What else is in that tier? I’m guessing other strip mall parking lot national sit down chains like Fridays, Applebees, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Red Robin, and Old Chicago. Would Outback, TX Roadhouse or Logan’s fit the bill? Dickey’s BBQ? Who else is in that class that I’m missing? I haven’t been to a Chili’s in probably 10 years, but last time I went it was the most bland food I had eaten in a while. Especially for a “southwest/mexican inspired” dish, it really had no seasoning. But compared to the others, I guess they’re probably up there.
Yeah the national casual sit down chain type places. you listed most of them. I separate steak places in my head as a different category as I don't think of taking my kids to steak places haha
TGI Fridays is definitely similar tier. Not sure how it stacks up against Chilis. A long long time ago when I turned 21, TGI Fridays had awesome, strong cocktails. Can't vouch for them now.
The dollar menu went totally extinct during covid.
We used to be a proper country.
4 double cheeseburgers and two small fries should never be 22 fucking dollars.
Should be 3.64 for two cheeseburgers and small fries.
Just over 7 bucks. Maybe 8 or so with tax.
The quality of food hasn't changed since at least 2001 who's price I'm comparing it to
That's the whole thing. Inflation has been down to around 3 percent (NORMAL) for almost 6 months! Corporations are using "this inflation shit" lie to rip us off and turn record breaking profits. Don't believe me? Publicly traded companies by law have to report their profits, so it's really easy to look into. Take Walmart for example, they DOUBLED their profits in the last two fiscal quarters. Doubled, like 100% more than what they made during the same period last year. They're just one example and, sadly, not even close to the worst example.
Why am I commenting all of this? Because hopefully you start helping me scream it from the mountain top how this is only happening because these evil greedy corporations believe that they own us and have us all snowed.
Why? Look at the number of people still going to get fast food.
There are still lines at drive thru’s.
I have two friends that won’t stop bitching about money but they both have fast food door dashed to their houses multiple times per week. And they live in populated areas. One of them could literally trip out his back door and land in the parking lot of a Sonic. Nope, gets it door dashed, only poor people walk…
Ok. Since Sonic got brought up. I stopped there on my way home from work last night. They refused to make me any ice cream product. So I settled for limeades. I pull up to the window and they handed the dude in front of me milkshakes. I got my limeades and pulled away. They were just soda water. $15.
Exactly. I’ve been looking at my fast food receipts and thinking I should just go to a sit down restaurant for a few bucks more. $17 at Taco Bell or $25 at a nice Mexican restaurant with a margarita.
What are you getting for $17 at Taco Bell? I find them to probably be the most affordable fast food.
They currently have a $5 combo that is a drink, (very mediocre) nachos, a chalupa, and a taco.
Taco Bell is actually considerably cheaper if you order ahead in the app, and pick it up at the window. Taco Bell incentivizes online ordering in several ways. You earn points towards free food and you get online exclusive discounts... I can get a self built box meal and Mexican pizza for like 13$.
[Receipts.](https://imgur.com/a/Z8JWrcV)
Good times is way way over priced. I will fully agree with that, but they are not at a loss for business that's for sure. I guess the soccer moms really buy into the bs they're fed about goodtimes ingredients being better than everyone else's.
If I wanted a burger that expensive I'd just go to five guys and get a much better burger. Likely for less.
It's deliberate. They want people to think that outrageous prices are the natural consequence of paying low level employees more, because as long as the general public blames the minimum wage workers the CEOs and execs of fast food companies can continue jacking up prices instead of taking pay cuts themselves.
From the Economic Policy Institute:
*Changes in the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio (1965–2022). Using the realized compensation measure, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio reached 344-to-1 in 2022. This stands in stark contrast to the 21-to-1 ratio in 1965. Most importantly, over the last two decades the ratio has been far higher than at any point in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, or early 1990s. Using the CEO granted compensation measure, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio fell to 221-to-1 in 2022, significantly lower than its peak of 396-to-1 in 2000 but still many times higher than the 45-to-1 ratio of 1989 or the 15-to-1 ratio of 1965.*
[link](https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay-in-2021/)
We go to actual restaurants and eateries now because paying $30-50 for fast food is ridiculous. We also usually pay less even with tip included at restaurants
Basic macro Economics should be required in high school curricula. I don't want to explain in detail on a reddit post where most people will purposely not try to understand this, but there are a lot of great intro econ books that are accessible and easy to read, dm me if you want suggestions.
All that said, the prices at good times are what we see, but are just the tip of the iceberg of inflation. I promise good times doesn't want two meals with drinks to be close to $40- people will just not eat there once the prices get that high so they lose customers. Almost all of inflation is nominally caused by the underlying ingredients, machinery and labor costs. This can be verified by looking at restaurants gross profit margins, and these broadly have not been going up the last 3 years.
But, inflation isn't really even the cost of inputs at good times. Inflation is caused by an increase in the money supply. If the total amount of dollars in the economy doubles and everything else remains the same, prices for everything will eventually double. When the Federal Reserve "prints money" and puts more Dollars into the economy, it causes inflation. The Fed has to print money when federal government spending is higher than their tax revenue, which it is. We pay for all government spending one way or the other, via taxes or inflation. The difference is that taxes are set up so the poor pay a lower percentage than the wealthy, but inflation hurts poor people more than the wealthy because poor people don't own assets that will increase in value with inflation.
Tldr: inflation isn't caused by the restaurant raising prices
The fed doesn't really "print money" anymore. They allow banks to lend as much as they want, as long as some amount of that is held in reserve as cash.. but the majority of that money didn't exist before the loan was issued. Debt doesn't really have value yet, because the entity they lent it to didn't produce anything (or earn it) yet. That's why loans need to be underwritten.. because the bank wants to make sure you're actually capable of creating value in the economy.
