3 ms·

Fast food doesn't make sense anymore. Inflation has hit other food options too, but fast food has lost the discount relative to better food that's supposed to b

Fast food doesn't make sense anymore. Inflation has hit other food options too, but fast food has lost the discount relative to better food that's supposed to be part of its fundamental contract.

TapWaterBandit 3y ago
At least where I am it is still cheaper than alternatives because wages at those options have gone up as well. The exception is family-run stores where wages are kept low by roping in unpaid labour from family or outright exploiting immigrant labour who don't understand labour law or have the language skills to make their case for it.
dieselgate 3y ago
i'm conflicted, for people that don't eat meat chipotle and taco bell can be pretty nice.
wahern 3y ago
At McDonalds combo meal deals target price insensitive customers. Here in San Francisco you can get 20 Chicken McNuggets for $5, which is an astounding price/calorie deal, possibly even deliberate charity to earn political goodwill. The McDouble[1] is also a good value, but not nearly as good as the 20-piece McNuggets. [1] Or maybe the Double Cheeseburger. I forget which is the better deal.
- OfSanguineFire 3y ago
  When I cycled from Los Angeles to the Mexican border last year, I was surprised by 1) how few McDonalds there seemed to be compared to other chains (McDs used to be omnipresent, at least in other parts of the USA), and 2) how expensive food at any of the fast food chains around was: KFC, Carl’s Jr, etc. was inevitably over $12 for a basic meal. Even rudimentary Mexican fast-food places felt like they were getting pricey. So, that San Francisco deal on nuggets that you describe is amazing, but I wonder how many Californians can actually take advantage of it where they are.
  - wahern 3y ago
    > So, that San Francisco deal on nuggets that you describe is amazing, but I wonder how many Californians can actually take advantage of it where they are. While the price varies I think the 20-piece is usually one of the better deals at any franchise, though maybe not always the best one. The price hasn't changed much, if at all, while more popular menu items have significantly inflated in price. Also, now that I think about it, some of the less popular breakfast sandwiches are often the better deals on the menu, though that's only for breakfast. I agree fast food prices have inflated significantly across the board, both chain and mom-and-pop, and inflated more than groceries. But I think McDonalds is more conscientious than most about preserving some strong value items, presumably partly because of the communities they're expected to serve (a quid pro quo for their ubiquity?). The low-priced options have become more spartan, but less spartan than other fast food joints.
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  Here in the UK, I've that basic hamburgers (£1.59) or cheeseburgers (£1.79) offer the best value, or indeed the box of 20 chicken McNuggets (£6.99). They definitely try to hide those basic burgers in favour of 'fancier' and much more expensive ones. Even just a Big Mac is £4.79 and chicken burgers are £5+.
  - mytailorisrich 3y ago
    Oh just noticed these are Deliveroo prices. In store it is cheaper...
- singron 3y ago
  The McDonald's app has incredible deals. You can only use 1 deal per app, but we have each person make separate orders on their own app and charge to the same card. At the drive through, you can read out as many order codes as you have. E.g. $1 breakfast sandwich (normal price about $4.50 here). Also BOGO on various items. If our local sports team wins, there is usually a good deal offered that day. Considering you don't tip, it's by far the cheapest way we eat out, and it's probably cheaper than a lot of stuff we eat at home.
HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
McDonald's used to be our "I don't feel like cooking, what's a cheap and fast option?" Bearing in mind that we live about 10 miles outside town and McDonald's is the first business as you get into town, I'd often get takeout from there. But last time I noticed that a McD's meal for 3 was within $10 of a restaurant that we like and that's only another half mile away with much better food. And since I place the order before driving there, the food's ready just as I arrive, so time-wise they end up being the same. McDonald's has the benefit of being open until midnight whereas my local restaurant closes at 7PM weekdays, but that's about it.

Fast food doesn't make sense anymore. Inflation has hit other food options too, but fast food has lost the discount relative to better food that's supposed to be part of its fundamental contract.

TapWaterBandit 3y ago

At least where I am it is still cheaper than alternatives because wages at those options have gone up as well. The exception is family-run stores where wages are kept low by roping in unpaid labour from family or outright exploiting immigrant labour who don't understand labour law or have the language skills to make their case for it.

dieselgate 3y ago

i'm conflicted, for people that don't eat meat chipotle and taco bell can be pretty nice.

wahern 3y ago

At McDonalds combo meal deals target price insensitive customers. Here in San Francisco you can get 20 Chicken McNuggets for $5, which is an astounding price/calorie deal, possibly even deliberate charity to earn political goodwill. The McDouble[1] is also a good value, but not nearly as good as the 20-piece McNuggets. [1] Or maybe the Double Cheeseburger. I forget which is the better deal.

OfSanguineFire 3y ago
When I cycled from Los Angeles to the Mexican border last year, I was surprised by 1) how few McDonalds there seemed to be compared to other chains (McDs used to be omnipresent, at least in other parts of the USA), and 2) how expensive food at any of the fast food chains around was: KFC, Carl’s Jr, etc. was inevitably over $12 for a basic meal. Even rudimentary Mexican fast-food places felt like they were getting pricey. So, that San Francisco deal on nuggets that you describe is amazing, but I wonder how many Californians can actually take advantage of it where they are.
- wahern 3y ago
  > So, that San Francisco deal on nuggets that you describe is amazing, but I wonder how many Californians can actually take advantage of it where they are. While the price varies I think the 20-piece is usually one of the better deals at any franchise, though maybe not always the best one. The price hasn't changed much, if at all, while more popular menu items have significantly inflated in price. Also, now that I think about it, some of the less popular breakfast sandwiches are often the better deals on the menu, though that's only for breakfast. I agree fast food prices have inflated significantly across the board, both chain and mom-and-pop, and inflated more than groceries. But I think McDonalds is more conscientious than most about preserving some strong value items, presumably partly because of the communities they're expected to serve (a quid pro quo for their ubiquity?). The low-priced options have become more spartan, but less spartan than other fast food joints.
mytailorisrich 3y ago
Here in the UK, I've that basic hamburgers (£1.59) or cheeseburgers (£1.79) offer the best value, or indeed the box of 20 chicken McNuggets (£6.99). They definitely try to hide those basic burgers in favour of 'fancier' and much more expensive ones. Even just a Big Mac is £4.79 and chicken burgers are £5+.
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  Oh just noticed these are Deliveroo prices. In store it is cheaper...
singron 3y ago
The McDonald's app has incredible deals. You can only use 1 deal per app, but we have each person make separate orders on their own app and charge to the same card. At the drive through, you can read out as many order codes as you have. E.g. $1 breakfast sandwich (normal price about $4.50 here). Also BOGO on various items. If our local sports team wins, there is usually a good deal offered that day. Considering you don't tip, it's by far the cheapest way we eat out, and it's probably cheaper than a lot of stuff we eat at home.

HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago

McDonald's used to be our "I don't feel like cooking, what's a cheap and fast option?" Bearing in mind that we live about 10 miles outside town and McDonald's is the first business as you get into town, I'd often get takeout from there. But last time I noticed that a McD's meal for 3 was within $10 of a restaurant that we like and that's only another half mile away with much better food. And since I place the order before driving there, the food's ready just as I arrive, so time-wise they end up being the same. McDonald's has the benefit of being open until midnight whereas my local restaurant closes at 7PM weekdays, but that's about it.