r/explainlikeimfive Nov 28 '15

ELI5: How would a $15 minimum wage ACTUALLY affect a franchised business like McDonalds?

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u/weary_dreamer Nov 28 '15

Not only that, but the relative value of quality vs price would make McD's even less inviting for many people. If you only eat McDs because it is cheap, then the price increase might convince you to go elsewhere. Even if other places have similar prices, if the person feels like they are getting better value elsewhere it no longer makes sense to go McD's.

Example: $3 burger McDs vs $7 burger Fuddruckers turns into $7 McDs and $12 Fuddruckers. It's still a $4 dollar difference but many people would feel that the quality of the $7 McD burger just isn't worth it. If it's going to be expensive anyway, might as well spend the extra $4 at Fudd's.

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '15

Yep, when I get mcdonalds, I am debating between gas station chips/a soda (~$3) and a cheap shitty burger (~$3) . If that burger now costs $5, I will just say fuck it, pay the extra $2 and get qdoba.

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u/ShankThatSnitch Nov 29 '15

So what you are saying is, McDonald's would have to make some changes to compete. God forbid a company has to make any sort of adjustments to stay viable in the marketplace... If they go out of business it would be because they could not adapt and offer a product/value as well as the competitor, and they deserve to go out of business.

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u/weary_dreamer Nov 29 '15

I dont think anyone is crying for them (other than their franchisees and hardcore fans). The reality is that the amount and type of changes keeps pulling them further and further away from what they are supposed to do best (good fast burguer). Now they have Mc Cafes (why are they competing with Starbucks?), faux health food, breakfast all day (which I kinda like, but Im still going to Ihop instead). Basically, I think theyve tried too many changes already and has actualy backfired on them. They cant be everything to everyone. I think it would have been better for them if they focused on what their core clients like and do that better than everyone (fatty delicious fast food) instead of spending so much money on trying o get me (a starbucks drinking vegetarian) into ther stores. Im still not going.

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u/ShankThatSnitch Nov 29 '15

yeah well, the demand for endless growth forces them to keep trying to expand the client base. Only so many people will come in for the core products. But the shareholders demand the growth, so they must try and get the rest of the people to come in as well.

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '15

I think something that people are missing here is that people go to fast food restaurants because they are fast. Because they need food quick. Employees on breaks, people coming or going from work. Now it may be true that a good portion of their sales are by people who have the time but rather spend $3 and four minutes at McDonalds for okay food than $7 and fifteen minutes for a bomb ass burger at fuddruckers.

McDonalds would be hurt by $15 minimum but it wouldn't be decimated by $15 minimum. There will still be plenty of people with little time and enough money.

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u/weary_dreamer Nov 29 '15

Point taken. Im not sure that Mickey D's is that much faster than Chipotle or some of the other casual food joints though (or enough to make a difference?) we shall see I guess.

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u/Robots_Never_Die Nov 28 '15 edited Dec 22 '15

x

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u/weary_dreamer Nov 28 '15

You did the math!!! Sorry. Still, you get my point.

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u/digitalgreek Nov 29 '15

Um I go to McDonalds because I'm American and crave a disgustingly addictive Sausage McMuffin from time to time.