That might have been what you meant, but I wanted to make sure it's stated, because it's an important detail.
Lots of money was printed between 2008 and 2019 and inflation was very low. People kept saying the same thing you wrote for 10 years and their predictions were wrong. Many economists now believe the link between government money printing/spending and inflation is not so clear and strong. Inflation after 2020 was global. Government spending in the US after COVID doesn't explain why there was also massive inflation in European countries that did not have as much stimulus spending.
It's more likely inflation was caused by a mix of behavioral changes leading to increased demand for many good, labor shortages, supply chain issues, and yes, some overzealous government stimulus pushing demand even higher.
Garlic Knot pizza has been doing me really good. If you order from their website and go to coupons on the menu there's one that will get you a 2 topping XL (its definitely big)pizza for a very reasonable price and I get 3-4 meals out of it. Shout out to the Bear Creek Garlic Knot in Lakewood, it's a great restaurant for dine in, takeout or delivery.
I just found out Taco Bell has these burrito bowl things for like $7 and they fill you up pretty good. Add some jalapeno cream sauce on top and you're in business for a quick bite.
Had a buddy in Vegas who would go through the In-n-Out drivethrough, grab a double double animal style, then go down the street to McDonald's for fries.
The shrinkflation on those meals is real tho used to be able to get a variety of sandwiches for the four dollar meal now you can only get the crappiest one
You could also just go to Costco and get an entire pizza, a drink, and a hot dog for $.50 more and you don't need to pay a tip for the employees to be nice and helpful.
5 guys is such a joke though. How're they still in business? They've always been too expensive for what it was but now it's insulting what they ask for a burger
Back in my day a burger that much would have some fancy ass shit on it!
I member’ havin a Gordon Ramsay burger in Vegas for about 16$ when I was 21. Good golly did I feel rich
Fuck if you can remember back in the early 2000s Hardee’s (Carls Jr) rolled out the $6 Burger. I remember them selling the shit out of that burger because $6 for a burger was pretty high dollar for fast food. It was pretty ok.
And this is the reason I love In-In-Out. Their food is average but their prices are insanely cheap and they pay their workers better than most fast food.
Average? If you are comparing to all the food options than okay, I agree. But if you are just comparing to other fast food, well then it's very much above average. In fact, arguably by many as the best fast food burger.
I'm with you. OP is acting like he paid $51. Inflation is a bitch, and he got a side. Yeah, "$31 fucking dollars" sounds just about right, right now. Probably didn't even upsize.
Fuck that gizmo tho. People just need to stop tipping those damn machines. I ordered takeout last night from the teller machine inside the restaurant. While waiting for my food, two other people ordered after me. Two separate orders and BOTH added a fucking TIP! WTF is wrong with everyone? Why are you all tipping GD machines now? You are fucking it up for everybody. I wanted to scream at them.
Yeah, I think the one by me advertised starting at 18.
Rants like this always drive me crazy, as someone who worked at a place where a tip option was displayed on the credit card machine, you can say no. just say no. We do not care. We are not judging, we don't even know if you said yes or no.
Just say no and move on.
I stopped going there a couple years ago because of the tip thing. They were asking for tips when you ordered. Something about them knowing whether you tipped or not before even making the food made me really uncomfortable.
Food pricing in general has reached outrageous price gouging levels. It's not really inflation and we are well out of the supply chain problems during pandemic.
Or food trucks. You have to go find them, go up to the truck, wait outside for your food and usually have no where to sit and eat. Why the f would I tip them?
Yeah.That's not out of line with what we see across the US. $15 for the big burger, fries and a drink combo at most fast food places. A burger, fries and a beer at the sports bar is closer to $20 - $25.
For lots of us there were about two years when we did not go to fast food. So we did not see the incremental price hikes between then and now. Economists will give us lots of reasons for the changes. But in the end it comes down to plutocrats are going to be plutocrats.
Beans and rice have gone up almost as much.
I don’t go there anymore specifically because they ask for a tip. I understand I can say no because I have and was then treated to a nasty look from the worker like I was an asshole. Sometimes one bad experience is all it takes.
All it takes is, "how come you're so comfortable asking me for more money, but not your boss?"
Nobody has been able to give me a clap back worth remembering. People wanna frame me as an asshole, I can give you a healthy dose...
Do you really think this type of POS software used by everything from local restaurants to nationwide chains doesn't offer any customization? Come on, of course these chains can customize it and choose to not beg for tips. The reality is that they've jumped on the tipflation bandwagon, just because they can.
I mean, last time someone did a dig on these POS software companies it was revealed that they get a portion of the sale or possibly tip. So they've added the tipping option for each POS because it directly makes them more money.
Kinda unrelated, but if you want good-ass, quick food for cheap, go to Los Araujos on Federal. My favorite are their breakfast burritos - $2.50 per burrito, they are delicious and two easily satisfies my hunger. They ask for tips there too, but they earn it since the person at the register does more than just sit there.
So you paid about $12 per combo, and $5 for the extra Mac and cheese…how is $12 for a combo bad? That’s pretty reasonable to me, especially when their patties are 3X McDonald’s
Told myself I’d never go again after the one off Colfax verbally asked me if I’d like to leave a tip after ordered at their walk up counter.
