Burger King on Bichara Blvd

[Denbal82]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

[jimbomaybe]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

BK was at one time my favorite pig out, since Covid prices have gone up substantially, size of product shrunk , I think the Whopper now only has one P, service and quality down the porcelain fixture, cook for yourself and contend with the increase in grocery prices

[retiredguy123]

I don't think it is about the cost of a cup. I suspect that the reason for not giving out cups is to prevent people from stealing drinks. Some restaurants have small cups at the drink machine for water. It is pretty obvious that there is a lot of retail theft going on and a serious lack of law enforcement. Some stores actually lock up their merchandise.

[Denbal82]

I agree. I believe that the small lose from beverage theft is incorporated into the price of food. How much is sugar water anyway? Lets make the customer happy and supply the small cups. Every other restaurant does (so far).

[Chi-Town]

At the 30th anniversary celebration in Spanish Springs they were selling a cup of ice for 75 cents at the wine and beer kiosk.

[graciegirl]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

Prices are very high for all food. At the grocery, at the fast food restaurants and at fancier restaurants they are extremely high. The very few times we have gone out to dinner lately in one of the Villages restaurants, we noticed sparse attendance. Is it the lack of competent staff? Is it the high prices? Is it a nefarious plot? It is certainly happening. EVERYWHERE. I am sorry you couldn't get free water.

[retiredguy123]

Prices are very high for all food. At the grocery, at the fast food restaurants and at fancier restaurants they are extremely high. The very few times we have gone out to dinner lately in one of the Villages restaurants, we noticed sparse attendance. Is it the lack of competent staff? Is it the high prices? Is it a nefarious plot? It is certainly happening. EVERYWHERE. I am sorry you couldn't get free water.
High prices for mediocre food and service. Service has declined because tipping has become almost automatic, so management cannot control their employees, who are paid by the customers.

[Marathon Man]

I agree. I believe that the small lose from beverage theft is incorporated into the price of food. How much is sugar water anyway? Lets make the customer happy and supply the small cups. Every other restaurant does (so far).

Then you should be happy that they are fighting theft in order to keep prices from rising further.

[Boomer]

Interesting thread…..

My guess is that refusing to give a water cup is the policy of the franchisee and not a corporate policy over all. Sometimes the name of the franchisee is posted in the restaurant. Could be interesting to ask.

As far as prices go, eating out Is starting to make me feel stupid. Yes. There has been inflation, but it looks to me like restaurants, especially the chains, are way into price-gouging.

Inflation is coming down now, but you can bet your sweet bippy that restaurant prices will not.

Now, there is whining across the land that the Fed needs to start cutting. As one who has thought for decades that money was way too cheap, I hope the Fed holds a little longer and then takes baby steps, teeny-tiny baby steps.

Anyway, back to topic. . .If this is the franchisee’s business decision, they are going to see see even more turnover in employees — which are not easy to find anyway. Just imagine the increase in complaints, and sometimes even anger, that the people at the counter have to put up with from customers who just want water with their food.

Sure there are thieves among us who think taking pop they did not pay for is OK when, of course, it’s not and they know it. There are also things that go on in sit-down restaurants that might not be stealing but sure are rude….

(On a neighborhood outing to a restaurant in TV, I once found myself sitting across from a woman I did not know who ordered water — that part was OK — but when she said, “And bring me a whole bowl of lemons with it,” I wanted to crawl under the table.)

Price-gouging is starting to make some people think twice about where to spend their money. Add to that no water and it has to hurt the business because……Unrestrained greed is bad economics —eventually.

Boomer

[CoachKandSportsguy]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

Self serve is great with honest people, however, I have seen people walk off the streets into a burger king, with a cup, go directly to the soda fountain, get a drink, and walk back out the door.Therefore, the easiest way to stop inviting theft within their process is to stop handing out free cups with self serve soda at the same self serve machine as water.

Remember, its not about you when businesses make decisions, its about them and the customers and the freeloaders.

food prices are not really out of control, the pandemic has accelerated the retirement of many boomers, their move to the villages, and the expansion of the villages in the middle of nowhere has strained the limited service labor pool and competes with wages to keep the business from going bankrupt.

If you live in a capitalistic world, you live and die by capitalistic rules. The villages has been developed in the middle of rural FL, and continues to expand its population, resulting in the need for service labor for the increasing demand on current amenities. Food service is the biggest demand for service labor, and pays the least, minimum wage plus tips, and in a retirement community, tips might be hard to come by. The competition is 1 hour away in Orlando, where there are many jobs and many more than food service which pays higher.

