McD app does not post txn until you arrive at location and tap check in (GPS "enforced"; if you don't send a reasonable location to the backend it will tell you to just show your phone to a cashier and fail it)

that being said - this is probably irrelevant, because you don't actually need to place an order. mcflurries will show up as not available / disabled if the restaurant is not accepting ice cream orders (to disallow you from adding to cart on the official app).

you just poll for snack/side items available at location, nearly a single call. you do not need to place an order, and you do not need to draft an order, or preauth. it's just viewing the menu

I wish they would use this technology to make coffees unavailable in the app when they're not available in real life.

> Perhaps the payment doesn't go through until he arrives to pick up the order?

Correct, and the order doesn't start being prepared until you hit the "I'm here" button on the app, either.

I once forgot to hit "I'm here" and they were confused because, to the store, it didn't exist, so there's no harm to the stores at all here.

> so there's no harm to the stores at all here

Maybe not in terms of them preparing the food ahead of time and not getting paid for it.

But there's substantial potential for harm if this clogs up the ordering system and affects their ability to fulfill other orders.

If one (canceled!) order per store per minute clogs the McDonalds ordering system, they've got bigger problems.

What's the point of even ordering through the app then?

1. It's still fairly convenient; I find it easier than verbally ordering.

2. I believe it's the only way to get curbside pickup instead of going through the drive through.

3. It functions as a loyalty card; there's always $1 large fries, you get a free coffee drink after every 5, etc.

The app remembers your previous orders. If you order the same thing each time, you just press the previous order to order it again. Done in like 5 seconds.

1) You get to skip what might be a 5-, 10-, or even 15-minute line for the cashier

2) You don't need to worry about the cashier punching in your order wrong (which happens frequently)

3) There are a ton of discounts available only through the app. You can seriously get ~50% off your meal pretty easily

I can't even imagine not using my phone to order.