McDonald's is phasing out self service drinks...by 2032.

[RedAngie]

I guess cost could add up over time but if this page is accurate, the kid got away with $0.152 of soda.

https://pgeuny.com/how-to-calculate-servings-in-bag-in-box-soda/

The average patron would need to refill their drink many, many, many, many times to remove all the profit in the $1.50-$2.00 charged for a large drink.

An industry standard is about $0.10 per cup including the cup, lid, and straw. Add in the soda and you are around $0.25 a drink plus refills. Anything less than 15 refills and they are still making a profit.

I work for a convenience store chain and self serve fountain beverages have one of the highest profit margins.

The average cost (it varies by size) is about 2 cents per ounce. That’s for the syrup, cup, lid, straw, electricity, ice, CO2, maintenance allowance, depreciation, etc etc etc.

So for a 32 oz cup it costs us about 64 cents and we sell it for about $1.89.

FWIW, according to the WSJ story I read this morning about the McD's decision, apparently the full plan is for McD's to almost entirely eliminate dining rooms, going take-out only at most locations, thus, no customers inside the building to use the self-serve machines.

Returning to their roots. I remember McD with only outside tables or built in tile benches on the sides of the building.

I don’t think indoor dining occurred until about 1970.

How did we get to the point where we need soft drinks by the quart, in 87 different flavors? When I was a kid, a large drink was (I think) 16oz, and it seemed HUGE.

Pepsi Cola hits the spot. 12 full ounces, that’s a lot.

 

[gmi3804]

I don't need Philadelphia telling me what to eat or drink. It's really not their business.

Last time I checked you're free to eat or drink whatever you want.

On a related note, it's been my experience that people who say they don't need to be told what to do are precisely the people who need to be told what to do.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Last time I checked you're free to eat or drink whatever you want.

On a related note, it's been my experience that people who say they don't need to be told what to do are precisely the people who need to be told what to do.

I sure am. I'm just taxed on it for no particular reason.

On a related note. I'm sure you think so and that's precisely why I don't want you to be in charge of what I need to do since I'm an adult. But thanks so much. I really appreciate the concern. Probably best to focus on you.

 

[bcla]

I don’t think indoor dining occurred until about 1970.

Close. I saw that 1968 was their first mansard roof architecture with indoor seating. Of course those are increasingly rare. There's still one near Mill Valley, California, although that's a variation on the style with Spanish tile.

 

[Kennywood]

No disrespect but its not that serious lol

It's just the proverbial straw....

 

[Moliphino]

The cups at ours aren't even in reach of the public, and yet they always forget to include the cup with your order.

They're within reach at the McD's near my work, but they aren't labeled in any way so it's up to you to figure out the right size and grab one. They're in the gap between the register counter and the pickup counter, so accessible but not really out in the customer area, so I always feel awkward doing it.

 

[Babs Johnson]

Other than downtown urban and specialized locations like in airports on inside large stores, over 80% of McDonald’s sales are via drive thru or delivery services. There is really no need for self service beverage stations for a such a small amount of customers.

 

[soccerdad72]

My guess is that McD's doesn't want to have to maintain two machines at each location. From what I've read, the basic plan is just not to replace a self-serve machine once they break down at this point. So they're essentially phasing them out by attrition.

 

[mom2rtk]

I really only care because now if they give me the wrong drink in the drive thru, I won't be able to just run in and make it right myself.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I guess cost could add up over time but if this page is accurate, the kid got away with $0.152 of soda.

https://pgeuny.com/how-to-calculate-servings-in-bag-in-box-soda/

The average patron would need to refill their drink many, many, many, many times to remove all the profit in the $1.50-$2.00 charged for a large drink.

An industry standard is about $0.10 per cup including the cup, lid, and straw. Add in the soda and you are around $0.25 a drink plus refills. Anything less than 15 refills and they are still making a profit.

I worked at the "Chicken Club" at a mall during summers at college -- the manager told me that ice is actually more expensive than the soda.

 

[lovesmurfs]

My guess is that McD's doesn't want to have to maintain two machines at each location. From what I've read, the basic plan is just not to replace a self-serve machine once they break down at this point. So they're essentially phasing them out by attrition.

And that's worked out so well for their shake and soft serve machines -- I think they're always out of service. What happens when a single soda machine breaks down?

