McDonald’s used to be viable because it was shit, but at least it was cheap. Now it’s just shit. I haven’t gone of my own will in years, only with other people who wanted it. $3 for a hash brown is absurd.
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The level is lower than that. McDonald's used to serve the customer, the customer now serves the corporation.
The customer always served the corporation, they just used to hide it better.
It used to be cheap, fast, filling and clean. It's none of those things anymore.
What's their value proposition nowadays? Nostalgia?
No man. McDonald’s used to be cheap, fast and decent. The original burger in 1955 was 15 cents, or about $1.75 today. Don’t forget how far things have fallen lol
There's a burger place near me which makes a great burger - good quality ingredients, interesting toppings, great fries and they're cheaper than McDonalds. Given McDonald's prices on ingredients will be substantially cheaper, and their volume higher, this is just pure greed.
My local burger places are just like that. Absolutely bonkers what people with a routine will tolerate if the change is slow.
Some people are open to trying new things, they want the excitement of trying out a new restaurant or take out, they want to try types of food they've never eaten before.
Then there are the other type. They behave in the same way as children do, they want what they like, and will not take a risk on something new, even on something as pedestrian as a burger.
It's a good thing we haven't raised the Minimum Wage! Otherwise they may have Raised their prices!
"Some customers are fed up and pushing back"
But continuing to buy things from them, yeah? Companies are not going to change until people stop buying from them.
Nobody needs McDonald's. I'm not even sure most people actually want McDonald's. Just stop going, seriously.
I can't believe that the US Government believes that a little more than two McDonald's hash browns are worth one hour's work.
Fuck that. That isn't dignity.
I'm just trying to pay for housing with my meager allotment of 80 hash browns per week
Maybe those lazy millennials would be able to buy a house if they stopped eating McDonald's hash browns
I worked for McDs in high school, around 2008. Big Mac meal used to be $6.08 with tax, $1 menu used to be $1.06 with tax. I went the other day and was shocked to see how much everything costs now plus I have to order via a screen (which I find bizarre, but maybe I'm just old now).
I also feel like working there used to be kind of fun. I'd take the order from the drive thru/take the money, kitchen would secretly prioritize drive thru orders (everything is timed), and window person would get the order together. Now it seems like they take 1 or 2 drive thru orders at a time and make the line wait until those are done.
Seems like fewer people working & prices went up - and I'm sure those poor folks working are making minimum wage. It's just sad all around.
The cool part is I started working there just after you! I started around 2013 and worked there until about 2016 and it was STILL about maybe $7 or $8 for a meal, and the dollar menu was still $1.06
This shit happened during covid and they're literally only doing it because they can. There have been reports that the current inflation isn't driven by the state of the economy at all, but just corporate greed.
Don't waste your time and money guys, you can get food cheaper at the mom and pop restaurants now, and that food is usually at least half decent. When it's the same price to eat at McDonald's or a "healthier" place like tropical smoothie or Chipotle, why the fuck would I want to pay for ultra processed sludge
would secretly prioritize drive thru orders
Fucking knew it! Thanks for confirming
It is so sickening how capitalism normalizes stripping people of their humanity
Just uh... don't eat there?
Not many places open when 2nd shift closes.
And yes, there's food at home or in the lunchbox, but sometimes home is 40 minutes away and you already ate lunch 5 hours prior.
Sunday morning, fire up the air fryer and park just outside of McD's. Selling hashbrowns at $1 a pop.
And get fined by the city for not having a food vending license. And the audited by the IRS.
The first point makes sense, that's why he needs to sell 10¢ trinkets for a dollar with a "bonus gift" of a hash brown lmfao
I don't see why he'd get audited by the IRS, first he'd need to make more than 600 off it and even if he did, as long as he reports it the IRS DGAF as long as they get their cut lmao
the customer is tolerating it well
Sure am! It's been over four years since I've had McDonalds (or any other fast food restaurant). Prices are absurd and the food is meh at best.
It's easy to tolerate price increases on products when you don't buy that product. The thing that concerns me though, is that if people stop buying McDonald's and instead buy canned beans... is my chili going to get more expensive because McDonald's wants 3 dollar hash browns? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes.
