How McDonald make money with coupon app?

I have the McDonald App and the coupons are pretty unbelievable. For example, just today I got a free medium McCafe (worth $3) by buying a $1.25 McDouble. The other day I got free fries and you can get a buy 1 get one free sandwich.

Now I was just thinking, the cost to make a McDouble is maybe $0.90. And the cost to make a medium McCafe is maybe $2.50. So how do they make money?

Also, I noticed the workers don't like it when you use coupons. The lady serving me today was looking with such hatred in her eyes! Is it because they feel you are cheating the company? Because in a way, you are!

10 Comments
 
Best Response

I doubt a $3.00 McCafe costs $2.50 to make. Its probably much higher margin than that.

Part of the equation in advertising and coupons is to establish buying patterns and habits. They want you to enjoy what you got at a discount to create a habit to respond to future cravings of food by frequenting their establishment.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

The goal is not making money, it is to destroy health as we know it. Chocolate dipped cheeseburgers? Yes please!

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

Because all they care about is dollar per ticket to grow revenue. This allows them to pull both levers at once.

In your case, they got a single guy to go to McDonalds (more tickets). In the case of many, the coupons can be used only once, so a family will go and get one thing for free (more tickets and dollars).

Its all about the marginal customer coming to the store.

I bet you go to McDonalds three more time in the next six weeks. How long has it been since you went to McDonalds four times? Three years?

 

I go to MacDonalds almost every day now. Today I got a 10 piece chicken nugget for $1.50. I also get a cup of water, but fill it with Coke. They don't check, and even if they do, I've never had a worker confront me about it.

 

Quidem incidunt neque doloribus enim et omnis. Nisi enim dolor quia qui sed. Praesentium a suscipit quo officia velit quibusdam. Esse placeat voluptas hic minima.

Impedit numquam et est nihil ut. Autem dolores vero eos consectetur ea. Quae est sit reprehenderit possimus vel. Voluptates quam dolorum autem velit. Doloremque aliquam ut aliquid saepe. Maiores sit rerum quo rerum fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”