 

[Boopuff]

Times they are a changing! I'm sure "theft" is part of the reason for this change, but I just hate 'if' I decided to eat in, and want a refill, it will take forever to flag down someone to refill it! That drives me nuts. I'm not a big soda drinker, usually one a day, but a fountain pop.... that's heaven... so much better than a can and I will go for a delicious re-fill!

 

[Donald Duck Family]

They're within reach at the McD's near my work, but they aren't labeled in any way so it's up to you to figure out the right size and grab one. They're in the gap between the register counter and the pickup counter, so accessible but not really out in the customer area, so I always feel awkward doing it.

I've seen that setup before too. I agree, it's awkard.

 

[Diznygrl]

Self-serve drink kiosks aside (I usually only fill my cup once anyway), it upsets me that they're thinking of removing the dining rooms completely....I HATED having drive-thru/pickup-only during the pandemic and having to eat in the car, especially in the summer. I always saw other people out in the parking lot eating in their cars too, and I know a lot of people complained about it at the time, yet now suddenly it's totally okay to not have a dine-in option? Not everyone who goes to McD's is taking their food immediately home, or wants to try to eat a Big Mac while driving. I never do. Usually when I grab fast food I'm out and about doing stuff and am just taking a food break before I keep going again. Am I really the only one??

 

[amylevan]

Self-serve drink kiosks aside (I usually only fill my cup once anyway), it upsets me that they're thinking of removing the dining rooms completely....I HATED having drive-thru/pickup-only during the pandemic and having to eat in the car, especially in the summer. I always saw other people out in the parking lot eating in their cars too, and I know a lot of people complained about it at the time, yet now suddenly it's totally okay to not have a dine-in option? Not everyone who goes to McD's is taking their food immediately home, or wants to try to eat a Big Mac while driving. I never do. Usually when I grab fast food I'm out and about doing stuff and am just taking a food break before I keep going again. Am I really the only one??

Nope, I only very rarely have fast food and it’s because we are out and about and I don’t want to eat in my car. I HATE eating in my car, I always manage to drop a dang fry under my seat!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Yes I am glad somebody else feels this way! I absolutely hate eating in a car. Be it moving, or sitting still, either way mine or somebody else's... I do NOT want to eat in it.

As you might can tell, going to Sonic (or any given car hop type drive in restaurant) does not top my list of fun ideas

 

[Boopuff]

I‘m another one who cant stand eating in a car. My DH always wanted to do a drive through on long trips to keep moving. Grab and eat on the road. Nope. We can stop for a few minutes and relax, stretch, potty and move on.

 

[Moliphino]

I eat lunch in my car almost every work day. I need a break from people, so the inconvenience is worth it.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah, I hate eating in the car too. During hte pandemic, it was so lame to not be able to stop in for a quick lunch as I often do with my friends. I was so glad when dining rooms starting reopening, though it seems that so many places jsut don't want you there! A lot of the dining areas are now cluttered with staging for pickup, etc. I tend to prefer fast casual type places which are better, but still. I jsut want to sit at a table and eat and get all of the ketchup. etc. that I need and a refill on my soda for the road. Is that too much to ask?

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Yeah, I hate eating in the car too. During hte pandemic, it was so lame to not be able to stop in for a quick lunch as I often do with my friends. I was so glad when dining rooms starting reopening, though it seems that so many places jsut don't want you there! A lot of the dining areas are now cluttered with staging for pickup, etc. I tend to prefer fast casual type places which are better, but still. I jsut want to sit at a table and eat and get all of the ketchup. etc. that I need and a refill on my soda for the road. Is that too much to ask?

I completely agree with this. One of my few guilty pleasures in life is Captain Ds. They were way later than all the other restaurants opening back up their dining area after the pandemic. Now they just closed it down again! I just want to go in and eat my unhealthy fried fish in peace with plenty of ketchup and hot sauce. I want to sit there and read this board for a few minutes and enjoy my food. Then grab a refill on my drink as I head out the door. It’s just not the same trying to use the truck center console as a table and if I wait until I am back at my office it’s cold and soggy. Also if I try and eat at my desk, I can never get through a meal without needing to stop and run out to check on something in the factory for someone.

Hate hate hate this!