So the local businesses have to pay either the dregs of society to work here or pay more to attract the next talent level up to staff or go out of business. And rural florida isn't full of high quality service labor looking for jobs. There are only so many service labor people who will work for retirees with higher wages and more social life 1 hour away. Likewise, if you want your service labor to live here, you have to pay a living wage, not a minimum wage, so

So pay up if you want the service business to stay in business for your business. Otherwise, maybe living somewhere else would satisfy your expectations of low prices. . .

[JohnN]

We went to the BK on 466, the Whopper was beyond unedible, just horrible. The fish sandwich was not really much better.
My last trip ever to a BK, kinda sad but time to move along.

[Rainger99]

Inflation is coming down now, but you can bet your sweet bippy that restaurant prices will not.


It is a myth that inflation is coming down. Inflation isn’t going up as fast as it did a couple of years ago but it is still going up.

It is like a flood. If the water goes up 10 feet above flood stage in one year and goes up 3 more feet the next year, the water is 13 feet above flood stage. The water is still rising.

Same with inflation.

[Stu from NYC]

It is a myth that inflation is coming down. Inflation isn’t going up as fast as it did a couple of years ago but it is still going up.

It is like a flood. If the water goes up 10 feet above flood stage in one year and goes up 3 more feet the next year, the water is 13 feet above flood stage. The water is still rising.

Same with inflation.

We still have inflation but we have a lower rate of inflation. The goal of the fed is not to have no inflation but to have 2%.

Prices will not come down overall but will go up more gradually.

[fdpaq0580]

We still have inflation but we have a lower rate of inflation. The goal of the fed is not to have no inflation but to have 2%.

Prices will not come down overall but will go up more gradually.

It amazes me how many people don't understand inflation. The only way to not have inflation is for the world to become totally stagnant. Nothing new, ever. Zero growth. Zero improvement. Tomorrow the same as today. Today same as yesterday, and the day before, as far back as forever.
Inflation is one sign of advancement or improvement. "New and improved" costs more to produce. Therefore it will cost more. Greater population means greater demand for everything. Everything will cost more. It isn't just here, it effects the whole world. It is a fact of life.
PS. And as for BK, I was never a fan. I was also creeper out by the King.

[Denbal82]

Thanks for your imformative input.

[tophcfa]

We went to the BK on 466, the Whopper was beyond unedible, just horrible. The fish sandwich was not really much better.
My last trip ever to a BK, kinda sad but time to move along.

Had the same experience last time I ate at a BK, it was sometime in the 1970’s.

[jimbomaybe]

It amazes me how many people don't understand inflation. The only way to not have inflation is for the world to become totally stagnant. Nothing new, ever. Zero growth. Zero improvement. Tomorrow the same as today. Today same as yesterday, and the day before, as far back as forever.
Inflation is one sign of advancement or improvement. "New and improved" costs more to produce. Therefore it will cost more. Greater population means greater demand for everything. Everything will cost more. It isn't just here, it effects the whole world. It is a fact of life.
PS. And as for BK, I was never a fan. I was also creeper out by the King.
You are talking about 1 -2% inflation being the desired rate, the higher the rates go above that is the effect of economic distortions , supply and demand issues

[Rainger99]

We still have inflation but we have a lower rate of inflation. The goal of the fed is not to have no inflation but to have 2%.

Prices will not come down overall but will go up more gradually.

One of the problems is in the calculation of inflation. Core inflation does not include food or energy - which people deal with on a daily basis.

In 2023, food prices increased by 5.8 percent. Food-at-home prices increased by 5.0 percent, while food-away-from-home prices increased by 7.1 percent.

And yet people are told that inflation is only at 3.4% and are only given a social security increase of 3.2%.

If the goal is 2%, we are 70% above the target rate.

[Gpsma]

Im sure many of us lived thru the inflation of the 1970s. Perhaps some remember when Nixon put in wage and price controls. He also had a nice little program…called WIN…Whip Inflation Now….none of that worked…took the economy to finally stabalize.

Yes, we have had inflation for the past year or two…its going down…not as much as we would like.

When inflation hits and then goes down..prices dont fall…i believe economists call it “sticky pricing”. Retailers who bought a product at a high price are reluctant to lower it even though the replacement price on that item is lower.

But I think retailers…fast foid, supermarkets, restaurants..are now just taking advantage and raising prices unnecessarily.

Read an article today..the ceo of mcdonalds is looking at their inflated prices. A big mac meal is $18 in some areas!
..

