# Burger King suggests to McDonlads a "McWhopper" for one day
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 27, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066 "2015-08-27T14:37:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/1 "2015-08-27T14:37:24Z")
[Story here](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/business/media/burger-king-to-mcdonalds-lets-make-a-mcwhopper.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone)
BK suggested to McD’s to have a one day only pop-up store that combines the two franchises and have the proceeds go to a charity that celebrates international day of peace.
What a kickass idea! No word yet if McDonald’s accepted the proposal, but a tweet made it seem like they were at least interested in something.
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### Author:  [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/2 "2015-08-27T14:52:51Z")
from the linked article
> [@](#):
>
> And there’s no word about which of the chains would supply fries.
It better be BK if you have any hope of getting me there. Seriously, it’s a nice idea and it’s good PR for them if they go through with it. I don’t see it producing much of a change in the status quo though.
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### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/3 "2015-08-27T14:55:28Z")
BKs fries are far inferior to McDs fries. You’re nuts if you think otherwise.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/4 "2015-08-27T15:00:40Z")
Well, so much for peace in our time.
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### Author:  [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/5 "2015-08-27T15:05:49Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#):
>
> from the linked article
>
> It better be BK if you have any hope of getting me there. Seriously, it’s a nice idea and it’s good PR for them if they go through with it. I don’t see it producing much of a change in the status quo though.
I don’t think it’s supposed to mark a change. It’s just a one-off PR thing to make the franchises look good (better in BKs instance since it’s their idea)
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/6 "2015-08-27T15:13:37Z")
“And I’ll have a large Copsi with that.”
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/7 "2015-08-27T15:16:23Z")
With Burger King having floated the idea, it becomes impossible for McDonalds’ to not follow up on it. There are a lot of details to work out, though.
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### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/8 "2015-08-27T15:17:32Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#):
>
> No word yet if McDonald’s accepted the proposal,
They responded yesterday:
> [@](#):
>
> Dear Burger King,
>
> Inspiration for a good cause… great idea.
>
> We love the intention but think our two brands could do something bigger to make a difference.
>
> We commit to raise awareness worldwide, perhaps you’ll join us in a meaningful global effort?
>
> And every day, let’s acknowledge that between us there is simply a friendly business competition and certainly not the unequaled circumstances of the real pain and suffering of war.
>
> We’ll be in touch.
>
> -Steve, McDonald’s CEO
>
> P.S. A simple phone call will do next time
Seems like a pretty clear and pointed “no” to me.
“We don’t appreciate having the stunt sprung on us like this, and also, btw, it’s maybe a little bit offensive to compare corporate rivalries to the horrors of actual war that people are actually experiencing in the world right now…”
A surprisingly ethical response IMO, but in the end it’s all marketing.
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### Author:  [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/9 "2015-08-27T17:12:27Z")
> [@April\_R](#):
>
> BKs fries are far inferior to McDs fries. You’re nuts if you think otherwise.
You’re right about that. McD’s fries when they’re hot and salty? Mmmmm
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/10 "2015-08-27T17:14:25Z")
Who else had the image of Ronald waking up with The King?
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### Author:  [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/11 "2015-08-27T17:21:35Z")
OK - so how would we combine their food to do this ourselves? Half of a Whopper layered with the special sauce part of a Big Mac? I am not seeing the obvious combo.
Other than Coke (not Pepsi) and McDonald’s fries personally.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/12 "2015-08-27T17:30:51Z")
BK has onion rings, which is a point in their favor no matter how bad they are. A halfsie order of rings and McD fries would be awesome.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/13 "2015-08-27T17:33:02Z")
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> “We don’t appreciate having the stunt sprung on us like this, and also, btw, it’s maybe a little bit offensive to compare corporate rivalries to the horrors of actual war that people are actually experiencing in the world right now…”
>
> A surprisingly ethical response IMO, but in the end it’s all marketing.
I actually think it’s not very good marketing. They tried for the right tone, but they fail with that schoolmom-style chastisement for mentioning the “burger wars.” Of course BK was not comparing their competition to real war. That’s just what they were called, so they were playing off of it That’s McDs trying to put that spin on it to try and make the proposal look bad.
Similarly with proposing a more meaningful, global action. And I see no mention of it being something sprung on them.
Honestly, it reads rather passive aggressive to me. And it [did to NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/mcdonalds-declines-burger-kings-mcwhopper-offer-n416296) as well. Or, at least, they chose an to quote an expert (Martin Lindstrom) who said that.
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### Author:  [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/14 "2015-08-27T17:37:52Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> BK has onion rings, which is a point in their favor no matter how bad they are. A halfsie order of rings and McD fries would be awesome.
OK - take a Big Mac, swap out one patty for a flamebroiled one. Then put a couple of onion rings in there under the bun.
Maybe that is the McWhopper.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/15 "2015-08-27T17:39:47Z")
This stunt reminds me of that scene from \*Coming to America \*(Eddie Murphy) where the two old, former, aristocrats are living in a cardboard hovel by the river - “_I’m still not talking to you, Mortimer!_”
Both franchises are being hammered by competition, they need to develop some gimmick to get attention. BK has done nothing more than ride McDonalds’ coat-tails for years (thru ups, and now downs). I am not surprised McDs is brushing this aside. The burger wars have moved to another battlefield, leaving these two old soldiers behind.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/16 "2015-08-27T17:40:12Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#):
>
> It better be BK if you have any hope of getting me there. Seriously, it’s a nice idea and it’s good PR for them if they go through with it. I don’t see it producing much of a change in the status quo though.
> [@April\_R](#):
>
> BKs fries are far inferior to McDs fries. You’re nuts if you think otherwise.
Clearly, the only sustainable compromise is to have them serve Hardee’s fries.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/17 "2015-08-27T17:41:59Z")
> [@Algher](#):
>
> OK - so how would we combine their food to do this ourselves? Half of a Whopper layered with the special sauce part of a Big Mac? I am not seeing the obvious combo.
>
> Other than Coke (not Pepsi) and McDonald’s fries personally.
The McWhopper was going to be essentially a Big Mac with the bottom half being a Whopper. So I guess get a full cheeseburger with Mac sauce and a Whopper, then take off one of the buns and cram them together.
(If you want to get more specific, it was McDonald’s top bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, Mac sauce, middle bun and Burger King’s tomato, onion, ketchup, pickles, patty, and bottom bun.)
The [website is still up](http://mcwhopper.com/), and it’s one of those fancy scrolling ones. If you’d rather have a link to the YouTube video in the middle that actually specifies the ingredients, that’s [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsaUuIj6Xb0).
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### Author:  [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/18 "2015-08-27T17:55:06Z")
> [@April\_R](#):
>
> BKs fries are far inferior to McDs fries. You’re nuts if you think otherwise.
I spent too many years working for McD’s and I can’t even stand to look at the things anymore. I swore off french fries entirely for about a decade after I left and I see no reason to go back now. It’s an easy choice for me, McD fries or no fries - I’ll skip them thanks. You can have my share.
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### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/19 "2015-08-27T17:57:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> “And I’ll have a large Copsi with that.”
“…and a Poke…” 😃
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/20 "2015-08-27T17:59:57Z")
I’ve had Copsi. It’s not all that good. They don’t mix all that well.
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