# Burger King suggests to McDonlads a "McWhopper" for one day **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/21 "2015-08-27T18:12:09Z")
The whole point behind a Whopper is that you can have whatever you want on it, while the whole point behind a Big Mac is that is a very specific set of ingredients. So it seems that a McWhopper would just be a Big Mac with the flame-broiled patties. Which [Burger King already has.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_King) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/22 "2015-08-27T18:20:23Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > The whole point behind a Whopper is that you can have whatever you want on it, while the whole point behind a Big Mac is that is a very specific set of ingredients. So it seems that a McWhopper would just be a Big Mac with the flame-broiled patties. Which [Burger King already has.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_King) I was going to say the same thing. Burger King has already blatantly ripped off the Big Mac with the Big King. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/23 "2015-08-28T04:28:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I actually think it’s not very good marketing. Yes, I didn’t say it was good marketing. 😃 I was just trying to indicate that I don’t actually buy that McDonalds, as a corporation, actually has an ethical attitude towards the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/24 "2015-08-28T04:31:30Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > They tried for the right tone, but they fail with that schoolmom-style chastisement for mentioning the “burger wars.” What the hell is a “schoolmom”? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/25 "2015-08-28T04:32:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Of course BK was not comparing their competition to real war. It seems inarguable to me that they were. The very point of the exercise was to use peace between the corporations as a symbol for peace between nations–which, in turn, makes competition between corporations a symbol for war between nations. > [@](#): > > And I see no mention of it being something sprung on them. “A simple phone call would have sufficed.” ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/26 "2015-08-28T04:34:58Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > They tried for the right tone, but they fail with that schoolmom-style chastisement Hello, Kettle??? This is Pot. You’re black. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/27 "2015-08-28T04:39:10Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What the hell is a “schoolmom”? Probably schoolmarm. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/28 "2015-08-28T04:58:24Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > “…and a Poke…” 😃 No Poke, Copsi! ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/29 "2015-08-28T05:14:01Z")
In case anyone is that worried about it, there are several articles (which I saw before I really knew this story) out there showing how people made their own “McWhoppers” or trying to show what a “McWhopper” would “actually look like.” Also, Burger king should sell Royal Crown. That’s another thing- I can never keep the “cola wars” straight. The last time I went to a Burger King they had a picture of Dr Pepper right on the menu in the combos, but they said “Sorry, we only sell Coke products.” Wait, why are people saying they would have to combine Pepsi and Coke? McDonalds and Burger King here both sell Coke. I think Burger King might have the Freestyle machines, now. Only fast food in my area that offers Pepsi are Tim Hortons, Taco Bell, and Arby’s. Is this regional? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/30 "2015-08-28T06:20:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I see no mention of it being something sprung on them You didn’t see the “P.S. A simple phone call will do next time”? Meaning, it’s not cool to make this a public proposal and putting us in the position of having to publicly turn you down, instead of contacting us privately first. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/31 "2015-08-28T07:11:36Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > You didn’t see the “P.S. A simple phone call will do next time”? Meaning, it’s not cool to make this a public proposal and putting us in the position of having to publicly turn you down, instead of contacting us privately first. True dat. Of course, they didn’t have to publicly turn them down either. I don’t see anything that was much wrong with the proposal and thought it was an excellent idea. I’m actually a little confused over why McDs would turn down this offer. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/32 "2015-08-28T07:13:48Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > The last time I went to a Burger King they had a picture of Dr Pepper right on the menu in the combos, but they said “Sorry, we only sell Coke products.” Dr Pepper doesn’t have its own distribution network, but negotiates with different distributors to bottle their products. Dr Pepper is bottled by the Coke bottler in some areas and by the Pepsi bottler in others. If your local Burger King has both Coke and Dr Pepper, it’s because Dr Pepper is distributed by the Coke bottler in your area. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/33 "2015-08-28T11:00:55Z")
Burger wars? Not till we get back our POWs from the war on Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/34 "2015-08-28T11:28:51Z")
I BK really wanted to do what they claim they would have talked to McD’s behind the scenes first, then both would negotiate the terms of who announces and when and what reaction the other would have. In other words the whole thing would be negotiated, scripted and staged. While this is possible I don’t think so, I would lean more towards a attempt of BK to stir up some PR (positive or negative does not matter, just people talking about BK) , doing it unilaterally, knowing McD’s will almost have to refuse in some way, even by ignoring it. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/35 "2015-08-28T12:30:02Z")
When I read the title, I thought BK was taking a cheap shot at McD’s for their [Chicken nugget scandal.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chicken-mcnuggets-abuse-video_55e005d6e4b0aec9f352d0d1) ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/36 "2015-08-28T14:50:29Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > 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. You’re behind the times. Burger King is doing very well these days. > **[Burger King serving up better sales than McDonald’s](https://fortune.com/2014/11/04/burger-king-sales/)** > > Sales growth at Burger King contrasts with declines reported by McDonald's recently > **[In Burger King's Strong Quarter, Lessons for McDonald's Corp. | The Motley Fool](https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/04/30/mcdonalds-corp-should-take-these-lessons-from-burg.aspx)** > > Burger King's strong sales growth is coming at the expense of its larger rival. > [@](#): > > After years of playing second fiddle to McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE:MCD), Burger King’s sales are now soaring while the Golden Arches is in panic mode. > > The Burger King division of Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR) posted a 6.9% jump in same-store sales in North America – its best performance in its home region in nine years. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/37 "2015-08-28T14:54:51Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > It seems inarguable to me that they were. The very point of the exercise was to use peace between the corporations as a symbol for peace between nations–which, in turn, makes competition between corporations a symbol for war between nations. Using something as a metaphor doesn’t mean that you’re directly comparing the two. Two competing entities working together for a charitable “peace” cause, bet they two companies, two sports teams, two political groups, etc doesn’t mean that they equate their competition to bloodshed and warfare. McDonald’s was just being a bit tone deaf and chiding in their snippiness at having to respond. That said, I think a one day “merging” with store costs, training, uniforms, packaging, etc would be a larger expense than it’s likely to bring in in profits for the charity. So it was kind of a dumb idea but BK definitely came off better than McD’s in the end. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/38 "2015-08-28T15:11:47Z")
I think it’s a nice idea. Maybe they wanted to put a little pressure on McDonald’s, by asking them publicly, but I like it. I think BK should go to Wendy’s with the same idea - serving square Whoppers, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/39 "2015-08-28T15:15:00Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I think BK should go to Wendy’s with the same idea - serving square Whoppers, or whatever. Hah, that would be awesome. Even better if Wendy’s took out an ad approaching BK. “Hey, we heard that McD’s wasn’t interested in this but…” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066/40 "2015-08-28T18:45:16Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > 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!_” [pendantic dick] That would be Trading Places. Not Coming to America. [/pendantic dick] I think it would have been a great idea and that McDonalds were being total dicks in their response. They could have made a McGriddle-Whopper. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burger-king-suggests-to-mcdonlads-a-mcwhopper-for-one-day/729066.md?page=3)