[retiredguy123]

Fast food is a very competitive industry. So, I really don't think there is much room for price gouging. If you don't like the cost of a fast food meal at Burger King or McDonald's, you can eat at Wendy's or somewhere else. I think competition works well at controlling prices.

[Rainger99]

Fast food is a very competitive industry. So, I really don't think there is much room for price gouging. If you don't like the cost of a fast food meal at Burger King or McDonald's, you can eat at Wendy's or somewhere else. I think competition works well at controlling prices.

McDonald's will focus on affordability in 2024, CEO says!

Amid backlash over $18 Big Mac meals, McDonald's will focus on affordability in 2024, CEO says (https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/amid-backlash-over-18-big-165207097.html)

[manaboutown]

Last week, a McDonald’s location in Connecticut was criticized after a customer was charged $7.29 for an Egg McMuffin and nearly $5.69 for a side of hash browns. The franchise in Darien, Connecticut was called out for charging $17.59 for a Big Mac combo.
From: McDonald's CEO says fast food chain will focus on affordability amid outrage over menu hikes (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonalds-ceo-says-fast-food-233829164.html)

[Lea N]

We went to the BK on 466, the Whopper was beyond unedible, just horrible. The fish sandwich was not really much better.
My last trip ever to a BK, kinda sad but time to move along.

The last time my husband and I were there was probably 5-ish years ago. The service was bad.

When I paid the cashier I gave her the change part, for example if it was $7.26 I gave her $10.26. I know that people aren't taught how to make change. She gave me back something along the line of 90 cents and closed the register. When I pointed it out to her she denied making a mistake and she seemed rude about it. I was so hungry, and irritable because I was overly hungry that I told myself to keep my mouth shut, which was a mistake.

After I finished eating I decided to go back to the register and ask for a manager. I told the manager what happened and she didn't seem to care or want to be bothered. I never went back in there again. The other BK on Bichara wasn't much better. I remember going in there with my husband and we waited, and waited, and waited. Nobody ever came to the register.

[coralway]

Go to COSTCO, get a hot dog and a soda (or water) for $1.65.

[Stu from NYC]

The last time my husband and I were there was probably 5-ish years ago. The service was bad.

When I paid the cashier I gave her the change part, for example if it was $7.26 I gave her $10.26. I know that people aren't taught how to make change. She gave me back something along the line of 90 cents and closed the register. When I pointed it out to her she denied making a mistake and she seemed rude about it. I was so hungry, and irritable because I was overly hungry that I told myself to keep my mouth shut, which was a mistake.

After I finished eating I decided to go back to the register and ask for a manager. I told the manager what happened and she didn't seem to care or want to be bothered. I never went back in there again. The other BK on Bichara wasn't much better. I remember going in there with my husband and we waited, and waited, and waited. Nobody ever came to the register.

Sorry that you had that experience but amazing how managers can care so little about losing customers.

[Michael G.]

Prices are very high for all food. At the grocery, at the fast food restaurants and at fancier restaurants they are extremely high. The very few times we have gone out to dinner lately in one of the Villages restaurants, we noticed sparse attendance. Is it the lack of competent staff? Is it the high prices? Is it a nefarious plot? It is certainly happening. EVERYWHERE. I am sorry you couldn't get free water.

History is going to repeat itself.
Remember as a kid, going out to eat was a treat? :icon_hungry:
Welcome back to the 40's and 50's.
These places will not survive doing business like this.

[CarlR33]

You could have considered carry out and had it your way somewhere else with a water? Sometimes there is a work around in life. I’d be interested if they had provided the water where was it coming from? Do you drink tap water at home?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

so here's the reasons for the cost increases:

Why McDonald's is charging $18 for a Big Mac meal; there's no relief in sight (https://nypost.com/2024/02/06/business/why-mcdonalds-is-charging-18-for-a-big-mac-meal-theres-no-relief-in-sight/)

Amid the uproar, McDonald’s franchisees say they are being financially squeezed by the rising cost of insurance, equipment and labor. “I just got my quote for my insurance and it went up by 31% and the cost of equipment is out of this world,” griped one operator who did not want to be identified.

Experts warn that fast food prices will climb even higher as minimum wage hikes are implemented across the country.
California’s $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast food workers goes into effect in April.

McDonald’s and Chipotle both announced that they would be hiking the prices of menu items at Golden State locations beginning this year.


good luck to us. .

[Rainger99]

I stopped at a 7-11 the other day for a coke ($2.89) and a snickers bar ($2.99). More than $6 with taxes!

[ThirdOfFive]

I remember going into a Hardee's in Bemidji, Minnesota; ordering a cheeseburger, fries and a coke--and getting change back from my dollar. 'Course, that WAS back in '71...

