[Hippocrates]

I didn't catch any explanation of why McDonalds is still using these machines if it is such an issue. I've had plenty of soft serve from other machines that tastes just the same, or better.

Also, what reasoning did McDonalds corporate have for telling franchisees not to use the device?

This must be some bizarre and long contractual agreement between McD and Taylor

[synchronizing]

Johnny Harris (filmmaker journalist) made a great video on topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDEtSlqJC4

In short, McDonald's continues to use these frequently malfunctioning ice cream machines due to their long-standing exclusive partnership with Taylor. The cost of repairs fall on the local franchise owners, not McD Corp.

[jonny_eh]

And it's not clear if or how McD Corp profits from the exclusivity partnership.

[SoftTalker]

They require Taylor machines for product consistency. Same reason they sell Coca Cola (legend has it this was a handshake agreement made by Ray Kroc and still is) and a franchisee can't decide he's going to serve Pepsi.

[mrguyorama]

No, they require everyone use THE SAME MACHINE for consistency. Nothing about that requires them to use an ancient machine that is constantly broken with an abysmal service contract.

McDonalds has Walmart level bargaining powers with vendors. The current setup, where a machine breaks and you have to call a specific technician for insane rates is not an accident. McDonalds could change that tomorrow if they felt like it. No business relationship at McDonald's scale will ever be tilted away from their benefit.

[SoftTalker]

The ancient machines were more reliable. I worked at a McDonalds for about 5 years in the 1980s and cannot recall one day when the Taylor machines didn't work.

The old machines had higher training and labor costs though, and over thousands of stores this was an issue. Presumably the newer machines are overall less expensive, even accounting for the lost sales on days where they are offline, and the associated repair costs. They may also be necessary for the newer ice cream products. In my day we only had vanilla soft-serve (cones or sundaes) and shakes with three flavors.

McDonald's isn't in business to keep Taylor repair techs employed. If it was costing them more than the alternatives, they would make a change.

[ethbr1]

McDonald's corporate and restaurants interests aren't always financially aligned.

They seem to be moreso than the abuser that is Subway, but I expect this is a situation where what's good for McD corporate isn't what's good for franchisees.

[hypercube33]

when the machines are properly maintained they work. source - worked at a mom and pop franchise of mcd way back. Corporate franchisees cut corners a lot and cause the machines to error out. onus is on them to pay for repairs and suffer down time and lost sales. customers like ice cream and MCD corporate are partners with the company making the machines so they gain and it's technically not their own issue.

[DoneWithAllThat]

I’m fact restaurant franchisees and the franchiser are typically in a state of near-conflict. They have very different incentives and methods of making money. The notable exception is Denny’s, who go to great lengths to foster good relations with their franchisees and let them have an actual say in how corporate runs.