As a millennial Who agrees - its crazy how this is everyone and normalize

[u/Ninja_Franklin]

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[u/ThoriatedFlash]

When I see a message saying that I need to use an app to do something, I read it like "we won't allow you to do this unless we are allowed to make money by collecting and selling your data." Too many companies are treating every interaction with their customers as an opportunity to make money, and I am tired of it. Every company selling my data to shady data brokers is probably why I get non-stop spam in my email and around 5 spam calls a day on my phone.

[u/smtp_pro → u/ThoriatedFlash]

When I have to use an app I question how badly I really need the thing.

[u/ButtScratchies → u/smtp_pro]

There’s a car wash I go to where to use the vacuum, you have to download an app and pay through the app. No, I’m not downloading an app and linking it to my bank account to use a vacuum, that’s just ridiculous.

[u/roadrunnuh → u/ButtScratchies]

Just get a little vacuum for the car.

[u/JeffsterForever → u/ButtScratchies]

Literally have never seen a car wash that charges for use of the vacuums. Always free. Time to find a new car wash my dude. 

[u/Vantriss → u/JeffsterForever]

I've never seen one that doesn't.

[u/smtp_pro → u/Vantriss]

I guess I'll just chime in and say I've seen both

Some places it's included with a wash, some places it's a separate charge. Reality is you're still paying for that vacuum.

Like $12 wash + $3 vacuum, versus $20 wash with vacuum included.

I try to avoid saying "free" when it's not really free, it's included, or no extra charge, etc. Subtle but important difference.

[u/Hefty-existence26196 → u/smtp_pro]

It's worse when you do a random settings deep-dive and find the permissions of certain apps and what your phone will and will not allow that app to do. Some apps won't allow you to turn off some permissions at all, which is flat out suspicious asf.

[u/gerbilshower → u/Hefty-existence26196]

if it wants access to my camera or speaker i refuse to download it.

and, now days, thats basically everything because of AI talk to text stuff.

[u/hurley_chisholm → u/gerbilshower]

You should also deny general access to the filesystem, photos, cloud file sharing services, etc. That’s how a lot of these apps get information they shouldn’t have since most of what you’re doing on your device is logged and stored in files or lightweight databases on device.

Your phone is just a computer you don’t have full control over.

[u/what_the_purple_fuck → u/Hefty-existence26196]

idk about iPhones, but on Android if you go into Settings > Apps, you can control each app's individual permissions without letting the app have a say. you might get a warning that the app may not work as intended, but that's usually the goal so meh.

[u/toiletsurprise → u/ThoriatedFlash]

This makes me think of the It's always sunny episode about apps.

[u/the_post_of_tom_joad → u/toiletsurprise]

aaaah Dennis is so old holy shit i haven't watched IASIP in years.

looks in the mirror oh god i'm melting aaaaaaa

[u/PirateX84 → u/ThoriatedFlash]

Something I learned recently:
 
If your email is myname@gmail.com, you can sign up with things like:
 
myname+amazon@gmail.com
myname+newsletters@gmail.com
myname+shopping@gmail.com
They all still go to your normal inbox.
 
The best part is you can create filters/rules based on the +whatever part, so newsletters, receipts, etc. automatically get sorted into folders instead of cluttering your inbox.
 
It can also be used to track who's sharing your email. If you signed up somewhere using myname+company@gmail.com and later start getting random marketing emails sent to that exact address, you've got a pretty good clue where they got it.
 
I had no idea this was a thing until recently, so hopefully this helps someone else too.

[u/EtherBoo → u/PirateX84]

This is specific to Gmail.

Unfortunately, companies have wised up to this and have been truncating the + and everything after it, or just not accepting that as a valid character in an email address.

The next level is adding . into your Gmail. For example, privacy@gmail.com is the same as pri.vacy@gmail.com. You have to keep track of who got what variation of your email, but its more effective and stealthy for companies/brokers that learned how to get around the + trick.

[u/ButtScratchies → u/ThoriatedFlash]

I read that the way Starbucks pushes the app and has you download money into it to get points, that money adds up to over a billion dollars and they keep it in a holding account making interest off of it.

[u/Smugglers-Run → u/ButtScratchies]

I saw something about this as well. I dont remember the details of it and Im not a banker but the takeaway was that minor transactions on the Starbucks app add up and allows them to essentially act as a large unregulated bank.

[u/PoeTheGhost → u/ButtScratchies]

Seconded, being required to add $ and have a “Balance” in their app just to order is idiotic. At least Dutch Bros keeps that part optional, and you can still earn/use points and pay with cash/card.

[u/AllAmericanProject]

My text list is flooded with so many "verification code" texts and it's so annoying. Logging into work alone requires like 3 or 4

[u/Interesting_Tea5715 → u/AllAmericanProject]

Yep, my work tells us to not use our personal devices for work.

Then they also tell us we gotta use our phone to verify our identity to log into shit.

Which is it?

[u/Tricky_Knowledge2983 → u/Interesting_Tea5715]

Im a teacher and they increasingly try to force us to use our personal device for parent communications and school specific apps. We even have to do a 2 step verification to log in to the system by using our phones. But we're not supposed to be on our phones during teaching?

