2y ago

Wendy's now says it won't surge-price menu items

www.businessinsider.com

Wendy's is walking back suggestions it will start surge-pricing burgers and fries.
On an earnings call, the company's CEO said it would begin experimenting with "features like dynamic pricing."
Wendy's later said its dynamic pricing wouldn't raise prices and would only offer discounts.

Wendy's on Tuesday appeared to walk back comments from CEO Kirk Tanner that prompted widespread reports — and backlash — over the idea that the company would be introducing surge pricing for burgers and fries.

24 comments

- At what time?
I’ll believe it when I (don’t) see it. Inb4 Wendell’s raises the price across the board and you need to use a “discount” to get a hamburger under $10.
- You need our app if you want the standard pricing. We make up the difference by selling your personal data. You're welcome!
lmao, they spent $20mil to build the new pricing software, but tooootally not going to use it now. k.
- They’re gonna do what kohls does. Jack the prices to always offer a “discount”. When they double the prices and then offer a 40% discount, make sure to use the shocked piccachu meme. (And when they surge away the discount… the shocked Richu meme,)
  They’ll probably slowly jack the rates between now and roll out to avoid anyone noticing too much.
  Because they think we’re idiots
  
  … and they’re right.
“We are not cracking down on password sharing.” …”ok now we are going to do that.”
Go fuxk yourself Wendy's.
This means hiking the prices to artificially lower them during downtime. There's no difference.
I'll be sure to never stop at Wendy's to find out though, just in case.
They should maybe try Surge firing their CEO.
Wendy's later said its dynamic pricing wouldn't raise prices and would only offer discounts.
Hahaha bullshit.
- WoW uses a similar method of framing things.
  https://www.psychologyofgames.com/2010/03/framing-and-world-of-warcrafts-rest-system/
- Nonono, they'll statically raise prices and will sometimes offer "discounts" to the price the item is now
I vote for people just going into a Wendy's when it's not busy. Tell the cashier you want the surge pricing discount of 50% off because it's not busy.
- I did fast food for a long time and don't really see how lowering prices when it's not busy then increasing them during peak hours is going to do less harm than good. I think it would make more sense to charge a little less when they're busy and have lots of employees and can make food faster. Then charge the normal price when it's slow and they have less employees.
  It's probably more about impressing investors as having bigger numbers in your sales report during peak hours looks good.
  
  When there is a long line, the kitchen is pressured to move faster and faster. Eventually, moving too fast means sloppy work and mistakes. There is a limit to how many workers and food fit in the kitchen. Even with machines this is true.
  Raising prices would mean the line is shorter by turning some people away. That way the kitchen can work at a pace that lets them keep quality without having the pressure of a long line.
  You really shouldn't tell workers they can only clock in when there is work, but some bosses are shit stains.
  So lowering prices when the line is gone is supposed to get more customers, so that way the boss can the workers are always busy.
  High prices keep the workers from going too fast and making mistakes. Low prices keep the workers from standing idle and freaking out the boss.
  The real fallacy is thinking that people and machines can work continuously without a break.
What's the over/under on days for Kirk to be golden parachuted out the door with a big ol' severance package?
"Yet"
LOL they talked about this whole thing in a bubble and never talked to an actual consumer. Then they were surprised when people reacted poorly to it.
Wonder what the legalities are of going through the drive through and making an order, and then just driving straight through when it's your turn at the window, as if you forgot your wallet?
Or, for a little more direct protest, when you get to the window ask the attendant to verify the total, ask why it's higher than it was the other day, and then refuse the order and drive off.
- Nr 2 requires you to know the price is raised or your prepared to actually eat there if their not.
  How do you plan dinner that way? Very few people have the will strength to order something while hungry and then deny it themselves to go home and coock.
  Now nr 1 seems way more duable cause you can go having already eaten and zero intend to purchase, order whatever cause you wont eat regardless but like you said is it legally safe?
  
  like you said is it legally safe?
  Yes, unless you spam their driv-thru they're not going to notice or even really care all that much.
  I've legit forgotten my wallet multiple times and just gone on and nobody's ever hassled me for it. When I worked fast food same shit, we just laughed and someone on crew or in the lobby got some free food

24 comments