Dynamic Pricing coming to a fast food restaurant near you

StardogChamp79

Fast food restaurants are now taking a page out of Ticketmaster’s book. 🤦 It appears this may be the way of the world. Oh the humanity!

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/27/food/wendys-test-surge-pricing/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/business/its-not-just-the-super-bowl-going-to-a-game-is-becoming-unaffordable/index.html

on2legs

AMC tried to do this with movie theater tickets.  Charging more for better seats.  It flopped and they dropped it.

lexicondevil

OH darn! I can't eat at Wendy's anymore? What will I do? Eat somewhere better... This is going to be an epic FAIL.

StardogChamp79

I honestly hope so! When is enough, enough? I think it is just the point that there is always another way to fleece the people. 

Kwieneke

I’m a big Wendy’s fan so I hope this fails miserably 

BF25394

on2legs said:

AMC tried to do this with movie theater tickets.  Charging more for better seats.  It flopped and they dropped it.

That's true, but there's another form of variable pricing that movie theaters have used for a long time, and no one questions it. At many theaters, matinees cost less than evening shows, and weekday showings cost less than weekend showings.

on2legs

lexicondevil said:

OH darn! I can't eat at Wendy's anymore? What will I do? Eat somewhere better... This is going to be an epic FAIL.

lol

F Me In The Brain

Fuck Wendy.   That shit is nasty and it has been 20 years since....and will be forever until I eat it.
Mc D
BK
Wendy's
Blech.  

RatherStarved

I could see it now.  When you go through the drive thru your favorite items are sold out so you settle for something less.  Then when you have already paid and got your food but before driving away they miraculously discover inventory of what you really wanted and sell you that too.  

StardogChamp79

RatherStarved said:

I could see it now.  When you go through the drive thru your favorite items are sold out so you settle for something less.  Then when you have already paid and got your food but before driving away they miraculously discover inventory of what you really wanted and sell you that too.  

Or even worse. French fries at 3:00 pm are $2. At 5:00 pm, they are $8 due to high demand. 🤯

Zod

The Wendy's to population ratio here isn't favourable.  Always long slow lineups at dinner time.  Rarely went there (But I do like the food).

This has no impact on me as I recently pretty much gave up fast food.

brianlux

It's all road kill anyway.  Your best bet is to stop eating that garbage.  

StardogChamp79

https://www.wbay.com/2024/02/28/burger-king-giving-out-free-whoppers-response-wendys-dynamic-pricing-backlash/?tbref=hp

tbergs

StardogChamp79 said:

https://www.wbay.com/2024/02/28/burger-king-giving-out-free-whoppers-response-wendys-dynamic-pricing-backlash/?tbref=hp

Where's the equivalent for this in concert tickets? Can we get a "Creed paying people to attend their concerts in response to Pearl Jam bowing to Ticketmaster".

mace1229

Many places already do this.
Someone mentioned movie prices are different at different times.

Go to any restaurant and they have lunch specials, weekday specials, happy hour specials, early bird specials, pretty much a special for any time of the day that isn't peak dinner.
This is nothing new. Not even new to the food industry. Just new to fast food. 
Even fast food has coupons only valid certain hours (outside peak times), or specials on valid certain hours. Dominoes might offer "free" delivery, but different pricing for take out vs delivery. So real doesn't seem like anything new to me. 

Poncier

mace1229 said:

Many places already do this.
Someone mentioned movie prices are different at different times.

Go to any restaurant and they have lunch specials, weekday specials, happy hour specials, early bird specials, pretty much a special for any time of the day that isn't peak dinner.
This is nothing new. Not even new to the food industry. Just new to fast food. 
Even fast food has coupons only valid certain hours (outside peak times), or specials on valid certain hours. Dominoes might offer "free" delivery, but different pricing for take out vs delivery. So real doesn't seem like anything new to me. 

