Low-income Americans being priced out of McDonald’s and wider fast-food industry by soaring prices

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mcdonalds-dollar-menu-raising-prices-b2867013.html

106 points · 25 comments · view on lemmy.world

25 Comments

its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 30 pts · 296d (12 replies)

It's getting to the point where 'upscale' fast food is cheaper than McDonald's.

shalafi@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 296d (5 replies)

The Mexican restaurant down the street is cheaper than Taco Bell, minus the tip. I'm fine dropping an extra $5.

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 6 pts · 296d (4 replies)

There's a taco truck a few miles from me that has $0.75 tacos, and they are 50 times better than Taco Bell tacos. Plus they give you hella raddishes and carrots on the side for nothing extra.

doingthestuff@lemy.lol · 4 pts · 296d (3 replies)

Man there are taco trucks all around me, but nobody sells tacos for under $4.

shalafi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 296d (1 reply)

The "deluxe" is $3.50 here! And this is not an upscale town.

doingthestuff@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 295d

We have a local chain called hothead burritos, they're brick and mortar similar to Chipotle but they usually sell tacos for $3.50, but they do taco Tuesdays for $2.50. I get those fairly often, it is by FAR the best deal on tacos around here.

TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 295d

yeah where i live a single taco is like $6. a three taco plate is $15.

SpikesOtherDog@ani.social · 3 pts · 296d (5 replies)

I have found recently that I'm perfectly satisfied with a single cheeseburger and a diet soda. Still costs $4. 3.50 with the free drink, or $2 with a free cheeseburger coupon using points. Both require the app.

its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 13 pts · 296d (4 replies)

The day I download an app to patron a physical building.

TheAsianDonKnots@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 296d (2 replies)

Yeah, it sucks and I have 30 dang apps, but you really do get some decent discounts that bring the price back down to pre-pandemic prices.

its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 296d (1 reply)

I have simple rules. No rewards programs, apps, or free trials.

doingthestuff@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 295d

I couldn't afford to eat out if it wasn't for apps and rewards. I hate it but the choice is between never going to a restaurant, or using their app. I usually save at least 30-50%. Sometimes it's free. I have 3 1/2 kids to feed though too, so saving is essential.

ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 295d

I refuse. When anything says "just install out app" I'm out right then, no further reading required. It's even to the point where whenever someone tells me about X service or Y store or Z product, I specifically ask if there's an app since many (products, mostly) are starting to hide the app dependency until you open the box and there's some bullshit little card with a QR code.

Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 24 pts · 296d (3 replies)

But it's okay, you can get what is effectively a tiny kids meal, sans toy, at the same price you could get a regular sized meal a decade ago! Or, in the case of their snack wraps, they will take them away for 5 years then triple the price when they bring them back! McEconomics!

vateso5074@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 296d (2 replies)
[ removed ]
Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 296d

That is some glass-is-half-full energy, if I've ever seen it

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 295d

McDonalds-fueled obesity epidemic.

Sure, blame restaurants for people eating like pigs.

Fenrisulfir@lemmy.ca · 17 pts · 296d (1 reply)

I’d like to hear from all the finance bros who used the price of a Big Mac as the standard for inflation

paraphrand@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 296d

Divination.

recentSlinky@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 296d (2 replies)

So how do all those "business geniuses" think they can make any money if no one can buy their shit anymore? 🤔

imrighthere@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 296d

According to mcds, it's fine since there has been an uptick in wealthy people eating that slop to make up the difference.

Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 296d

Mcdonalds doesn't care. They are a landlord and franchise business not a fast food company. Mcdonalds makes money on every open store regardless how well that store does. The only thing that hits the actual company is closed stores.

shalafi@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 296d (1 reply)

Been screaming for a couple of years now, stop whining about prices and refuse to buy. That's kinda core to how capitalism works?

Lemmy: "Down with capitalism!"

Me: "Maybe stop buying their shit?"

Went to Dollar General for some goods, balked at the coffee prices. No way in hell I'm paying $17 for a can of coffee! Fuck right off I'll do without. Older guy was bitching with me in line today, same store, "$2.50 for a candy bar!" "I simply won't pay it, fuck all that."

I could take any one of you around our house and spend two hours showing you how little we spend. My outfit today? Casual, yet sharp, $10 for all of it. Under Armour sweatshirt $1, shoes $3, new button-up T-shirt $1, form-fitting scrubs $3, haircut free in the mirror, bracelet home-made from scraps, you get it.

My wife was trying on new outfits last night, woman's a total clothes horse. Every dress she showed me was $1 or free, all new or new enough you can't tell. I had to quit buying shoes from the thrift because I have an unreasonable amount.

She sells at the flea market most weekends. I put out some free goods, couple of toaster ovens, kids bows, etc. No one even glanced. Sold seeds that go for $5 on eBay for $.50. Sold one pack.

Not even starting on what all we've dug out of the neighbor's trash. OK, I'll start. Got a brand new toaster oven (big!), band new wine fridge (huge!) and a solid wood desk, free, one stop. One night we got a whole set of new Tupperware, pots and pans and the guy gave us a brand new bike for my daughter, tags still on it! And this is in a lower-middle class hood on the edge of town in the American South.

Lemmy: "Go on strike against capitalism!"

Me: "Uh, been on strike for years now?"

OneOrTheOtherDontAskMe@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 295d

The only place in town that sells shirts for a dollar and shoes for three is the salvation army, and let me tell you, they don't have much for the Big and Tall.

I, too, wear things until they're broken. I have shirts I've been wearing since hogh school. I don't shop at dollar general, but that's because it's an evil conglomerate with the intent to drive out other businesses with their extremely low quality goods sourced from cheap/slave labor across the seas. That, and they don't have my sizes

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 295d (1 reply)

Maybe people are just waking up to the fact that McDonalds was never cheap food.

TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 295d

what are you smoking.

i used to go to mcd/wendy all the time because you could get a meal for $5 or less. we used to get high, drive to mcdonalds and eat 2-3 hamburgers each and split a large fry for like $10 for three people. it was very cheap and it was open late.

now to feed three people at mcdonalds it's 30-40 bucks.