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McDonald's Rolls Out $4 Burger: Why?
The Washington Post ^ | April 22, 2009 | Frank Ahrens

Posted on 04/23/2009 9:07:36 AM PDT by re_tail20

With the nation in its deepest recession in decades, why would McDonald's pick this moment to launch a $4 burger?

You may have noticed the signs that just went up on some McDonald's drive-through menus: The new Angus burger. It weighs one-third of a pound. It costs four bucks.

In its first-quarter earnings conference call this morning, the company did not say it is rolling out the Angus nationwide, but it did not say it isn't. The company was cagey.

Still, they're starting to pop up -- The Ticker saw the Angus on a menu last Saturday, at a McDonald's on the road from Washington to Morgantown, W.Va.

An upscale product in this climate? What could the company be thinking?

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: fastfood; mcdonalds
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To: Sam's Army

“Maybe cuz in a (supposed) free market companies can produce a product and see if it meets or exceeds customer demand and expectations?”

Now, now, now...you’re thinking like a last era capitalist, not a new ear Zero socialist. We are all told how horrible the economy is and we now know that McDonalds is only serving this super expensive burger to the fat cat bourgeoisie.

Remember, this is the Washington Post, the Pravda of our age.


81 posted on 04/23/2009 10:10:32 AM PDT by MissouriConservative (Let the purging of the RINOs begin in 2010. - MissouriConservative)
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To: Myrddin

Ooooooooooooooo! Talk dirty to me some more!!!


82 posted on 04/23/2009 10:10:38 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 93 of our national holiday from reality.)
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To: Diplomat

Yea, well pickup some of Laura’s ground beef and I PROMISE you she’ll NEVER eat at McDee’s again!


83 posted on 04/23/2009 10:10:51 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: ErnBatavia
When I visited Aberystwyth, Wales, I was unfamiliar with the cultural "schedule". You have to eat at the appointed times, or risk finding the food establishments closed. I arrived around 3 PM on my first visit. All the restaurants had been open for lunch from 11 AM to 2 PM. There were now closed until 5 or 6 PM when the "dinner hour" begins. I found a Burger King open. I ordered a "Chicken Flamer". That's what the Brits call a grilled chicken sandwich. It was a smaller portion than the U.S. offering...and more expensive. Still, I was happy to find anything open to eat after driving for 6 hours non-stop from Dover.
84 posted on 04/23/2009 10:12:40 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: null and void
In-N-Out's are always packed, staffed with cheerful english speaking, clean cut kids, very simple menu, good food prepared where you can watch it being handled, what's not to like?

My son worked at In-and-Out when he returned from his deployment in Iraq/Kuwait. Eventually, he moved to real estate sales. We don't have an In-and-Out in Pocatello. It might be hard to get a store going because of the way the family that owns the chain handles new stores.

I forgot to mention the Italian/buffet at Craigo's Gourmet Pizza, Blimpie subs, Papa Murphy's pizza, the Mystique dinner, theater, Senang wine bar & restaurant, Roberto's mexican (same chain as San Diego), Bajio and many more. Lots of pizza joints and bars with food service.

85 posted on 04/23/2009 10:21:25 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

What, no Cracker Barrel or Black-Eyed Pea? What do you do for home-style cooking? (I know - cook at home - LOL)
Seriously though, it sounds like you’ve got a real nice assortment of restaurants.


86 posted on 04/23/2009 10:21:51 AM PDT by wayoverthehill
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To: re_tail20
McDonalds stock is performing well in this climate. I just got some for my Roth.

There is a whole generation of people who can't cook. These young people are also struggling with student loans and lower income jobs. You can eat pretty cheap at Mickey D's.

Going up the income level, we have a lot of people who are accustomed to going out to eat every night, but who are now trying to build up savings, and/or paying down debt in case they may be without a job. I suspect that McDonalds is targeting this group with an 'upscale' burger.

87 posted on 04/23/2009 10:25:51 AM PDT by sportutegrl (If liberals could do math, they would be conservatives.)
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To: null and void
Before we decided to move to Pocatello, my wife and I toured the local grocery stores (Fred Meyer, Smith's, Ridley's, Albertson's, Super Walmart) to make sure we could find the ingredients to cook the cuisines we prefer. No problem at all. We do order some special spices from an internet supplier in Seattle for the exotic Vietnamese foods. The goodies for Thai and Mexican are standard stock.

