Kevin Roberts remembers when he could get a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a drink from Five Guys for $10. But that was years ago. When the Virginia high school teacher recently visited the fast-food chain, the food alone without a beverage cost double that amount.

Roberts, 38, now only gets fast food “as a rare treat,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “Nothing has made me cook at home more than fast-food prices.”

Roberts is hardly alone. Many consumers are expressing frustration at the surge in fast-food prices, which are starting to scare off budget-conscious customers.

A January poll by consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions found that about 25% of people who make under $50,000 were cutting back on fast food, pointing to cost as a concern.

  • Liz
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    66 months ago

    I have vague memories of there being a law that you’re supposed to just be able to ask the cashier to apply any discounts you know about at the cash register?

    • @MutilationWave
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      6 months ago

      This is absolutely not real. I mean just think about it for a second.

      • Liz
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        56 months ago

        I thought about it for a second, and could see it being an accessibility law passed for this very type of thing. Kind of like how (in the US) you must always be able to join a sweepstakes without paying any money (usually you mail them your name and address) even if the way they want you to join us by buying product or something. But anyway, I don’t actually know about that coupon thing.

        • @Archer
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          56 months ago

          Accountability? In the US? For corporations? Favoring people??

        • @jj4211
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          46 months ago

          The “No Purchase Necessary” isn’t about giving everyone fair access to the winnings, it’s about being legal even where gambling is not, since “maybe winning” something in exchange for money is either illegal or highly regulated throughout the US.

          • Liz
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            16 months ago

            Ah, I didn’t know! Thanks for the info.

      • @foggy
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        16 months ago

        There is a law in the US that any x for y deal must be sold at the ratio unit price.

        So like “10 for $10!” Means they are breaking the law to sell them at a price more than $1 for 1.

        The caveat is packaging. E.G. Marlboro can wrap two packs of cigarettes and call it a Buy One Get One deal which is not the same. Weird little loopholes.