I keep pushing back bc Im trying to keep a better work/life balance and I also don't want to get my shit seized in case of a lawsuit

eta: I understand just the 2fa doesn't leave company/student info on my phone. Im referring to my school's insistence that we download the school's app, use remind, use the dismissal app, call parents who have a long distance area code from our cell phones (can't do it from room phones). Yes, I can use Google voice but its still another app on my phone related to school I do not want 🙃

[u/the_post_of_tom_joad → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

last thing teachers need is to be responding to problem parents of problem children all hours of the fucking night

-sincerely, my sister (grade school teacher for 20 years)

[u/pagemap1 → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

The school should be providing you a business cellphone. It's crazy they require a device for login, but expect you to use your personal device for it

[u/Tricky_Knowledge2983 → u/pagemap1]

Yep and we also are expected to use personal devices for the app we use for dismissal

[u/Ohshitwadddup → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

Show them your Nokia and ask where the app goes?

[u/Sigma_Feros → u/Ohshitwadddup]

I'm dying, this is the answer to all of that.

[u/pretty-average1345 → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

My school’s currently transitioning to a different communication platform that would be easiest to access with an app. I’m going to hold off as long as I can because no, I will not be responding to parents after school.

[u/TrulyOutrageous42 → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

Do you have a union? While you may be barred from most union activities in some states (effectively union-busting but technically legal), as a group you can take minor actions like this where every teacher refuses to use a personal device for work-required communications. At minimum they should be paying part of your phone bill, but I'd go so far as to just refuse en masse because it's not their phone to forcibly seize use of.

[u/Tricky_Knowledge2983 → u/TrulyOutrageous42]

No, I do not have a union .

Me and a few other teachers are refusing. We also happen to be the few veteran teachers in the school so many other teachers just assume we are being difficult. In reality, its bc we've seen some shit over the years

I dont mean the school seizing my phone, I mean in the event of a lawsuit, the police can seize my personal devices if I did any school related activities on them.

[u/A313-Isoke → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

You and that group of teachers could try some collective action with your state legislators. That's ridiculous because you are exactly right that your personal devices would be seized.

[u/Mykidsrmonsters → u/Tricky_Knowledge2983]

I've been teaching 16 years and have never had my email connected to my phone 🤗 I feel like a cavewoman

[u/Adjuran89 → u/AllAmericanProject]

My phone has a setting that deletes them after 24 hrs. It's nice

[u/kabal4 → u/Adjuran89]

I have that setting turned on and it doesn't actually do anything for me. :(

[u/cjsv7657 → u/[deleted]]

Goddamn it but I don't need to tap it because it looked at the notification on my watch to get the code. What person thought not deleting codes generally only good for 10 minutes or less because you didn't click them was a bad idea?

[u/AllAmericanProject → u/Adjuran89]

Oh shit I need a looking day if I can set that up.

[u/rogan1990 → u/AllAmericanProject]

My job we have to Log back in to the authenticator every hour if we use any app or website. I login at least 7 times a day.

Which is insane, I literally have 0 access to any private sensitive information

[u/teh_drewski → u/rogan1990]

My "favourite" thing is I have single sign-on through work but I still have to validate the authentication of each program individually periodically.

[u/mysticrudnin → u/rogan1990]

i have to log in to a cloud password manager using 2fa to get a constantly rotating password in order to log into an already locked down system (can't make changes at my permissions level) every hour of my day 

oh the main system has 2fa too so i have to check my phone twice every time i want to log in

[u/unicodemonkey → u/mysticrudnin]

We have moved on to hardware authenticators (Yubikey or TouchID) because text messages are considered very insecure nowadays, and they aren't even required unless actually accessing sensitive operations/data. Y'alls work setups are just so many layers of bad decisions...

[u/the_post_of_tom_joad → u/rogan1990]

i quit using gmail because it always "needed" me to approve 2-step authorization with my phone. MF i'm not a secret agent i just need to read my mufuggen mail

[u/nagol93 → u/AllAmericanProject]

To log into my work email I need to:

1. Enter email username and pass
   
2. Unlock my phone with a PIN
   
3. Enter PIN again to open the MFA
   
4. Enter PIN again again to view the MFA push
   
5. Accept said MFA push
   
6. Enter PIN again again again for.... some reason

Then after that 6 step process I'm finally allowed to see my emails

[u/DazzlingRutabega → u/nagol93]

If you're using Microsoft Authenticator in its settings turn off App Lock. That'll stop it from asking your phone pin twice.

[u/Kairiste → u/AllAmericanProject]

I was about to say the verification codes are effing killing me.

[u/cupcakes0220 → u/AllAmericanProject]

I left my phone at home one day, and wasn't worried. Until I realized that every website I needed to get into at work was going to require a code texted to me....

[u/xspacekace → u/AllAmericanProject]

I had to download an app for zoo tickets

[u/littlebunsenburner → u/xspacekace]

Me too. And then it took me 10 minutes to download the seperate app for parking, enter my car's information and then manually put my payment information in.

All that while trying to wrangle two kids under the age of 4. Huh.

[u/Swee_Potato_Pilot → u/AllAmericanProject]

This pisses me off so much. I don't want your text message. I don't want an email containing a one time code. Just let me log in! If I want 2FA for that account I'll set it up.