One specialty we found at Smith's is Reed's Gourmet Chocolate milk. It has a very smooth consistency achieved with potato flakes. The local "Mocha Madness" coffee house makes some very tasty offerings with that chocolate milk. Mocha Madness has a large and loyal local following. Their business continues to flourish even after Starbuck's built their first company store. The folks at "Double Shot" had to scale their business back a bit.

88 posted on 04/23/2009 10:29:48 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin

Carl’s makes really decent burgers if you can’t make it to In-N-Out. I particularly like their Guacamole Six Dollar Burger — and if you want, they’ll even make it for breakfast!


89 posted on 04/23/2009 10:33:54 AM PDT by Fast Moving Angel (There are no points for second place.)
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To: wayoverthehill
What, no Cracker Barrel or Black-Eyed Pea? What do you do for home-style cooking? (I know - cook at home - LOL)

That's why I patronize the locally owned/operated restaurants. The home-style food is founds at ButterBurrs, Oliver's, Elmer's, Uncle Jim's and Tom's. I've eaten at Cracker Barrel during my business trips in southern states, so I do have a point of reference.

We have a 50's style diner at Johnny B. Goode. Good food and good service. They frequently sponsor special evenings that attract lots of classic restored cars or motorcycles.

I very much enjoy the Lei's Mongolian BBQ. You build your own plate including chicken/beef/pork/fish, lots of veggies and a long line of sauces. The chef does the stir fry with the sauces you poured on. The plate is delivered hot to your table. A bowl of rice, egg drop soup, fried egg roll and salad bar are included. About $8. You get exactly what you want because you put all the ingredients in the bowl. It's an "all you can eat" for that price too.

90 posted on 04/23/2009 10:41:26 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Fast Moving Angel
Carl’s makes really decent burgers if you can’t make it to In-N-Out. I particularly like their Guacamole Six Dollar Burger — and if you want, they’ll even make it for breakfast!

I was a frequent diner at Carl's when I lived in San Diego. When I'm on business trips to Alabama or Ohio, I hit Hardee's. My nearest Carl's is 60 miles west in Burley or 110 miles south in Logan, UT. When traveling to San Diego, we sometimes take a lunch break in Primm, NV at the Carl's. The low carb $6 burger is my favorite item.

91 posted on 04/23/2009 10:44:19 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: hsmomx3

I ate at a Culvers in South Dakota and swore never again. I had the poorest excuse for a taco salad you could create. Did eat there once much later, with the group I was with..Wasn’t all that great IMHO and I would not go back on my own.


92 posted on 04/23/2009 10:45:21 AM PDT by newhouse
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To: Alex Murphy
Jack In The Box

Jack is in Texas along with many other states.

93 posted on 04/23/2009 10:53:42 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: ravingnutter

Check out “gluten intolerance” ~ two of us here already and I assure you it’s NOT the burger, it’s the Bun.


94 posted on 04/23/2009 10:55:00 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: re_tail20

We have to act now to stop this $4 burger.


95 posted on 04/23/2009 10:56:33 AM PDT by GSWarrior (We need to act now before people find out we don't.)
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To: GSWarrior

Easily done, just go to Hardees and get a real burger, and avoid the McHood food garbage.


96 posted on 04/23/2009 10:57:40 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN

No Hardees in the Bay Area. But we do have Rubio’s Fish Tacos!


97 posted on 04/23/2009 10:59:37 AM PDT by GSWarrior (We need to act now before people find out we don't.)
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To: Myrddin

I hear you. Much as I like the Guacamole $6 burger, I don’t think I’d drive 60 miles for it!


98 posted on 04/23/2009 11:06:06 AM PDT by Fast Moving Angel (There are no points for second place.)
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To: GSWarrior

Do you have a Red Robin? Great burgers I’ve heard. Of course, the greatest burgers I’ve ever eaten were prepared by my stepson who worked for Friday’s as a food preparer. He made burgers so thick you had to cut them with a knife to eat them, and they were never burnt ont he outside but done on the inside. And he cooked them on a grill to boot! That boy mixed up stuff and rolled those chokers into massive meat balls with a slight flatened appearance. I was never able to eat two full burgers the way he massed them ground round into those things.


99 posted on 04/23/2009 11:07:33 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: Michael.SF.

Not me. I tried it once and that will be my last one.


100 posted on 04/23/2009 11:09:51 AM PDT by xp38
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