Not to oversimplify, but I think that what people are complaining about is the result of a lack of a work ethic. And even more so, the lack of NEED for a work ethic.

[Michael G.]

Image when we were in our youth that some day we would being PAYING for water.:shrug:

[Stu from NYC]

so here's the reasons for the cost increases:

Why McDonald's is charging $18 for a Big Mac meal; there's no relief in sight (https://nypost.com/2024/02/06/business/why-mcdonalds-is-charging-18-for-a-big-mac-meal-theres-no-relief-in-sight/)

Amid the uproar, McDonald’s franchisees say they are being financially squeezed by the rising cost of insurance, equipment and labor. “I just got my quote for my insurance and it went up by 31% and the cost of equipment is out of this world,” griped one operator who did not want to be identified.

Experts warn that fast food prices will climb even higher as minimum wage hikes are implemented across the country.
California’s $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast food workers goes into effect in April.

McDonald’s and Chipotle both announced that they would be hiking the prices of menu items at Golden State locations beginning this year.


good luck to us. .

Sad that a minimum wage worker typically with no skills can make $ 20 per hour. If I owned a mcDonalds would be frantically figuring out how to replace these people with machines.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Sad that a minimum wage worker typically with no skills can make $ 20 per hour. If I owned a mcDonalds would be frantically figuring out how to replace these people with machines.

Tough policy issue. As automation becomes more prevalent, there is more and more unemployed / unskilled labor and that will lead to more idle bodies fighting for jobs in a physical way. Technology will be the death of capitalism, turning the economy into a very small camp of Asset/Information owners, and the remaining looking for manual hourly labor. . . As that progresses, if taxes aren't raised on the Asset/Information owners, there will be no way to pay for UBI, Universal basic income, and the US will enter a debt spiral, from which there will be a lot of financial damage. A debt spiral is when you have to sell debt to pay for the interest on the prior debt because you don't have enough income, the downfall of the MMT proponents.

Someone recently said that we now have vibes from 476 AD now in the USA. .
I agree. .

[Rainger99]

Sad that a minimum wage worker typically with no skills can make $ 20 per hour. If I owned a mcDonalds would be frantically figuring out how to replace these people with machines.

$20 an hour is more than $40,000 a year! That is a lot of money for a job that requires minimal training. When I was in college, some of my classmates worked at McDonald's part time. No one considered it a career. Minimum wage jobs are not meant to be living wage jobs - or at least never used to be.

[wisbad1]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"
It’s because of dishonest people getting soda for free. I’ve heard people bragging about it. It’s theft plain and simple. Love BK !

[CoachKandSportsguy]

It’s because of dishonest people getting soda for free. I’ve heard people bragging about it. It’s theft plain and simple. Love BK !

Um no, fountain soda margin is about 90%. . that's why one gets free refills, but that is the reason to stop dispensing free cups to discourage not paying at all. .

insurance, equipment and labor per franchise owners. .

Arbys has the meats!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

$20 an hour is more than $40,000 a year! That is a lot of money for a job that requires minimal training. When I was in college, some of my classmates worked at McDonald's part time. No one considered it a career. Minimum wage jobs are not meant to be living wage jobs - or at least never used to be.

$20,000 - 30,000 is a living wage in many places, just not all places. . Remember that is CA which has the $20/hr rate.

I guess you aren't familiar with the loss of the middle income over the last 20 + years due to automation, which means they go to low income, which means that there are more people for fewer jobs, in both high income and low income, and definitely too many people for too few jobs in middle income. .

referencing 40 year old economics doesn't relate to today's economics. . . .

[Stu from NYC]

$20 an hour is more than $40,000 a year! That is a lot of money for a job that requires minimal training. When I was in college, some of my classmates worked at McDonald's part time. No one considered it a career. Minimum wage jobs are not meant to be living wage jobs - or at least never used to be.

Agreed. People make $ 20 per hour and will not have an incentive to get a better job and improve their lot in life.

[Stu from NYC]

$20,000 - 30,000 is a living wage in many places, just not all places. . Remember that is CA which has the $20/hr rate.

I guess you aren't familiar with the loss of the middle income over the last 20 + years due to automation, which means they go to low income, which means that there are more people for fewer jobs, in both high income and low income, and definitely too many people for too few jobs in middle income. .

referencing 40 year old economics doesn't relate to today's economics. . . .

Your overlooking something important IMHO. Back during the industrial revolution people said machines will replace people and enough jobs were created to prevent that from happening.

Automation will create new industries and jobs in a way that nobody really understands yet.