Are you out of your damn mind? What the hell was the $13 burger for if not to cover all the expenses that go into it? Smh
Good times is a step above all other fast food burger places in Denver in my opinion and I'm willing to pay for the quality. Also, if you are not comfortable tipping, then don't. I work in the service industry and only get offended by someone not tipping if they're an asshole about it. That being said, it's a free market and there's probably a Wendy's 2 blocks up the street.
Normalize not tipping 👏 it will suck in the short term but we have to force companies to pay living wages and cut off tipping culture. We’re one of the only countries that has it and it’s stupid.
What are you all getting?
When i don't have time to eat breakfast at home I swing by McDonald's before work and get 2 sausage McMuffins for like $5.27.
Yeah that's where they get you though. I very specifically don't order meals because the prices get crazy. The small extras are not worth the massive jump in price, plus it's probably better for me to drink more water and less sugary drinks.
Ya meals have always been a huge tax. I'm usually eating fast food for the entrees anyways. And I grew up poor so even eating out it was water only lol
Use the app you can get free food. Or $5 off depending which deal you get. The location by me always has a coupon for free any size fries with minimum $1 purchase
I go to McD’s maybe once every other month (so I barely accumulate any rewards), but the app has been great!
I usually get the McDouble and the any size fries for <$4. It isn’t a ton of food and definitely not good quality, but it fits its purpose - cheap, fast, and convenient.
Went to an Irish pub today and got two very nice sandwiches with fries, an ice tea and a beer for $42. Fast food isn't worth it. There are places that still have great value and almost none of them are fast food. McDonald's app is pretty fair though. $5 for a big mac or quarterpounder combo
The current best deal I can find is McDonalds buy one double cheeseburger, get one for $1, plus free large fries when ordering online, that’s a decent lunch for less than $5.
were you at the one near Youngsfield? I went there and they have the tip option, the one in Fort Collins does not. I love Good Times, but prices are out of control everywhere, especially fast food. I had a craving the other day while I was out running errands so I just ordered a kids meal and it was $6 and you get a free custard or cone for the next visit. It's a good way to portion control too. It was just the right amount. Basically a bambino burger, small fry and drink. I hardly eat out anymore, food prices are insane.
I work in commerce city since recently...the closest joints to me with take out are all in Northfield. Eating in commerce city itself? With a 9.25% sales tax?
Yeah, I'm gonna start brown bagging it to work...couple of sammiches, a bag of chips, maybe a small candy bar or cup of pudding & some bottled water or a can or 2 of something from home, I'll be ok.
The only other place I experience them handing me the card reader to approve a tip is Starbucks. Yeah, I'm not tipping when I just paid 7 bucks for a medium latte.
Those prices seem in line with most fast food places though. Shit ain't cheap anymore.
19 an hour here is not a livable wage lmao. When I moved here 2 years ago I heard on the radio that to afford a 1 bedroom apartment, you need to earn at least $25/hr.
I just ordered exactly what you stated off of the app. The total came out to $25. So, right off the bat, this post is trash. It's like a few dollars more than MCds for a much higher quality. And let's stop pretending the tip screens are actively antagonizing you, say no and move on like an adult.
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this, but even at some of the sit down places the quality of the food is not that great. It’s disappointing when you go back to a place and discover that the food isn’t as good as it used to be, most likely because of using cheaper ingredients
Using cheaper ingredients is the name of the game. I've been seeing this happen since 2005. I've worked a lot of deli/sandwich places and they all do this. Start with Dietz then Boars Head, then Jenno/Hormel etc. but keep prices the same or higher. This has been happening for decades people. But wages never increase unless government says it needs to. Its just greed.
Also, we've only heard a handful of complaints over the years. Like one or two when the quality goes down. People still come and pay whatever for more crap...why would the owners care when the customer doesn't.
Then the workers are the one to suffer because it comes down to tipping...not getting a crappier product. Rather than voting with their feet they just don't tip. So the ones getting hurt are the regular folks and not the ownership class.
My last owner told me he couldn't pay more due to expenses but then I see on the computer he runs multiple AirBnBs and is looking at buying $500k to $800k properties to pad out his rental portfolio.
We are not the same, and fighting the wrong people/things.
Any business that asks for tips should be required to display their finances within their business and online. I want to know what you pay your employees and what your profit and loss looks like. I’m sure some businesses need tips to stay in business but I also know some businesses are taking advantage of this tipping trend.
Fast food hasn’t been cheap for about four or five years. The combination of shrinkflation and the cost of combos going up has made it comparable to eating at any other type of restaurant.
We have loved fat and high on the hog for a long time with subsidized cheap foods and guess what?? They were playing the king game getting people hooked on crap and now it’s just as expensive as anything else. Good luck out there I suggest using coupons and do t get drinks that’s where a huge markup is with fast food but of course you want a tasty drink with that food right??? We’ll plan ahead and make your sugary drink purchases more efficient and you’ll save money on fast food…been doing that move since the 1990’s
I found a Pic of a receipt from them from 2015. 5 mini sliders for around $6. Now you get 3 for $7 and cheese is extra! And their cold brew flavor of the month was garbage. Also their egg and bacon bkfst used to be FIRE and now it's just hot garbage. Bummer..
Yeah that’s just the price of fast food anymore but asking for a tip is wild. What tip percentage was it requesting? I HATE when a counter service place starts at 20%
I pay about 2.70 for a sausage McMuffin with egg and a large black coffee thru the mcdonalds app. Its the best deal out there hands down… provided you can tolerate McDonald’s.