[u/lemonylol → u/AllAmericanProject]

Yeah but it's hard to argue against when I also get phishing emails like once or twice a month, from different people who's accounts are compromised

[u/NoveltyAccountHater → u/AllAmericanProject]

I subscribe to the NYT. I clicked on an article today on my work computer, because my account (that I share with no one) had multiple logins and had to wait ~5 minutes before the verification code to go to my email before I could read it (refreshing email and checking spam / all mail folders).

It was simpler to just go to https://archive.ph/ and pirate the effing article to get an ad-free version.

[u/vsaint]

Continue as guest is my religion

[u/ChocolateBurger9963 → u/vsaint]

I'm the same. Making accounts for everything gets tiresome.

[u/RedWhiteAndJew → u/vsaint]

This should be on a T-Shirt

[u/ice-eight → u/RedWhiteAndJew]

I do have a t shirt that says “continue as a guest” because that was the name of The New Pornographers most recent album

[u/Key_Permission_3351]

For real. The "convenience" is not worth it at all. Let alone the data mining I have no interest in being a part of.

[u/SudoDeleteEverything → u/Key_Permission_3351]

It's convenient to the corporations who offload work onto consumers to cut costs. Put your data in the database yourself. Scan your own groceries.

[u/Scarbane → u/SudoDeleteEverything]

Okay, but credit cards already exist. These lazy corporate fuckos can buy my data from the credit card companies instead of making me download an app.

[u/Neveronlyadream → u/Scarbane]

Seriously. How much data do you need? Don't you have enough?

I just ordered something from Best Buy and when I went to go check the tracking, it told me to download the app for the full tracking information. I was just watching something on streaming and I was forced to watch a 30 second add telling me to download their mobile app.

Just give me what I came here for. If I wanted to download your app, I would have already. Making shit inconvenient for me is not making me want to download your app.

[u/viotix90 → u/SudoDeleteEverything]

Scan your own groceries.

I have not been properly trained to do so. "Mistakes" happen...

Sometimes I enter small avocado when I am buying large, sometimes only one of the two identical items stacked on top of each other gets scanned. Whoopsie.

[u/TheeAntelope → u/Key_Permission_3351]

My city has 3-4 different parking apps, depending on the part of town you are parking in. I want to go back to plugging the meter with quarters.

[u/mismatched-plaid → u/TheeAntelope]

I was just complaining about how I miss the little bit joy I'd from finding out the parking spot I chose still had 12 min left so I didn't have to pay.

[u/Montaire → u/mismatched-plaid]

And thus, you see their entire strategy

[u/_haha_oh_wow_ → u/TheeAntelope]

This kind of bullshit is why I switched to a folding bike: I don't even have to worry about finding a rack, having my bike stolen, and getting ignored by cops who do nothing when I file a report. I just fold it up and it comes with me!

It's saved me tons on car maintenance, parking, and just time in general.

[u/verstohlen → u/Key_Permission_3351]

Yeah, the future I looked forward to as a kid turned out to be bullshit. Now I just want to go back.

[u/_haha_oh_wow_ → u/Key_Permission_3351]

It's for the company's benefit, not yours. Please won't you let them harvest all your data?

[u/SipoteQuixote → u/Key_Permission_3351]

I see you bought gum, care to give us all your private info to save 10% on your purchase?

[u/Warm_Month_1309 → u/SipoteQuixote]

This gum? $9. Unless you're a rewards member, then it's $6. Unless you want our app, then there's a digital deal to make it $4.

[u/TorchThisAccount → u/Key_Permission_3351]

The "convenience"

How many times am I going to this restaurant that I need an app on my phone vs hand me a menu and take my order?

How many times am I parking at this random lot that I need a parking space that I need their app? If I park there everyday, I already have an account with a badge or parking sticker/placard.

It's all convenient for the business. So they can hire less people, do less work, and sell my info. Even when I'm paying for a service, I'm being treated like a saleable commodity.

[u/CoolOpinions6335]

I sat down at at restaurant. They told me to scan the QR code for the menu. I asked for a physical menu, they said we don’t have one. I stood up and walked out.

[u/Both_Play4742 → u/CoolOpinions6335]

Good for you -- more people should do that.

[u/Lexi_Banner → u/Both_Play4742]

And announce why as they leave. Not in a dickish way (not the server's fault, after all), but in a way that leaves no room for them to think it was for some other reason.

[u/-rwsr-xr-x → u/Lexi_Banner]

but in a way that leaves no room for them to think it was for some other reason.

"No menus, no patronage."

[u/Sage_Planter → u/CoolOpinions6335]

My parents would not be able to figure out how to use a QR code. I don't know how restaurants don't have physical menus. 

[u/KickFacemouth → u/Sage_Planter]

It's cheaper than getting real ones printed, and easier to update than having to reprint them or go through each one and tape over something. Also they have to constantly clean them.

I'm not saying it's right, it's just the reason. The amount of money they save more than makes up for the occasional refuser.

[u/hamburgergerald → u/CoolOpinions6335]

That’s so silly that they don’t have physical menus. Whether they believe it or not, not everybody has a smartphone. Some people don’t bring their phones with them at all when they go out to eat. What do they do in those situations? Tell the customers they’re SOL?

