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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

(slate.com)
527 points lxm | 6 comments | 29 Jun 21 03:25 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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er4hn ◴[29 Jun 21 04:31 UTC] No.27671788[source]▶
As a counterpoint, QR code menus work very well in China. I've been to places where you scan the code to open a menu that lets you place all your orders. You can also pay for your table via per table QR codes.

As a side note, you don't customarily tip in restaurants in China, so a non high-end place with good food will typically have rushed and curt wait staff. Ordering through the phone will give you a better experience!

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whimsicalism ◴[29 Jun 21 04:42 UTC] No.27671847[source]▶
It would be lovely if we could move closer to the Chinese consumer model re: QR codes in general. Wechat pay/Alipay are incredibly convenient.
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cunthorpe ◴[29 Jun 21 05:19 UTC] No.27672091[source]▶
Unlocking your phone, opening an app, possibly unlocking that one, tapping to scan, and then accept is NOT more convenient than NFC in your card. Unless your talking about costs.

For private free money transfer, the US and many other places have similar if not better methods.

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barbazoo ◴[29 Jun 21 06:02 UTC] No.27672351[source]▶
Or NFC in your phone. I can't imagine it being more convenient than that.
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1. CogitoCogito ◴[29 Jun 21 09:41 UTC] No.27673728[source]▶
How is NFC on a phone more convenient than tapping a card?
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2. Jcowell ◴[29 Jun 21 11:18 UTC] No.27674294[source]▶
The phone would be already out whereas the card is more likely in a wallet. The phone is probably faster than getting the card.
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3. CogitoCogito ◴[29 Jun 21 11:30 UTC] No.27674389[source]▶
Okay so if your phone is your hand already and ready to be used, then it's "more convenient" (i.e. saves maybe 2 seconds) than your card, but then in all other cases it's not? I usually keep my phone in my pocket so this isn't more convenient anyway.

Personally I find any hard requirement of a phone extremely _inconvenient_, since it means I must have my phone with me. A card/cash takes up much less space than a phone.

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4. barnabee ◴[29 Jun 21 11:58 UTC] No.27674612{3}[source]▶
On the other hand, here in the UK I know several people who no longer carry a wallet or cards at all because Apple Pay is so ubiquitously available. I don’t know anyone without a phone.
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5. CogitoCogito ◴[29 Jun 21 12:07 UTC] No.27674689{4}[source]▶
I do have a phone and usually have it with me, but I don't always have it with me. I think having more payment options is great. Cash, cards, phones, you name it. The variety of options is true convenience. But I don't see how someone can say a phone is more convenient than cash/card for payment. Sure if you already have it with you (an argument which is symmetric anyway), but cash/cards use up less space and...well make payments.
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6. cunthorpe ◴[29 Jun 21 14:15 UTC] No.27676045{5}[source]▶
I think the 2 are similar enough that are a bit subjective. For me it’s easier to pull out my card holder and slide out my card than trying to unlock my phone several times in a row. It doesn’t help that some places don’t know how to use NFC so the card works 100% of the time for me.

If I lived in a post-facemask NFC-aware country I’d totally use Apple Pay