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Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

arstechnica.com

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Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#12

   "Dynamic pricing can allow Wendy's to be competitive and flexible with pricing, motivate customers to visit and provide them with the food they love at a great value. We will test a number of features that we think will provide an enhanced customer and crew experience."
So I guess that means somethings things will cost most and sometimes things will cost less? I would hope there's something on those digital signs that calls out the pricing.

"THIS BURGER IS 25% MORE THAN NORMAL!" or "25% OFF YOUR FROSTY BECAUSE IT'S SNOWING!"

Hopefully there's some way to escape the line after you notice that your fries are going to cost $15 because there's a long line.

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#13
post #4

This is not going to be well-received by their customers and is likely to send business to McDonald's and Burger King instead. They also really shouldn't be doing "suggestive selling" whether with humans or machines. Just shut up and take the customer's order rather than trying to talk them into ordering something. Nobody likes when stores or restaurants do that even if it "increases metrics" because some people choo…

> likely to send business to McDonalds

Wendy’s is doing this in order to compete with McDonalds, which has been pushing up prices much faster than inflation for several years in a row… and McDonalds has publicly claimed it’s not hurting their business.

https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-price-hikes-puttin...

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#14
And consumers can experiment with eating elsewhere.

This is a good example of dystopian capitalism run amok.

Next logical step --- they track those that fall for this and start charging them "surge" prices all the time. Then some accountant gets the bright idea that they can sell their "sucker list" to other like minded establishments.

And soon these "suckers" will find themselves branded for life. Where ever they go, they will be charged more.

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#16
post #7
post #4

This is not going to be well-received by their customers and is likely to send business to McDonald's and Burger King instead. They also really shouldn't be doing "suggestive selling" whether with humans or machines. Just shut up and take the customer's order rather than trying to talk them into ordering something. Nobody likes when stores or restaurants do that even if it "increases metrics" because some people choo…

"I'd like to buy some fast food at a reasonable and predictable price." "Sir, this is a Wendy's."

I know where your funny is aimed, but I would say the joke stands on its own if left off at food

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#17

And consumers can experiment with eating elsewhere. This is a good example of dystopian capitalism run amok. Next logical step --- they track those that fall for this and start charging them "surge" prices all the time. Then some accountant gets the bright idea that they can sell their "sucker list" to other like minded establishments. And soon these "suckers" will find themselves branded for life. Where ever they go…

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#18

Keep reading this everywhere, and it's 100% a publicity stunt perpetuated by gullible journalists.

Bingo- this isn't going to last but the brand will be in peoples' brains and they'll book some extra business from that before quietly shelving it.

Re: Wendy's will experiment with dynamic surge pricing for food in 2025

#19
post #4

This is not going to be well-received by their customers and is likely to send business to McDonald's and Burger King instead. They also really shouldn't be doing "suggestive selling" whether with humans or machines. Just shut up and take the customer's order rather than trying to talk them into ordering something. Nobody likes when stores or restaurants do that even if it "increases metrics" because some people choo…

My pessimistic take is this wont drive significant business to competitors and will slowly become the new standard because of the profit potential. Basically, enshittification.
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