Can you afford 26 dollars for a hamburger?

[exitseven]

California raised the minimum wage to 20 dollars an hour. Restaurant owners estimate that prices will rise and a hamburger will cost on average of 28 dollars

[lightbulb27]

Yea, I've paid that and its too
Mich so i find a place that is good but cheaper or diff food. Frankly i dint go to fast food at all.


Prices are not insane… the value of the dollare is going down as we spend into oblivion.


Whats that do to crime in Oakland amd ither areas if those addicted can't get their burger fries and drink.


Govt will just pass out more vouchers…but those whim work will pay full price. Social redistribution. Id be curious the clientele and if over time such restaurants become wards of the state.

[strateguy632]

"we spend" means 2 new aircraft carriers and infinite billions spending on ukraine by biden administration.

[Astarlessnightsky]

LOL. Why is it always the fear of raising prices when wages go up, but the prices never go down when wages go down.

This is just another excuse to pay people a shitty wage.

[msc545]

Exactly. Nobody's going to charge $28 for a hamburger because they won't have any customers and they won't have any income at all.

[JustAnotherGuy09]

@msc545 then they'll go out of buisness like so many have.

[JayBones2469]

They will close all their restaurants and stop doing business in California, just like all the drug stores. Operating costs will not be online with their slim profit margins and their shareholders will demand it.

[msc545]

@JayBones2469 This will not happen.

[JayBones2469]

Wanna bet? One of my clients is a board member of Burger Kings parent company. They have been hiring consultants for months already on this issue. Most stores are Franchisees who are mostly Mom and pops. They are coming up with a plan to have corporate foot the relocation bills. Get ready for a lot of Burger King locations to mysteriously burn down in the coming months.

[msc545]

@JayBones2469 Nobody will miss Burger King. shitty food.

[JayBones2469]

Everyone that worked for Butger king amd the tax vase will miss Burger King. You are stupid and it shows.

[msc545]

So far nobody in California that I know of has closed their business because the minimum wage went to $18 about a year ago. Now, it has gone to $20. And do you actually believe that an increase of $2 at this time will cause people to shut down their Burger Kings. Want to bet?

[msc545]

You simply have a political agenda and it makes you really upset when reality doesn't agree with your agenda. I'm not going to call you stupid because that would be rude but the facts are what they are. You seem to be unable to accept reality.

[Kingofkings1992]

@msc545 fast food workers should not make $20/hour. That’s way too much for that type of work

[msc545]

What if a loaf of bread costs $25. Is it still okay if they make $20 an hour?

[JustAnotherGuy09]

Wages don't go down and they never have. Things aren't getting more expensive, the dollar is getting cheaper.

[Smashingdoozy]

Lol that's not going to happen. Unless it's like a gourmet restaurant burger that comes with fries / side salad.

Your McDonald's big Mac isn't going to cost $28 don't worry.

The countries with the highest minimum wage per hour

Luxembourg €17.83 ($19.13 USD)

A big Mac meal costs €11 ($11.80 USD)

Netherlands €13.27 ($14.44 USD)

A big Mac meal there is €11 ($11.80)

New Zealand $22.70 ($13.90 USD)

Big Mac meal costs $15 ($8.92 USD)

😊🙃

[strateguy632]

11 euro! absurd! how will that comfort people? and 20 is more than 19, worse inflation n bosses won't hire as many workers.
blue dnc must have planned to destroy economy.

[Smashingdoozy]

@strateguy632 a lot of these are cheaper than the current price for a big Mac meal in the US

[midnightmoon05]

Sure… I only eat burgers once or twice a yr. Quality over quantity. 😊

I was “tamatized” by school food since I was a kid. I really can’t stand burgers, hot dogs…etc… unless I know the meat is all from good quality beef and not processed with other stuff. Very few places make burgers like that.

[exitseven]

I buy ground sirloin and they grind it while I stand there and watch.

[strateguy632]

and why do you assume quality would improve?

[midnightmoon05]

We can only hope … of course we know better.
Get to know your local farmers and cows 😊

[exitseven]

There is a dairy farm in the next town. I often get ice cream there. It is the best

[midnightmoon05]

Do they sell milk? Other farm goods?

[FreyaRed]

They can demand even 2800$ for a burger, the real question is are there people who are willing to pay this price?

[strateguy632]

this is what exit asking

[FreyaRed]

@strateguy632 I could afford that but I wouldn't buy a burger for 28$ because I would feel scammed. I don't think that ingredients for a quality burger incl. preparing time are higher than 10$. This is an astronomical margin.