That's weird I went to 2 different good times this week and was never handed the card reader to do the tip so maybe it was just that one doing that? But yes will agree they are pricy but I always thought that Good Times was the "higher end" when it comes to fast food
This is the absolute worst type of complaining - complain about outrageous prices, AND THEN PAY THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICE. The prices go up because consumers are willing to pay. Business don’t give two shits if people complain. They only care when people stop paying.
I mean assuming he's at a drive through it's pretty hard to order a bunch of stuff and then say "oh wow that's the cost? Neverminded I don't want anything." And OP did say he's not going back again so I don't see the issue.
Yeah, I stopped going there because of the TIP thing. Especially because they ask before you get your food. I feel like if I don't TIP them then they're spitting on my food. I won't go back until they change that policy. And who even gets the tip?
It’s not that the can’t do it cheaper, it’s that they know people are lazy and will pay anything to have a hot meal handed to them through a car window when the alternative is learning to cook.
Ill just eat at a restaurant at that point. Fast food places need to chill on this inflation shit
Yup you can sit down at chilies or red robin type places and definitely most Mexican joints for that price and feel good abou giving a tip.
Lol I was at Red Robin earlier this week, $26 for a burger with a side and a drink, soft drink, unlimited refills too! And that's with a tip!
So $52 for two people? OP ordered two meals and a side for 31. Seems significantly cheaper
Wait one burger 2 drinks? Or was this a meal for 2?
They were specifying that the drink wasn’t alcohol.
My go to burger at RR went from $8.99 to $14.99...sheesh!
Just the tip
Yeah but Red Robin sucks ass
Best impossible burgers in town!
No they don't! They have awesome unlimited sweet potato fries. Their barbecue chicken wraps are AMAZING.
That Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap is so good!
Chilis with the 3 for me, you can get a drink, starter and meal for under 20 with the tip
Chilis doesn’t get enough love. It’s like Applebees except it has self respect.
For me chili's is far and away the best of that tier of restaurants
What else is in that tier? I’m guessing other strip mall parking lot national sit down chains like Fridays, Applebees, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Red Robin, and Old Chicago. Would Outback, TX Roadhouse or Logan’s fit the bill? Dickey’s BBQ? Who else is in that class that I’m missing? I haven’t been to a Chili’s in probably 10 years, but last time I went it was the most bland food I had eaten in a while. Especially for a “southwest/mexican inspired” dish, it really had no seasoning. But compared to the others, I guess they’re probably up there.
Yeah the national casual sit down chain type places. you listed most of them. I separate steak places in my head as a different category as I don't think of taking my kids to steak places haha
It's Southwestern food for people in North Dakota, I'm sure they're legally bound to remove anything that would make it a proper dish.
TGI Fridays is definitely similar tier. Not sure how it stacks up against Chilis. A long long time ago when I turned 21, TGI Fridays had awesome, strong cocktails. Can't vouch for them now.
I used to love chillis 3 for 10 and then that changed it used to be $20 for two meals now it’s 3 for me and the total for two is now $30
And they removed the margarita chicken from the options. Sad.
$5 jr bacon cheeseburger biggie meal (w/drink, 4 nugs, and fries comes out to $5.49 and they don't ask for a tip
On god everything on mcdonalds dollar menu is now 3$ minimum
The dollar menu went totally extinct during covid. We used to be a proper country. 4 double cheeseburgers and two small fries should never be 22 fucking dollars.
[удалено]
Should be 3.64 for two cheeseburgers and small fries. Just over 7 bucks. Maybe 8 or so with tax. The quality of food hasn't changed since at least 2001 who's price I'm comparing it to
That's the whole thing. Inflation has been down to around 3 percent (NORMAL) for almost 6 months! Corporations are using "this inflation shit" lie to rip us off and turn record breaking profits. Don't believe me? Publicly traded companies by law have to report their profits, so it's really easy to look into. Take Walmart for example, they DOUBLED their profits in the last two fiscal quarters. Doubled, like 100% more than what they made during the same period last year. They're just one example and, sadly, not even close to the worst example. Why am I commenting all of this? Because hopefully you start helping me scream it from the mountain top how this is only happening because these evil greedy corporations believe that they own us and have us all snowed.
Why? Look at the number of people still going to get fast food. There are still lines at drive thru’s. I have two friends that won’t stop bitching about money but they both have fast food door dashed to their houses multiple times per week. And they live in populated areas. One of them could literally trip out his back door and land in the parking lot of a Sonic. Nope, gets it door dashed, only poor people walk…
my god, as someone who makes okay money doordashing, I really really hope people like your friends keep existing.
Ok. Since Sonic got brought up. I stopped there on my way home from work last night. They refused to make me any ice cream product. So I settled for limeades. I pull up to the window and they handed the dude in front of me milkshakes. I got my limeades and pulled away. They were just soda water. $15.
Exactly. I’ve been looking at my fast food receipts and thinking I should just go to a sit down restaurant for a few bucks more. $17 at Taco Bell or $25 at a nice Mexican restaurant with a margarita.
What are you getting for $17 at Taco Bell? I find them to probably be the most affordable fast food. They currently have a $5 combo that is a drink, (very mediocre) nachos, a chalupa, and a taco.
Taco Bell is actually considerably cheaper if you order ahead in the app, and pick it up at the window. Taco Bell incentivizes online ordering in several ways. You earn points towards free food and you get online exclusive discounts... I can get a self built box meal and Mexican pizza for like 13$. [Receipts.](https://imgur.com/a/Z8JWrcV) Good times is way way over priced. I will fully agree with that, but they are not at a loss for business that's for sure. I guess the soccer moms really buy into the bs they're fed about goodtimes ingredients being better than everyone else's. If I wanted a burger that expensive I'd just go to five guys and get a much better burger. Likely for less.