As Yogi Berra might have said, what goes around comes around.

[Pugchief]

We still have inflation but we have a lower rate of inflation. The goal of the fed is not to have no inflation but to have 2%.

Prices will not come down overall but will go up more gradually.

It doesn't really matter if the prices go up more slowly; inflation is cumulative. The damage has been done.

[Pugchief]

It amazes me how many people don't understand inflation. The only way to not have inflation is for the world to become totally stagnant. Nothing new, ever. Zero growth. Zero improvement. Tomorrow the same as today. Today same as yesterday, and the day before, as far back as forever.
Inflation is one sign of advancement or improvement. "New and improved" costs more to produce. Therefore it will cost more. Greater population means greater demand for everything. Everything will cost more. It isn't just here, it effects the whole world. It is a fact of life.
PS. And as for BK, I was never a fan. I was also creeper out by the King.

Oh the irony. So many fallacies. Inflation is not caused by innovation, it's caused by too many dollars chasing the same amount of goods, and printing money exacerbates that phenomenon. Some of that is due to the pandemic, supply chains, etc, but an even bigger component is all the money printing to pay for foreign wars, support migrants and other programs.

As far as 'new and improved' costing more, that's not necessarily true. The price of flat screen TVs keep dropping. It's mostly energy and food (the two things we can't live without) that are going up exponentially.

[Pugchief]

Tough policy issue. As automation becomes more prevalent, there is more and more unemployed / unskilled labor and that will lead to more idle bodies fighting for jobs in a physical way. Technology will be the death of capitalism, turning the economy into a very small camp of Asset/Information owners, and the remaining looking for manual hourly labor. . . As that progresses, if taxes aren't raised on the Asset/Information owners, there will be no way to pay for UBI, Universal basic income, and the US will enter a debt spiral, from which there will be a lot of financial damage. A debt spiral is when you have to sell debt to pay for the interest on the prior debt because you don't have enough income, the downfall of the MMT proponents.

Someone recently said that we now have vibes from 476 AD now in the USA. .
I agree. .

Technology always improves our standard of living. Some jobs are lost, but new jobs are created.

Minimum wage laws are always counter-productive to the people those laws are purportedly aiming to help. If $20 is "good", why isn't $25 better? Or $30?Employers aren't going to pay someone $20/hour to do something that is valued at $13. They will find a way to automate, consolidate, or eliminate. Otherwise, they go out of business. If McD raises its prices enough to cover the additional labor costs, less people will eat there. It's a death spiral.

UBI is nonsense. There is already UBI in the form of EBT, SNAP, section 8 housing, Obamacare subsidies, Medicaid, free chid care, free cell phones, nearly free broadband wifi. link to a more complete list (https://www.investopedia.com/government-assistance-programs-4845368)
I have read reports of people getting total govt transfers in the equivalent of more than $60,000 per year, income tax free.

[Keefelane66]

Free water and about 6 packs or squirts of ketchup = tomato juice

[fdpaq0580]

Oh the irony. So many fallacies. Inflation is not caused by innovation, it's caused by too many dollars chasing the same amount of goods, and printing money exacerbates that phenomenon. Some of that is due to the pandemic, supply chains, etc, but an even bigger component is all the money printing to pay for foreign wars, support migrants and other programs.

As far as 'new and improved' costing more, that's not necessarily true. The price of flat screen TVs keep dropping. It's mostly energy and food (the two things we can't live without) that are going up exponentially.

Look beyond the surface. Certain items may may get cheaper (temporarily) due to new and improved (cheaper and more efficient production or out dated tech) but the profit margin for the producer still grows. That is only one of thousands of factor that contribute to inflation. As far as food and energy goes, supply and demand still holds true. Food and energy production and distribution costs go up. Cost at the store, restaurant and pump goes up. It's a vicious cycle. Nobody likes it, but it is a fact of life, like getting old. Anyone check the price of a new buggy whip lately?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I have read reports of people getting total govt transfers in the equivalent of more than $60,000 per year, income tax free.

yes, the transfers are called social security, are you participating?

And the technology improvement will work until it doesn't, like horse drawn buggies, typewriters and slide rulers . . maybe not in our life time, but most definitely in the future.

is easy to go forward, its much harder to go backwards

[CarlR33]

Sad that a minimum wage worker typically with no skills can make $ 20 per hour. If I owned a mcDonalds would be frantically figuring out how to replace these people with machines.
They do have the order Kiosks and phone app. which essentially eliminates one or two people but good luck getting everyone onboard with that!

