Wendy’s has spoken to its manager after suggestions that it plans to introduce “surge pricing” to its menu received a decidedly frosty response this week, with the company scrambling to clarify that it has no intention of making itself the Uber of fast-food chains.
People are ignorant af. Surge pricing is exactly the same as offering a discount on prices during the less busy times and suddenly people are ok with it. “Our businesses surge from 1030-1300 and 1700-1900 so we’re gonna charge $15 for the meal that’s normally $13.” Is the same exact situation as: Xyz economic situation is causing us to raise prices across the board, so we’re gonna now charge $15 for this meal. Oh wait business is slow, offer them a discount outside of these hours: 1030-1300 and 1700-1900.
Nah, one way means the bar is fixed at a specific price and you may get lucky and pay less. The other way means there is no bar and you have no idea what you might pay until after you’ve already spent 10 minutes in line and get up to the counter/intercom.
Nobody wants to take that gamble when you could just drive to one of the other dozen nearby burger places that don’t do stupid shit like this.
You’re missing the point I’m trying to make entirely and arguing the way they’re going to try to implement it. How it’s going to happen doesn’t matter, but the fact still is you and everyone else can expect this to become common place.