• wheezy@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    It’s probably literally cheaper to have a cheap device that supports one display than a single device capable of supporting multiple displays.

    It also simplifies the design. You don’t need different hardware requirements or software configs for a slushy system of 3 or 4 or 5 flavors. You just have a single design for each slushy device.

    On top of that, when a device is restarting or failed it only has a single failure. All of the other flavors are displayed.

    Also, for the other “why not a sticker” comments. Having a digital display does have its advantages. You may not want your chain of stores having tacky hand drawn labels by a lazy employee. This prevents that. You can include the price in the display later if you want to. Ensuring you charge more for that “limited time” flavor and you don’t have to send stickers to each store.

    Also, the cost of these displays is so little in comparison to the mechanical parts that operate the actual machine it’s likely worth the it for the flexibility in display.

    Also, digital displays catch the eyes more. You’re gonna get more people that notice a flashy machine and think “I’m in the mood for a slurpy”. That alone is likely worth any other cost.

    Capitalism doesn’t have to “make sense” in terms of design or simplicity. It often doesn’t. It chooses the things that return the most profit. It’s not reason based in “logic” it’s reason based in “profit”.

    • SparroHawc@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 day ago

      It also has the benefit of being able to show metrics and diagnostics right there without having to connect it to another device.

    • Axolotl@feddit.it
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      Also, for the other “why not a sticker” comments. Having a digital display does have its advantages. You may not want your chain of stores having tacky hand drawn labels by a lazy employee. This prevents that. You can include the price in the display later if you want to. Ensuring you charge more for that “limited time” flavor and you don’t have to send stickers to each store.

      Ear me out: you print them, crazy right?!

      • wheezy@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        23 hours ago

        You don’t have to send stickers to each store.

        So purchase a nice color printer for each store? Or have an employee go to print at staples when you want to change labels?

        Like, “just print them” is a lot more effort than you are making it sound to avoid the use of an extremely cheap screen.

        There is a reason all vehicles put a big ass display in their car now even though people prefer actual buttons. Screens and software are dirt cheap. A printer with moving mechanical parts is expensive. Using employee time is expensive. Shipping is expensive.

        • Axolotl@feddit.it
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          17 hours ago

          You can pay other companies to print for you duh, they will print you anything for dirt cheap, it’s not like a company can’t afford it lmao

          • wheezy@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            16 hours ago

            Yes, if the infrastructure is in place for it it can be very cheap. But obviously, the people working at these companies decided that the benefits of the digital screens are worth the small upfront cost of the machine.

            Why can’t people understand that printing a physical copy of something off-site requires transport and overhead cost that are entirely eliminated by just literally using a digital screen that has a longer shelf life than the mechanical parts of the machine itself. It’s not that complicated to understand.

            This gives you the advantage of literally being able to change the ad instantly. Based on time of year, event, etc. Its an ad. It’s good to be digital. It’s an ad. It’s not a label.

            Why do you send an email instead of sending a letter? A smartphone is so expensive! /s

            There are benefits beyond just cost. This isn’t about cost. THIS IS ABOUT PROFITS.