McDonald's tries the dollar menu for breakfast
In an effort to bolster faltering breakfast sales, McDonald's has rolled out a dollar breakfast menu in select Chicago stores. Great on your wallet...maybe not so great on your waistline.Although the promotion is a first for Chicago-area McDonald's, it's been done before in other markets, according to a spokeswoman cited by Reuters. And before you get used to your good/cheap coffee and McMuffin breakfast for $2, don't. There are no plans to make this a permanent deal. The chain has had a dollar menu since 2002, and it generates about 10% of sales, according to analysts. Although the dollar menu can cut into a franchise's profits, it draws in new customers, who then supplement their dollar menu items with soft drinks and desserts. Breakfast is one of the more profitable times of day, so bringing in the dollar menu to this segment suggests McDonald's is feeling the pinch. Makes sense: the unemployed are hardly lining up to get their quick breakfasts any more, and sales are reflecting that.
McDonald's is also following the herd: Burger King, Wendy's and Taco Bell all have low-cost breakfast items.
What's your taste? Will a dollar menu get you into McDonald's more in the morning?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-28-2009 @ 3:13PM
Sarah said...
My McDonald's has had a breakfast dollar menu. This isn't exactly news.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 3:29PM
bevsaves said...
I usually get their sausage biscuit which totals about $1.07. The coffee is pretty good too.
Thank,
Bev.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 3:31PM
Lee said...
All this crap about glorifying dead Michael Jackson is sickening. Yes, he was a wonderful singer & dancer. He was also a well-known pedophile. Get it? As an adult he had sex with little boys, and only his money kept him out of jail. In addition, Jackson cheated everyone he did business with. Hitler was a military genius. But he also had another side which far outweighed his military skills. They should both rot in hell.
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 10:39PM
Michelle said...
Lee,
Michael Jackson was not a pedophile. If he was, what parent would except a payoff after your child was raped? Think about it. Would you except any amount of money if it was your child?
If you said "Yes", then shame on you. Care about your child not a bank account.
8-31-2009 @ 1:46AM
hookmrl said...
hey idiot this is an article about mcdonald not mike jackson--even at a dollar it is still a nickel worth of food
8-28-2009 @ 3:47PM
dvolquard said...
Julie, are you new to the reporting business?? Mickey D's has had a dollar menu -which encompasses both breakfast and regular menu items for quite a long time. What you should have written about is an expanded dollar menu for breakfast which may be introduced to other regions of the country as temporary or permanent menu pricing. And McDonalds usually leads the way -in creative value added menu selections for it's customers. With the appropriate advertising / marketing, any day part -can be targeted for special promotions -whether it be for summer drinks at a dollar -or other time periods where sales are down or flat. As a whole, overall consumer spending for meals eaten out -is down by 15 to 18 percent. Most of the franchise operators realize that a cheaper menu does not bring in as profitable a bottom line -but do understand that special pricing brings in additional customers -who may purchase additional items -as add on sales. And your opening paragraph slants McDonalds as an unhealthy place to eat. Check the facts, before you write about your personal preference -as it is possible to eat healthy at McDonalds-for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My guess is you did the article "on the fly" without the necessary study and preparation.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 4:46PM
DAT said...
I really do like McDonald's food and the dollar menu helps out a lot.BUT did you know that McDonald's and several other fast food chains have now added a special tax on your food? You will see a to go tax and a dine in tax.They will be different from each other.I first had this happen in MI. PLEASE be aware you are paying MORE>
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 5:40PM
Mike said...
McDonalds did not and cannot add a "tax" to your bill. It is the local governments who have passed the tax.
8-28-2009 @ 10:26PM
Devin jarboe said...
The "to go tax" and "dine in tax" are exactly the same amount - it's state sales tax. I'm surprised McDonalds have not changed the receipt yet - I worked there ten years ago and would get people complaining because they thought they got charged extra for eating in, or eating out. That line just tells employees whether to bag or platter the food - it will not change what you pay at all. By the way, even if the tax rates WERE different, that could not possibly have anything to do with McDonalds. Restaurants do not charge their own tax - state law sets taxes, and any restaurant trying to charge it's own "tax" would be torn apart by lawyers within a day.
8-28-2009 @ 4:59PM
Mike said...
Dat, I live in Mi. and go to Mc Donalds a few times a week. I check my bill and never seen a TO GO or DINE IN tax. All bills have dine in or to go but this is not a tax. I bought 2 daller items today and it was $2.12 total. Our sales tax is 6%.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 7:10PM
Mike said...
Uhhhhh.... 6% on a $2.00 order is 12 cents. Therefore, your bill would have been $2.12.
8-28-2009 @ 5:38PM
kira said...
I never feel like getting in the car and going to Mcdonalds or any other fast food place for breakfast... But I have to say I like fast food breakfast a lot better than I like fast food burgers and such. Except for chickfila they are one of the only places that I like their fast food afternoon menu.
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 6:11PM
Rodney said...
Well maybe I will start eating breakfast at just $1 who can beat that
Cool Deal
Rconn
http://www.woowing.com
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 7:13PM
cassie said...
actually believe it or not, my mom and i noticed a seperate tax when we went to mc d's a few days ago and we had it to go but there it was in black and white "to go tax $.15
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 8:07PM
Sue said...
ALL fast food will kill ya sooner or later....NASTY!
Reply
8-28-2009 @ 8:13PM
AndyM said...
Did some of you forget the title to this story? It has NOTHING to do with the overdosing Michael Jackson, money schemes, weight loss pills (althought it is a good tie in eat cheap at McD's, and take a pill to get rid of the fat). This is a story of a company tht is trying something new. Period! Good for McD's for trying to keep up with the big kids....
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8-28-2009 @ 8:15PM
jon said...
they should bring back the bagel
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 10:13PM
james said...
I no longer purchase food at Mcdonalds since they started buying their beef from Argentina>You need to buy American Mcdonalds!!!!! It is us Americans that made you the Billions!!!
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8-30-2009 @ 11:40PM
DANIEL said...
I'm the owner of Mcdonald's and I like that idea.....
Reply
8-30-2009 @ 11:41PM
Jen said...
I can never figure out why the media thinks that every time McDonald's comes out with another nutritional monstrosity, it's "news." Surely there are more important things going on??
Reply