Fury as McDonald’s new $5 meal deal costs far more than expected

Customers have been contacting McDonald’s after it emerged that the chain’s so-called ‘$5 meal deal’ costs as much as $13 in some locations.

Customers have been hit with ‘excessive’ prices at McDonalds for the so-called $5 meal deal.

The fast food chain launched its new summer offer on Tuesday, but customers quickly noticed that not everything was as it seemed with the costs.

The $5 offer – which includes a McChicken or McDouble, four pieces of chicken nuggets, fries and a drink – was introduced to provide customers with ‘meaningful value’.

But customers posted screenshots on social media showing much higher prices. One showed $13, which was thought to be an error in the app, but others were charged $6.67 for the standard meal deal and many more were charged above $6.

It is understood that McDonald’s is currently investigating the price discrepancy. Chian bosses have made it clear to franchisees that they must stick to nationally advertised prices

Customer Pete Macy was shocked to learn that his deal appeared to be more than double the advertised price.

After DailyMail.com contacted McDonald’s, staff began responding to customers who complained about X.

The company’s plan is to find out what went wrong — and talk to restaurant managers — and make sure customers don’t run out of money.

Customer Pete Macy was shocked to find out his deal was more than double the advertised price.

“Shout out to McDonalds for offering a $5 meal deal for just $13,” Macy wrote on X.

Macy posted accompanying screenshots of his “$5 McChicken Meal Deal” on the company’s website, which appeared to charge him a total of $13 at checkout.

Customer Meghan Porro also expressed confusion about the price of her order.

“I noticed that McDonald’s $5 meal deal is advertised as a $5 meal when it actually costs $6.29 (excl. tax),” Porro wrote on X.

“So they falsely advertise a $5 meal that you end up paying almost $7 for,” she added alongside screenshots of her order.

Another shopper, also posting on I’m tired of you guys.’

The outraged customer also posted photos of her meal order, showing the price difference.

A third customer voiced the same complaint on social media, asking, “So McDonalds, can you explain why my $5 meal deal isn’t a $5 meal?”, accompanied by a photo of the order totaling $6.29.

Several other social media users reported the same problem.

Prices in the $6.30 region are likely the result of two factors: McDonald’s rule that some higher-cost restaurants can charge more plus the addition of tax.

It’s not clear what was behind even higher prices, such as the $13 or $6.67.

Other users posted meals costing $6.39 and $6.69.

When news of the $5 meal first emerged in May, it was thought that not every restaurant would offer the deal — with restaurants with higher labor and rental costs opting out.

But McDonald’s found a solution. It allows managers in more expensive states: Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, NevadaManhattan in New York and Washington – the option to charge $6.

Other customers were impressed with the new deal.

‘JI got my $5 meal deal not too long ago. I love it, wrote customer Jimmy Chonga on X.

“I hope you can extend it all summer, thanks McDonalds,” Chonga added.

The promotion lasts about a month.

McDonald’s made an eye-watering profit of $14.5 billion last year.

McDonald’s is desperately trying to combat the perception that it has raised prices so much that it is no longer good value.

Last month, Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, wrote an unprecedented open letter to customers claiming that the price increases are not as bad as some media outlets are reporting.

In it, he said prices at the 14,000 U.S. restaurants have risen “only” 40 percent since before the pandemic.