Disappointed McDonald’s ice cream lovers are in for a treat.
A Miami-based tech startup has created an app to help solve one of McDonald’s top customer complaints: unpredictable broken ice cream machines.
The app, called Ice Check, directs customers to the nearest restaurant chain with working machines by using real-time updates from customers and participating locations.
What does Ice Check do? It directs you to the nearest WORKING McDonald's ice cream machine. — Ice Check! (@icecheckapp) April 8, 2017
Founder Raina McLeod says a trip to one of the fast food giant's locations during a sweet treat craving ended in utter McDisappointment. So, she turned to online to vent about the out-of-order mishap, and noticed a trend.
U.S. & World
I just witnessed first-hand the ice cream machine "breaking" at McDonalds .���� — BANE (@peyton_banes) April 10, 2017
Shocker, @McDonalds ice cream machine is "broken" again �� — Reily McFarland (@ReilyMcFarland) April 10, 2017
Outta all the money McDonalds make, they still cant get an ice cream machine that won't break every other day. — B R Y (@ibryanaa) April 10, 2017
McLeod figured if Krispy Kreme could tell customers when the donuts were hot, then McDonald's could somehow notify customers when their ice cream machines are broken.
"Don't just say it's down. Tell us when it will be back up," says McLeod. "With Ice Check, maybe you wait till the machine is up, maybe you go to another location, but you’re still not going to Wendy’s."
The app encourages users to "flip the switch" and update the status of the machine at their local McDonald's restaurant.
When machines are down, verified locations are also able to offer frustrated customers promotions as a curtesy for the unpredictable inconvenience.
The app will be available for download on April 17. Click here for more app details.