Does Wendy's want to become the "Uber" of fast food with surge pricing scheme? (2024)

Wendy's executive gives update on menu prices: 'We won't get too greedy'​

• Wendy's CFO said it would increase prices by less than 5 percent this year
• It comes after plans to roll out 'dynamic pricing' unleashed a huge backlash
• The executive also said the company employs an 'eternal pricing consultant'

They also said Wendy's will still be rolling out digital menus as early as next year.​

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'Digital menuboards could allow us to change the menu offerings at different times of day,' they said.​

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Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner first alluded to how its dynamic pricing plans would boost earnings in February during its previous quarterly call with analysts.​

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But after DailyMail.com reported on his comments, Americans reacted in horror to subsequent broadcasts and reports in newspapers that they might be expected to pay higher prices at busier times of the day.​

A lot of places do a form in surge pricing with coupons or even apps where certain times offer a discount for making a reservation. Late night menu with limited options. Just more planning and less control. For ride sharing people think its fair or at least have accepted it. It gets more drivers to that area which benefits everyone other then taxis.

For fast food it may take longer to catch on and the first company will take the heat but may be the future.

I do like the fact that Wendy’s offers a 10% discount for seniors. But you do have to ask for it.

Dori

Dori said:

I do like the fact tha Wendy’s offers a 10% discount for seniors. But you do have to ask for it.

Dori

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I've found that most places that offer a senior discount you need to ask for it.

free2travel said:

What? a "debacle" "unleashed a huge backlash"? Who is worse at this outrage stuff, Americans or the Brits? It took a UK journalist to "unleash" this? Come on my countrymen, try to keep up in the Outrage Gap.

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More grist for the perpetually indignant...

DrQ said:

I like the chili, which now may have its price linked to the outdoor temperature.

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Chili is made with the leftover burnt junk from the hamburger flattop.

ScoopKona said:

More grist for the perpetually indignant...

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Usually 3 or 4 "influencers".

Millions of Americans are fed up with fast-food prices​

• Fast food prices have shot up 33 percent since 2019, figures show
• Costs at the supermarket have only gone up 26 percent in the same time
• McDonald's has upped its prices most while Domino's has resisted hikes

Chains which have hiked their prices most in the last decade

TolmiePeak said:

The Costco hotdog is still $1.50.

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Yes, though even Costco admits that's a loss leader and they don't make money at that price...

DrQ said:

Millions of Americans are fed up with fast-food prices​

• Fast food prices have shot up 33 percent since 2019, figures show
• Costs at the supermarket have only gone up 26 percent in the same time
• McDonald's has upped its prices most while Domino's has resisted hikes

Fast food chains accused of 'greedflation' amid soaring menu prices

Prices at America's biggest fast-food chains have soared above the rate of inflation in the last five years as firms come under fire for 'greedflation.'

www.dailymail.co.uk

Chains which have hiked their prices most in the last decade

Company	Price percentage increase since 2014
1 McDonald's 2 Popeye's 3 Taco Bell 4 Chipotle 5 Jimmy John's 6 Arby's 7 Burger King 8 Chick-fil-A 9 Wendy's 10 Panera 11 Subway 12 Starbucks Source - Finance Buzz	100% 86% 81% 75% 62% 55% 55% 55% 55% 54% 39% 39%

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I was really thinking fast food prices went crazy over the pandemic, but were up quite a bit before that too. And like I've often said, fast food no longer makes sense as a "I need food" sort of thing. It's more like going for a treat if you happen to really like the food - I'm somewhat partial to some of them. When fast food is costing ~$20 a person it seems, it's competing with the next higher level of take out food or eat in food. And the "fast food" isn't fast anymore - or not like it used to be. When you're stuck for at least 10 minutes trying to like get an iced tea, or a #1 or whatever pretty standard thing, and it costs near as much as better food... The reasons to go change a lot. I don't go to local places anywhere near as much as I used to - the value isn't there.

The problem isn't the absolute price, it's the relative price. Ever since fast food started going over $10 for a burger, fries and a drink, when fast casual was doing the same for $13 and maybe 20 minutes vs 10-12 minute wait at the fast food place I thought they're going to have problems. Honestly, after my last trip to a Cracker Barrel where they advertise something like 30 entrees under $12.99 or something - I'm going to try and remember them.

joestein said:

Chili is made with the leftover burnt junk from the hamburger flattop.

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Yep. I worked at a Wendy's for a few months while in college. At that location, there was a slot near the back of the flat top where we shoved the hamburger patties that had been sitting on the grill too long. Under that slot was a 5-gallon bucket where those overcooked patties would sit for most of the day. They were later chopped up and put into a batch of chili.

With that said, when it comes to fast-food hamburgers, I still like Wendy's burgers the best. Their meat is fresh, never frozen and decent quality. Will I eat the chili? Rarely. I just can't get that 5-gallon bucket of old hamburger patties out of my head, even 35 years later.

Kurt

1Kflyerguy said:

Yes, though even Costco admits that's a loss leader and they don't make money at that price...

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It is a tasteless hot dog. Use to be a Hebrew National, now it is a bad knockoff. I dont even want it. And I love hot dogs.

PigsDad said:

Yep. I worked at a Wendy's for a few months while in college. At that location, there was a slot near the back of the flat top where we shoved the hamburger patties that had been sitting on the grill too long. Under that slot was a 5-gallon bucket where those overcooked patties would sit for most of the day. They were later chopped up and put into a batch of chili.

With that said, when it comes to fast-food hamburgers, I still like Wendy's burgers the best. Their meat is fresh, never frozen and decent quality. Will I eat the chili? Rarely. I just can't get that 5-gallon bucket of old hamburger patties out of my head, even 35 years later.

Kurt

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I use to work at KFC when a freshman at college. The gravy is the worst stuff you can imagine. all the junk from the giant pressure fryers that gets stuck in the 'trap' is put into a bucket. Where it just sits at room temperature forever - they called it 'The Cracklings'. I think we called it 'The Craplings'. I think we mixed a few scoops of that congealed crap with some sort of flavor powder and boiling water to make the gravy each day. Got to be the worst thing ever.

Funny that we used an ice cream scooper to scoop out the crackling. It would produce a scoop that looked kinda like fudge riple, but certainly wasn't ice cream.