Do you think they really didn't want their guests' opinions?

[Keithambrose]

On 6/6/2025 at 12:42 PM, BjornAgain said:

QR codes don't just link to a website. Depending how it's been created, they can download Apps, manipulate your WiFi, network and security settings, transmit data etc.

As an ex IT security consultant I have this facility disabled on my phone because of the risks.

Was at a resturant couple of months ago where they had QR codes for the menu. Waitress had to hand over her phone as all the old printed menus had been binned.

In a beach restaurant in Brighton,  you had to order by QR code at your table. My QR code did not work. I summoned  the waitress who didn't believe  me, and said 'it must work'. Finally, as I was about to walk out,  she relented,  and accepted an oral order!

[PeterRS]

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

In a beach restaurant in Brighton,  you had to order by QR code at your table. My QR code did not work. I summoned  the waitress who didn't believe  me, and said 'it must work'. Finally, as I was about to walk out,  she relented,  and accepted an oral order!

In an earlier post i suggested the comment by @Keithambrose was probably the longest he had ever contributed. This beats it by a mile.

[PeterRS]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:42 PM, BjornAgain said:

QR codes don't just link to a website. Depending how it's been created, they can download Apps, manipulate your WiFi, network and security settings, transmit data etc.

As an ex IT security consultant I have this facility disabled on my phone because of the risks.

As a non-technical guy and just out of curiosity, for what reason did QR codes succeed bar codes?

[floridarob]

5 hours ago, PeterRS said:

As a non-technical guy and just out of curiosity, for what reason did QR codes succeed bar codes?

Google could've answered that for you:

QR codes are becoming more popular than traditional barcodes due to their greater versatility, data storage capacity, and ease of use. QR codes are two-dimensional, allowing them to hold significantly more information than one-dimensional barcodes. Additionally, QR codes can be scanned with most smartphones, which is more accessible than using dedicated barcode scanners, and can be used to access a wide range of digital content, including websites, videos, and interactive content. 

[NIrishGuy]

I have to say that even at the risk of sounding like a dinosaur I point blank REFUSE to "download a menu on your phone" or "order from our App" or 'use our QR to order" I just plain refuse and say "No thanks, I'd rather not would you bring me a paper menu please" and 95% of the time they ( usually begrudgingly) trot off to try and find one whilst moaning about " we aren't really meant to use these anymore but I found you one out the back".

 

The reason is my eyesight is bad enough trying to read a proper menu never mind scrolling through my own own and also I always feel a paper menu is as much a part of the experience of the place as everything else and to have to revert to my phone and view usually a badly designed App that doesn't work as it should does nothing to improve MY dining experience ( quite the opposite in fact).

The only exception I found to this was in a Japanese restaurant in Como in Italy last month when on seeing QR codes everywhere and me about to start into my "sorry no" speech they actually brought each of us our own personal large Ipad type device which had a very well designed menu set up on there, all set up basically as an online shop, where you scrolled through and selected the type and quantities of sushi you wanted and that order went straight into the kitchen and so no further staff interaction was required, which I thought well if we HAVE to do it THIS is the way to go ! But still hard to beat a good well laid out menu in a nice leather folder.

 

 

[unicorn]

QR codes can introduce malware into your phone. They provide minimal savings for restauranteurs. Unless I have no other restaurant choices, I see no need to take on a risk for the minor convenience the business enjoys. I see no reason to help someone spy on me. 

[a-447]

Just about everywhere I went in Japan and China on my recent trip used qr codes - for every thing, not just menus.

Restaurants in Japan use either a qr code, or you order from an ipad.I can't remember when I last used a physical menu in Japan, although I used to prefer them.

I like eating dinner in an 'izakaya', which is a pub-style establishment where you order lots of small dishes. A qr code allows you to keep track of what you've ordered. To pay the bill you simply scan the code and walk out.

One of my favourite places to eat is Kura Sushi. I'm not a fan of sushi and don't eat raw fish, but Kura sells all kinds of small dishes. You never interact with staff members. (They are lurking in the background in case you have a question.)

Once you get used to it, it all makes sense.

[Keithambrose]

10 hours ago, unicorn said:

QR codes can introduce malware into your phone. They provide minimal savings for restauranteurs. Unless I have no other restaurant choices, I see no need to take on a risk for the minor convenience the business enjoys. I see no reason to help someone spy on me. 

QR codes can introduce malware into your phone.

 

Interesting, I did not know that. 

[thaiophilus]

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

QR codes can introduce malware into your phone.

 

Interesting, I did not know that. 

So can clicking on a link. QR codes aren't magic,  just another way of delivering the same data.

[PeterRS]

On 6/8/2025 at 2:07 PM, floridarob said:

Google could've answered that for you:

QR codes are becoming more popular than traditional barcodes due to their greater versatility, data storage capacity, and ease of use. QR codes are two-dimensional, allowing them to hold significantly more information than one-dimensional barcodes. Additionally, QR codes can be scanned with most smartphones, which is more accessible than using dedicated barcode scanners, and can be used to access a wide range of digital content, including websites, videos, and interactive content. 

Just as google could answer quite a number of the questions raised by members on this Board, but as you have kindly done they are usually answered with civility.

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Just as google could answer quite a number of the questions raised by members on this Board, but as you have kindly done they are usually answered with civility.

Same when someone asks a question that's been asked often and someone suggests using the search function on this site .... 

[unicorn]

9 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

QR codes can introduce malware into your phone.

 

Interesting, I did not know that. 

https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/security-considerations-qr-codes-itsap00141

Are QR codes risky?

QR codes can contain personal information. They can also execute an action, such as opening a fillable PDF or online form, that prompts you to enter personal information. Once this information has been entered, scanning the QR code will display the stored information on your device. Some online forms also create a QR code once completed.

By scanning a QR code, you could be susceptible to the following risks:

• Tracking of your online activity by websites using cookies, meaning your data can be collected and used for marketing purposes without your consent
• Collecting metadata associated to you, such as the type of device you used to scan the code, your IP address, location and the information you enter while on the site
• Exposing financial data, such as your credit card number, if you used it to purchase goods or services on the website

The actions the QR code performs can also pose risks, such as allowing threat actors to leverage QR codes to infect devices with malware , steal personal information, or conduct phishing  scams.

[thaiophilus]

All the above is equally true if you replace "QR code" with "clickable link".