McDonald’s isn’t known for having particularly good food, but at least it’s supposed to be fast, cheap, and good enough every once in a while. In recent years, I guess that’s no longer the case. When I walked in there, stepped in the line, and looked up at the screens, the menu was nowhere to be found. Instead, a statement telling customers to download the app took the usual place of the menu. I downloaded the app and made an order, but because I only had cash it told me I couldn’t order that way. I looked towards the register for someone to take my order but realized nobody was there. At that point, I saw these large touchscreen things (pictured right) and filled out my order there. I completed the order, pressed the cash option, and was told a receipt would print which they could use to take my order; however, no receipt was printed. I found an assistance button on the machine, which I pressed. I waited to be assisted but remembered this was McDonald’s, and nobody cares. I found an employee and asked him about the machines, but he ignored me (I would have done the same). I finally tried a different machine and that one printed a receipt so after 20 minutes, the order was in. After 10 minutes I received the food, and it was exactly how you would expect, except there were even smaller portions than the last time I had been there. In particular, my McFlurry was substantially smaller and did not put me in “McFlurry mode” unlike previous visits. The fries were a 4/10 and the burger was a 6/10. I don’t plan on going to McDonald’s after that experience, but if you did have an accepted way of paying I guess the app is faster. It is sad to think about the reason that these machines were actually put in, which is so they could save money by having one less worker to pay.