Edit: In-N-Out Burger is the only one I can think of with low prices and good staffing. It is also privately owned
“That's right: A year ago, in January of 2023, Chick-fil-A implemented a 6% price increase on all menu items. The previous year, their signature sandwich increased in price by 15%. That means your favorite chicken sandwich is now significantly pricier than it was just two years ago”
Restaurants are currently incredibly cheap.
Or in other words, your 'cheapness' comparison is only against a self-inflicted artifical high point.
Restaurants are cheap.
Do you have this comparison?
Now it's neither unless I give them access to my smartphone. No thank you.
Not using the app is getting ripped off.
You also don’t have to have the app. Just go inside and use the self serve kiosk and you get the same prices/deals.
Which is why these coupons and deals aren't "McDonalds is actually still cheap!". Their non-coupon pricing has risen to absurd levels, and part of what made them tenable was their speed. They used to be basically instant, I'd drive through, or go in and have food in 2 minutes. (20 years ago)
And thus their coupon pricing is just as high, comparatively.
One should also bear in mind that a soda costs them under a penny, the straw costs more. And a bunch of cut up potatoes are barely pennies.
And now it can take 15 minutes to get food at some McDonalds, which is pure dumb. For their prices, I can get food in a real restaurant, and with their speed, a real burger just as fast now.
They are literally insanely expensive compared to 10/20 years ago, with much slower service, and less customer service.