About that $16 McDonalds meal story.

[Arthur_Frain]

It’s one of the very big reasons that a “booming economy” message isn’t resonating. I stepped into a McDonalds last week with a craving for French fries. Small fries were $2.75. That’s insane, when maybe a decade ago the value menu had them for less than a dollar.

The value menu has disappeared, suspiciously in my view, at the same time that all those self ordering kiosks (that no one uses, and don’t work when I try to use them) were installed.

There was an article awhile back that said the profit margins are all the same to the corporation whether it sells 3000 burgers at $2 each, or 1000 burgers at $6 each, but at the six dollar price point they don’t have to support as many workers, so that’s actually what they’re aiming for.

Or you could go to your local airport where the burger alone now runs about $20.

The optics right now are horrible for that message on the street level.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Good thing I gave up fast food many years ago...

[Arthur_Frain]

9. Every now and again.

I enjoy their French fries.

[rogue emissary]

2. I used the app and got a large fries for $1.19.

[FarPoint]

26. McDonald is really pushing that app...

What evactly does McDonald gain and or do with our information with using this app? I declined that app...

[rogue emissary]

44. I often use apps and delete them after getting a deal for that exact reason.

[Axelrods_Typewriter]

47. The terms and conditions of it were recently changed in such a way that using it strips you of legal rights.

This article explains it better than I ever could - https://www.mashed.com/1432093/mcdonalds-new-app-terms-conditions-reactions/

[a kennedy]

3. How much was a Big Mac?? I get a to die for urge for a Big Mac....

every once in awhile……and dang if that urge isn’t tugging at my brain right now.

[Arthur_Frain]

10. The special sauce wasn't for me.

A fish sandwich runs over $6 up here tho.

[usedtobedemgurl]

21. Use the app and get the Mac meal for $6.

Here, anyway.

[Emile]

4. I can't stand eating at McDonald's anymore. We use to order

off the dollar menu too. No way will I overpay for that garbage food. So now we just don't go to McDonald's anymore.

[leftieNanner]

5. The only MDs "food" I will eat is

An egg McMuffin. And that's rare. Road trip food, usually.

[barbaraann]

27. I love Egg McMuffins! I've tried to buy chewy muffins like the ones McDonald's uses, but can't find them.

They come from a commercial bakery and I don't need to order 100,000. There's a BOGO offer in the app that we are going to use this week.

Normally we eat at Burger King because they seem to be somewhat woke and their prices are good:

"The fast-food chain tweeted last week that it would donate 40 cents to the Human Rights Campaign for every Ch'King chicken sandwich sold in June. The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Burger King added it will make those donations “even on Sunday,” tweeting the eyes emoji." Jun 7, 2021

We get the 2 for $5 Whopper Juniors and split a diet senior Coke for 50 cents. It's a feast for two!!! Also, I think the Whopper Juniors taste almost like In-N-Out burgers.

[Arthur_Frain]

32. Waiting for your Burger King remark to cue some Pulp Fiction quotes.

nt

[FBaggins]

49. Try the generic brand at walmart

I make a knockoff and these are pretty close (cheap too). The refrigerator brand at Harris Teeter is close too

[barbaraann]

50. I'll give the Walmart brand a try!

Unfortunately, I don't live by a Harris Teeter.

Thank you!

[kimbutgar]

6. McDonald's is over processed junk food that I will never eat in.

[k55f5r]

7. I stopped eating at Micky D

when my kids stopped wanting to play at their playground,
That was 1985 or so. Never missed the food. I haven't had a meal there since.
However, I have eaten at Burgerville (Wa state) that when I was a child cost 19cents for a burger when it opened in the '60s cost $45 for three of their cheapest burgers, two small orders of french fries, and two milkshakes.

[Arthur_Frain]

11. When I moved to Anchorage in 1985 I was shocked

That the hamburger cheeseburger was 88/99 cents!

What a world I grew up in.