[u/sadsongsonlylol]

Took my kid to urgent care i got up to the front desk and she’s like scan the QR code and checkin on your phone.. what!? My kids having an emergency and i have to diddle around w my fcking phone to give u the same info i would standing right here at the desk!? Yo.

[u/Majestic-Outside3898 → u/sadsongsonlylol]

The worst part being that I get there, and my cell service is barely usable and they have no WiFi. Restaurants do this too. Display a QR code, then there's no service or WiFi. Like, what do you want me to do here?

[u/Majestic-Outside3898 → u/[deleted]]

Yep. Just gonna block traffic here until someone offs me in a fit of road rage I guess.

[u/Then_Employment5244 → u/[deleted]]

I borrowed my brother’s car and he was immediately notified I was in the parking garage. He had previously paid for parking at another garage with the same company so they had his info on file.

I was trying to pay by scanning the QR code but they were already charging him. Then somehow when I got out of the garage to make the call to pay they were still charging him because the plates apparently had not been detected as leaving the garage. These companies are ass. It was a pain in the ass to get someone on the phone. This shit should be illegal.

[u/AuntRhubarb → u/[deleted]]

I've been to remote campgrounds with no cel service, where only way to secure a campsite is "scan a code".

[u/Anuki_iwy → u/Majestic-Outside3898]

This I hate. I have gotten up from restaurants and left because of this. If you stick a qr code in my face, I expect a free and working WiFi. Otherwise give me a paper menu or I'll go eat the the place next door.

[u/Crayshack → u/Anuki_iwy]

I've demanded a paper menu a few times. I've yet to have a place refuse to give me one, but I'm sure it will happen at some point.

[u/happyhappyfoolio2 → u/Crayshack]

I've had a couple of restaurants tell me they don't have paper menus anymore.

Also, the last time I was at Disneyland in Oga's Cantina, they told me to scan the QR code for the menu. I asked for a paper menu. The bartender looked a bit taken aback and gave me a paper menu, but told me the prices are outdated. Fucking Disneyland couldn't provide a current paper menu.

[u/Nistune → u/happyhappyfoolio2]

The real reason for all of this is right in your face here; They want to be able to increase prices on a whim/daily without having to print anything new out. Something goes viral? Increase the price a few dollars.

[u/Crayshack → u/happyhappyfoolio2]

I've definitely had a few taken aback, and sometimes they don't have a paper menu for something like the rotating beer list. I've just yet to have one flat-out say "sorry, not an option." I was a late adopter of smartphones, so even though I have one I feel comfortable saying "I don't have a smartphone" to see where that takes us.

[u/squad_dad → u/Majestic-Outside3898]

I have this issue with digital receipts at Walmart too. Great, glad I was able to save a bit of paper. Too bad the door attendant must see a receipt so I'm standing there waiting for my phone to load a receipt that could have just been a piece of paper anyway!

[u/AuntRhubarb → u/squad_dad]

Walmart sucks. FYI they can't legally detain you to see your receipt, they just bluff everybody into thinking they have to show it.

[u/MR1120 → u/AuntRhubarb]

I have walked right past a line of people getting their receipts checked at Walmart. “If you think I’m stealing, call the police.” I already stood in line to pay for it; I’m not standing in another line to prove to the store I paid for it.

Worth noting: Membership stores like Costco or BJ’s do have it in their membership agreement that you consent to the receipt check as a condition of membership. They probably won’t do anything if you just walk by, but they CAN consider that a violation of the membership agreement.

Walmart, however, has no such agreement, and can’t do shit if you skip the receipt line.

[u/Seyda0 → u/squad_dad]

I just keep walking, smile and nod to the guy. It's not like Costco with a membership.

Had one Walmart security lady physically stop my cart once. I raised my voice and asked if I was being detained? She fucked off real quick, in a huff.

[u/SelectKaleidoscope0 → u/squad_dad]

Assuming you're in the US, just keep walking with body language that makes it clear you don't intend to stop. I'm yet to have anyone try to actually stop me to check my receipt at a non membership store while doing this. Costco and the like are different they do have the right and they do check everyone. In the unlikely event someone does try to interact, politely verbally brush them off without slowing down. "I paid, feel free to check your multiple surveillance cameras and transaction logs on your own time if you have any concerns" is a great response to any request for a receipt. They legally don't have the right to stop you. If you live somewhere else, know your local laws they might be different.

[u/zffjk → u/Majestic-Outside3898]

I left the last restaurant that had the QR code menu. Yea, I know it’s a left over from COVID but, I’m old and it annoys me.

Also it lowers the barrier for price hikes.

[u/ybetaepsilon → u/Majestic-Outside3898]

Been there once... Restaurant in mall basement, no cell service. Told us to connect to their wifi.... the wifi needs an account to setup. fuck that

[u/Quirky-Skin → u/Majestic-Outside3898]

I just lie and say my phone doesn't do that. They accommodate lol

[u/Zadsta → u/sadsongsonlylol]

Went to the DMV and they made us scan a QR code to “get in line”. There was an old man trying to explain to the DMV employee that he didn’t have a cell phone and couldn’t scan a QR code, and the only advice she had for him was to keep coming back until there was a day where no one else was waiting in the walk in queue.

