Thread by @GeniusGTX

If you've ever wondered why you can never get an ice cream from McDonald's, there’s a dark truth you need to know...

The machines are broken BY DESIGN.

Here is the real reason why you can’t have your McFlurry:

(A thread about corporate greed & deception)

Why are McDonald's ice cream machines always broken?

It's a widespread issue, so much so that in 2021, Rashik created to track it in real-time.

Let's dive into this cold, creamy mystery: McBroken.com

Some quick stats on the McDonald's ice cream situation:

• Avg 14.7% of machines in the US are broken
• It's been a meme since the early 2010s
• Other like Wendy's don't have this problem

So what's really going on here? Hint: No, it's not lazy employees...

The culprit: The Taylor C602 ice cream machine.

Introduced in 2003, it's mandatory for ALL McDonald's franchises.

No other options allowed. Period. Taylor the provider makes machines for other chains too. And they work fine.

So why is McDonald's different?

The C602 is a nightmare of complexity:

• 4-hour daily heat cleaning cycle
• Interface that looks like it's from 1983
• Cryptic error codes like "heat mode failure"

It's like using a Commodore 64 to make ice cream. Today.

But that's not even the worst part...

The real problem?

Taylor has ZERO reason to improve these machines. In fact, they profit from keeping them broken.

How? 25% of Taylor's revenue comes from repairs and maintenance.

That's right—they're cashing in on their own product's failure.

Surely McDonald's corporate would step in, right?

Nope.

Repair costs hit franchise owners, not corporate. So McDonald's ignores it while owners lose money.

One owner called for repairs 4-5 times in the first few months.

Ka-ching!

Here's where it gets shady: there's a secret "service menu" in these machines.

Only Taylor technicians can access it; it's hidden from franchise owners and holds "critical operating parameters."

It's like owning a car without being able to pop the hood.

So what happens when the machine breaks?

Franchise owners have one option: "Call the guy."

That "guy" is a Taylor technician who charges:

• $144 for the first 30 minutes
• Hundreds more for each additional 15 minutes

All roads lead to "call the technician."

But wait, there's more!

In 2019, a tech startup called Kytch created a device to help franchise owners. It connected to phones, giving real-time data on the machines.

It was a hit. Owners loved it.

McDonald's response?

They BANNED it, claiming it was "dangerous."

McDonald's banned the device solving their PR nightmare because they're making their own with Powerhouse Dynamics, owned by Taylor’s parent company.

It's like asking a fox to design the henhouse security.

This goes beyond just ice cream.

It's a case study of how big corporations can crush innovation and hurt their own customers (and franchisees) to protect old partnerships.

The ice cream machine is just the tip of the iceberg. Or should I say, the cherry on top?

As this saga unfolds, watch the lawsuit between Kytch and McDonald's.

It could change how big corporations handle innovation.

The future of fast food tech might depend on it.

So next time you're craving a McFlurry and the machine is "broken," remember:

It's not bad luck.

It's a system designed to keep you frustrated and franchise owners powerless—all to protect a partnership that started back in the 1950s.

Special thanks to @johnnywharris whose insights and research made this thread possible:

That’s a wrap!

If you want more stories, breakdowns, and case studies from the world's greatest thinkers, drop @geniusgtx a follow.

Stay extraordinary!