[dpibel]

54. Did you know about the Internet?

It's a place where wild claims can be instantly debunked!!!

Go to here (it is a link on The Internet): https://www.fastfoodmenuprices.com/burgerville-prices/

There you will find this amazing information:

"three of their cheapest burgers" would be $1.65 x 3 = $4.95

"two small orders of french fries" gonna run $3.90

AND!!!

Two LARGE!!!11! milkshakes pretty much doubles your price, costing $8.98.

Add those three numbers for me.

Do they add up to anywhere in the vicinity of $45? (I will help you. The number is $17.83. So you're only off by 250%.)

You're as convincing as the $16 Big Mac liar.

[lapfog_1]

8. I live in CA... and sometimes go for a burger at In-an-Out

yeah, I know they are owned by some Christo-facsists... but they make really good burgers.

I get a "double-double" (two meat patties and two cheese slices, with lettuce tomato, onions, pickles ), a large fries (probably twice as many fries as you get with McDonalds) and a large chocolate shake (I need to stop doing that).

The price including the 8.5% tax is $12.58.

I think it is a deal. Yeah, it's not the $6 Happy meal... but it is easily twice as much actual food as a Happy meal.

for a once a week treat, it's pretty good. And I live in Silicon Valley in California... one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

[FHRRK]

12. Was in one a couple of weeks ago

It hit me looking at the menu board, they haven't jacked up pricing like all other Fast Food places. They have always paid more that minimum wage, and with all the increases at other places they are now cheaper for better quality.

p.s. the lines at In n Out are amazing. Almost 15 to 20 cars deep all day long. I picked up my car at a tire place across the parking lot from an In N N Out yesterday @ 2:00 PM. The In N Out lot was full, 15 cars in drive through, and the first six slots of the tire place were filled with cars going to get a burger.

[Arthur_Frain]

14. They were popular before

Then came The Big Lebowski.

[Arthur_Frain]

13. It is a deal

But it’s a far cry from most of my adult life. Full meals at the fast food joints ran $5-$6. They’ve been overcharging for the sodas forever, and a small bag of fries was always less than a dollar. In & Out was a great burger, but the fries are soggy.

That’s what I get for a childhood on frozen french fries, gimme the fresh ones and I think they’re soggy.

[lapfog_1]

18. order the fries as "fry well"

sometimes (if the teenager cooking the fries doesn't know what they are doing) you get a bunch of potato sticks that you could use to build "Lincoln Log" houses from. Most of the time you get properly cooked fries, neither limp nor break your teeth hard.

I have a friend who orders "fry lite"... which is where they cut the potatoes and show them the deep fat fryer just to scare them a little bit.

BTW, can you imagine running the potato cutting machine all day? that job looks mind numbing... and deserves way better than minimum wage. But their biceps get a work out.

[TheRealNorth]

15. I pay between $7-8 for a 2-cheeseburger meal

Yeah, it's more than what it was 5 years ago. But the people that make the food gotta make a living as well, and if it goes to help the workers salaries so that they are being paid more than $7.25 an hour, I am okay with that.

[Butterflylady]

51. Actually, McDonald's starting pay here in my part of Pennsylvania

Is 12.00 an hour.

[Ferryboat]

52. We voted for a $15 minimum wage

And we get a burgers north of $6. Fast food was convenient while I was working. Maybe once a month since I retired.

[Ferryboat]

53. We voted for a $15 minimum wage

And we get a burgers north of $6. Fast food was convenient while I was working. Maybe once a month since I retired.

[Traildogbob]

16. When I was a teenager

Gas was 28 cents a gallon, my first job breaking my pack for a landscaper was 50 cents an hour, a brick home was under $50,000 dollars, Doctors made house calls and ya didn’t have to give your home to him, after the Navy my college tuition was $75.00 per Quarter, my first job after was $4.25 per hour as lead Draftsperson for the county land records office.
Prices go up, and we gotta bitch about $2 dollar French fries? Thanks Joe Biden, only Trump can fix that. Factual sarcasm.

