The $2.1 Billion McDonald's Machine

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Published 2024-07-30
Check out our long-term partner Holzkern and get an exclusive 10% off your order using the code “FERN”: fern.deals/holzkern (ad)

McDonald's uses Self Order Terminals in almost all of their restaurants now. Turns out these terminals are likely making them a lot of money.

The estimated $2 billion profit from SOTs is based on a supposed 15% profit increase at McDonald’s Germany. When this figure is conservatively extrapolated to the chain’s global operations over the past few years, it suggests a significant increase in overall profit, potentially reaching billions. McDonald’s annual profit is approximately $13-14 billion.

Sources:
docs.google.com/document/d/1vyWqJcXFvckaEOU2rc4_Kj…

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Alec Slayne - The Search for More
Alec Slayne - Under Purple Skies
Charles Holme - Change by Reversal
Charles Holme - Dark Dripping
Charles Holme - Tarnishing Memories
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen - Cloak
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen - Infiltrator
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Dream Cave - Silent Witness
Fredrik Ekstrom - Devils On The Doorstep 1
Silver Maple - Impasse

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All Comments (21)
  • @fern-tv
    Hey 👋 Check out our long-term partner Holzkern and get an exclusive 10% off your order using the code “FERN”: fern.deals/holzkern (ad
  • @gregpaul69
    2.1 billion and that machine still wont print my receipt every time i use it lmao
  • @MrStosh12345
    If this video came out 30 seconds sooner, it would’ve saved me $5.50 because I just bought two sausage egg McMuffins and only really needed one dammit
  • @Ricoche
    FERN really knows about dark patterns and even implemented one while showing the ad. Here is what he did: 1. He doesn't say "This video is sponsored by" Or anything similar when the ad starts. 2. The ad progress bar and badge don't start when the ad starts so someone who notices a change of content will keep focusing on the video thinking it's part of the content. 3. Even when the badges show they are inconspicuously subtle and small. Like how small "close ad" buttons are.
  • @orbusg8451
    funfact: that soda they're charging you probably $2 for only costs them pennies. Every restaurant and fast food place wants you to order a soda with every order as the 2000% upcharge basically makes them free profit. So it's not a "deal" when they shove a drink into every bundle.
  • @Ramsey_Pahl
    I saw the title and thought it would be the ice cream machine 😭😭😭
  • @tvz_luigi3233
    I walk in, get my 20 chicken nuggets, medium fries, and have to waste 30 seconds saying "no I don't want to give you more money"
  • In the UK they recently added a pop up that i find quite disgusting business practice. After you select what burger, that you want a meal and you get the option for medium or large. If you pick medium, after you select side and drink and go to add it to your order. A new pop-up comes up asking if you would like to make the meal large. AFTER you have already selected the medium size. I find it so gross for the pennies of profit vs the damage being done to consumers and their wallets
  • I’ve never seen a more seamless sponsor transition than this one. Fern knows what they’re doing.
  • I actually find myself ordering less food at these screens. When I'm face to face with an employee, I want to order as quickly and concisely as possible to not cause confusion or waste their time. When I'm at the screen, I can play around by adding or removing things from my order, and do the math on what upgrades are worth the price, etc.
  • @MeowTow
    Me only having $10: "Yep can't afford that. Can't afford that one either. Okay I can only afford these. Perfect."
  • @lenasiu-t5n
    honestly i order more because i finally know wtf they're selling besides "a cheeseburger." im not unhappy with what i end up buying. its just regular marketing tricks, they're showing you a huge screen full of ads before you order. this isn't more unethical than ads on tv or the internet, just more immediate.
  • @cartographic.
    that sponsor transition was the smoothest thing ever i didn't even realise it was an ad
  • @TwilightRealm723
    I've been using these machines for my orders ever since McD started rolling them out here in HU about 2 years ago! As an introvert, it's a dream come true! Too bad for them, I almost always order the same "double cheeseburger+medium fries+0.4l regular Coca Cola with no ice"-meal that I used to order at the counter back in the day and decline all of the up-sells all the same :] When I first saw the UI on these machines, I was like: "Okay, this is awesome, but these machines will either generate a lot of obese people or a lot of wasted food, or both!"
  • @qwertyfreak0
    Hot take: I don't think this affected me at all, I still just get a bacon egg and cheese biscuit with added egg, but faster. I think people just have a short attention span and no self-control these days.
  • That was, by far, the most seamless and unexpected segway into a sponsor from any video I have ever seen on youtube so far. Kudos to that! (Also great vid too, btw!)
  • @MacCrunch
    It's interesting to learn about the psychological tricks being employed behind the scenes. It really shows how design can nudge us into spending more without us realizing it at first glance.
  • @Apookel
    that sponsor transition was smooth
  • @jararefar
    no way... SOTs doubled my orders DOWN because I became able to see all the menu instead of really uncomfortable menu table at the register