[CarlR33]

If McD raises its prices enough to cover the additional labor costs, less people will eat there. It's a death spiral.
I don’t agree. People ordering this stuff with DoorDash adding more cost to it already anyhow. You seen the line at Starbucks for the costly coffee?

[Randall55]

I don’t agree. People ordering this stuff with DoorDash adding more cost to it already anyhow. You seen the line at Starbucks for the costly coffee?Just got back from NYC. Burgers and Fries cost $28-$38! (Not fast food) Pastrami Sandwich, no fries, just sandwich on stale rye bread $26-$30. Eating out is getting crazy!

[Pugchief]

I have read reports of people getting total govt transfers in the equivalent of more than $60,000 per year, income tax free.

yes, the transfers are called social security, are you participating?



You know (or should have) that I was referring to assistance programs that you don't have to pay into in order to receive benefits, so I find that comment somewhat disingenuous. And no, I am not yet receiving any govt bennies, even the ones I paid into. But one day in the future, if they're still around.

[Pugchief]

Minimum wage laws are always counter-productive to the people those laws are purportedly aiming to help. If $20 is "good", why isn't $25 better? Or $30?Employers aren't going to pay someone $20/hour to do something that is valued at $13. They will find a way to automate, consolidate, or eliminate. Otherwise, they go out of business. If McD raises its prices enough to cover the additional labor costs, less people will eat there. It's a death spiral.



I don’t agree. People ordering this stuff with DoorDash adding more cost to it already anyhow. You seen the line at Starbucks for the costly coffee?

You are paying extra for a service not otherwise included in the cost of the meal. Personally, I never use Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. If I want to eat out, I do it for the experience, atmosphere and socialization with another couple or just my significant other. Plus those services take a huge cut from the restaurants.

There is no explanation for the whole Starbucks thing. Not only is it overpriced, it's not even good. But apparently some people would rather buy a $7 cup of coffee every day than put money away for a rainy day. My receptionist of 25 years is one of those people. She lives paycheck to paycheck and at 50 doesn't have enough savings to pay for a car repair, and has next to nothing in her 401k. But she never misses a morning at Starbucks.

[Pairadocs]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

That could come ! I was at a Dunkin' D some years ago now. I was eating donuts and had finished my coffee and thrown away the cup since they don't refill. Unfortunately I began to choke, a customer came to my aid, her husband ran to the counter, told clerk to quick give him some water that someone was in distress, she refsed to do so unless he produced and quarter (and she was intent on ringing it up first BEFORE getting the water !) Meanwhile, another customer in the line quickly found a quarter and literally flipped it to her, and another man, who actually reached me before that other two who were finally able to buy a cup of water (there was no free fountain in the place) had RUN to his car which was directly in front, gabbed a new bottle of water, and got to me first, after the wife of the first man who went for the water had successfully used the Heimlich maneuver. But that shows the lengths some businesses (of course not all) will go to for a QUARTER !

[Randall55]

That could come ! I was at a Dunkin' D some years ago now. I was eating donuts and had finished my coffee and thrown away the cup since they don't refill. Unfortunately I began to choke, a customer came to my aid, her husband ran to the counter, told clerk to quick give him some water that someone was in distress, she refsed to do so unless he produced and quarter (and she was intent on ringing it up first BEFORE getting the water !) Meanwhile, another customer in the line quickly found a quarter and literally flipped it to her, and another man, who actually reached me before that other two who were finally able to buy a cup of water (there was no free fountain in the place) had RUN to his car which was directly in front, gabbed a new bottle of water, and got to me first, after the wife of the first man who went for the water had successfully used the Heimlich maneuver. But that shows the lengths some businesses (of course not all) will go to for a QUARTER !Cups get counted by management at end of shift. If the count comes up short, the cashier has to pay for it. After 3 occurrences, you get fired. This is to stop young teens from giving free food to all their friends. (I have a buddy who owns a fast food franchise. They must go to elaborate lengths to stop food theft by employees)

[CoachKandSportsguy]

You know (or should have) that I was referring to assistance programs that you don't have to pay into in order to receive benefits, so I find that comment somewhat disingenuous. And no, I am not yet receiving any govt bennies, even the ones I paid into. But one day in the future, if they're still around.

Not sure why I should've known about it, as it doesn't pertain to my situation. Sorry, i don't follow govt assistance programs, also I don't know anyone on them who is proud to receive it nor talks about them. I also don't watch TV local station news and local programming. The only two assistance program / govt transfer i am familiar with is social security and unemployment. Other than that, i am ignorant of amounts of welfare, medicaid, SNAP, who qualifies, how to get it, etc. .

