Putting Profits Before Customers

Everybody has stood in front of a self-checkout system at a store and felt frustrated and overwhelmed. Although these devices were meant to make our lives easier, more often than not, they wind up creating new issues. There’s now even more justification to stay away from them.

Sylvain Charlebois, head of Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, claims that retailers mainly installed self-checkout devices to save labor expenses, without taking into account the needs of the customer. Customers haven’t liked these machines since they first arrived, in actuality.

Self-checkout devices have been actively invested in by companies such as Walmart and Target, who can replace cashiers and save up to sixty-six percent on labor expenditures. But research indicates that these devices frequently break down, necessitating human intervention to guarantee a seamless checkout procedure.

But self-checkout kiosks have a darker side as well. To increase their revenues, some stores have allegedly falsely accused innocent consumers of stealing or shoplifting. These retailers target gullible consumers and make them pay for fictitious “crimes” they never committed by citing self-checkout faults as justification.

Carrie Jernigan, a criminal defense lawyer, recently used TikTok to alert users to the risks associated with using self-checkout kiosks. She makes it clear in her film that big-box stores like Walmart would do anything it takes to pursue customers who may have unintentionally left an item in their basket or failed to pay for it. Even if your “offense” was an honest mistake, these firms will even send out a team of attorneys to sue you.

McDonald’s Introduces $5 Meal Deal Hoping to Regain Customers

McDonald’s was criticized earlier this year for its high prices when a receipt from a Connecticut restaurant went viral. Worse, a $18 Big Mac combo made things even worse.

This started a discussion on how much a fast food meal should reasonably cost.

According to reports, the cost of fast food increased by around 28% between 2019 and 2023. Although there are a number of reasons for this rise, one thing is certain: customers are getting impatient.

During an earnings call, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski stated, “Eating at home has become more affordable.” “That low-income consumer is undoubtedly the front line of battle.”

A new $5 lunch offer is what McDonald’s wants to launch in an attempt to win back customers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that this $5 offer will come with fries, a choice drink, four pieces of chicken nuggets, and a McChicken or McDouble. Commencing on June 25th, the campaign is expected to run for around one month.

Even if the transaction hasn’t begun, some clients are still dubious.

“Meal for $5 for just a month? Thank you, but no! Do you intend to entice us in the hopes that we will stay and pay hefty fees? Not at all!

“McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal is the answer to inflation,” the company said.

The McChicken was once available for just $1 on the menu. The $1 menu ought to be reinstated.

In an April call, Kempczinski said, “Consumers continue to be more discerning with their spending as they face elevated prices in daily expenses, putting pressure on the industry.” It is imperative that we prioritize cost for our clientele.

Would you rather eat at home or at another restaurant over a $5 meal bargain at McDonald’s? Post your ideas in the comments section below.

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