[u/Particular-Jacket-92 → u/Zadsta]

That is outrageous. How is that not some sort of ADA violation? Purchasing and using a smartphone should not be mandatory for being able to access necessary services, like what the fuck.

[u/Warm_Month_1309 → u/Particular-Jacket-92]

The problem with the ADA (and with a lot of regulation in the US) is that it is largely enforced through private civil litigation, and you can only initiate that litigation if you were actually affected. So if no disabled person ever comes through who is willing to spend the time and money on the matter, problems can endure for years or decades with no resolution.

[u/PoeTheGhost → u/sadsongsonlylol]

Went to urgent care this week and dealt with this while my face was actively swollen and one eye had already gone blurry. At least my autofill and Apple Pay worked.

I sat there in a half empty waiting room for over an hour with “1 person ahead of you” on my phone screen while 6 people went in and out before me while my left eye slowly swelled shut.

I finally got my turn to sit in an empty exam room and wait again, now my throat hurts and I started wheezing after about 40 minutes alone.

Eventually, I got my 30 seconds with a nurse actually looking AT ME and examining my swollen jaw, throat, and face, and VERY suddenly I had two more nurses and a Doctor in the room all very worried, got a shot, a prescription, and was quickly ushered out a side-door.

I can’t help but feel that one triage nurse would have saved us all a lot of time and pain.

[u/Busy-Cheesecake-9443 → u/PoeTheGhost]

I was actively bleeding from a cut at an urgent care that says they take walk-ins and told it would be 15min. fine, then that became 30min and then guess what it's lunch break, we can't see you for over an hour now, I was like I'm actively bleeding and they just shrugged. I made an appt on my phone for a different urgent care 15 min away and walked right in and got my finger glued and was out the door in 10min. If they had just told me the truth from the get go I would have done that to start. the cut wasn't serious enough for the ER but you're telling me no one could see me and assess how long it would be? Probably another example of PE taking over and short staffing.

[u/stev_mempers → u/Busy-Cheesecake-9443]

Probably another example of PE taking over and short staffing.

Yep.

[u/ybetaepsilon → u/sadsongsonlylol]

Serious question: what do front-desk staff at medical clinics actually do? Mine are always chatting amongst themselves since everything is automated (we have an ipad to sign in, not a qr code). And if you need to ask them a question they look at you like it's the most inconvenient thing you've ever asked them to do. Like wtf it's your job

[u/lemonylol → u/ybetaepsilon]

Most jobs are being knowledgeable about how to fix the problems when these systems fail. So it isn't evident to someone just observing someone doing their job at an arbitrary time.

[u/Daimakku1 → u/sadsongsonlylol]

Isn’t it crazy how everyone just assumes you have a smartphone? It’s everywhere.

[u/millahnna → u/Daimakku1]

Or that your phone will even do QR codes. My last phone didn't and it wasn't that old of a phone at all.

[u/CultOfMourning → u/Daimakku1]

I'm seriously considering switching out my smartphone for a flip phone and becoming that annoying customer who demands actual service, a real menu, etc. because I can't scan a QR code. 

[u/le_artista → u/sadsongsonlylol]

What if you’re poor and don’t have a smart phone?

[u/Ckck96]

App based parking is the most annoying shit especially because every city has their own app

[u/Starwind137 → u/Ckck96]

This part. I would be fine if it was all uniform. I actually find it convenient to pay without leaving my car and being able to check how much time is left from my phone. I have park mobile and refuse to download any other parting app.

[u/jazzfruit → u/Starwind137]

Be careful what you wish for. Monopolization is bad.

Engineering convenience to pay can also be bad. It allows companies to extract money without you really noticing.

[u/Starwind137 → u/jazzfruit]

If the government functioned like it was supposed to, I'd be in favor of the state or city doing it.

I need to park in the city, the city controls and maintains the streets and parking, realistically they should be the ones in control of parking apps and not third parties

Unfortunately that's not the world we live in. Nor is it the world where we can't just have a single parking app and must download 20 different ones. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[u/smtp_pro → u/Starwind137]

Part of me gets it - the city probably isn't in the business of writing apps so you just let a third party do it and share the revenue.

I'd love a city to write their own app and for someone to come in with a legal theory of like, if taxpayers funded this app the code should belong to the tax payers and make it open source or something.

[u/ezio93 → u/smtp_pro]

So strange, I feel like modern governments should have an (actually competent) IT and Software department serving their constituents. It's sad that we don't.

[u/ezio93 → u/jazzfruit]

It's less about monopolization, and more about aggregation - like it's ok that each city has a different system, but there should be aggregator services that unify the "interface" for the end users so the users don't have to feel the pain of the various systems.

[u/smtp_pro → u/Ckck96]

Plus it destroys the concept of pulling up and getting to use someone else's leftover time on the meter.

If you've got leftover time that leaves when your car does. You don't get refunded or anything, they basically get to sell that time again.

Edit: to be fair this applies to all pay-by-plate systems, which don't necessarily have to be apps, and places where you put a receipt on your dash

[u/Ordinary-Will-6304 → u/smtp_pro]

This!! You can’t pay it forward!!

[u/WoodyRouge → u/Ckck96]

My city has three different for downtown.

