Applebee’s To Replace Waiters With Tablets, Destroying All Human Interaction

[BetteDavisEyes]

Tablets: Restaurants’ bet to get you to spend more

Published: Saturday, 14 Dec 2013 | 3:00 PM ET

We've all been there: You're ready to order or pay for the restaurant check, and your server is totally MIA. Suddenly what may only be an absence of a few minutes seems to stretch for an eternity.

To fix this problem, both restaurants and some start-ups are betting on the table-top tablet to place orders and pay the check—and even to keep yourself entertained.

But this new trend isn't all about customer convenience: These tablets are being touted as a way to boost check size at a time of sales stagnation in the restaurant industry.

In early December, Applebee's became the latest large restaurant chain to make the tablet leap. Buffalo Wild Wings is also testing tablets at some of its locations while Chili's plans to roll them out to hundreds of locations by next year...

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101268511?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity

 

[MCDRAW]

I'm sorry; wc is for wheel chair yes? And I agree if this is what you mean! I have experienced some of the worst profiling and stares using a wheel chair. I hate it; and only will use it when I absolutely have no choice. It's demeaning on so many levels because it's so LOW.

So what I noticed at the museums this past summer was that I'm directly at child eye level and they were the WORST of the whole population! The Stares, The Trying to Figure out; Hmmmm do her legs actually work?
Things like that. Have you experienced WC bias? I most certainly have so much so that I hate using it. I have a great pusher though. So I'm grateful for that too!

I have a handicap. I have hands/ arm deformity. To me, the adults are worse than children. Children are just curious and want to know why, how, and are not afraid to ask. They don't bother me. It's the adults that stare and have even gotten between me and some books I was looking at so they could stare. It makes my husband and children so mad. Since, I was born this way I am used to it. But it really is hard to let rude people slide.

 

[Tawny]

I try really hard to make sure my 4 y/o isn't rude even when she's curious. I try to teach her that it's ok to ask questions, but to either whisper them to me if she's feeling shy so as not to blurt out loud questions or to ask very nicely if she wants to ask the person directly.

It astounds me that there are grown adults in this world that are so blatantly rude that they would stare like that.

 

[Jan]

I thought it was bad enough when they put TVs in most restaurants. I eat out to get away from the TV and spend some time with my husband.

 

[Odyssey]

Probably about 10 years ago I went into an Arby's and they had touch screens to order. They weren't on the tables or anything, but at the counter.

I kind of like stuff like that... like Tawny said, I don't really like to chat with strangers. There are several restaurants I avoid because the wait staff talks too much and I don't like it.

I remember when people were saying the same thing about ATM's when they first came out and the lack of human interaction at the bank. I can't even imagine having to go inside and stand in line at the bank now though. Ick!