I don’t eat Chicken McNuggets, but a few years ago, I was in a McDonalds with a friend who noticed a strange price discrepancy. The dollar menu — all items for $1 — offered a pack of four Chicken McNuggets for, you guessed it, $1.  Great deal! But buy in bulk, and you can get a better deal, right?  This McDonalds offered a 10 McNuggets for $4.29… which, if you do the math, isn’t a deal at all.  So I emailed McDonalds:

Why are the 4-piece mcnuggets on the dollar menu but the 10-piece cost $4.29?  Am I allowed to buy three 4-piece mcnuggets (for 12 in total) and save $1.29?

Their reply wasn’t exactly responsive:

Hello Dan:

Thank you for your comments regarding prices at your local McDonald’s.

It’s important to know that approximately 85 percent of our restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent business people known as franchise owners. Each franchise owner determines his or her restaurant’s prices by taking our recommendations into consideration, as well as their unique operating costs. This is why prices may vary from one McDonald’s restaurant to another. Also franchise owners make decisions regarding charging for condiments.

We are sorry for any dissatisfaction you may be feeling as a result of prices at a McDonald’s restaurant. Overall, McDonald’s Corporation works very hard with our suppliers, research and development, and internal departments to consistently offer a broad menu that can be offered at a good value in our restaurants.

We appreciate your feedback and will share it with the appropriate people at McDonald’s. Regarding your local McDonald’s pricing, we encourage you to share your feedback with the restaurant Manager. We are sure the franchise owner would be interested in you comments.

Thank you again for contacting McDonald’s. We appreciate your business and hope to have the opportunity of serving you in the future.

Sertoria

McDonald’s Customer Response Center