Inflation and wage theft are absolutely out of control in this country. I'm a barista. My store makes $1600 in a eight-hour day. Mine and all of my coworker's wage in there probably adds up to about $50/hour on average. So the profit margin is ridiculous. And these businesses have the gall to think they can make MORE MONEY. No, fuck you. At some point the human beings doing the hard work need to get a bigger cut.
make sure you count utilities and rent for the building and supplies etc, its still ridiculous but slightly less so
I actually don’t hate the burgers McDonald’s has now. They are hot, and often hit the spot for me.
HOWEVER, a double quarter pounder meal is now like $10, and it’s just not worth it when I have other options next door or across the street that sell better food for about the same price.
Three bucks for a hash brown? You know Simplot sells packs of ten for four dollars, right? And you can cook them on a stovetop with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, right? Hell, if you're desperate, you could even throw a pair into the toaster, although they won't taste nearly as good that way.
And it’s not like McDonald’s gets a different hash brown. Simplot has supplied McDonald’s for decades: http://visitsoutheastidaho.com/2017/01/j-r-simplots-french-fry-pact-with-mcdonalds-was-key-for-company-idaho/
My local burger chain has cheeseburgers for $3.50 and fries for $2.00. They are bigger and taste way better than McDonald's, and it's real food that doesn't destroy my stomach. They also have breakfast burgers and a big serving of breakfast potatoes for $2 each. Why would I ever go to McDonalds
Unless pushing back means not shopping at McDonald's, then it doesn't matter
Fun fact: In Germany, the big US fast food companies are in a constant price war. They hand out vouchers at least once a week and offer big discounts online and in their apps. Because if they didn't their restaurants would be utterly empty. For the price of €12 for a Big Mac menu, I can go straight to a pretty good restaurant and have a Schnitzel with French Fries, a salad and a beer.
Especially Burger King and McDonalds are doing that all day. Subway and KFC a lot less.
Then there are Turkish and German fast food restaurants. They often have prices so low they simply don't have to lower then to beat the US chains. And to be honest, before I buy a burger for €5 I buy a Kebab or Shawarma which beat every burger in taste and amount of food. German fast food restaurants often sell grilled chicken, all sorts of fish, fried sausages and so on. And yes, we consider Pizza German Food nowadays. And the Italians agree, especially when talking about Pine-Apple Pizza or Pizza with pulled pork. They are usually cheaper than anyone else and the food is huge and easy to eat fast. German Fast Food makes all others look like slow food, you can easily stuff yourself in two minutes.
Some prices:
-The Croatian canteen in our town hall serves good Balkan cuisine from €5. A glass of tap water for €0.50. And it is a nice place, not looking like a canteen at all. Tips are included in these prices.
-I have a ton of vouchers of 50% voucher for Chicken McNuggets, Big Macs and Salads. I don't visit McDonalds too often as they require to order from a needless complicated touch screen but when I do I sometimes take a voucher "Two Big Macs for €5".
-a company I work for sometimes orders the "business menu" from Burger King which is something like "20 burgers of your choice and 2kg of fries" for €70. As the boss often invites his worker I am just happy with whatever I get.
-the local furniture store offers 50% vouchers for a a complete fish dish on Friday for €5 in his nice restaurant.
-they also offer Chinese and German Food often at 50% vouchers which equals to €4-€5 for a complete meal. And every day they have some cheap East European soup dishes like Borscht, Flaczki, Gulasch and so on for €2-3 and it is always a HUGE amount of food.
Seriously, if you open your eyes you would be surprised how many really cheap and great restaurants are around.
Just think of all the hundreds of millions of people who won't be affected by this because they refuse to eat at MacDonald's regardless of their prices.
Y'all aren't boycotting?
I'm stunned people are bitching about fast food prices. Just don't? FFS, what do you expect?!
"I keep buying and prices keep going up!"
Yeah. That's how it works. Have you considered maybe stop giving them money?
"I can't! I'm helpless and have excuses!"
Idk about boycotting but I'll tell you that I haven't had McDonald's since I went and it was like $20+ for two people for some breakfast sandwiches (meals). I'd rather buy the frozen ones or just have none. Like everyone else, we don't have a ton of extra money and if we do go out, we want our value for our time.
I got used to thinking about money being time. If you make 15/hr then one meal is roughly one hour. Don't think of your dollar, think of how many hours something costs.
I heard about this and lmao no deal mcdicks.
Hash brown is 99 cents. Figure it out. We can see your market value.
I vow to not buy a McDonald's hash brown until it is below $1
Don't mind the prices as long as the quality is there. All of the fast food chains in my area have tanked in quality. Except for Five Guys.
That's the McConomy
(badum tsst)