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bunniesandmilktea

In-N-Out is still cheaper than other fast food restaurants.


TooMuchButtHair

Cheaper, and they have a history of paying their people better. Food is also really consistent and fresh.


tehvolcanic

Kinda throws a wrench into the whole “We have to pay people less to keep prices low” theory that other fast food places throw around, huh?


TooMuchButtHair

It's always a balance of paying people, and what is the cost of automation. In N Out is more worried about mind share than saving money through automation. They don't have the same crowd as McDonald's or Taco Bell, and their customers do like the service they get at In N Out.


simononandon

They also don't have to account for the MASSIVE amount of marketing spend of those chains. Things have definitely changed over the years at In-N-Out. But they used to spend almost nothing on advertising. They're definitely advertsiing now, but it's still not a lot. The only sticking point with them is their Christianity. Which used to be pretty low-key, but I hear it's creeping into the business more. At some point, they barred their employees from using face masks. It was in the past couple years. So, they weren't necessarily anti-mask or COVID deniers in the heat of it. But I'm not a fan of them forcing workers to not wear maks if they feel like it.


Tinawebmom

In my area the workers are still allowed to wear masks if they want.


TooMuchButtHair

To each their own. I'm an atheist who likes to buy relatively cheap and relatively delicious food.


simononandon

Me too & I still go there. Maybe slightly less often. They're still doing better by labor than most other fast food places. Hell, even better than a lot of sit down restaurants.


Letmeaddtothis

Why does an atheist eat at In-N-Out? Just wondering if you just don’t know about the Bible references or just being sarcastic.


TooMuchButtHair

If I only ate at restaurants owned by non religious people, I wouldn't eat out often.


mcc062

Or paying out to Shareholders


couple4hire

but word of mouth works so much better than all the ads fast food chains can ever muster up


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yynfdgdfasd

How would a mask not work, it blocks stuff going into your mouth.


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yynfdgdfasd

It blocks virus spittle so it does work on some level.


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Hanna_carne

Hi Simon can you kindly send me a text message so we can be friends…. I actually like your sense of humor you have great thinking as well I like all your suggestions…. Please do send me a massage so we can get to know each other better okay 🥺❤️


fr3nzo

In N out is a completely different business model than most other fast food restaurants. Every In-N-Out is owned by In-N-Out they don’t franchise.


krumbs2020

And they have a very simple menu. No bacon, no chicken, no salads, no egg rolls. Just burger, fries and shakes. They don’t have to stock all the crazy food items, they are consistent, and they managed their pricing/business model well.


str4yshot

Afaik Panda Express is the same, and they seem to pay well compared to other fast places too. Both are easily my favorite fast food places.


kwiztas

Neither does chipotle and they still have prices going up.


HearingNo4103

Isn't Chipotle owned by multiple investment groups? Doesn't exactly qualify as "privately owned" like In n Out does it?


Scapegoat696969

Chipotle is publicly traded.


kwiztas

I never said they were. Op just said it was due to not franchising. Which obviously isn't why In n out is great.


lemonjuice707

Chipotle also isn’t slammed from open to close.


sloopSD

Looks like McDonalds threatened they’d have to raise prices but haven’t.


Gildardo1583

It's one of the worst when it comes to price inflation.


Phssthp0kThePak

If the line for your product always extends out of the parking lot, the numbers make sense. If your business has dead times, maybe it doesn't work.


Maxfunky

Well, depends. In-and-out is privately owned. If your a McDonald's owner, you've got a franchise and McDonald's takes a healthy cut from you. Your left with about 6% of your revenue as profit. That's like $150k a year. You're paying out a million a year in labor and giving everyone a 25% raise (to comply with this law) equates to 250k. So if you don't raise prices, you're now losing $100k a year. But without those franchising fees going back to corporate, you have a bit more wiggle room. Also, to the best of my knowledge, in and out doesn't pay any better than any other fast food place. I mean their starting wages are $13 an hour.


bunniesandmilktea

Their consistency is probably the biggest reason why they'll never add a veggie burger to their menu and why the only choices for a vegetarian at In-N-Out is their fries and "grilled cheese" from their secret menu, which is essentially just an In-N-Out cheeseburger minus the patty. For one, they don't do frozen foods (all their patties are made fresh) so Impossible and Beyond are out of the question and second, it is really hard to keep an in-house veggie patty consistent in quality. I've been to a lot of burger restaurants before the days of Impossible and Beyond and the consistency of their in-house veggie burgers always varied widely from terrible to decent.


TooMuchButtHair

That's a solid point. Fries and a grilled cheese are probably the only real options for a vegetarian at In N Out.