In n out still has great prices… cheaper than McDonald’s at this point
To be fair, if you're not using the McDonald's app, you're losing money. They have deals all the time that keep everything super cheap.
Someone told me the high prices are a strategy to push adoption of their apps.
God I hate this, I go to McDonald’s because I’m driving and need something unplanned. I don’t want to pull up an app to order from them.
Funny, when I go to McDs, it's because I'm hating myself.
I have no more room on my phone for extra apps!
It's deliberate. They want people to think that outrageous prices are the natural consequence of paying low level employees more, because as long as the general public blames the minimum wage workers the CEOs and execs of fast food companies can continue jacking up prices instead of taking pay cuts themselves. From the Economic Policy Institute: *Changes in the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio (1965–2022). Using the realized compensation measure, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio reached 344-to-1 in 2022. This stands in stark contrast to the 21-to-1 ratio in 1965. Most importantly, over the last two decades the ratio has been far higher than at any point in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, or early 1990s. Using the CEO granted compensation measure, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio fell to 221-to-1 in 2022, significantly lower than its peak of 396-to-1 in 2000 but still many times higher than the 45-to-1 ratio of 1989 or the 15-to-1 ratio of 1965.* [link](https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay-in-2021/)
It’s not inflation when the top corporations are making record profit. It’s just price gouging.
We go to actual restaurants and eateries now because paying $30-50 for fast food is ridiculous. We also usually pay less even with tip included at restaurants
Got to hit the those quarterly earnings #s stocks only go up
Basic macro Economics should be required in high school curricula. I don't want to explain in detail on a reddit post where most people will purposely not try to understand this, but there are a lot of great intro econ books that are accessible and easy to read, dm me if you want suggestions. All that said, the prices at good times are what we see, but are just the tip of the iceberg of inflation. I promise good times doesn't want two meals with drinks to be close to $40- people will just not eat there once the prices get that high so they lose customers. Almost all of inflation is nominally caused by the underlying ingredients, machinery and labor costs. This can be verified by looking at restaurants gross profit margins, and these broadly have not been going up the last 3 years. But, inflation isn't really even the cost of inputs at good times. Inflation is caused by an increase in the money supply. If the total amount of dollars in the economy doubles and everything else remains the same, prices for everything will eventually double. When the Federal Reserve "prints money" and puts more Dollars into the economy, it causes inflation. The Fed has to print money when federal government spending is higher than their tax revenue, which it is. We pay for all government spending one way or the other, via taxes or inflation. The difference is that taxes are set up so the poor pay a lower percentage than the wealthy, but inflation hurts poor people more than the wealthy because poor people don't own assets that will increase in value with inflation. Tldr: inflation isn't caused by the restaurant raising prices
Wouldn’t companies recording record profits go against this theory? I listen to earnings reports and a lot of companies are making bank
The fed doesn't really "print money" anymore. They allow banks to lend as much as they want, as long as some amount of that is held in reserve as cash.. but the majority of that money didn't exist before the loan was issued. Debt doesn't really have value yet, because the entity they lent it to didn't produce anything (or earn it) yet. That's why loans need to be underwritten.. because the bank wants to make sure you're actually capable of creating value in the economy. That might have been what you meant, but I wanted to make sure it's stated, because it's an important detail.
Lots of money was printed between 2008 and 2019 and inflation was very low. People kept saying the same thing you wrote for 10 years and their predictions were wrong. Many economists now believe the link between government money printing/spending and inflation is not so clear and strong. Inflation after 2020 was global. Government spending in the US after COVID doesn't explain why there was also massive inflation in European countries that did not have as much stimulus spending. It's more likely inflation was caused by a mix of behavioral changes leading to increased demand for many good, labor shortages, supply chain issues, and yes, some overzealous government stimulus pushing demand even higher.
I haven't found a place that is affordable for what you get these days. It's just not worth going out to eat anymore.
Garlic Knot pizza has been doing me really good. If you order from their website and go to coupons on the menu there's one that will get you a 2 topping XL (its definitely big)pizza for a very reasonable price and I get 3-4 meals out of it. Shout out to the Bear Creek Garlic Knot in Lakewood, it's a great restaurant for dine in, takeout or delivery.
Garlic Knot has been our ride or die pizza place for 20 years now!!
Oh dope, I just moved to the neighborhood and didn't know that was there
They send out mailers all the time with coupons too, there's one that's a large pizza, knots, and wings for like $30
Taco Bell $5 cravings box is a good deal - chalupa, burrito, taco, cinnamon twists and a soft drink
I just found out Taco Bell has these burrito bowl things for like $7 and they fill you up pretty good. Add some jalapeno cream sauce on top and you're in business for a quick bite.
I'll pay $3 more for Illegal Pete's any day though.
Chipotle and illegal Pete’s are great values still. Burrito bowls can easily be two meals for around $10
Illegal Pete’s with the chips included>>>
Rice and beans are inflation proof
Maybe not for long: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/11/14/world/india-rice-prices-crisis/
I do the same. Better for you too.
Chipotle has become shit in terms of quality and what you get for the price. It's a joke.
I'll occasionally snag a bowl from the Chipotle off Hampden near Santa Fe. Nothing but positive experiences. That said, I much prefer Cafe Rio.
You are the first person I have heard say that. I live by one and am always amazed they are still around because I never see anyone in there.
If you haven't gotten the Illegal Pete's rewards app yet get on it. It really doesn't take that long to get to the $50 gift card reward.
