this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2024
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"Even though we're pushing through pricing, the consumer is tolerating it well," he said in October analyst call.

normal way to talk about 'fellow' human beings

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[–] lqdrchrd@lemmy.blahaj.zone 178 points 9 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] ghostdoggtv@lemmy.world 68 points 9 months ago

The level is lower than that. McDonald's used to serve the customer, the customer now serves the corporation.

[–] Dwayne_Elizondo_Mountain_Dew_Camacho@sh.itjust.works 35 points 9 months ago (2 children)

It used to be cheap, fast, filling and clean. It's none of those things anymore.

What's their value proposition nowadays? Nostalgia?

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[–] m_randall@sh.itjust.works 25 points 9 months ago

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

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 153 points 9 months ago (5 children)

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.

[–] nul9o9@lemmy.world 40 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My local burger places are just like that. Absolutely bonkers what people with a routine will tolerate if the change is slow.

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago (4 children)

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.

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[–] BigMacHole@lemm.ee 121 points 9 months ago (3 children)

It's a good thing we haven't raised the Minimum Wage! Otherwise they may have Raised their prices!

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[–] RGB3x3@lemmy.world 107 points 9 months ago (5 children)

"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.

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[–] MonsiuerPatEBrown@reddthat.com 102 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] KinglyWeevil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 49 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm just trying to pay for housing with my meager allotment of 80 hash browns per week

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[–] asteriskeverything@lemmy.world 26 points 9 months ago

Maybe those lazy millennials would be able to buy a house if they stopped eating McDonald's hash browns

[–] ramsgrl909@lemmy.world 71 points 9 months ago (6 children)

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.

[–] saintshenanigans@programming.dev 31 points 9 months ago (5 children)

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

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[–] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 30 points 9 months ago (3 children)

would secretly prioritize drive thru orders

Fucking knew it! Thanks for confirming

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[–] flathead@lemm.ee 20 points 9 months ago

so you order on a touch screen that has been used by every nosepickin' customer before you and then chow down on food you eat with your hands? Sounds delicious.

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[–] transientpunk@sh.itjust.works 62 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It is so sickening how capitalism normalizes stripping people of their humanity

[–] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 69 points 9 months ago (1 children)

People are just wallets that cry sometimes

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[–] Thrickles@lemm.ee 57 points 9 months ago (4 children)

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.

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[–] FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world 45 points 9 months ago (4 children)

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.

[–] Kase@lemmy.world 18 points 9 months ago (6 children)

Pro tip, if you have access to a stove and several hours of free time to spare for cooking-- dry beans are super cheap!

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[–] kerrigan778@lemmy.world 42 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's one hash brown Michael, what could it cost?

[–] Dr_Fetus_Jackson@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

Here's some money. Go see a Star War.

[–] kttnpunk@lemmy.world 40 points 9 months ago (10 children)

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.

[–] FarmTaco@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago (3 children)

make sure you count utilities and rent for the building and supplies etc, its still ridiculous but slightly less so

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[–] garretble@lemmy.world 36 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

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.

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[–] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 36 points 9 months ago (1 children)

LOL McDonald's hasn't seen my shadow in 10 years at least

[–] TangledHyphae@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago

I'm more surprised that they thought they could double prices, but yet somehow still very noticeably drop in quality. McDonald's quality drop isn't quite as bad as say, Taco Bell and others but wow, seems like hubris is in the air lately with these corporations' executive boards.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 33 points 9 months ago (6 children)

Unless pushing back means not shopping at McDonald's, then it doesn't matter

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[–] Crass_Spektakel@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (8 children)

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.

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[–] Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee 29 points 9 months ago

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.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 26 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

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

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[–] 13617@lemmy.world 26 points 9 months ago (4 children)
[–] SendMePhotos@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago (11 children)

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.

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago (6 children)

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!"

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[–] herescunty@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago

That's the McConomy

(badum tsst)

[–] iterable@sh.itjust.works 21 points 9 months ago (5 children)

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.

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[–] lntl@lemmy.ml 18 points 9 months ago (8 children)

McDonald's is a waste of time

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago (4 children)

There's faster food for less and better food for the same price. There's no point unless you're traveling.

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They're not talking about human beings.

They said "consumer." Which they don't see as human, only as meat with eyes.

[–] diannetea@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago

We're just money cattle

[–] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

As someone who works in a mom and pop restaurant, I understand this. McDonalds is huge and buys/manufactures in bulk, sure, so their prices are gonna be cheaper, but their costs are still going up like the rest of us. It kills me to keep seeing our menu updates, but food is fucking expensive now. I'm not saying that McDonalds isn't pulling down a tidy profit, and if food costs dropped they probably wouldn't drop their price, but I don't put the price increase solely on them. Food costs are rising all over, and it's killing the business. I have a spreadsheet from 6 years ago when I first started analyzing our costs, and my most recent sheet shows anywhere between 150 and 200% increase across the board. That's absurd. So, blame McDonalds for whatever you want, I won't stop you, but make sure to aim some hate at the production side of things as well.

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[–] oxjox@lemmy.ml 13 points 9 months ago (2 children)

This is how supply and demand and inflation are supposed to work. Prices get inflated because the supply is low and the demand is high. We’re now at the tipping point where the market is saying it’s too much. We should have been saying it was too much, via our wallets, years ago.

Cry all you want about corporate greed but it’s largely unregulated so the supply for their wallet still counts as supply. If you’re still paying for it, they’re going to keep raising the prices. What’s something worth? What someone will pay for it.

Why is beef still expensive? Because people keep buying it. https://www.marketplace.org/2024/01/10/if-inflation-slowed-down-in-2023-why-is-my-grocery-bill-so-high/

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 27 points 9 months ago (6 children)

It's not supply being low, it's about captured markets via strategic regulation chokes.

I can literally buy a half pallet of hasbrowns for less than 4 or 5 trips to the family at McD. I just am not going to invest in a fryer...

[–] wunami@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago (13 children)

Air fryer works extremely well for hash browns and tater tots.

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