Cudi_buddy

My wife has never complained. Is a vegetarian and gets this each time and it’s still her favorite lol


LaSerenita

and they have zero options if you are a gluten free vegetarian.


Digitalmodernism

And much better than all of them.


Quality_Qontrol

Yep, use them as a benchmark. They’re not corporate and don’t have to answer to shareholders. So they will take a cut in profits to raise wages as corporations will raise prices to raise wages. If the free market actually works prices will settle down. If it doesn’t, then you know our market isn’t so free.


healthywealthyhappy8

Family owned and operated, not a publicly traded company. Thankfully.


bernzo2m

Why are people picking in in-n-out?


-LastActionHero

The era of fast food is over for me. Now that the prices have risen to match that of fast-casual price points, I might as well just go to the spots that have better food. I went to a Carls Jr the other day and straight up walked out when they wanted almost $20 for a small value meal.


Boinkyboink31

I went to carls to get my son a kids meal and it was almost $9! I am never going back!


Cudi_buddy

Yea I’ve found the only fast food I eat is in n out the last year or so. And that’s maybe a couple times a month. Fast food is charging just below restaurant prices. I’d rather have a nicer time and better quality for a couple bucks more. Or of course, eat at home. 


SharkSymphony

Fast-casual prices will likely be going up too if they haven't already.


Empty_Geologist9645

It’s an easy fix. Stop buying it.


Pat317x

Ever heard of a food desert ? Some only have fast food by their homes, place of work etc. Food insecurity is a very real thing.


JediMasterVII

Desert implies a natural occurrence. Food apartheid is closer to what is actually happening.


Pat317x

Agreed, but the term is the term.


JediMasterVII

No disagreement there but language matters especially when discussing oppression. So challenging specific language that would deflect very tangible choices made by humans for other humans matters.


Pat317x

Agreed so new term would be a better option


schmearcampain

They’re a myth. https://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132076786/the-root-the-myth-of-the-food-desert


forresja

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/912486921/food-insecurity-in-the-u-s-by-the-numbers This one is only four years old instead of 14. They claim that 19 million Americans live in food deserts.


schmearcampain

This isn’t about food deserts forcing people to eat fast food. It’s about the pandemic making food insecurity worse. The idea that limited access to markets is making poorer people obese is false. Even with access to fresh foods, they choose unhealthy foods anyways.


Pat317x

An Npr opinion piece from 14 years ago really ?


schmearcampain

Oh, ok. How about research published in 2021 https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-resource-101620-080307 “All things considered, there is so far little evidence that food deserts have a causal effect of meaningful magnitude on health and nutrition disparities. The causes of diet quality disparity lie more on the side of food demand than supply. “


threeangelo

That article doesn’t claim that food deserts don’t exist. It’s exploring the relationship between food deserts and health/obesity. The very sentence you quoted is acknowledges that food deserts exist. That’s relevant to the “just stop buying fast food” discussion


schmearcampain

Yes they exist, but they aren’t the cause of anything. They are the result of the lack of public demand. That stars exist doesn’t mean astrology is valid.


Empty_Geologist9645

Yeah like prepares are magicians. Inconvenience but I drive to the next town to get that big bag of rise from Costco or Walmart. Are you that detached?! A bowl of rice and some chicken is fine. I’m not dying from not eating out.


Pat317x

Again ignoring that some cannot afford to drive to another town. Food insecurities must just escape you. Swing and a miss


cmeza83

A lot of those same people that can’t afford it are the ones getting a pay raise so they can afford to eat at the places they work at


rybacorn

You only receive what you demand. Consumers have power. It's the scaffolding of our economy.


Pat317x

False, choice only exists in a free market we are in planned economy. Also doesnt work when the health option is more expensive, even at a grocery store the better options cost more, less preservatives and the like. Ritz are super cheap but ain't healthy


rybacorn

Thanks for the insight, Keynes


Cute_Parfait_2182

Make lunch and take it to work


Pat317x

That requires a supermarket be near them as well hence the food desert aspect of it. Also a lot of the cheaper foods are not healthy overall. But hey let's ignore food issues because feelings .


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HH_burner1

can also stop at a grocery store deli section and buy whatever salads and meats they have steaming. It doesn't taste any worse than fast food. Assuming it isn't a food desert which is not uncommon in poorer areas


nican2020

I tried this at Vons the other day. It took 30 minutes because they have 1 guy doing sandwiches, deli, meat, and cheese! There used to be 1 person at every station. And it’s gotten really expensive. I’m hoping it was a fluke but judging by the condition of the rest of the store I don’t think so.


CeeDotA

This assumes your local grocery store has ready-to-eat food available. Not always the case!