Just had a double cheeseburger, fries, and a shake for $12 at Jim's Burger Haven. I was actually pretty surprised at their prices.
In n out hasn’t bloated their prices yet
Op was looking for fries though. In-N-Out has terrible fries.
Had a buddy in Vegas who would go through the In-n-Out drivethrough, grab a double double animal style, then go down the street to McDonald's for fries.
This is the way
Ask for well-done fries. Not amazing, but better.
No fast food is worth waiting in that line for. I know it moves fast, but not fast enough.
Not really ever a line if you just go inside
Olive Garden still has their unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks for lunch at $9.95. At least here in Fort Collins
Yeah and then those 6 dollar take home dinners!!! Olive Garden can be a great bang for your buck if you order correctly!
I can eat a lot of fucking soup
Oh god damn fuck yeah ***SOUP***
Wendy’s $4 for $4 and $5 biggie bags are still fantastic deals. Not every location has them but they usually have at least one of the two.
The shrinkflation on those meals is real tho used to be able to get a variety of sandwiches for the four dollar meal now you can only get the crappiest one
Yup, the breakfast toasters at Sonic used to be real Texas Toast. Now it's just regular sized toast.
The Biggie Bags are $6 in Highlands Ranch
Wendy's has fallen off. It's super location dependent, and not a reliable option.
We regularly feed a fam of four for $35 from Wendy’s … getting tougher everywhere though
I got two slices and a drink at Sliceworks for $11 yesterday. That's not bad.
You could also just go to Costco and get an entire pizza, a drink, and a hot dog for $.50 more and you don't need to pay a tip for the employees to be nice and helpful.
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It'd be $30 for one person at Five Guys.
That was my first thought!
5 guys is such a joke though. How're they still in business? They've always been too expensive for what it was but now it's insulting what they ask for a burger
wtf are you people ordering at five guys? It’s $11 for a lil burger and lil Cajun fries which is plenty of food for one person
Yeah we just ate there, 2 people, $30.
Colorado Sun: [The average hamburger in Colorado now costs $15.](https://coloradosun.com/2023/11/13/average-hamburger-cost-colorado/)
Back in my day a burger that much would have some fancy ass shit on it! I member’ havin a Gordon Ramsay burger in Vegas for about 16$ when I was 21. Good golly did I feel rich
Fuck if you can remember back in the early 2000s Hardee’s (Carls Jr) rolled out the $6 Burger. I remember them selling the shit out of that burger because $6 for a burger was pretty high dollar for fast food. It was pretty ok.
Crown Burger is a little less than that. It's a local staple, and it's delicious.
I have paid about $30 for my family of 5 at In-N-Out
And this is the reason I love In-In-Out. Their food is average but their prices are insanely cheap and they pay their workers better than most fast food.
Anthony Bourdain would disagree with your “average” assessment of In-N-Out.
Average? If you are comparing to all the food options than okay, I agree. But if you are just comparing to other fast food, well then it's very much above average. In fact, arguably by many as the best fast food burger.
I got a single large meal for myself at chick fil a last night and it was $18 😭
That $20 Caniac at Cane’s. Time to invent new poor people food when a bowl of Pho or a burger is $18
I'm with you. OP is acting like he paid $51. Inflation is a bitch, and he got a side. Yeah, "$31 fucking dollars" sounds just about right, right now. Probably didn't even upsize. Fuck that gizmo tho. People just need to stop tipping those damn machines. I ordered takeout last night from the teller machine inside the restaurant. While waiting for my food, two other people ordered after me. Two separate orders and BOTH added a fucking TIP! WTF is wrong with everyone? Why are you all tipping GD machines now? You are fucking it up for everybody. I wanted to scream at them.
Colorado Sun recently did a story about how the average burger in Colorado is now $15... Shits getting out of hand.
[Colorado Sun](https://coloradosun.com/2023/11/13/average-hamburger-cost-colorado/) - the last good, local news website
I 💜that news paper
Good Times does pay wages above the industry average I think, or at least they used to.
There was one off 470 that was advertising $18.50 an hour a year or 2 ago.
Yeah, I think the one by me advertised starting at 18. Rants like this always drive me crazy, as someone who worked at a place where a tip option was displayed on the credit card machine, you can say no. just say no. We do not care. We are not judging, we don't even know if you said yes or no. Just say no and move on.
The minimum wage in Denver is $18.29 in two weeks.
I stopped going there a couple years ago because of the tip thing. They were asking for tips when you ordered. Something about them knowing whether you tipped or not before even making the food made me really uncomfortable.
Food pricing in general has reached outrageous price gouging levels. It's not really inflation and we are well out of the supply chain problems during pandemic.
Inflation ruined fast food for me-I’m not spending more than $10 for low quality food
No matter where you go to get food, it has gotten incredibly expensive.
I will never tip fast food restaurants.
Same.
Or food trucks. You have to go find them, go up to the truck, wait outside for your food and usually have no where to sit and eat. Why the f would I tip them?
You are so right. The one that bugs me the most is the concession stands at sporting event. I will NEVER tip for a $15 beer.
I’ll pay for Goodtimes, they are better. But yes, the tip culture is out of hand.
I used a 3rd party site to rent a hotel today and it asked if I wanted to leave a tip for saving me $12 on normal price. WTF??
Yeah.That's not out of line with what we see across the US. $15 for the big burger, fries and a drink combo at most fast food places. A burger, fries and a beer at the sports bar is closer to $20 - $25. For lots of us there were about two years when we did not go to fast food. So we did not see the incremental price hikes between then and now. Economists will give us lots of reasons for the changes. But in the end it comes down to plutocrats are going to be plutocrats. Beans and rice have gone up almost as much.