Sorry to disappoint you that I am being disingenuous, but a couple can collect combined up to $60K with social security near / at max benefits, hence my comment.

[Topspinmo]

McDonald's will focus on affordability in 2024, CEO says!

Amid backlash over $18 Big Mac meals, McDonald's will focus on affordability in 2024, CEO says (https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/amid-backlash-over-18-big-165207097.html)


And hopefully stale buns.

[PersonOfInterest]

Cups get counted by management at end of shift. If the count comes up short, the cashier has to pay for it. After 3 occurrences, you get fired. This is to stop young teens from giving free food to all their friends. (I have a buddy who owns a fast food franchise. They must go to elaborate lengths to stop food theft by employees)

Its clear that management of these franchises don't know how to manage what they, themselves have created. I suppose part of the problem is the Franchise itself dictating minimum wage , 'cheap' employees along with the advent of the self serve drink machines. The cheapest of employees and self serve drinks for a higher price than when served from behind the counter are meant to increase profitability, but instead cost more in the long run due to theft. Fast food franchises seemed to do well in the past, but have evolved into management nightmares yielding little profitability in today's tough environment.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I worked for Burger King for a few years back home when I was younger. At the time, you could get a cheeseburger for $1. The ingredients of the sandwich cost maybe 40 cents, and the overhead involved in creating the finished product (including electricity, the machinery, labor, paper wrapping, someone to take the order, etc) was another 40-ish cents. So basically they made 20 cents on each cheeseburger they sold. If you get 1000 people ordering cheeseburgers, and nothing else, in a day, you're making $200 that day. That's not enough to cover the expense of the building being opened, the guy who cleans the kitchen, the woman who empties the trash in the parking lot, the manager's salary plus all 18 hours that there are employees in the building, getting paid whether they're making cheeseburgers or not.

So there's incentive to get them to buy drinks. Drinks cost only around 18 cents, including the cup, and it's self-serve so the only labor involved MIGHT be in filling the ice dispenser, and refilling the syrup bag once every couple of days.

If you give away the cup and the customer is only ordering a cheeseburger, it will cost your store money. But rather than say "no cup for cheeseburger buyers, you can only have a cup if you're buying a cheeseburger AND fries" - they say "there's a charge for the cup."

Seems fair to me, once you have the cup there's nothing preventing you from filling it with soda. We had that problem with kids in our store, so we eventually kicked them out. They'd buy a single small fry between them and ask for cups for water. And they'd fill them up with soda, drink the soda, then fill them again and leave the store with a second free cup of soda. Seniors were the worst - we'd get them come in, they'd buy a fry, unsalted (meaning - fresh, exclusively made just for them), grab a huge stack of napkins, and a free cup of senior coffee and sit there taking up space at the tables for hours - and go home with all those napkins.

[Topspinmo]

IMO BK has been going down hill like snowball to hail for about 30 years. Some IMO are down disastrous. I will admit they have better buns than MDs. MDs the stale bun capitol of world. I wonder what foreign suppliers suppling MDs buns?:22yikes:

[Shipping up to Boston]

First of all, I would want to mention that fast food prices are out of control.
I bit the price bullet and ordered a sandwich at Burger King on Bichara Blvd a few days ago. I always get a cup for water because I try not to drink anything with sugar in it and I certainly do not drink anything labeled diet because of the chemical content. The not so friendly woman behind the counter says we do not hand cups out for water anymore. Keep in mind the high menu prices and for years now the customer has to serve themselves for drinks making it less work for the employees and saving time. Are cups like a couple cents a piece? There are no other options as well. You cannot bring in your own drinks or outside cups, I'm assuming for health reasons. I'm not a big fast food person but everytime I went to one, I have always gotten a cup for water. Even after I walked out after cancelling my order, I went to another restaurant and gotten a cup for water like always.

I would avoid this restaurant. What's next, "would you like ice with your drink for 50 cents more?"

All the fast food chains have jumped the shark. McDonald's should be ashamed of themselves. The beauty in all of this is for the same money or less, you can go to a Five Guys or similar and actually get real food.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

All the fast food chains have jumped the shark. McDonald's should be ashamed of themselves. The beauty in all of this is for the same money or less, you can go to a Five Guys or similar and actually get real food.

A "little" cheeseburger, a "little" fry, and a regular soda (they don't offer small), will set you back $17.27, before tax, at 5 Guys.

