Today in Food (2004-07-21)

    I find it more cost effective to have a coworker read this over the phone to a stenographer in Alaska who will push the “Submit” button for me. According to the New York Times (by way of TechKnowledge) — here’s NYT‘s original story, registration required; or here’s a non-registration version from the Herald Tribune — drive-thru orders at four Missouri McDonald’s are actually taken by call center operators in Colorado, 900 miles away, to be relayed back to the counter people in Missouri. Reportedly, this order-outsourcing fosters “lower costs, greater speed and fewer mistakes”, even at the risk of coming off as ridiculous and needlessly extravagant. Other high-tech plans include taking orders by cell-phone as well as by phones installed at the restaurants themselves. All in order to avoid making eye contact with anyone who might recognize you eating at McDonald’s.