
Experts said that merchants are keen on scanning services, in fact, they also hope to realize the information transformation from front-end sales to back-end connectivity through the Internet platform, so as to obtain higher profits with lower costs. In the process, however, services are compromised and special groups such as the elderly are lacking.
Scan code ordering should not be a single choice
In response to the problem of compulsory or disguised compulsory scanning of food by restaurants, the China Consumer Association said that the application of new technologies such as scanning code ordering should not become a tool to restrict consumers' rights, should not be an excuse to seize consumers' personal information, and should not become a barrier to mass consumption.
In the view of Xiong Chao, a lawyer at Beijing Jingshi Law Firm, only providing scan code ordering is suspected of excessive collection of consumers' personal information, infringing on consumers' right to fair trade, and not providing on-site menus is harmful to consumers' right to know. "Due to the complexity of smartphone operation, scanning code ordering is not universal. Elderly groups often need the assistance of others to complete the scan code ordering, which affects their consumption experience to a certain extent. ”
Yao Sheng, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, believes that whether from the protection of consumers' rights and interests or from the reality of China's aging society, scanning the code to order food should not become a single option.
"It is necessary to further improve the scanning code ordering service in the catering industry, prohibit compulsory scanning code ordering, retain manual ordering, especially for the elderly group of services to be more humane." It is hoped that the relevant departments will take measures to strengthen guidance and supervision in this regard. Yao Sheng said.