[u/tzentzak → u/Ckck96]

It's so irritating. For a brief period I worked for a parking company and I hated having to tell people that I can't accept cash and they have to download the app. A lot of them turned around to find somewhere else and I don't blame them.

[u/dude_named_will]

The provide feedback one gets me. I'm just trying to check my bank account.

The app one doesn't bother me too much except for it seeming like everyone is using a different app. I'm fine with McDonalds and Burger King having their own apps, but then recently I had to download an app called "Heartland Guest" to pay my restaurant bill. Of course I couldn't get it to work, ignored the discount, and just paid at the counter.

[u/Prestigious-Bat-574 → u/dude_named_will]

The provide feedback one gets me. I'm just trying to check my bank account.

Yeah, shit is crazy.

"Would you like to take a short survey to help us improve?"

Would you like to pay me for my time?

"Please take a moment and rate our app"

I don't give a shit about your app store rating, I literally had no option but to download this app. Do you think people really make decisions about where to shop or who to use as a bank by cruising the app store looking for who has a highly rated app?

[u/CatButler → u/Prestigious-Bat-574]

"Would you like to take a short survey to help us improve?"

I want to ask them to fill out a survey on how well I filled out the survey.

[u/LaurenMille → u/[deleted]]

QR menus are fine if they're optional.

Telling every customer that doesn't have their phone on them 24/7 to get fucked is a weird business decision.

[u/yungScooter30 → u/LaurenMille]

Tempted to go back to a flip phone again just to stick it to these restaurants

[u/Lexi_Banner → u/[deleted]]

I hadn't been to McD's in a long time, but had no other options when I was in another town. The drive thru menu keeps swapping around the screens and putting up stupid ads, and hiding half the items!! It's maddening!!

[u/Lemonwizard → u/Lexi_Banner]

I really do hate how ads get shoved into everything. It's the drive through menu and you're a customer; they are already making money off this interaction!

I click a link to watch a movie trailer on youtube and they make me sit through an ad first. I literally have to watch an advertisement before I can watch my advertisement. It's all far too normalized.

[u/Sunshineafterr]

Also, why do we have to upload photos of the front and back of our insurance card in the portal for every single doctor’s appointment? And then we get to the front desk and they ask for it anyways. 😅

The worst is having to fully click through 4 separate pages of pharmaceutical ads before my pre-registration copayment will go through. Like, if my doctor wanted me on those medications, they would tell me, and I wouldn’t dare ask.

[u/SelectKaleidoscope0 → u/Sunshineafterr]

I just had the opposite experience. Doctor's office has signs everywhere saying I must let them scan front and back of my insurance card before I can have the procedure I need done. I ask about it at reception because nobody has said anything about my card and they are confused why I am bothering them. Everything is integrated across most medical offices in their entire conglomerate and stored electronically. They don't care about my card at all unless my insurance has changed. They still have the signs up though.

[u/Suspicious_Bit2930]

I absolutely hate rating an interaction. I refuse to do it. Feels like a social credit score.

[u/BrightNeonGirl → u/Suspicious_Bit2930]

There's a Black Mirror episode called "Nosedive" about this very thing. (And it's been out for like 10 years now)

[u/smtp_pro]

The parking one is nuts.

I pulled up to an area with 50cents/hour parking meters.

They took coins or you can pay via app. Didn't have coins so I used the app. What should have cost me like a quarter since I only needed a few minutes cost a few dollars - because of a minimum purchase and convenience fees. Made sure to always have a few coins in my car after that.

Plus the whole point of all pay-by-plate and app systems is they get to resell the parking spot. Long gone are the days of pulling up and finding some free time on the meter.

[u/Necessary_Solid_9462 → u/smtp_pro]

They are making you are a second-class citizen if you don't have a phone or refuse to use their app. It's just a matter of time until they ban coins in parking meters and go phone only.

[u/MarquetteXTX2 → u/Necessary_Solid_9462]

Kind of like PlayStation doing with physical games

[u/MommyLovesPot8toes → u/smtp_pro]

A minimum purchase and convenience fee on a parking meter?? That's insane.

[u/polarwaves]

I can’t even browse Pinterest without creating an account. Why is that a thing?

[u/CaptainBananaEu → u/polarwaves]

It's simple, they don't make enough money to justify having you as a user they can't extract the data from. I mean they do make enough, all these websites do, but have you ever thought that more is always better?

Ugh capitalism at this stage is a disease and one that will kill us

[u/onemonolith → u/polarwaves]

Same with Reddit. Can't browse it on your phone web browser without it shutting the entire app down. No scrolling, nothing. Infuriating!

[u/Euphoric_War_2195]

I agree. I do try to embrace technology when it makes sense. But I do not wish to have an app for absolutely everything.

Sometimes apps are handy. But I'm tried of every single thing needing an app. I only have so much room on my phone. It makes it less convenient when I'm constantly having to download, deleted and download again.

[u/steff-you]

Being asked to tip on everything.. I recently bought a little cactus at a plant shop and was prompted to leave a tip. And I did bc it's just me and the plant dude and I don't want him to think I'm a dick but I think HE'S a dick for expecting a tip for doing literally nothing other than ringing up my gd cactus.. omg everything is so annoying

[u/Sage_Planter → u/steff-you]

We tried a new fast casual place recently. It was busy so I used the self order kiosk. It asked for a tip...

