- Wendy’s is walking back suggestions it will start surge-pricing burgers and fries.
- On an earnings call, the company’s CEO said it would begin experimenting with “features like dynamic pricing.”
- Wendy’s later said its dynamic pricing wouldn’t raise prices and would only offer discounts.
Wendy’s on Tuesday appeared to walk back comments from CEO Kirk Tanner that prompted widespread reports — and backlash — over the idea that the company would be introducing surge pricing for burgers and fries.
I did fast food for a long time and don’t really see how lowering prices when it’s not busy then increasing them during peak hours is going to do less harm than good. I think it would make more sense to charge a little less when they’re busy and have lots of employees and can make food faster. Then charge the normal price when it’s slow and they have less employees.
It’s probably more about impressing investors as having bigger numbers in your sales report during peak hours looks good.
When there is a long line, the kitchen is pressured to move faster and faster. Eventually, moving too fast means sloppy work and mistakes. There is a limit to how many workers and food fit in the kitchen. Even with machines this is true.
Raising prices would mean the line is shorter by turning some people away. That way the kitchen can work at a pace that lets them keep quality without having the pressure of a long line.
You really shouldn’t tell workers they can only clock in when there is work, but some bosses are shit stains.
So lowering prices when the line is gone is supposed to get more customers, so that way the boss can the workers are always busy.
High prices keep the workers from going too fast and making mistakes. Low prices keep the workers from standing idle and freaking out the boss.
The real fallacy is thinking that people and machines can work continuously without a break.