The difference is with things like specials and coupons etc. restaurants are offering things at a lower price than the normal menu price for certain times/circumstances. In this case Wendy's was looking to increase the price from the standard menu price at busier times,

However Wendy's quickly took note of the backlash and changed/supposedly clarified their tune:

Wendy’s says it won’t use surge pricing | CNN Business

tbergs

Seems like Wendy's needs to fire their sales/marketing execs. All they needed to do was say they were raising prices and then offer lower rates at certain times. They could have messaged it a lot different where they didn't seem quite as sleazy. I expect in about 6 - 12 months you'll see their prices go up overall but they'll emphasize when there are discounts/happy hour type pricing. 

mace1229

Poncier said:

mace1229 said:

Many places already do this.
Someone mentioned movie prices are different at different times.

Go to any restaurant and they have lunch specials, weekday specials, happy hour specials, early bird specials, pretty much a special for any time of the day that isn't peak dinner.
This is nothing new. Not even new to the food industry. Just new to fast food. 
Even fast food has coupons only valid certain hours (outside peak times), or specials on valid certain hours. Dominoes might offer "free" delivery, but different pricing for take out vs delivery. So real doesn't seem like anything new to me. 

The difference is with things like specials and coupons etc. restaurants are offering things at a lower price than the normal menu price for certain times/circumstances. In this case Wendy's was looking to increase the price from the standard menu price at busier times,

However Wendy's quickly took note of the backlash and changed/supposedly clarified their tune:

Wendy’s says it won’t use surge pricing | CNN Business

It's all perspective. Does Dominoes charge for for delivery or offer a discount for take out? Its just cheaper at off times.

In the article is says "Wendy’s said the new new digital menus could be used to “change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts,” rather than change prices."

So sounds like that is exactly what they are doing, raising and lowering the price. Subway offers foot long specials after 4 PM. No one has ever complained about that. This doesn't sound any different to me. 

Poncier

mace1229 said:

Poncier said:

mace1229 said:

Many places already do this.
Someone mentioned movie prices are different at different times.

Go to any restaurant and they have lunch specials, weekday specials, happy hour specials, early bird specials, pretty much a special for any time of the day that isn't peak dinner.
This is nothing new. Not even new to the food industry. Just new to fast food. 
Even fast food has coupons only valid certain hours (outside peak times), or specials on valid certain hours. Dominoes might offer "free" delivery, but different pricing for take out vs delivery. So real doesn't seem like anything new to me. 

The difference is with things like specials and coupons etc. restaurants are offering things at a lower price than the normal menu price for certain times/circumstances. In this case Wendy's was looking to increase the price from the standard menu price at busier times,

However Wendy's quickly took note of the backlash and changed/supposedly clarified their tune:

Wendy’s says it won’t use surge pricing | CNN Business

It's all perspective. Does Dominoes charge for for delivery or offer a discount for take out? Its just cheaper at off times.

In the article is says "Wendy’s said the new new digital menus could be used to “change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts,” rather than change prices."

So sounds like that is exactly what they are doing, raising and lowering the price. Subway offers foot long specials after 4 PM. No one has ever complained about that. This doesn't sound any different to me. 

Right, that's what they said after the massive backlash. Originally just called it "surge pricing" which as we know from Uber and Lyft is increased pricing at busy times. I imagine someone may have lost their job over that choice of wording.

mace1229

I guess the big difference and what my compliant potentially might be is you can predict and plan around the specials at other places. If the adjusted pricing isn't a standard thing and you don't know what you're getting until you walk in and see the menu, that would irritate me enough to not go there.
But, since it's a year away from even a test market, I have no idea if it will be like that or not. Could just be here's one menu from 6 AM - 10, a 10-2:00 menu, and a 2:00 and later menu pricing. 

cincybearcat

This has given me a great idea...going to charge my company more for my time 7-10AM and all day on Fridays.  Finally get that raise I deserve with my dynamic wages model.