Except they make you tap 2-3 times more than it takes to make your selections. That's business guys though, not the devs.

Do you want to add one of [x]?... No. How about now, add one of [x]?... No. Do you want to round up your total to [n]?... No. Do you want to eat in, even though we'll still put it in a takeaway bag so this option is really just the equivalent of a close door button on an elevator in that it does nothing except placate you?... Yes.

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sowbug 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm sure these two behaviors depend on each other. Instantaneous response allows the company to spend more of your attention answering questions rather than staring at a spinner.

If you've ever watched TV with someone who gets distracted and sets down the remote after each button press while Netflix's UI slowly loads, you know that three or four UI interactions can turn into a several-minute ordeal.

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b112 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have been in elevators in which it does do something. I've timed the difference. This foul rumour must die.

	▲	DrewADesign 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		They effectively don’t do anything in most elevators in the US during normal operation. The ADA requires elevator doors remain open at least 3-seconds. Usually, people-moving elevators are most efficient when doors close as quickly as possible, so they start closing exactly at 3 seconds. I’ve used elevators with less common use cases — huge ones in hospitals, freight elevators, hotel service elevators — that might be configured to stay open longer than the 3 second minimum, assuming people will push the door close button as soon as they’re ready.

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1attice 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's choice exhaustion, a common dark pattern. You get worn down and that makes you more likely to spend more than you need

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toast0 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Yeah, but there's a risk that people won't come back because it's exhausting.

I ordered from the wrong location once, and it's fine, they don't work the order until you arrive, and they refund it at the end of the day, but they lost a sale because I was so frustrated that I just drove home without picking up food like I was expecting to.

And the way prices are now, you need to order in the app if you want a chance at value, so if I don't have time to poke at the app, I won't go.

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Dylan16807 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Wait, seriously? They make you show up before they start and the orders can't travel between locations?

I've only used the app a couple times so I only knew the first half of that.

	▲	toast0 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I mean... I could have asked, and they might have been able to transfer, but there's no user accessible way to make it happen, and you can't (or couldn't) make a new order while one was pending. But I was coming back from kid's hockey practice and tired and now mad at mcdonalds, so I wasn't going to wait in line to ask. I have ordered to the wrong Starbucks, where they do start your order when you place it, and they were able to see the order and remake it at the one I actually showed up at, but Starbucks is always super nice whenever anything goes wrong, even if when it's my fault, which it usually is. Not being able to start a new order is also great when you had a successful order that the app didn't notice and then you have to clear app data days later when you want to order again... but I think McDonalds may have added a button to just order anyway in the past not too long.

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DrewADesign 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Annoying, for sure, but at least it’s not an unpredictable 800 keystroke, zero agency, chatbot interaction.