# Wendys will begin experimenting with surge pricing in 2025, {False report apparently or fast backpedal. See post #7} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 28, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239 "2024-02-28T15:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/1 "2024-02-28T15:36:44Z")
The days of fixed menus and prices may be a thing of the past. How do you feel about it? I vividly remember in high school and even college searching under cushions for enough spare change to buy a soda and burger. I used to know exactly what a McDonald’s meal cost including sales tax. I had just enough money in my pocket to cover lunch. Charging the highest prices at Lunch will significantly hurt office workers and blue collar workers. I hired a contractor to remodel a bathroom a few years ago. He and his son went to Sonic or Wendys every day at lunch. It gave them a break away from the dusty job site. I still see a lot of contractors and construction workers grabbing a quick lunch at fast food restaurants. These aren’t people with a lot of money. They’re busting their butts at a job for a paycheck. Our bosses dictate when we go for lunch. Putting the screws to the working class seems wrong. Wendys is the first franchise. How long will it be before the other companies do the same? > **[Is Uber-style surge pricing coming to fast food? Wendy's latest move offers a...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/02/27/wendys-menu-surge-pricing/72761277007/)** > > Uber, Amazon and airlines use surge pricing. Wendy's will now introduce it, joining more companies that adjust prices based on real-time demand. > **[Wendy's explores bringing Uber-style pricing to its fast-food restaurants](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wendys-surge-pricing-dynamic-pricing-uber/)** > > Buying a burger when there's a long line may soon cost more than at slower times, as demand pricing hits fast food. > [@](#): > > Patrons of Wendy’s may soon pay varying prices for their burgers, as the fast-food chain intends to bring Uber-like surge pricing to its menu. > > “As early as 2025, we plan to test a number of features such as AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling based on factors, such as weather, that we think will provide great value and an improved customer and crew experience,” a Wendy’s spokesperson told CBS News in an email. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/2 "2024-02-28T15:42:06Z")
It sounds like a bad idea that will partially back-fire on them. But as it will increase margin and the loss of some customers will be offset by that, the finance department will consider it a success. @aceplace57; actually contractors might be a poor example, they usually have more flexibility for their lunchbreaks than office/factory workers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/3 "2024-02-28T15:45:53Z")
That is true that contractors set their own hours. It’s really office workers that are locked into a strict schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/4 "2024-02-28T15:46:19Z")
I don’t see how any customer will ever gain anything from this. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/5 "2024-02-28T15:47:52Z")
Waiting times will potentially be a little shorter, but overall this is a shitty move and I believe shortsighted. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/6 "2024-02-28T15:48:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I don’t see how any customer will ever gain anything from this I rarely if ever eat fast food, but if I were going to buy a Wendy’s burger I’d happily pay a dollar or two more for the lines to be shorter. (assuming the higher price causes people to not eat there or to eat at a slower time) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/7 "2024-02-28T15:51:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > the fast-food chain intends to bring Uber-like surge pricing to its menu. They’ve already clarified: > **[Wendy’s clarifies 'dynamic pricing' system won't raise prices at peak times](https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/wendys-surge-pricing-rcna140601)** > > The company is clarifying that there are “no plans” to raise prices at high-demand times. > "Wendy’s will not implement surge pricing, which is the practice of raising prices when demand is highest. We didn’t use that phrase, nor do we plan to implement that practice,” a spokesperson said in an email to NBC News. They added there are “no plans” to raise prices at high-demand times. > > “We said these (digital) menu boards would give us more flexibility to change the display of featured items. This was misconstrued in some media reports as an intent to raise prices when demand is highest at our restaurants. We have no plans to do that and would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most,” the Feb. 26 statement reads ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/8 "2024-02-28T15:51:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I rarely if ever eat fast food, but if I were going to buy a Wendy’s burger I’d happily pay a dollar or two more for the lines to be shorter. (assuming the higher price causes people to not eat there or to eat at a slower time) If I’m paying more, I might as well go to a better burger place - which will also probably have a shorter line. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/9 "2024-02-28T15:51:45Z")
And that’s how Wendy’s went out of business. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/10 "2024-02-28T15:52:52Z")
If they can spread the lunch rush over 4 hours (11-3) instead of 2 (12-2) might be able to have 6 employees working really hard for four hours instead of 8 employees working really hard for two hours and less hard for two hours. And then if they can collect a higher price for the 12-2 crowd anyway, they have more revenue and less expense. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/11 "2024-02-28T15:57:22Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > If they can spread the lunch rush over 4 hours (11-3) instead of 2 (12-2) might be able to have 6 employees working really hard for four hours instead of 8 employees working really hard for two hours and less hard for two hours. First of all, workers usually eat lunch when their bosses tell them to, not when it’s convenient for them; second of all, workers who do have a choice generally don’t want to eat lunch at 11 or at 3 and wouldn’t eat then even if it benefitted them economically. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/12 "2024-02-28T16:00:33Z")
I can usually pick the time for my lunch. I try to go from 11:30-12:30. Sometimes I’m stuck in a meeting and can’t leave till almost 12. I realize the price for a burger combo probably won’t change much more than a dollar or two. Surge pricing won’t be as noticeable with so many people using plastic. I noticed prices more when I used cash. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > They’ve already clarified: Shrug, lets see what happens in 2025. I’d speculate they’ll sell this pricing model change as a discount. Come at off hours and get 15% off. ($1.50 on a $10 order) It’s really the same thing sugar-coated. Many prople will pay more for coming at noon when their bosses let them take lunch. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/13 "2024-02-28T16:00:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If I’m paying more, I might as well go to a better burger place - which will also probably have a shorter line Yeah, I was going out of my way not to fight the hypothetical. Personally, I’d rather grill my own burger, or go to a bar/restaurant that made nice burgers. _But_ if my choices are limited to fast food places, I’d pay more for a shorter line. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/14 "2024-02-28T16:00:46Z")
No idea why you replied to me, none of that answers **Alessan** ’s question which is what I answered. That is of course the reason they would be doing this, but as we now know, they aren’t doing this anyway. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/15 "2024-02-28T16:03:37Z")
Now that my corner deli very sadly closed, I end up at Wendy’s or McDonald’s about once a week for lunch. It is often as early as 11am or post main rush. But I’m retired and it is easy for me to be flexible. But I think non-workers are a small part of their lunchtime customers. As the apps improve for both places, there should be a reduction is wait times also. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/16 "2024-02-28T16:06:48Z")
I really need to be more careful about which reply button I click. My apologies again. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/17 "2024-02-28T16:08:31Z")
To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been deeper than two or three in line at a Wendy’s. That doesn’t seem to be a problem around here. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/18 "2024-02-28T16:10:57Z")
Then they’ve just raised prices and have the fig leaf of saying the customers are choosing to eat at peak time/price. It’s a terrible look and has collapsed already. Wendy’s is my favorite fast food place, and I was really annoyed by this foolishness. My explanation was more of a parody of Consultant-Think than a real justification. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/19 "2024-02-28T16:12:48Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been deeper than two or three in line at a Wendy’s. That doesn’t seem to be a problem around here. I haven’t been to Wendys for years, but I drive by frequently. I never notice a line at the drive-thru. Same with McDonalds and Burger King. Are fast food lines a problem some places? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239/20 "2024-02-28T16:14:30Z")
It’s just good business to charge more when people are willing to pay more, and less at other times. The problem is framing it that way. Don’t talk about surge pricing. Talk about ‘happy hour’ discounts in off-peak times. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendys-will-begin-experimenting-with-surge-pricing-in-2025-false-report-apparently-or-fast-backpedal-see-post-7/998239.md?page=2)