this post was submitted on 19 May 2025
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[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

There are three countries using the ass backwards Imperial measurement system. USA, Liberia and Myanmar...WTF!?!?

If we're talking about a focus group specifically comprised of regular fast food consumers, you're already kinda pre-selecting for the lowest common denominator.

No surprise that this segment would have lower education overall

[–] Justdaveisfine@midwest.social 3 points 3 days ago (9 children)

I thought this was kind of a myth? I recall it being something like the quarter pounder was just well marketed so beat out even bigger burgers.

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Carl's Jr. did the same thing. The 1/3 pound was perfect. Two 1/4 patties are too much, one 1/4 patty is too little.

I miss the Carl's Jr. 1/3 pound burger.

[–] match@pawb.social 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)
[–] Jesus_666@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Yes, I've literally seen baked goods advertised like that. One bakery in my town is proud of its bigger-than-average pretzels and puts the weight right there on the ad posters.

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[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I hear this type of take often but I'm skeptical that it happened (originally heard it as McDonald's doing it, not A&W) and I'm skeptical that it's the reason it failed.

You could test this by setting up a food stall that sells something like this as a control.

  1. 6 pc for $5
  2. 9 pc for $5
  3. 12 pc for $9

Then do something similar with the burgers. See how many people inherently want more for the same price. Then switch it up so the middle one is cheaper. Switch the ordering of the lists as well. Etc.

Do I think some people just don't understand fractions and think third is less? Sure. But I think there are too many variables to say that's it alone. If someone is that bad with math, it's gonna matter if you write it as ½ ⅓ ¼ or half third quarter. Then it's gonna matter if they ask what the ⅓ means versus if the cashier asks if they want "half, third, or quarter".

All that to say, I think there are definitely some people who don't inherently want more food, even if it's the same price (and maybe even if it's cheaper) and I'm not sure how many people like that there are versus people who are bad at the math aspect. Throw in stuff about how the menu is presented and I just don't see how we can really come to this conclusion.

Shout out to the time my buddy realized it was 1¢ cheaper to get two 6 of meals than one 12 pc meal. (Basically 6 of was like $5.99 and 12 pc was like $11.99 or whatever.)

[–] CaptPretentious@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean, I don't know why you'd be skeptical.

A&W has a write up about it https://www.awrestaurants.com/blog/memories-history/the-truth-about-aws-third-pound-burger-and-the-major-math-mix-up/

And Snope's did an article https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/06/17/third-pound-burger-fractions/

There's plenty of blunders like this. Like when JCPenny's just gave great prices and sales dropped because if something is $50, that's too much. But 75% off from $200, well, that's a deal! We know more about the JCPenny one, because it happened in 2012 and not 1980-something

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev -1 points 2 days ago

It's not like I'm gonna do research before making every comment. I was skeptical because it sounds far fetched.

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