[Arthur_Frain]

30. I am not quite as old as you

But I remember prices much lower when I was younger. The recent gouge-flation that we’ve seen in the last five years is a little boggling though.

[Traildogbob]

37. Just a young 70

Not that long ago. But I hear you. A $70 COLA for SS followed by an immediate $50 increase for Medicare out of it pretty much sucks. $20 dollars a month won’t buy many of those French Fries. But I do not eat any fast food so I can spread the wealth for capitalism other places.
But the corp greed is not at the foot of any President alone, to go after that will take ALL elected Servants to serve us that pay them, not their Corps and lobbyists sugar daddies that pay them to get there and keep the cash flowing. As long as there are SC Thomas types, taking in cash, our asses mean nothing.
Think of how much they all spend to protect their wealth with repub policies, multiply it by thousands, it shows how much they would owe in taxes and that figure is staggering.
The good news, it’s cheap to grow taters, and fry em up. For now.
We can always graze in the wild like Bear Grills. His grocery bill is pretty low. Lots of worms and grubs in my yard. I can spend that $20 on ammo to protect my food source from MAGA gangs coming to take it all. They ain’t gonna fair well under Fascist Trump rule for decades either. After Barron there are all the Eric, Jr and the princess Kushner spawn to take the throne.
Good part of being 70, won’t have to be here for that.

[Arthur_Frain]

39. Just turned sixty here.

I rember thinking way back when I first joined the workplace for minimum wage, watching the deductions for this tax, for that tax. Drove me nuts, but I knew I’d get raises, then of course with every raise, they took a little bit more too.

Then I noticed that the prices I paid at the store always went up. Not only that, they went up faster than any raises I was getting. This was my first experience trying to get people to realize than when things only ever go up (like in capitalism) it’s not a sustainable model. Nobody listened, nobody cared, we were all to busy trying for that next raise and buying cheap imported shit.

I don’t have that much longer here than you do, but man I hope you’re wrong about the hereditary dictator list you’ve got in mind for us. I do see how he can still win it, but I hope like hell it doesn’t happen. Got my garden to calm me down all summer long and feed me, and I can still fish in Alaska. Awful lots of maggots up here tho.

[Traildogbob]

41. Gardening and fishing

You got the right medicine there. Best to you, happy holidays. And I am with you, hoping that hell never comes down on us. At least at our age, our fishing license is free for our remaining time. Or after 65 here in NC. Cheers to ya.

[Arthur_Frain]

42. And to you

Five more years til I get that free fishing license.

[Emile]

17. We quit eating at McDonald's about the time Dairy Queen came out with the 5 buck meal.

Now Dairy Queen did away with that too.

[zeusdogmom]

19. Did my once a year McRib "feast". (don't judge me 😊)

$9.00 and change. Included fries and large DC. It made my tummy very happy - for the rest of the day. I know it is junk food, not a good value for my money but it was sure tasty.

[Arthur_Frain]

31. I think all of our meals are over $10 now

No judgement though! $6-$8 for the sandwich, anther $3 for the fries and their advertised any size drink for a dollar. It adds up.

Bothered me in SLC when I found out the Walmart McDonalds was selling their fish sandwich for a buck more than the actual McDonald’s franchise restaurant that was just outside the store,

[Siwsan]

20. I've learned nobody makes tastier hamburgers than the ones I make

I had a craving, the other day. I bought 4 patties for a little over $4 (manager's special) and some store brand buns. The first one I made was a classic - Swiss Cheese, mayo, mustard, dill pickles and just a touch of catsup. The 2nd was an olive burger. I LOVE olive burgers.

The last 2 patties are in the freezer. One will be made with caramelized onions and mushrooms. Then maybe another olive burger.

That will be 4 burgers costing about the same, or less, than one custom burger at a fast food place.

