McDonalds Charging for Ketchup ?

[AntePrincess]

Will the 'ketchup' fee be coming to a McDonlad's in you neighborhood?

I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but I just happened to see this article today. We usually go to Wendy's anyway, but as far as I'm concerned, they can keep their condiments. What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/mcdonalds-ketchup-fee-manhattan-extra-charge_n_3271816.html

The magic is gone.

 

[tvguy]

The article says 1-4 packets are free. You only pay if you want more than that.
I started a thread earlier this year about places here charging extra for Ranch Dressing, but nothing else. But I will say, at many fast food restaurants here , the ketchup and mustard aren't out in the open anymore, you have to ask.
To be honest, if they are finding a lot of unopened ketchup packets in the trash, I can't blame them.

 

[Glenn]

Something simular happened to me in March. At 2 different McD I asked if they could put a little mustard on the onion chedder burger I ordered. In both cases they wanted to charge 15c!. Told them to keep the mustard. I can see if you want a bunch of packets charging something. But adding a dab on mustard to a burger?
Around here there is also a wide price difference between company owned places & franchiess. During lent the company owned by work was charging $2.29 for the fish sandwich. The one by the house was $3.49. Yes they say prices vary but that is nuts. To say the least I've written off the one by the house & only visit the one by the office.

 

[Just People]

That fact that they charge 1/4 of the price of a burger at McDonalds for a thimble of sauce makes me worry more about the quality of the burger. This isn't the 60's, a burger shouldn't cost a buck.

 

[Imzadi]

I was once at Wendy's and they charged me for extra sauce for the nuggets. When I wanted extra Oriental sesame dressing for my salad, I saw the cashier ring up 25¢ or 50¢ to my bill. But, they do NOT charge me when I ask for it as they are putting the sauce in the bag, only if I ask for extra while ordering.

Same thing happened when I went to Starbucks. I asked for a Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel. The cashier charged me for the extra caramel. I asked when did that start??? He said it's always been like that. NOT at any other Starbucks I've been to.

So now, I just ask for it as they are swizzling on the caramel. And, like always, except that one time, they swirl on some more, no extra charge.

This was me but the year was 1986 and I was 17. I was STUNNED when they wanted a few pence for ketchup. The lady even wanted me to stand in LINE to buy the ketchup for my fries. Talk about a shocker!

I was in Paris and I bought a 6" savory quiche at a bakery. I was handed the bag and I asked for a plastic fork. The cashier looked stunned like no one ever eats quiche with a fork. Then she wanted to charge me whatever is the equivalent of 5¢ in French money. I refused.

 

[capegirl]

I was once at Wendy's and they charged me for extra sauce for the nuggets. When I wanted extra Oriental sesame dressing for my salad, I saw the cashier ring up 25¢ or 50¢ to my bill. But, they do NOT charge me when I ask for it as they are putting the sauce in the bag, only if I ask for extra while ordering.

Same thing happened when I went to Starbucks. I asked for a Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel. The cashier charged me for the extra caramel. I asked when did that start??? He said it's always been like that. NOT at any other Starbucks I've been to.

So now, I just ask for it as they are swizzling on the caramel. And, like always, except that one time, they swirl on some more, no extra charge.









.

They have to charge you for ordering the extras as they are ringing you up, but I guess there's no policy in place to charge you once the transaction has been completed. I'm sure the cashier really doesn't want to be bothered ringing up a .25 pack of sauce, so they just toss it in the bag. Guess you've stumbled upon the secret to getting extra sauce for free!
I ask for extra caramel in my coffee at Dunkin' Donuts, but so far I've never been charged for it.

 

[ebtbmom]

They charge for ketchup packets in Europe already.

And plastic shopping bags and refills. God Bless the USA

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

I'd go broke with my love for ketchup!! I put ketchup on my ketchup!!!

 

[mommasita]

And plastic shopping bags and refills. God Bless the USA

No charge (YET) for ketchup or refills, but we have had the 5cent bags for a few years now. I think it is fabulous, and very green! Hoping more places pick it up

 

[CaliBear]

And plastic shopping bags and refills. God Bless the USA

I think most places in US charge for plastic shopping bags now. I could be wrong.

