Yahoo Finance McDonald’s customers blast $11.95 nuggets - but old menu exposes price reality
McDonald’s has hiked the price of its 24-pack of nuggets from $9.95 to $11.95 in recent years.
McDonald’s customers have called out the fast-food chain over charging $11.95 for nuggets, but an old menu has exposed the reality; you can get nuggets for less now than you could 10 years ago.
A customer sparked debate after noticing a 24-pack of chicken McNuggets were being advertised for $11.95 as part of the restaurant’s “loose change” menu.
McDonald’s had charged $9.95 for a 24-pack of nuggets previously but increased its prices to $11.95 in recent years. This represents a hike of around 20 per cent. Despite the price increases, an old menu reveals the pack of nuggets is actually cheaper than 10 years ago.
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In 2012, a 20-pack of nuggets was priced at $12.50. While there were not 24-packs available at the time, this works out to around 12 cents more per nugget compared to today’s prices.
Today, it’s also actually cheaper to buy a 24-pack of nuggets compared to a 20-pack of nuggets, which will set you back $14.60.
Comparatively, the 2012 menu did show a McFlurry had jumped from $3.95 to $4.50, while a small chocolate sundae went up from $2.45 to $3.50.
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But is $11.95 loose change?
Customers complained the price of McDonald’s items were “ridiculous” and harked back to a time when there were much cheaper alternatives available.
“Remember when hamburgers were $1 and chicken and cheeses were $3? Now you pay $5+ for a chicken and cheese which has HALF a slice of cheese!” one person said.
“Remember when the soft serve was 30c,” another added.
The real kick in the teeth for customers appears to be that the $11.95 item has been advertised under McDonald’s “loose change” menu.
“Doesn't matter about it being a good deal or not because, either way, how can now $12 be loose change,” a customer said.
Most Aussies agreed with the original poster that $11.95 wasn’t exactly “loose change”, with some arguing they thought it should be anything under a $5 note.
“‘Loose Change’ is now a reference to the change you get back after breaking a note paying for it,” one user said.
“Can’t say I have $12 hanging in the cup holder,” another said.
It’s not the first time McDonald’s has come under fire for its loose change pricing, with customers recently calling out an $8.95 meal deal for being featured on the menu.
McDonald’s responds
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the chain was committed to its “value means more at Macca’s promise” and pointed to discounts available on the MyMacca’s App, along with the Loose Change Menu and Macca’s Bundles.
“Our Loose Change Menu provides great value on some of our most iconic menu items, including Frozen Coke from $1, Soft Serve Cone with Flake for $1.50, Hamburger for $2, Happy Meal for $5.75, and more,” the McDonald’s spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.
“Like all businesses, we review our prices from time to time, considering several factors, including the higher-cost environment we are all operating in.”
The cost of a Macca’s run has been increasing. McDonald’s Australian prices have increased by 8 per cent since August 2022, according to UBS analysis. This was less than competitor KFC, whose prices were up 14.7 per cent over the year.
KFC currently charges $10.95 for its 24-pack of nuggets, while Hungry Jack’s charges $11.95 for an 18-pack of nuggets - its biggest size.
Flinders University professor of business management Roberta Crouch told Yahoo Finance inflationary prices are impacting businesses, large and small.
“Insurance, wages, electricity, rates and taxes, costs of produce - everything is more expensive. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses, are under enormous pressure,” she said.
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