Why McDonald’s ice cream machines are always broken – as Biden administration launches crack-down in major win for consumers
- The government is pushing for easier repair options for soft ice cream machines at McDonald’s
- Federal agencies have applied for waivers to give franchise owners more freedom on repairs as current restrictions limit repairs to authorized technicians
- The broken machines cost franchises $650 per day in lost sales
As temperatures warm, the Biden administration is taking the problem of broken ice cream machines at McDonald’s seriously.
Regulars at the fast food chain may notice how often glitches occur at the soft-serve machines, leaving customers clamoring for ice cream but forced to go elsewhere.
The reason for such icy maintenance is that only one company of technicians is authorized by the machine manufacturer to carry out repairs.
It means McDonald’s franchises needing machine maintenance will have to queue up, rather than simply calling a local engineer to fix the problem.
The government is pushing for easier repair options for soft ice cream machines at McDonald’s
Federal agencies have applied for waivers to give franchise owners more freedom on repairs as current restrictions limit repairs to authorized technicians
The broken machines cost franchises $650 per day in lost sales
But the US government is now being urged to implement reforms that will make the soft-serve machine easier to repair.
In a letter to the U.S. Copyright Office, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) argued for exemptions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
“In the agencies’ view, renewing and expanding repair-related exemptions would promote competition in the markets for replacement parts and repair and maintenance services, as well as facilitate competition in the markets for repairable products,” the agencies wrote.
“The failure of the soft service equipment can result in lost revenue of $625 per day… there are long wait times for authorization repairs, and… an authorized repairer charges more than $300 per 15 minutes.”
Current restrictions prevent franchise owners from seeking the help of independent engineers, but the agencies say there is a need for more competition when it comes to the markets for replacement parts and repair services.
The problem is so bad that McDonald’s has become the butt of jokes and funny memes
Only one technician company is authorized by the machine manufacturer to carry out repairs
The problem of the defective machines is so widespread that the FTC has launched an investigation following complaints from consumers and McDonald’s franchisees about the frequent defects
The problem of the defective machines is so widespread that the FTC has launched an investigation following complaints from consumers and McDonald’s franchisees about the frequent defects.
McDonald’s then faced a $900 million lawsuit from an ice cream repair company in 2022 after banning franchise owners from using a product that allowed simple repairs for the machines.
The device, which used Wi-Fi, made it possible to solve digital problems without having to rely on repairs from Taylor, the exclusive manufacturer of McDonald’s ice cream machines.
McDonald’s has defended its position, citing warranty violations and safety concerns.