Another day, another case of McDonald’s customer outrage.
First, their customers called out the company’s “price gouging” by charging for refills earlier this year. This came on the heals of customers reporting a $27 McNugget meal on the menu, calling the 2024 prices “insane.” And it wasn’t just their imaginations: according to Finance Buzz, fast food menu items have increased by 39%-100% from 2014 to 2024.
Now the fast food chain is facing ire from diners yet again on TikTok after a customer noticed that the Chicago-based chain is seemingly “tricking” customers to spending more money when ordering by touch screens in their restaurants.
TikTok user Manvir Dosanjh (@manvir.dosanjh), alerted fellow Mickey D superfans of the issue in a post on the platform August 17th, revealing the “countless tricks” and “dark pattern” tactics McDonald’s employs to “take as much money as possible.” Yikes!
The video, which has since garnered over 164K views, begins with Dosanjh approaching a McDonald’s kiosk and telling his followers, “This is how McDonald’s tricks you into spending more money…” You have our attention!
Video Goes Viral Showing McDonald's 'Tricks'
In the viral video, digital creator Manvir Dosanjh outlines the several ways that McDonald's displays menu items, "rewards" customers for adding items to their cart, hides the price and reroutes customers to more menu items rather than the checkout option.
@manvir.dosanjhHow McDonald’s tricks you into spending more money♬ original sound - Manvir Dosanjh
First, he notes that McDonald’s lists the most expensive items at the top of the display menu, so you see them first and they are at eye-level when ordering, similar to how supermarkets and other retail stores get you to spend more.
Next, he shows other display features on the kiosks that he claims McDonald's uses to incentivize customers to keep adding more and more items to their carts, rather than checking out when they've already added what they came in for, or when they've spend what they had allocated in their budget to spend on the meal.
"We just came in here to spend maybe $4 or $5 on a burger, and now we're spending $26.75," Dosanjh points out. That is a truly wild markup!
So: is McDonald's *really* tricking their customers?
According to McDonald's former CEO Steve Easterbrook, the tactic is working and they are indeed successfully getting their customers to spend more money from these tactics. Easterbrook told CNBC in 2018 that when customer "dwell" longer at the kiosk stations "there is a little bit of an average check boost that comes with it." But this doesn't appear to be anything "new" or unique to the 2024 landscape.
READ MORE: McDonald's Customers Are Outraged And Threatening To Boycott After Being Served A 'Flatter Than A Pancake' Burger Amid Shrinkflation Claims
TikTok Reacts: 'Not Falling For Any Tricks'
While many TikTok users commented that these are classic marketing techniques that businesses use to drive up sales, some were quick to respond that they wouldn't be falling for them--especially not in this economy.
"I know what I'm ordering before I go in. Not falling for any tricks," wrote one user.
"I only order happy meals now," added another.
A third advised that fellow patrons should "Go straight to the coupons," adding: "Would never pay full price at McDonald’s anymore." Good advice!
READ MORE: McDonald's Customers Are Outraged After A Customer Pays $17 For 3 Sandwiches: 'Just Way Too Expensive'