The little cheeseburger has a decent amount of meat, and the little fry is significantly more than a medium fry at McDonald's but I don't know of anyone who actually eats ALL those fries at 5 Guys. So let's compare similar to similar:

A "Daily Double" cheeseburger is $3.99. A medium fry is $3.99. A medium soda is $2.29. Total is $10.27, before tax. So it's $7 cheaper at McDonald's - which is almost enough to get you an additional little cheeseburger at 5 guys, or a Big Mac in addition to your double burger at McDonald's.

That said, I really like 5 guys burgers and fries, MUCH more than McDonald's. And when I go to McDonald's I don't get a soda, and I only grab a few fries from the medium fry I get for my husband. And sometimes I only get a single normal cheeseburger. OTOH at 5 Guys I get a "little" cheeseburger with tons of mushrooms and onions, and I eat most of the fries from the "little" portion, and sometimes I splurge and get a chocolate shake - but never a soda. There's really no comparison between the two. 5 Guys isn't fast food, and McDonald's doesn't really count as "food" at all, in my opinion. It's more like "things to fill your stomach that probably won't kill you as long as you don't eat it every day."

[Shipping up to Boston]

A "little" cheeseburger, a "little" fry, and a regular soda (they don't offer small), will set you back $17.27, before tax, at 5 Guys.

The little cheeseburger has a decent amount of meat, and the little fry is significantly more than a medium fry at McDonald's but I don't know of anyone who actually eats ALL those fries at 5 Guys. So let's compare similar to similar:

A "Daily Double" cheeseburger is $3.99. A medium fry is $3.99. A medium soda is $2.29. Total is $10.27, before tax. So it's $7 cheaper at McDonald's - which is almost enough to get you an additional little cheeseburger at 5 guys, or a Big Mac in addition to your double burger at McDonald's.

That said, I really like 5 guys burgers and fries, MUCH more than McDonald's. And when I go to McDonald's I don't get a soda, and I only grab a few fries from the medium fry I get for my husband. And sometimes I only get a single normal cheeseburger. OTOH at 5 Guys I get a "little" cheeseburger with tons of mushrooms and onions, and I eat most of the fries from the "little" portion, and sometimes I splurge and get a chocolate shake - but never a soda. There's really no comparison between the two. 5 Guys isn't fast food, and McDonald's doesn't really count as "food" at all, in my opinion. It's more like "things to fill your stomach that probably won't kill you as long as you don't eat it every day."

Don’t forget the peanuts.....

[kkingston57]

Self serve is great with honest people, however, I have seen people walk off the streets into a burger king, with a cup, go directly to the soda fountain, get a drink, and walk back out the door.Therefore, the easiest way to stop inviting theft within their process is to stop handing out free cups with self serve soda at the same self serve machine as water.

Remember, its not about you when businesses make decisions, its about them and the customers and the freeloaders.

food prices are not really out of control, the pandemic has accelerated the retirement of many boomers, their move to the villages, and the expansion of the villages in the middle of nowhere has strained the limited service labor pool and competes with wages to keep the business from going bankrupt.

If you live in a capitalistic world, you live and die by capitalistic rules. The villages has been developed in the middle of rural FL, and continues to expand its population, resulting in the need for service labor for the increasing demand on current amenities. Food service is the biggest demand for service labor, and pays the least, minimum wage plus tips, and in a retirement community, tips might be hard to come by. The competition is 1 hour away in Orlando, where there are many jobs and many more than food service which pays higher.

So the local businesses have to pay either the dregs of society to work here or pay more to attract the next talent level up to staff or go out of business. And rural florida isn't full of high quality service labor looking for jobs. There are only so many service labor people who will work for retirees with higher wages and more social life 1 hour away. Likewise, if you want your service labor to live here, you have to pay a living wage, not a minimum wage, so

So pay up if you want the service business to stay in business for your business. Otherwise, maybe living somewhere else would satisfy your expectations of low prices. . .

Well said!!

[kkingston57]

Image when we were in our youth that some day we would being PAYING for water.:shrug:

And who knows what we are ingesting from the plastic bottle and how much plastic is used once and now in a landfill

[kkingston57]

Agreed. People make $ 20 per hour and will not have an incentive to get a better job and improve their lot in life.

$20 an hour is in California, not Florida and other states. Brother has 80 year old 3 bed 1 bath 1600 square foot home in San Jose Ca. $800K and rising. Same house in TV $250K and no income tax

[kkingston57]

All the fast food chains have jumped the shark. McDonald's should be ashamed of themselves. The beauty in all of this is for the same money or less, you can go to a Five Guys or similar and actually get real food.

5 Guys. $13.00 for a bacon cheeseburger and it not cooked to order.Pass. Oh forgot their french fries are $5.00. I can go to a sports bar, get both for around $13.00 and get have it my way.