– What benefit do fast food restaurants derive from putting all of their “deals” in their apps?

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I bought fast food for a group of people last night. The menu pricing was significantly higher than ordering through the app, which also allowed me to attach a digital coupon.

The pricing within the app is what I would expect to pay, or what I believe is “fair” or “reasonable” for chicken nuggets, French fries, and cheeseburgers.

On the other hand, I have cut my fast food consumption by at least half over the last few years because the published menu prices have skyrocketed.

What possible benefit would a fast food restaurant derive from publishing high prices to the casual customer and drastically reducing them within the app?

They have to be realizing a net loss of customers with this model, right?

In: Economics

49 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

1) installing someone else’s code or app on your device gives that app (and its bugs/flaws/intentional features) access to a lot of possible information about you, and your activities.  That information is more valuable.

2) the introductory/early adoption period of most tech stuff is run at a loss and subsidized by capital.

3) it doesnt cost very much to give you fast food.  Esp. soda.  You could get a gallon of soda for a quarter, the profit margin is huge.

4) the companies are betting on being able to learn and  influence your behavior via notifications, prompts, sales, etc.

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