McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.

In a post on the company’s website Wednesday, McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger said reports suggesting the price of the average Big Mac has doubled since 2019 were false. McDonald’s said the average U.S. Big Mac was $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, a 20.5% increase.

Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchisees were frustrated by a post on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18, calling the price “an exception.”

McDonald’s saw a marked slowdown in store traffic in the first three months of this year as inflation-weary customers in the U.S. and other big markets ate out less often.

“It’s clear that we — together with our franchisees — must remain laser-focused on value and affordability,” Erlinger said.

  • @ki77erb
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    1627 days ago

    I never go to McDonalds without using a code from the app. $2 breakfast sandwich? Cool. 20% off entire order? Cool. It’s gotten to the point that using the app is necessary to get reasonably priced food. Without it, you’re overpaying.

    • Ech
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      3327 days ago

      A situation specifically engineered to get people downloading their app and forking over tracking data.

      • @EndlessApollo
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        727 days ago

        And waiving their rights to join a class action lawsuit against McDonald’s, don’t forget that :D

      • @[email protected]
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        227 days ago

        Shelter or Island if you use Android. Let’s you install the apps in a separate profile, and have them effectively disabled when not in use.

        • Ech
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          127 days ago

          Ooh, that’s good to know about. I’ve been meaning to look into ways to do just that for a while now. Thanks!

      • @ki77erb
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        127 days ago

        Exactly. I guess at this point, I’m ok with some certain datapoints being collected. Mostly what they’ll get from me is that I occasionally like a Sausage Egg McMuffin on my way to work. lol

          • @ki77erb
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            227 days ago

            You can limit when an app is allowed to access your location in Android. But I’m guessing it’s used for finding the nearest restaurant to do mobile orders.

          • @ki77erb
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            127 days ago

            Location, Camera/photos, ( I assume for something like QR scanning), notification, audio.

    • @[email protected]
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      827 days ago

      And that’s exactly why I don’t go there anymore.

      Having to let McDonald’s into my phone via an app so that I can get less terribly priced food is a goddamn scam.

      • @ki77erb
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        127 days ago

        That’s basically the situation with almost every fast food restaurant these days, some casual dinning places and even grocery stores.

    • @Delusional
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      27 days ago

      Yeah no way am I paying $4.50 for a single double cheeseburger but with a 2 for 1 deal it’s worth it.

      Same with taco bell. There is a build your own box combo for $6 on the app that has two main items, a side item, and a drink. The same combo purchased in store is $12.