Don't get me started on the time I bought 4 lbs of grass fed ground beef for .99 a pound, also a manager's special. A super DUPER manager's special.

[Arthur_Frain]

33. Five guys and Tommyburger got me hooked on the 3 meat blend in the burger.

Local Kroger has a 4-pack of preformed blend burgers for $12.99! I always cruise the meat section, because not many of us buy them at that price point. Eventually they go on clearance for $4-$5 a 4 pack, which is much more reasonable. Plus the advantage is the meat is more properly aged.

But yeah, when I do those burgers, they’re better than any effin fast food joint.

My only exception to your tale is I’m a provolone guy.

[Ms. Toad]

22. McDonald's still has a value menu

With items at $1-$3. You can easily build a meal from the value menu, just as you could in the past.

$1: McChicken, Cheeseburger, Sausage Biscuit, Sausage Burrito, beverages
$2: Bacon McDouble, 2-piece Crispy Tenders, Sausage McGriddles, Bacon McChicken, a small beverage from the McCafe, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets
$3: Triple Cheeseburger, Happy Meal, Sausage McMuffin, Chicken Sandwich

https://www.itsyummi.com/mcdonalds-dollar-menu/

As for the kiosks, I use them regularly when I stop by for coffee. I've never found them out of order, aside from one which was out of paper.

[Arthur_Frain]

34. They changed the value menu when the kiosks went in

My go to guilt offering was the McDouble and small fries for $3.99. Now you buy a McDouble and fries and it’s nearly $7.

Ridiculous.

[dpibel]

56. Was that a goalpost relocation?

In your OP, you claimed that the value menu was gone.

Then someone said, "No! Here is the value menu."

Then you said, "But, like, a different value menu."

You're having a tough time here, at least for folks who are paying attention.

[Freddie]

23. My grandkids beg me for McDonald's

And I admit the occasional craving for a Big Mac. Use the app and get free food. Wendy’s (way better IMO) app does the same.

[Prairie Gates]

24. Huh?

There was an article awhile back that said the profit margins are all the same to the corporation whether it sells 3000 burgers at $2 each, or 1000 burgers at $6 each, but at the six dollar price point they don’t have to support as many workers, so that’s actually what they’re aiming for.

If the labor costs are different, how are the profit margins the same?

[Arthur_Frain]

35. Fewer people to employ ends up with fewer problem employees to deal with

Fewer benefits to pay or be claimed in the event of injuries, that was the gist of the article anyway.

[WarGamer]

25. I'll admit it... I eat too much McDonalds

And the experience is far different than in the past.

There is no more long checkout counter with 6-8 cash registers on it.

There is now maybe ONE cash register and a very small counter next to a pick-up station for the Uber Eats/Doordash drivers.

There are multiple DIY order kiosks... I guess the promises they made about cutting staff with higher minimum wage were true.

And YES... combo meals are all over $10... a double quarter combo might be $12

They got rid of the Dollar Menu and now have a 2/$3.99 menu...

Pretty simple economics... pump more money into the economy with higher wages and such... and prices go up.

Unless someone is willing to go the price control route... that's life.

[dpibel]

57. Raise wages, raise prices!

You really want to go with that?

I mean, I think Reagan said that. And many Republicans since.

I'm just not aware of it being a big Democratic talking point.

You should study up on the great compression.

It's amazing what a government can do with proper tax incentives.

[SWBTATTReg]

28. Well, at least one thing for sure, Corporate Greed is still here, and we all see it. Heaven forbid if something is

being underpriced, the thugs at the Stock Markets would scream and yell.

What really gets me here is that you know who really is benefiting from all of these insane prices? Not the workers, not the consumers, but the owners, the same owners that have owned McDonald's for who knows how long, whom received one of the biggest tax cuts in history when the orange loser gave them a huge tax cut in 2017 (he got part of the tax cuts too). And they still are complaining that it's not enough. Talk about gratitude, eh? How long did it take for these companies to finally raise their minimum wages?