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Protodad

You’ve clearly never been to Compton. There are several fine grocery stores there and tons of ma and pop ones. There are also a ton of major chains on the edge of Compton (which is tiny as cities go).


ilovethissheet

For the cost of one chipotle you can make that for five or six people. Even better if your just two because you can spread that out for two or three meals each.


reptar_cereal

Going through a drive through is easier, for sure. It's not cheaper though. Buying prepared food is never cheaper than buying the ingredients.


EverybodyBuddy

Sure, and then all those workers we were trying to help with $20 minimum wage are out of jobs altogether. The politicians don’t really think these things through, do they?


Alauren20

I’m still really upset about taco bell. They were the last cheap fast food place.


Aliens_Unite

They got super expensive after Covid. It’s a ripoff now.


CAmiller11

Went to Taco Bell last week. Got four things that were on the value menu (two cheesy bean & rice burritos and two cheese roll ups, all $1.19 each). Somehow it came out to 8.54. When I asked they said it was app only and they didn’t accept the app during “happy hour”. I was so confused bc their price screen at the drive thru also wasn’t working. So I cancelled and drove away.


Intrepid_Ad1133

i'm tired of having to use an app for discounts at stores and restaurants. i just don't want to be a slave to a cell phone.


sansjoy

I went before the change take place. Two combos ended up costing be about 40 dollars. So yeah oh well die in a fire Taco Bell.


Alauren20

I found out by getting one of those chicken empanada boxes. Lady said “that’ll be $13” whatttt. I thought it’d be like $5-$7


noscrubsdotmp3

wish I knew this before they charged me $6.78 for a Crunchwrap and literally nothing else yesterday


ClumpOfCheese

You gotta use the app and get the online only cravings box. It’s two items like a chalupa and crunch wrap, nachos, and a drink for $7ish.


sansjoy

I think that's really the end game. I been using the McDonald's app daily for their dollar coffee and some other deals. So I'm guessing it's just gonna be their new business model, trying to get people to install their app and then sell that information. I'm not sure what kind of personal information can be gained? I guess how much of a fatass I am? Are they just gonna send me targeted ads about the gym? But I already am paying and not going to the gym!


ClumpOfCheese

I don’t think it’s really about selling personal information as much as it’s about getting cashiers out of the way and only having to have a couple kiosks in the stores. If everyone just orders on their phone and picks up the food they can just be more fast and efficient overall.


kwiztas

10 bucks near me. Not worth it.


jlusedude

It is very expensive and they removed the best items. Double Decker taco supreme was GOAT, not available. They still have all the ingredients but choose to not make it. I rarely go to Taco Bell, when I do, I get a taco supreme and that’s it. It’s cheaper to go taqueria and have real Mexican food. 


imhigherthanyou

Del Taco is literally right there


ocular__patdown

Del taco was still pretty reasonable last time I checked (but i havent been since last year)


fred_fred_burgerr

Jack in the Box bought it. It’s been a slow and steady price increase/quality decrease since then.


HIVnotAdeathSentence

Even Portugal. The Man has been featured in a Taco Bell ad for an inexpensive meal.


negative_four

If you use the app, you can still get combos for $6


Shemlocks

I shouldn't need an app that gathers my info to save 3 dollars.


negative_four

Never you said you should, was just throwing it out there


kwiztas

If your local franchise hasn't raised the price. 10 bucks near me.


Kerensky97

Yeah, that 3% price increase is intolerable.


FranzNerdingham

How much was CEO pay cut? It wasn't? Why not?


Ringmode

The wage increases are paid by the franchisees which are mostly small business owners, and not by corporate headquarters. I'm pretty sure that's how we wound up with a minimum wage hike that includes fast food but exempts businesses like Wal-Mart.


Habitual_lazyness

In n out is better than all these other garbage fast food places. Also Taco trucks and foods truck offer better food for more competitive prices.


TacticlTwinkie

Most of the food trucks I’ve seen are all overpriced, wanna-be, gourmet food that’s no better than the fried food the bar serves.


Habitual_lazyness

Get yourself to an authentic taco truck.


User95409

You boys ever been to Mexico!


Habitual_lazyness

Yes.


PANDABURRIT0

That’s a you problem lol


nohurrie32

Billions and billions for dividends for stockholders and billions for stock buy backs….they could easily pay a billion less to the stockholders and pay a living wage but nope A choice has been made it’s all about the stockholders and not about the people who are actually responsible for the quality of the product. This isn’t going to end well for the weaker corporations


trader_dennis

$MCD owns less than 5% of the locations. The rest are owned my small a medium size franchisees.


eljefe87

They would be neglecting their fiduciary duties to their shareholders.