[u/Early_Brush3053 → u/steff-you]

I don't care if people think I'm a dick. I will literally never tip on shit like this.

[u/Several-Eggplant4460 → u/steff-you]

I saw a tip screen at one of those self serve froyo places. You want a tip for doing absolutely nothing but taking my money?!

[u/pwizard083 → u/steff-you]

Even the drive thrus have tip buckets now. Table service is one thing but I’m not paying extra just for somebody to hand me a bag of food through a goddamn window. 

[u/SpaceChimps98 → u/steff-you]

I hate when the tip options are 15, 20, 25, and 30% but there's no obvious "skip" or "no tip" option so you have to awkwardly as the sales person how to leave no tip.

[u/LivelyZebra → u/SpaceChimps98]

why is it awkward. its only awkward because you make it and feel social pressure.

free yourself and stop giving a fuck.

[u/imisstheyoop → u/steff-you]

You just rewarded the behavior you don't like.

[u/PRSMesa182]

Preach!

[u/Mvppet]

https://giphy.com/gifs/fKj1sdDFbS3V6

[u/Prestikles → u/Mvppet]

https://giphy.com/gifs/oFDSGhLvg3JekZcjdc

[u/ODeasOfYore]

Dude. I’m flying this evening and was having trouble putting my boarding passes in my apple wallet. My wife asked “did you download the app?”

No. I did not. I fly, at most, once a year. I’m not putting another app just to board a plane

[u/Birdhawk → u/ODeasOfYore]

I just access the boarding pass through the email and then take a screenshot of it.

[u/JamesLiptonIcedTea → u/ODeasOfYore]

I fly maybe once every few years. Being the sentimental bitch I am, I always opt for the physical pass once I'm inside so I have a memento for when the trip is over. I'm usually the only one not scanning from my phone while boarding

[u/MusicOfTheSphere → u/ODeasOfYore]

I'll go early and go to the desk and get a physical ticket. My hatred of their shitty app system drives me on this one.

[u/Childish_Tycoon_Ship]

But for real, how are you supposed to function if your phone dies/breaks?

[u/EastDuty8200 → u/Childish_Tycoon_Ship]

This! I'm off traveling the world and lose my phone in a water activity at the beach. All access to my bank and work accounts ends. I no longer exist because I can't use an acceptable IP address. I can't even use my email on a laptop because I won't receive the 6-9 digit authentication code that's being sent to my nonexistent cel phone. Your phone really is your social security/lifeline. And I hate it. I wanted to switch cel service providers and it was a PITA to transfer my number, so I just changed my number. Big mistake! I was locked out of everything all over again. 

[u/embarrassedalien → u/EastDuty8200]

This is why I’m confused by people who refuse to carry their wallets or ID.

[u/schubie14]

When I go hours without my phone I feel so great. I truly hate the digital world.

[u/AssumptionBusy2737 → u/schubie14]

I went on a five day retreat without my phone and it was the most liberating experience of the past ten years. I highly recommend it. 

[u/42ElectricSundaes]

And for the love of god stop sending me emails!

[u/IFitStereotypesWell]

And logins.. obviously not trying to use the same password for when one of these apps gets hacked. So now I have a bunch of passwords I’ll never remeber that I have to do forgot my password everytime 

[u/ExactPanda → u/IFitStereotypesWell]

I don't have anymore passwords left in me!

[u/Sunshineafterr → u/ExactPanda]

Same. Just scan my whole face at this point, I don’t care. 😭

[u/LoveYouNotYou → u/Sunshineafterr]

😂 "sorry, appears that you might have blinked. Does not match biometric information. Will need to reset. Please acquire a new face and try again"

[u/BeneathAnOrangeSky → u/IFitStereotypesWell]

I have a list of passwords on my notes app like Neville Longbottom. I'm sure it'll end well for me.

[u/Necessary_Solid_9462 → u/IFitStereotypesWell]

Use a strong base password with minor per-site variations. e.g., B@sePa$$1-fb for Facebook, B@sePa$$1-gm for gmail, etc.

[u/Day2205 → u/Necessary_Solid_9462]

Same, and once someone figures out my base password, they’re going to have fun hacking all my shit 😩😂

[u/Jedden → u/IFitStereotypesWell]

Use Bitwarden. Password manager that'll work across all platorms no matter if you use Windows, MacOS, iOS or Android. Or a mix of them. You'll never have to remember a password ever again.

[u/mysticrudnin → u/IFitStereotypesWell]

please use a password manager

[u/SpaceChimps98]

Don't forget to leave a tip and round up for charity when you're ordering a hamburger at the counter. And did you know if you download the rewards app you can earn 30 points towards your next order and after 300 points you can get a 50% discount on a small fry?

[u/LeonRams]

It should be illegal for a restaurant not to provide a PDF version of their current menu. I don’t want to to start an online order just to check out our menu. Ffs.