Asia has no free refills either. That bothers me much more than a charge for ketchup would since I believe soda is cheaper than ketchup. They're already making a huge markup on it.

 

[scrapquitler]

I think most places in US charge for plastic shopping bags now. I could be wrong.

Asia has no free refills either. That bothers me much more than a charge for ketchup would since I believe soda is cheaper than ketchup. They're already making a huge markup on it.

I live in Ct, and travel around all of New England, NY and NJ, and haven't ever been charged for a plastic bag. I suppose there may be places with a local ordinance that requires charging for bags, or individual stores that do so, but I haven't seen them (except Aldi). Ikea doesn't have bags at all except for those gigantic blue ones.

 

[JVL1018]

I've never been charged for plastic bags.
I've noticed Stop and Shop's plastic bags are getting thinner and thinner. So you use more bags because you can't put as much in them without them breaking.
You get 5 cents back for using reusable bags.

 

[capegirl]

I've never been charged for plastic bags.
I've noticed Stop and Shop's plastic bags are getting thinner and thinner. So you use more bags because you can't put as much in them without them breaking.
You get 5 cents back for using reusable bags.

Stop & Shop bags are getting thinner!! It's so silly, because now the baggers are using double, or triple the bags with heavy items..

 

[CaliBear]

ok I stand corrected. I had been paying ten cents for a bag if I forgot to bring my own for some time before I moved abroad. I thought this was a trend that was picking up steam all over. I thought it was a good move actually.

 

[scrapquitler]

I've never been charged for plastic bags.
I've noticed Stop and Shop's plastic bags are getting thinner and thinner. So you use more bags because you can't put as much in them without them breaking.
You get 5 cents back for using reusable bags.

Our Stop & Shop has stopped giving the credit for bringing reusable bags.

 

[MIGrandma]

I think most places in US charge for plastic shopping bags now. I could be wrong.

Asia has no free refills either. That bothers me much more than a charge for ketchup would since I believe soda is cheaper than ketchup. They're already making a huge markup on it.

Never have been charged for plastic bags. I wait until I have a bag full of them, then take them back and put in their recycling bin.

I hate restaurants that don't give you free refills. Pop/soda is pennies a serving. And I don't like the fast food places that don't have soda machines out in the dining area. I like to be able to control how much ice is put in the cup.

I can understand the McD's in New York charging for ketchup when they see so many unused packets in the trash. And I understand why many McD's don't automatically give you ketchup, as some people just don't use it so then it would end up in the trash. If you have to ask for it, you're likely to use it. They said you get up to 4 packets free, then have to pay 25cents for a "handful" extra. Most times I don't even use ketchup on fries, but if I do 4 packets would be plenty.

And charging for ketchup would stop people from making their "homemade tomato soup", and stop them from taking extras home.

 

[LisaInNc]

Just one more reason NOT to eat fast food!

They charge for plastic bags in certain towns near me. It's not the stores choice, it's the towns!

Lisa

 

[Erin1700]

I must be a complete nerd. If we take more ketchup than we need at McD's, we do bring it home but then when we get food from the drive thru we dont ask for any.
If I have a system for McD's ketchup, I must go too often. haha!

I think the places with pump ketchup use less.

 

[NaLisa]

I don't have a problem with companies charging for extras to keep the overall price down. As others have pointed out, many people abuse the freebie system.

I remember one restaurant I worked at where we'd put crackers on the table for anyone who ordered a salad. A couple with a preschool child would come in and order one side salad, one entree, and three waters then split everything. The kid would eat a basket of crackers by himself and the parents would ask for another basket and eat all those. So this family would spend about $10 and eat about $5 worth of crackers. Not to mention that they would ask for extra lemons with their water then use the artificial sweetener packets that sat on each table to make lemonade!

Never understood why the owner let them do that, as he lost money every time they walked in the door. He didn't want to punish all the other customers by taking away the free crackers and lemons. But at some point, when you have enough people taking advantage of the freebies, you have to start charging for them.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My son ordered a caramel Frappe the other day. They come with whipped cream and caramel sauce on top. He asked for chocolate sauce instead of caramel. Not both just chocolate. They charged .30cents extra for an item already on the Frappe, just a different flavor.

DS will get all future Frappes from Burger King!