As fast food prices continue to rise, customers are feeling the pinch in their wallets. Now, a new charge has left McDonald’s patrons particularly irate: The fast food giant has started charging for bags in some areas.
In a recent viral TikTok video, user Amber, known as @amber.in.wonderland, has exposed McDonald’s for charging customers 15 cents for a paper bag. She’s not alone in her shock; commenters jumped in to express their own disappointment with rising prices and charges. Find all of the details below.
@amber.in.wonderland What’s the deal @McDonald’s Corporate ?? #mcdonaldscanada #Alberta #mcdonalds #amberinwonderland original sound – Amber in Wonderland
TikToker calls out McDonald’s for bag charge
“Ok we’ve got to talk about something,” Amber begins her video. “Have any of you guys been to McDonald’s in the last week or two?” She explains her recent experience at a McDonald’s drive-thru, where she was unexpectedly asked if she wanted a bag for her food. “I went through the drive-thru, and they were like, ‘Would you like a bag for that?’ And I was like–I said no, because I was confused by it,” Amber recalls.
To her surprise, when she declined the bag, her food was handed to her in a clear plastic container. This created an awkward situation as she tried to empty the contents into her car while being watched by the drive-thru staff. “They hand you this clear, plastic container with all your food in it into the car. Then you have to sit there and they’re staring at you while you empty your fries, burger, condiments out of it, trying to find a spot for them in your car while you’re trying to hurry up because there’s someone behind you waiting,” she explains, her frustration palpable.
Amber reveals that opting for a paper bag incurs a 15-cent charge, which she refuses to pay. She questions the practicality and customer satisfaction of this new policy, urging McDonald's to reconsider: "Whoever thought this was a great idea, whoever thought, let’s start charging people more money at McDonald’s and take away the convenience of drive-thru… I’m not paying the 15 cents, but I ain’t doing that container again, so McDonald’s you better figure this out if I’m going to come back."
Amber notes that she experienced this at a Canadian McDonald's. "Is this all across Canada? Is this in the United States as well? Australia? Europe? Where is this happening? Because this is happening in Alberta, Canada. I ain’t happy. I’m not loving it," she concludes, playfully twisting McDonald's iconic slogan.
The comments section of Amber's video is filled with equally impassioned responses from her followers. One user highlighted the potential profit McDonald's could be making from the bags: "my concern is that they’re still making a gouging profit on the bags. When they buy 1 billion bags a year I’m sure the price point is not $.15."
Another commenter, identifying as a former McDonald's employee, advised customers to take their time when faced with this situation. "Please everyone take your time w/ this. they care a lot abt drive thru wait times," they noted. This sentiment was echoed by another user who suggested a form of protest: "Just don’t rush, take your time. You’ll eat into McDonald’s 15 cents of productivity so they will figure out it’s not such a good idea."
Concerns about hygiene and health regulations were also raised, with one user questioning the cleanliness of the reusable containers: "So are they disinfecting the containers every time they are passed back and forth??" Another user expanded on this concern, asking, "Isn’t it a health code violation to take the container back and reuse it unless they’re sanitizing it each time?"
All in all, it's safe to say that McDonald's may need to rethink their strategy to maintain customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive fast food market—especially on top of their staggering food prices.