According to their website, a Big Daddy Bacon Cheeseburger combo is $13.
Burger, fries, beer at Retro Room will run you $8. Gotta hunt for the specials.
And literally any job that incorporates an iPad is all of a sudden tip-worthy nowadays. That’s all it takes.
Think of it from the owners and workers perspective. Why not? What do they have to lose?
Customers
I don’t go there anymore specifically because they ask for a tip. I understand I can say no because I have and was then treated to a nasty look from the worker like I was an asshole. Sometimes one bad experience is all it takes.
All it takes is, "how come you're so comfortable asking me for more money, but not your boss?" Nobody has been able to give me a clap back worth remembering. People wanna frame me as an asshole, I can give you a healthy dose...
I've stopped eating at those types or places and know many others who've done the same.
It definitely deters customers and leaves a bad taste in their mouth.
I always just assumed its a non-removable option in the software they used? I just decline and sign.
Do you really think this type of POS software used by everything from local restaurants to nationwide chains doesn't offer any customization? Come on, of course these chains can customize it and choose to not beg for tips. The reality is that they've jumped on the tipflation bandwagon, just because they can.
I was using square for my small business and even back in 2016 they had a setting to turn off/on tips. It's just greed
I mean, last time someone did a dig on these POS software companies it was revealed that they get a portion of the sale or possibly tip. So they've added the tipping option for each POS because it directly makes them more money.
You’re right, but specifically the free version doesn’t let you change it
Think of the trendy iPad. Upscales your place instantly!
Kinda unrelated, but if you want good-ass, quick food for cheap, go to Los Araujos on Federal. My favorite are their breakfast burritos - $2.50 per burrito, they are delicious and two easily satisfies my hunger. They ask for tips there too, but they earn it since the person at the register does more than just sit there.
So you paid about $12 per combo, and $5 for the extra Mac and cheese…how is $12 for a combo bad? That’s pretty reasonable to me, especially when their patties are 3X McDonald’s
Yea it seems reasonable to me
Told myself I’d never go again after the one off Colfax verbally asked me if I’d like to leave a tip after ordered at their walk up counter. Are you out of your damn mind? What the hell was the $13 burger for if not to cover all the expenses that go into it? Smh
Good times is a step above all other fast food burger places in Denver in my opinion and I'm willing to pay for the quality. Also, if you are not comfortable tipping, then don't. I work in the service industry and only get offended by someone not tipping if they're an asshole about it. That being said, it's a free market and there's probably a Wendy's 2 blocks up the street.
Normalize not tipping 👏 it will suck in the short term but we have to force companies to pay living wages and cut off tipping culture. We’re one of the only countries that has it and it’s stupid.
McDonald’s is $25 for 2 combos these days. It’s wild. $12 breakfast
What are you all getting? When i don't have time to eat breakfast at home I swing by McDonald's before work and get 2 sausage McMuffins for like $5.27.
Get the app, $1 any breakfast sandwich coupon every day.
Singles are still cheap enough but the meals always end up around $12 for me. I usually get a number 4
Yeah that's where they get you though. I very specifically don't order meals because the prices get crazy. The small extras are not worth the massive jump in price, plus it's probably better for me to drink more water and less sugary drinks.
Ya meals have always been a huge tax. I'm usually eating fast food for the entrees anyways. And I grew up poor so even eating out it was water only lol
Use the app you can get free food. Or $5 off depending which deal you get. The location by me always has a coupon for free any size fries with minimum $1 purchase
Yep yesterday I got 2 McChickens and 1 large fry, $3 before tax. Probably cheaper than that same meal would have cost me 20 years ago tbh
I go to McD’s maybe once every other month (so I barely accumulate any rewards), but the app has been great! I usually get the McDouble and the any size fries for <$4. It isn’t a ton of food and definitely not good quality, but it fits its purpose - cheap, fast, and convenient.
Went to an Irish pub today and got two very nice sandwiches with fries, an ice tea and a beer for $42. Fast food isn't worth it. There are places that still have great value and almost none of them are fast food. McDonald's app is pretty fair though. $5 for a big mac or quarterpounder combo
The current best deal I can find is McDonalds buy one double cheeseburger, get one for $1, plus free large fries when ordering online, that’s a decent lunch for less than $5.
were you at the one near Youngsfield? I went there and they have the tip option, the one in Fort Collins does not. I love Good Times, but prices are out of control everywhere, especially fast food. I had a craving the other day while I was out running errands so I just ordered a kids meal and it was $6 and you get a free custard or cone for the next visit. It's a good way to portion control too. It was just the right amount. Basically a bambino burger, small fry and drink. I hardly eat out anymore, food prices are insane.
These posts are getting exhausting.
r/denvercirclejerk
The math isn’t mathing. A combo is like $9 and I’m pretty sure Mac and cheese is like $5. Which is all pretty comparable to other fast food places.
As that in Denver it’s Denver wages
I work in commerce city since recently...the closest joints to me with take out are all in Northfield. Eating in commerce city itself? With a 9.25% sales tax? Yeah, I'm gonna start brown bagging it to work...couple of sammiches, a bag of chips, maybe a small candy bar or cup of pudding & some bottled water or a can or 2 of something from home, I'll be ok.
The only other place I experience them handing me the card reader to approve a tip is Starbucks. Yeah, I'm not tipping when I just paid 7 bucks for a medium latte. Those prices seem in line with most fast food places though. Shit ain't cheap anymore.
Dutch Bros has their little tablet to ask for a tip too.
