A DINER at White Castle has been charged a jaw-dropping $15,400 for an order worth just $16.
The customer has been left furious following a technological change to the drive-thru that led to the costly mistake.
The customer has been left furious following a technological change to the drive-thru that led to the costly mistake[/caption]
At White Castle, the drive-thru machine powered by AI asked one customer what they wanted to eat.
After ordering two number 12 combos, coming to a total of $16.12, the machine added more than a few extras.
The drive-thru accidentally added an extra nine number 12 combos, and 100 number seven combos.
Each of these 109 added meals came with chicken ring sliders and small fries.
All the driver could do was stare in awe and ask “Why does it say that?”, with the interaction being caught on the drive-thru camera.
On the social media -platform TikTok, one person reacted: “Can’t stand that they are implementing AI into everything, s***s so annoying, it’s like having to press one for English but at a drive through.
“God forbid someone has to do a little work.”
Another person wrote: “This is when we start boycotting the places that have this.”
At White Castle, AI has been in place since 2020, and the machines made their debut at Sonic a year before that in 2019.
MEET FLIPPY
White Castle has used AI as more than just drive-thru employees.
The chain has previously tested a robotic burger and fry cook in Chicago called Flippy, which is also used at Chipotle restaurants.
In 2021, Flippy 2 was created and placed in several White Castle locations in 2023.
While it is not known how many Flippy robots there are in White Castle locations, AI drive-thrus are currently installed at over 60 of the chain’s restaurants.
Speaking on Flippy 2 back in 2023, White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson commented: “Flippy will drop everything into the fryer and then at the perfect time, take everything out, give it a little shake and put it into the area for the packaging for the team members.
What to do if you’re overcharged
If you are overcharged at a retailer, there are a few ways to get your money back.
If you noticed you were charged more than the advertised or posted price, report it to an employee or manager.
Make sure to keep your receipt to show the price difference.
As a shopper, you are entitled to the lowest advertised, posted or quoted price offered by the store.
If you are charged more than the advertised, posted or quoted a price, report it to the sales clerk right away. If the sales clerk can’t help, speak to the manager.
Stores must honor a posted price, even if the price has expired.
You are also able to dispute charges with your bank if you notice something suspicious on your statement.
According to Los Angeles County Consumer& Business Affairs
“Flippy will drop everything into the fryer and then at the perfect time, take everything out, give it a little shake and put it into the area for the packaging for the team members.”
Miso Robotics, the company behind Flippy, added: “By taking over the work of an entire fry station, Flippy 2 alleviates the pain points that come with back-of-house roles at quick-service restaurants to create a working environment for its human coworkers that maximizes the efficiency of the kitchen.”
The company claims that Flippy has more than 120 configurations built into it.
This allows Flippy to change up its method when switching between chicken tenders and burgers, for example.
Flippy has been described as a game changer for White Castle, but it’s also been stressed that Flippy is there to help and not steal jobs.
Richardson continued: “Nobody wants to use the ‘p’ word, but the pandemic was a kick in the knees for all of us.
“Our team members are on the front lines every day.
“Giving them more tools to help serve our customers hot and tasty food is what it’s all about for us.”
The drive-thru accidentally added an extra nine number 12 combos, and 100 number seven combos[/caption]