And McDonald's should not be the only company being complained about, they all are doing these escalating price increases, Arby's, Rally's, Burger King, Sonic, Taco Bell, and the list goes on.

It's funny, these meals used to be considered 'fast food', cheap, and quick. NOT any more.

Support your local family restaurant. Their prices are better, their portions are better, and the service is great. We have some great restaurants in the city of STLMO (mexican), and we're so lucky, so happy. We get a meal there, and it's literally 3 meals, not 1.

[Arthur_Frain]

36. Truly the rich are the ones never satisfied.

Aside from the occasional foray for fries, I frequent local taquerias and burger shops. They’re better anyway, and now they’re cheaper if you just drink water, which I do.

[blm]

29. RW exaggerated story. BigMac combo meal is 6.99 to 7.99 in most states.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-prices-big-mac-sparks-expensive-menu-darien-connecticut-debate-online/

So, what affects the price differences between McDonald's locations? The owners. About 90% of McDonald's locations are independently owned, and the franchisees have the ability to set their own prices, McDonald's says. That's why the company doesn't list prices on its corporate site – prices vary depending on where you are.

The price at the Darien location on the Connecticut Turnpike takes into account costs associated with operating a McDonald's on that highway.

[Arthur_Frain]

38. Not entirely.

Yes the burger in question was a one off that came with a premium price, I’m not from Idaho, so I can’t speak for how much a quarter pounder meal there is. But all the McDonald’s in Anchorage charge the same price, so do the ones in the valley. Fairbanks is naturally going to be a little higher, but there are in fact combo meals here that get you into the $16-$18 dollar range. And I just visited family in CA, prices in the urban centers there are nearly just as bad.

Stopped at a Der Weinerschnitzel in San Jose. As soon as I opened the car door, some junkie started yelling at the top of his lungs while he shambled off somewhere. Two other drunk, drugged, or just deranged people wandered by during the 3-4 minutes it took to place and get our order. Needless to say we chose to eat on the move rather than dine in such a charming location.

I’m sure staffing/security at these locations justify some increased price, but in general, fast food prices skyrocketed at an insane pace over about the last five years. The prices are real enough, the RW fantasy is that this inflation is Biden fault. That’s the bullshit. Corporate America is robbing us blind.

[blm]

40. I posted, 'in most states'. RW is exaggerating a unique

pricing incident into a widespread national predicament which is simply untrue.

[dpibel]

55. cOOl STory!! bRo11!

That's where you have now gotten to.

"Yeah, the $16 story was bullshit."

"But in Alaska..."

"Did I mention junkies? Because this is mainly about junkies!"

You are, to coin a phrase, all the fuck over the place.

[TheRealNorth]

59. Lol that was what i was thinking....

Next, it will be about the price of a gallon of milk, and the price in the story will be from a small supermarket in Honolulu.

[W_HAMILTON]

43. So, you left and didn't buy anything, right?

[miyazaki]

45. The fries never survive the ride home.

[spanone]

46. This shit story is still up on cnn main page

cnn = bullshit

[harumph]

48. Fast food is OK - occasionally when you're in a rush.

I tend to cook in > 80% of the time. I can buy a pound of good quality beef for anywhere from $6 - 9 dollars/lb., but I tend to shop
for meat sales and picked up 2 lbs of bison meat this morning for $5 lb. At $5 lb, that's $1.25 per patty for 4 patties. For sides, I do
grilled vegetables (onions, bell peppers, carrots). I estimate it at most $3 per plate. Sun tea for the beverage. I feel shitty spending
$10 or more for a burger combo meal - which I occasionally do - but damn, what a waste. About the only thing I am forced to purchase
is fried chicken - which I'm a sucker for. My grandmother made great fried chicken but that is a particular talent I don't have.

[uponit7771]

58. CPI is horrible and getting worse

[republianmushroom]

60. Bugger King is not much better. IMo

Was going to charge me about nine bucks for whopper.