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What I find most fascinating is that a multimillion dollar company was destroyed simply because the owner told the truth. Imagine if fast food CEOs were honest

What I find most fascinating is that a multimillion dollar company was destroyed simply because the owner told the truth. Imagine if fast food CEOs were honest about the quality of their food instead of just parroting marketing bullshit.

dheera 7y ago
Yeah, this is what I find is the most sad part. I actually value people who are willing to be transparent and honest about themselves, and in my mind that kind of honesty should increase the valuation of a company, at least in the sense that there is indirect value delivered to society when more honest people are in control of money.
ghaff 7y ago
I rarely eat at the big fast food chains--and it's usually because I have no other options. But what's the "truth" about the quality of the food? The CEO could quite honestly say that their goals are consistency, speed, food safety, and affordability. Quality? I expect the honest response would be something along the lines of 1.) Millions of customers apparently like our product and 2.) We try to deliver the best quality product we can subject to our customers' other priorities. The CEO probably believes this to some degree or other. They're not trying to deliver a high-end steakhouse experience. McDonald's isn't even trying to deliver a Shake Shack experience--which maybe costs 2x (at least)?
- mywittyname 7y ago
  I eat McDonalds rather frequently for lunch because there's one nearby, a double cheeseburger is $1.89, and has 26g of protein and under 500 calories. I think they taste fine; I wouldn't pay more for a better tasting one. I'm pretty sure nearly every McDonalds customer thinks the same way. They want quick, cheap, safely prepared food that tastes good enough to eat.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    I pretty much can't stand them personally--except for the fries and maybe a couple of breakfast items. But I readily admit I'm a bit of a foodie. I'm certainly not going to begrudge others who find them a good value or even, gasp, like them.
    - peteretep 7y ago
      I would also identify as a foodie. But I don't always need a 12 course tasting menu, and sometimes a dollar cheeseburger with a mild and predictable taste is a good source of calories.
      - ghaff 7y ago
        Fair enough. I just find McDonald's sort of ick. I'd rather (and am in a position to) spend a few bucks more to eat something I actually enjoy. And I'm happy to just skip an ick meal. But that's not a value judgement. Just how I personally prefer to eat.
- calibas 7y ago
  It's some of the poorest quality food you can get with a price to match, though that's highly dependent upon what you order and where you go. It's complete garbage compared to what the CEO is eating, and while everybody knows that, the CEO will never state it publicly. The story about Ratner is a direct example of what would happen.
mffnbs 7y ago
That destroyed company? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signet_Jewelers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signet_Jewelers

dheera 7y ago

Yeah, this is what I find is the most sad part. I actually value people who are willing to be transparent and honest about themselves, and in my mind that kind of honesty should increase the valuation of a company, at least in the sense that there is indirect value delivered to society when more honest people are in control of money.

ghaff 7y ago

I rarely eat at the big fast food chains--and it's usually because I have no other options. But what's the "truth" about the quality of the food? The CEO could quite honestly say that their goals are consistency, speed, food safety, and affordability. Quality? I expect the honest response would be something along the lines of 1.) Millions of customers apparently like our product and 2.) We try to deliver the best quality product we can subject to our customers' other priorities. The CEO probably believes this to some degree or other. They're not trying to deliver a high-end steakhouse experience. McDonald's isn't even trying to deliver a Shake Shack experience--which maybe costs 2x (at least)?

mywittyname 7y ago
I eat McDonalds rather frequently for lunch because there's one nearby, a double cheeseburger is $1.89, and has 26g of protein and under 500 calories. I think they taste fine; I wouldn't pay more for a better tasting one. I'm pretty sure nearly every McDonalds customer thinks the same way. They want quick, cheap, safely prepared food that tastes good enough to eat.
- ghaff 7y ago
  I pretty much can't stand them personally--except for the fries and maybe a couple of breakfast items. But I readily admit I'm a bit of a foodie. I'm certainly not going to begrudge others who find them a good value or even, gasp, like them.
  - peteretep 7y ago
    I would also identify as a foodie. But I don't always need a 12 course tasting menu, and sometimes a dollar cheeseburger with a mild and predictable taste is a good source of calories.
    - ghaff 7y ago
      Fair enough. I just find McDonald's sort of ick. I'd rather (and am in a position to) spend a few bucks more to eat something I actually enjoy. And I'm happy to just skip an ick meal. But that's not a value judgement. Just how I personally prefer to eat.
calibas 7y ago
It's some of the poorest quality food you can get with a price to match, though that's highly dependent upon what you order and where you go. It's complete garbage compared to what the CEO is eating, and while everybody knows that, the CEO will never state it publicly. The story about Ratner is a direct example of what would happen.

mffnbs 7y ago

That destroyed company? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signet_Jewelers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signet_Jewelers