13.6M views · Apr 23, 2021 · 29:46 · 8 HN recommenders · 20 mentions · discussed 2021–2025
Johnny Harris investigates why McDonald's ice cream machines are so often broken, covering the Taylor machines, the repair restrictions on franchisees and the Kytch workaround device.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN links it in right-to-repair and McFlurry-machine threads as the go-to in-depth explainer of the franchisee and Taylor arrangement.
“This video did a good indepth investigation.”HN comment, 2021
“Check out the recent news on why McDonalds ice cream machines tend to fail.”
Why McDonald's ice cream machines fail: only one company may repair them
This. Check out the recent news on why McDonalds ice cream machines tend to fail. this video Spoiler: it’s because the machine is broken and only one authorized company is allowed to fix it
“This documentary is quite interesting”
Documentary on profit from repair monopolies
Making something that only you can repair can be quite a lucrative business. This documentary is quite interesting: McDonalds Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken: this video
“Worth watching, IMHO.”
Mini-documentary covering Kytch and the ice cream machine saga
Kytch was also mentioned in this excellent mini-documentary about the whole topic: this video Worth watching, IMHO.
“Relevant link for those who want more context on the constantly broken McDonald icecream machine situation”
Context on the constantly broken McDonald's ice cream machines
Relevant link for those who want more context on the constantly broken McDonald icecream machine situation: this video I don't think the WIRED article isn't really doing justice to what Kytch is trying to show. The important argument is whether or not McDonald and Taylor conspired to prevent Kytch from selling / franchisees from purchasing this equipment, essentially a 'right to repair' argument. If Kytch wins, there could be ramifications for the tractor debate in the agricultural world as well.
“This video did a good indepth investigation.”
In-depth investigation of McDonald's and Taylor's ties
this video This video did a good indepth investigation. From memory Taylors hq is within 5 miles of McDonald's HQ. To close for comfort when you see the type of shenanigans they go through to pad Taylors revenue
“For anyone interested in a good video about this”
Details how broken machines are a scheme on franchisees
For anyone interested in a good video about this, there is YT video that details how the Ice Cream Machine's being broken is essentially a scheme that McDonald's corporate runs on their franchisees. Source: this video
“Johnny Harris (filmmaker journalist) made a great video on topic”
Explains the exclusive McDonald's-Taylor partnership and costs to franchisees
Johnny Harris (filmmaker journalist) made a great video on topic: this video 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.
“Here's a great YT video on why McDonald's ice cream machines are always broken”
Perverse incentives behind permanently broken ice cream machines
Here's a great YT video on why McDonald's ice cream machines are always broken: this video TL;DW: there are some perverse incentives to keep them broken. Basically the owner operators are forced to use a particular brand by corporate. Corporate McDonalds has a deal with a particular ice cream machine company. That particular company is the only company owner operators are allowed to buy from, and the only company allowed to service the machines. And it's no skin off of McDonald's back for these machines to always be broken, the cost falls on the owner-operators.
“This is a youtube video on the same topic.”
Investigation of McDonald's ice cream machine monopoly with Taylor
This is a youtube video on the same topic. Inventor of this device tipped this youtuber off, and so the youtuber looks to confirm the reasoning behind the device. this video Long story short, McDonalds created a monopoly for the icecream machine company, and then they abused it. This device comes into play, then McDonalds tells Franchisees not to use it.
“This issue is much more widespread than you think”
Example of widespread repair restriction
>So, the end result of having a soldered fuse was exactly the same as a socketed one: it was successfully repaired. I don’t see the justification for the extra BOM item. You joking? You realize houses and cars have socketed fuses that can be replaced almost turnkey. This is a simple solution to build into the product a UI that let's the user know a socket was blown and allow the user to replace a fuse like replacing a AA battery. FUSES are designed to fail and be replaced. Making those FUSES inaccessible is ALSO a design choice because it's contradictory. There was a point in time where every phone had a replaceable battery. You think that replaceable batteries disappeared because companies wanted to save costs? Sockets for batteries have been part of the design philosophy for consumer products for decades, the fact that these sockets are removed from phones is not a cost saving measure. This issue is much more widespread than you think: this video
“There was a deep-dive into this from Johnny Harris[1]”
Deep-dive through manuals and sales projections on Taylor machines
> The real problem is that McDonalds corporate forces franchisees to buy a crappy version of the machine that generates huge income for Taylor Wendys also uses the same vendor with a better machine, which is where this starts to look malicious rather than incompetent. The broken machine is one specifically made for McDonalds. In general, this is anti-consumer in two different ways - you don't give me ice-cream with the apple pie and whenever it breaks, you throw away a couple of gallons of the mixture to be safe. There was a deep-dive into this from Johnny Harris[1], which dug through the manuals for the machine, sales projections from Taylor and why McD franchisees are easier marks for this than others (the revenue volume is huge). [1] - this video
I had a look at what machines they use here in Australia and they seem to be similar to Taylor machines that they showed being used in the USA (this video: this video ). However, they almost always seem to be working without issue. If they are almost the same machine (would be for 240v) then I guess I’m glad that whatever is going on in the USA hasn’t reached here. Now the frozen drinks machines (slurpee, slushie, slush puppies) are down a lot more often but even then it isn’t down as much as the ice cream machines in the USA. But talking about McDonald’s McFlurry - in the USA do they still flurry it with the blending mixing spoon? They used to do that in Australia but now a McFlurry has no flurry and instead it’s just a plain sundae topped with Oreo crumbs or mini m&m’s.
“Just pointing out this is a Johnny Harris, who put out a video [1].”
Just pointing out this is a Johnny Harris, who put out a video [1]. I was wondering what the vice president has to do with McDonalds icecream machines. [1] this video
“This video [0] alleges that McDonalds franchise are required to purchase a specific model of Taylor soft serve machine.”
Alleges franchisees must buy a specific Taylor machine
This video [0] alleges that McDonalds franchise are required to purchase a specific model of Taylor soft serve machine. [0]: this video
“There is a detailed video about it.”
Concludes corporate collusion profits at franchise owners' expense
There is a detailed video about it. Ultimately, conclusion seems like it is collusion between the two corporates to get profit at the expense of franchise owners The REAL Reason McDonalds Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken by Johnny Harris this video
“This video covered the situation fairly well IIRC”
Covers McDonald's-specific machine problem
One problem with your claims is this is pretty well documented as a uniquely McDonalds franchise problem at this point. Competing fast-food franchises serve similar frozen dairy products, in a similar staffing environment, without their machines constantly being out of service. This video covered the situation fairly well IIRC: this video
“Here [1] is a video on this topic by Johnny Harris from a couple years ago.”
Conflicting relationship between McDonald's and Taylor hurting franchisees
Here [1] is a video on this topic by Johnny Harris from a couple years ago. It's been a while since I watched it but IIRC there is a conflicting relationship between specifically McDonalds the corporation and Taylor which benefits both of them but screws over the individual franchise owners. Here is an interactive map [2] that shows where all the broken machines are. [1] - this video [video][30 mins] There is a sponsor ad from 06:49 to 08:47 [2] - link
“Johnny Harris did a long piece on the whole story [1].”
They being the third party repair companies. Johnny Harris did a long piece on the whole story [1]. [1] this video
> Here's a great YT video on why McDonald's ice cream machines are always broken: this video As habit or policy, can we all agree to get rid of the tracking information in Youtube links? * this video
“There's a lot more to it than that”
There's a lot more to it than that: Johnny Harris "The REAL Reason McDonalds Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken" this video
