McDonald's automated up-selling, a new low?

For a while now I have been completely put-off by the automated up-selling done at the drive through window at McDonald's. For those who have not experienced this, it is a pre-recorded voice that mentions the daily specials before the employee can take your order. Not only is it mildly irritating, but it shows complete distrust for their staff. The ironic thing is when you tell someone you don't trust them to do their job, they typically want to do it less. (By the way, I ask every employee what they think of that thing, and they unanimously hate it)

As my wife and I went to McDonald's last night for a cone, the automated up-selling assistant hit an all new low. We came only to order two ice cream cones, and like clock work, the up-sell assistant asked if we wanted to get a hot apple, pumpkin or cherry pie, 2 for a dollar. I declined, but as I pulled up to the window my wife and I agreed that an apple pie would be really good. As the employee slid open the drive-through window, I mentioned to her, that I would love to add 2 apple pies for a dollar. Her response astounded me.

Employee: "I am sorry sir, we are all out of Apple pies, but we have cherry available."

Me: "But wasn't I just offered to purchase some only a moment ago?"

Employee: "Yea, that thing has been saying that all day, and there is nothing I can do about it, I'm very sorry"

The one time the automated up-sell assistant actually interested me in a product, it was still a complete failure, because it was up-selling me to inventory that wasn't available. The automated up-sell assistant doesn't have a brain, and therefore didn't understand that inventory was lacking. My brief exchange with this employee is a picture perfect reason that up-sell power should be kept in the hands of REAL people. After the automated error, obviously this employee was intelligent enough to offer me an alternative, and intelligence is what this system lacks.

If employees are not up-selling the solution is better training, and better care for employees, NOT automated computers to do their job. Stop insulting me and your employees, treat them better and let them do their job.