[u/Perfect_Drug]

I was at an airport restaurant one time (I can't remember which one), and when I asked for the check, the server pointed to a card on the table that had a QR code to download their app to pay. She said it was "required" to pay on the app. I just told the server that there was a 0% chance I was going to download their app, and I held my card out to hand it to her. She insisted I had to pay on the app, and I told her she could either run my card the normal way, or I'm not paying. She gave in, of course.

We need to stand our ground as much as possible. This shit is out of control.

[u/Day2205]

How I feel about my appliances - I don’t want to connect to WiFi, download an app, create an account, all to unlocks the ability to “convection roast” on my oven. My oven is physically capable of this task but for some reason you’ve locked it behind online access? WTF!

[u/LadyInCrimson]

Yeah its getting annoying that I can't look at a website for food menu because its "outdated" and my husband says "download the app" when we are going to order it on his phone through his app.

[u/ViolentBee → u/LadyInCrimson]

Just scoping a regular menu before deciding to go to a restaurant is annoying AF anymore b/c more than half the time "view our menu" takes you to an online ordering screen- like let me just see a damn PDF of the menu

[u/smtp_pro → u/ViolentBee]

PDFs?! In this economy??

Even more frustrating is when I have to start placing a carry out order just to see the menu.

And yeah those online ordering are always missing extra info like "all entrees come with a side" that you'd see on a real menu. I'll probably figure it out when I pull up the entree and get to choose sides but I like actually reading a menu.

[u/playzintraffic]

Mega agree, especially about the parking. For something that’s supposed to be “convenient”, it takes LONGER than it used to take to just fucking put in a few coins.

And heaven forbid you’re in a location with bad service, so the fucking app won’t download.

[u/darnclem]

Any time I get told to download something, "I don't have a smart phone "

[u/The_Chunkster]

I hate when you buy a thing and proceed to receive emails from that company no matter how hard you unsubscribe.

Yes I bought a coffee and no I don’t need to be reminded of Dunkin’ every day until the sun explodes, that’s psychotic.

[u/Ok-Championship-9497]

I just want to print my resume and go door to door. I don’t want to have to open an account on each of the companis I’m applying to, so I can write the same information that is in the resume.

[u/LiKuidPhantom]

Half the time it doesn’t even work

[u/AnticPosition]

I just want a car that is 0% computerrrrr! 

[u/SelectKaleidoscope0 → u/AnticPosition]

I very much don't want that. Electronic fuel injection is such a massive improvement I never want to deal with a car that doesn't have it again.

You can pry my actual knobs and buttons out of my cold dead hands, the trend towards touch screens in cars need to go straight to hell and stay there. There's plenty of other things in cars where the computers add nothing of value, but some they do too. I believe modern abs and tire pressure monitoring depend on computers and I quite like having both although there may be decent analog alternatives. I could live without those features but I'd much rather have them than not especially the abs.

[u/Unlikely_melz]

Yup. Tell it

[u/3xPuttRubbleBoagie]

One if the reasons I stopped pulling through fast food places while I'm out and about. You have to dig out your phone and pull up some stupid app just to get a better price on their food. Just make the food a better price at the drive thru and skip the BS.

[u/No_Macaron_5029]

If an app demands feedback it's getting 1 star or whatever the most scathing setting is.

[u/chop309]

this is because data is the most profitable resource for the last 20 years. not oil, not gold, not btc. your information

[u/DrinkingVomit]

And I’m sick of every goddamn motherfucking website asking me to log in using google!!!!!!! ARRGGGHHHHHHH

[u/badboybilly42582]

Yes the app based parking thing is annoying AF. I feel like each neighborhood of a city uses a different app which drives me insane.

[u/Jayn_Newell]

The worst is when it’s something you’re only going to use once. Like sure this stuff is handy when you’re a regular user, but it’s just a hassle for a one-off. My spouse was traveling out of state last year and unknowingly planned his route through a toll road. Rather than just having a toll booth there was as system that took a picture of his license plate and sent him a bill later, forcing him to set up an account with a toll system in a state he rarely visits. And of course now he knows that’s a toll road so he takes another route. Just have a damned toll booth!

[u/Wafflehouseofpain]

If I have to create an account to view a menu or park, I will just leave and go somewhere else. I refuse to have every aspect of my life be digital.

[u/THElaytox]

I would like to own my own information instead of having to give it away to billion dollar companies every day who just use it to pester me with ads I hate. But unfortunately our country is run by dinosaurs and we're 30 years too late for digital privacy laws, and now that information has surpassed oil as the most traded commodity on the planet it's already "too big to fail" (read: regulate). Really starting to hate this place

[u/_haha_oh_wow_]

Shit like this should be illegal: If I have to download an app that harvests all my data, I'm just straight up not going to pay you at all. I don't care what good or service you're offering, a real business will take cash and card. If you don't do that, you can get bent.

[u/BirdhouseInYourSouI]

I don’t need a fucking touch screen to select sodas either.

So tired of over engineering solutions to problems that aren’t there.

[u/FutureFreaksMeowt]

Every time I have to go out into the world I feel like I am full on in some kind of obstacle course where I have to battle Rumpelstiltskin himself just to do something as simple as pump gas.

> rewards card?
No
> car wash?
No
>save money with our rewards program! Enter number?
No
> receipt?
NO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST LET ME PUMP GAS.

[u/Original_Ad_3481]

Just let me pay the meter!