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Comment by function_seven | Hacker News Reader

I saw this on the doors of my local shopping mall:

    MALL HOURS
    ==========
    For your convenience, The Galleria's operating
    hours are available online

Followed by a huge QR code. Um, no. It's really inconvenient to have to grab a phone, scan a code, wait for the slow site to load, give apologies to others who want to walk in the door, etc.

Oh, and let's say I get there before they open. Before I could just drive by and see the hours on the door. Now I have to stop, get out, scan the code, ...

It's a small gripe for sure, but those are my favorite types.

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I like how self-checkouts or ordering kiosks are framed as automation, but are actually just making your customers do work your paid workers used to do. There's no automation involved, just a shift in who does the work.

Oh of course that reminds me of the explosion of QR code menus we saw during the pandemic! A laminated code, the lamination bubbling up, covered in peeling tape, damn near impossible to scan depending on the lighting conditions. Much better than a sheet of paper!

And this directs you to a PDF that was designed for print. :(

Or a menu developed with react that takes a full minute to load.

and loads tracking/analytics from 100 different places, and sends an XHR every time you move the mouse.

I have toyed with the idea of carrying a sharpie with me, and adding ironic graffiti to such messages. This article might just push me over the edge.

Quite a few shopping centres where I live (Norway) have the opening hours in half metre, or more, high type high up on the wall outside.

The sort of thing you describe has a lot to do with the culture of the place. In Norway being cooperative and helpful is highly prized, in the US individuality and getting ahead are. I don't mean that both countries don't appreciate both things, just that the emphasis differs.

At least that's my biased opinion, :-)

Maybe the 'y' was a typo.

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