Topics: McDonalds, TikTok, Social Media, Money
McDonald's fans have criticized increasing prices at the much-loved restaurant, as some describe a trip to the fast-food joint as a 'luxury'.
Cast your mind back just a few years, and you'll probably be able to remember running into McDonalds with a $5 bill and coming out with a full meal, plus change.
Nowadays customers can be looking at prices closer to $20 for a Big Mac meal in certain restaurants, leaving people not so Happy with their Meal.
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TikTok user Freddie Smith, who goes by the handle @fmsmith319, drew attention to the increased prices in a post shared online last month, where he cited a CNN article about McDonald's recent sales that were weaker than expected.
Smith pointed to one figure in the article, which noted that McDonald's has been charging more than $3 for a single hash brown in some areas.
"You know sh*t's messed up when McDonalds is becoming a luxury item in this country," Smith said.
"They said that a hash brown - one of those breakfast hash browns - are $3 now. You used to be able to get two double cheeseburgers and a McChicken for $3."
Smith asked viewers how much a McDouble burger would have to be before people started to argue it was 'ridiculous', but many viewers responded to indicate they already felt that way.
"We are now paying eat out prices for fast food," one viewer wrote, while another added: "I remember the hash browns being 2 for $1."
A third person responded to suggest the 'bigger' issue was that 'wages are too low'.
McDonald's prices across the US vary due to the fact the restaurants are independently owned, meaning owners can alter their prices depending on the local economy.
However, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski explained last month that while the restaurant chain is 'not seeing any real change in behavior' in middle and high-income groups, there is a 'battle' with the 'low-income consumer'.
“Eating at home has become more affordable,” Kempczinski said.
McDonalds does still offer some items for less than $3 on its $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu, with McChickens, McNuggets and Sausage Biscuits among the items that feature as part of the deal, though the restaurant notes that 'prices and participation may vary' across restaurants.
In an attempt to encourage more low-income customers to return to McDonalds, Kempczinski said the fast food chain would double down on its 'D123' strategy, which prices some of its items between $1 and $3.
