I saw a new-to-me shop type for automated frozen yogurt. Has anyone done this type of shop? If so, what should I know about it?

I just saw it today. My concern is that the receipt has to be emailed to you. I don't have tons of faith that this would happen from a machine.

I saw it yesterday for the first time, I am assigned to do one in June. I don’t have any feedback because it will be my first one. I wasn’t able to get one for May because it was already assigned. Maybe someone who got one for May will be able to let us know about their experience...

Oh I meant to add that I looked through the guidelines and it says to take a picture of the outside of the establishment and take a picture of the payment confirmation screen in case a receipt isn’t received through email.

Thanks! I am scheduled for one of these. It is located somewhere within another location. There is no purpose whatsoever for me to be in the other location. I have worked out about twenty different scenarios to explain my presence in the host site, but... Anyway, if all goes well, I get a sweet treat! (sweets for the sweet, you know)

Not to be picky.....however, I would never eat frozen yogurt out of a vending machine! Seen too may hoses filled with mold.

I saw dried spills and watched as product grazed solid vertical surfaces and dripped to the tray and near the tray. I actually took pictures of the whole process! Mind you, today's food color perked up the space somewhat. It added a little something, just short of pizazz. But that was not related to the purpose of the shop. Are the old and new spills in any way a hazard? I did not know when a human would appear and clean the unit, and I did not know whether the unit was capable of cleaning itself. I surmised that it was not.

The other 'ew' was watching the robotic arm. It was precise! An engineering feat! It reminded me of Howard Wolowitz, and another robotic arm, and crap in space, and Fruit Loops.

Think I'm too old for this type of thing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2019 09:31PM by Shop-et-al.

How was the frozen yogurt? Did you have any issues getting your receipt? I watched a little video on youtube and it looked pretty neat! I never thought about the cleanliness I guess I was thinking it somehow had a clean cycle or something..

I tried twice to get a receipt. I will not be paid for my annoying but informative experience.The first time, the small amount of yogurt in the cup was barely visible. The second time, the small mountain of yogurt exceeded the rim of the cup and grazed the dispenser door, Both times, I ordered the same size of product and paid the same amount of money.

Clean cycle? Perhaps other franchised units have this. If so, other shoppers might report different results. The unit I saw was dirty inside when I arrived, and more drips and spills occurred while I watched and waited for my product.

I tried one bite of yogurt. Due to the TBBT flashback, that was enough for me.

So there were no sweets of this type for the sweet. Fortunately, my other little shop on that day was all about a menu and an opportunity to have what, imho, is the best expensive cuppa on the planet. That was soooooo goooood!

I saw this too but was so repulsed frozen yogurt from a machine. If it is anything like the ice cream machine at Mcdonald's that never gets cleaned, I will pass

I have TOO many questions though before I would consider this:

1. Who cleans it?
2. When/how often is it cleaned?
3. How fresh are the items?
4. Will I get a receipt?
5. Will the portion be even worth the visit?

I saw the video too but I am not convinced.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/2019 05:45PM by Mysteriousways.

How long does the job take? If it's 10 minutes or less I might do it. I have no interest in eating the stuff but 8 bucks is 8 bucks.

Updates: I was given permission to submit my report. A few days after the shop and my silly reaction to it, I concluded this: as a regular customer for whom a receipt would be unnecessary or a nuisance, it would be easy to get the froyo from the robot and carry on with the sweet treat and the rest of the day. As a mystery shopper, please please please be careful and watch the little monitor; you might increase your odds of obtaining the required receipt. As a first-timer to robotics or as a kid, someone might think it fun to watch the fiber optic light display or marvel at all the invisible engineering feats contained withing that arm and the rest of the unit. Based upon my experience with two sequential orders which were different, I would think that the unit I experienced presents little questions for engineers or programmers. Personally, I think there will be more robotic food service in future. Even without the payment (which I appreciate), I would be pleased to know more about this concept. This unit is an ecosystem which includes business, money, tangibles, temperatures, lights, programming, math that only someone like Niner or MFJ could explain, and food safety.

I was first in line and the time on-site was about two minutes from reaching the machine to obtaining my yogurt. The reporting time depends upon the number of images and device. That was only a few minutes for me. The time from parking lot to machine was about five minutes. YMMV.

If anyone else is wondering about the random number of spoons, please know that you are not alone......