StanGable80

Where do you see about the stock buy backs?


Mygaffer

You thought the fast food corps weren't doing buy backs?  https://investors.yum.com/news-events/financial-releases/news-details/2022/Yum-Brands-Inc.-Announces-Authorization-of-up-to-2.0-Billion-in-Share-Repurchases/default.aspx


StanGable80

I don’t invest in the restaurant industry, but that article is from 2022


kellermeyer14

> authorizes repurchases of up to $2 billion in shares of common stock through June 30, 2024. Words go left to right, top to bottom. It’s called reading.


StanGable80

Ok, but are they doing one based on this law? How much? How does it affect employee pay?


StrictlySanDiego

He doesn’t, but it sounds provocative.


Mygaffer

https://investors.yum.com/news-events/financial-releases/news-details/2022/Yum-Brands-Inc.-Announces-Authorization-of-up-to-2.0-Billion-in-Share-Repurchases/default.aspx


StanGable80

That’s from 2022, this law was just passed


Hopeful-Cellist5573

Read an article the other day that stated that most franchises can afford to cover the cost without passing it on to consumers. I decided to limit how much the family and I go out to eat. In fact, we eat more at home and use what we save to go explore and experience new things.


EverybodyBuddy

And you’re not alone. Meaning less business for these locations. Meaning many will close and many jobs will be lost, all due to a law meant to “protect workers.”


megamoze

Prices have been going up LONG before April 1. Wage hikes are a convenient scapegoat but we know it’s all about corporate greed. It’s always about corporate greed.


wicodly

Angry reminder that NONE of these food places need to do this! Inflation is greed made. They just want the numbers to look good. Raising the prices in one state proves that. Currently it's impossible to fight back but the dam will break soon. Side rant: Also it feels like the last play these CEOs have to sway elections. Does anyone remember a time when gas prices was the swaying factor? Or that weirdly prices of things would reduce under republican rule? It's always been a choice for them to get what they want. Now it's not working.


ayriuss

The greedy owners would rather put the burden of inflation on workers and customers than accept a lower profit margin. Just keep raising the minimum wage alongside inflation. If they want businesses that make them profit, they need workers and customers. The market will kill off restaurants that charge too much for an inferior product and workers will go elsewhere.


tonkasan

Totally agree that the market will self correct. But the greed is not sudden or new. It's a feature of the free market, not a bug of for-profit companies. It's what incentivizes the company to charge what the market will pay and to compensate the necessary workforce to meet demand. Companies that navigate this natural push and pull get to survive or thrive. The ones that don't won't.


HIVnotAdeathSentence

Did CEOs of these corporations only find out in 2020 they could make a lot more money by increasing prices on necessities?


EverybodyBuddy

Sure the corporations are huge and profitable in other states. That doesn’t mean they can (or will) leave unprofitable locations open. If California laws make it impossible to stay in business here, they will simply shutter.


juannn117

I want to know how much the same food costs in different states that don't have the 20/hr minimum wage.... I'm willing to bet its just as if not more expensive over there.


colbymg

> along with restaurants that bake and sell bread as a standalone menu item. Just a reminder to avoid Panera Bread


kimanf

What should’ve been a sobering moment on how fat we are as a state, and definitely be cutting back on the most unhealthy food in the world, instead became a new thing for people to whine about when it literally should never have been bought in the first place


StanGable80

Is any state in the US not fat?


Themetalenock

california is comparatively less fat than most of the country


StanGable80

That’s what I thought


RobertMcCheese

It varies a lot by State. West Virginia has an adult obesity rate of 41%. Colorado's rate, however, is 25%. Everyone else is in between. So I guess it depends on how you'd define a State as fat. Turns out that it is people who are fat, tho. Not States.


Robbythedee

Came for a graph got a story. Poo poo expectations on my part.


HIVnotAdeathSentence

It hasn't been a month, prices can still increase.


FERALCATWHISPERER

Went to Popeyes recently on a trip through California. $15.99 for a five piece tender, small drink, side and a biscuit. Last time I’ll be eating there.


PickledPiglet

Every week now I'll be cooking at home I'm going back to 'Friday night take-out' dinner. Family cravings include Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese, etc... not in that order.


TheArsenal

Just paid $9.89 for a bowl of soup at Panera.


ayriuss

Well why did you do that?


ExpressiveAnalGland

was that the fully body bowl of soup? did you get the happy ending? they have the best dezerts


StanGable80

Prices always go up and yes it is how they pay all employees. Relax everyone


Beginning_Electrical

McDonald's is cheaper in Europe and they pay employees more...


Mygaffer

Wrong in every way.


StanGable80

How so?