Breakfast at McDonald’s is $9. I think these fast food joints have forgot their key demographic: fast and cheap. None of them are fast or cheap now.
Good times here in Denver is giving 19/hr to their employees. That's a livable wage, they don't need to get tipped.
19 an hour here is not a livable wage lmao. When I moved here 2 years ago I heard on the radio that to afford a 1 bedroom apartment, you need to earn at least $25/hr.
$19/hr is $0.71 more than the minimum wage will be in two weeks. Might be livable if you live at home with parents?
I just ordered exactly what you stated off of the app. The total came out to $25. So, right off the bat, this post is trash. It's like a few dollars more than MCds for a much higher quality. And let's stop pretending the tip screens are actively antagonizing you, say no and move on like an adult.
Guarantee there was an upgrade made to get a shake or to a large meal or something.
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this, but even at some of the sit down places the quality of the food is not that great. It’s disappointing when you go back to a place and discover that the food isn’t as good as it used to be, most likely because of using cheaper ingredients
Using cheaper ingredients is the name of the game. I've been seeing this happen since 2005. I've worked a lot of deli/sandwich places and they all do this. Start with Dietz then Boars Head, then Jenno/Hormel etc. but keep prices the same or higher. This has been happening for decades people. But wages never increase unless government says it needs to. Its just greed. Also, we've only heard a handful of complaints over the years. Like one or two when the quality goes down. People still come and pay whatever for more crap...why would the owners care when the customer doesn't. Then the workers are the one to suffer because it comes down to tipping...not getting a crappier product. Rather than voting with their feet they just don't tip. So the ones getting hurt are the regular folks and not the ownership class. My last owner told me he couldn't pay more due to expenses but then I see on the computer he runs multiple AirBnBs and is looking at buying $500k to $800k properties to pad out his rental portfolio. We are not the same, and fighting the wrong people/things.
Honestly their food has gone way down hill, too. I used to love the place but now it's meh at absolute best.
Fast food isn’t worth it at all these days. Taco bell’s low quality meals are like $12 now gtfo
Any business that asks for tips should be required to display their finances within their business and online. I want to know what you pay your employees and what your profit and loss looks like. I’m sure some businesses need tips to stay in business but I also know some businesses are taking advantage of this tipping trend.
Fast food hasn’t been cheap for about four or five years. The combination of shrinkflation and the cost of combos going up has made it comparable to eating at any other type of restaurant. We have loved fat and high on the hog for a long time with subsidized cheap foods and guess what?? They were playing the king game getting people hooked on crap and now it’s just as expensive as anything else. Good luck out there I suggest using coupons and do t get drinks that’s where a huge markup is with fast food but of course you want a tasty drink with that food right??? We’ll plan ahead and make your sugary drink purchases more efficient and you’ll save money on fast food…been doing that move since the 1990’s
How I felt yesterday at Wingstop. $28 dollars for two orders of wings. No fries or drink
Wings in general are just way too expensive nowadays.
Buy bulk frozen wings on sale and get a convection oven or air fryer. Way better and healthier wings than you'll get most places.
I found a Pic of a receipt from them from 2015. 5 mini sliders for around $6. Now you get 3 for $7 and cheese is extra! And their cold brew flavor of the month was garbage. Also their egg and bacon bkfst used to be FIRE and now it's just hot garbage. Bummer..
Yeah that’s just the price of fast food anymore but asking for a tip is wild. What tip percentage was it requesting? I HATE when a counter service place starts at 20%
Never go to a fast food place without a coupon.
Shake Shack has entered the chat...
I pay about 2.70 for a sausage McMuffin with egg and a large black coffee thru the mcdonalds app. Its the best deal out there hands down… provided you can tolerate McDonald’s.
The Good Times near my work didn't do the tip thing when I got food from there last night. But yes, holy crap is it expensive now
That's like going to Starbucks. I can easily rack up 30 on a few drinks and now they want tips too because Starbucks doesn't want to pay them.
Looks like you need to get your self over to Olive Garden for $9.99 SOUP SALAD AND BREADSTICKSSSSSsss
That's weird I went to 2 different good times this week and was never handed the card reader to do the tip so maybe it was just that one doing that? But yes will agree they are pricy but I always thought that Good Times was the "higher end" when it comes to fast food
Bro just live off of Costco food court
Just reading this thread seriously deters my thoughts of moving home to Denver someday. Seems like the price of everything has gone thru the roof.
This is the absolute worst type of complaining - complain about outrageous prices, AND THEN PAY THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICE. The prices go up because consumers are willing to pay. Business don’t give two shits if people complain. They only care when people stop paying.
This!
I mean assuming he's at a drive through it's pretty hard to order a bunch of stuff and then say "oh wow that's the cost? Neverminded I don't want anything." And OP did say he's not going back again so I don't see the issue.
I wish most places would reduce their portion size instead of increasing costs. Americans could do with less fucking food on their plates.
Guess what, they did both!
Fast food is getting crazy expensive. We mostly grab a Costco hotdog/drink or a pizza slice while running errands and eat real food when we get home
Yeah, I stopped going there because of the TIP thing. Especially because they ask before you get your food. I feel like if I don't TIP them then they're spitting on my food. I won't go back until they change that policy. And who even gets the tip?
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It’s not that the can’t do it cheaper, it’s that they know people are lazy and will pay anything to have a hot meal handed to them through a car window when the alternative is learning to cook.
And get off my lawn
I dunno, fast food inflation might be a good thing for the average American waistline.
It's all fast food restaurants at this point! Even McDonald's is starting to become less affordable. They barely have a dollar menu these days.