[purplepoppy]

We should stop paying people like burger flippers and just give them vouchers and bags of oats.

[JacobJordan]

Nah hospitality is too big an industry in the US. Reality is restaurants can afford to pay their staff a liveable wage without increasing pricing by simply sacrificing some of their profits. But like many businesses they don't want to invest into their staff so they will either cut hours, implement automation or increase prices over sacrificing a little profit to pay staff a liveable wage. Why I don't eat out much. And if I do I have to ask if the tip goes to the server or a tip pool. If a tip pool I don't tip. If the server I tip very well since the owner is a pos

[JacobJordan]

The number of restaurants that can just take the slight profit hit to pay staff but insist on maintaining there absurd levels of profit is ridiculous. That being said yes I could afford it. And no I absolutely will not pay that for a fuckin burger lol that thing better have gold lettuce or some shit

[noemiii]

Pretty sure it was for fast food workers, not the entire industry. These companies like McDonalds and Wendy’s need to pay higher wages, does not necessarily mean the price will go up. Especially not to that.

I highly doubt they’d implement it for all food service industries in California as most of them operate on a tip based system. And truth be told, as wealthy as it is out here, even if a burger was $40 there are people who can afford that.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan You do know that there are already 30 dollar burgers out here, right? Most wealthy people I know out here aren’t complaining about prices, especially considering most shop at places like Whole Foods. It’s only the working class complaining about it.
If you won’t spend it, someone will, that’s why the price exists.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan As I said before, this price already exists for a burger. It could be any kind of burger though, it’s not specified.
And obviously you’ve not been around enough wealthy people or step foot in California. Go to any wealthy area and see how expensive the local restaurants are. The grocery stores are incredibly expensive as well. Not a Walmart in sight, only Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. A gym membership at our local Lifetime Fitness is $299 a month. Gas is doubled in price. The restraunt I worked at charged $18.99 for a chicken ceaser salad with no sides and it was the most popular thing on the menu. And if they’re wealthy enough, they can afford private chefs. If the price was such an issue for wealthy people, who do you suppose is keeping these overly priced places in business? Most pay higher money for exclusivity and while I do agree “old money” is more frugal with their money, they still shop at expensive places and eat expensive foods regularly.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan That’s fine, I was just explaining to you how it is out here since you seemed to be misinformed. You can think whatever you want, not like it matters anyway

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan First of all, you don’t live in California as per your word. How is this effecting you? You also said you dislike California, so why would you care?
Second, not sure where this “average” number came from. McDonald’s Big Mac combo in my area is like $12.99 with fries and a drink. Shake Shack I can get a burger for $10.00 and that’s on the pricier side. Specialty restaurants and dine in restaurants will obviously charge more. Like I said, I can show you a $30 burger. They usually have those at luxury restaurants.
You’re very opinionated on an issue that has zero effect on you or your course of life lol, I mean if you can’t afford it don’t eat out…nobody is forcing you to eat out

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan Okay yeah I’m not reading that. If you don’t like the price don’t eat out, buddy. Your opinion doesn’t really stop it from happening so cook at home

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan And I genuinely hope they do set that for the price. I don’t eat out often so I really could care less 🤷🏻‍♀️

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan I’m wrong about what exactly? Prices of burgers being $16 on average? Yeah, I read that article, please point me to a burger chain that has a $16 dollar burger, I’ll wait.
Second, you are quite gullible to think that this would spread to other states. You do realize how expensive California is, right? Why would a state where $20 is a livable wage implement this? You do realize all states operate on separate federal laws? Guess you didn’t.
You do also realize you’re fighting against something you have no control over? If the price raised to $30 for a burger, what are you gonna do about it buddy? Vent online? What a change that does.
Realistically, you have no control over it. I don’t, but I have an ambivalent outlook on it. You’re trying to prove what point exactly? That burgers shouldn’t be $30? Well neither should everything else that’s overly expensive like a cheap roach motel room that’s still charging $100 a night. But it’s expensive because IT CAN BE.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan Let’s be realistic, everything is over priced. Not sure why you hyper focused on burgers as if every other single thing in the US isn’t over priced as well. I’d challenge you to name something that used to be affordable and still is affordable, I bet you can’t.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan Wow, so you named the cheapest things you could to prove this point? Then say “most meats” when you just shared an article about meat inflation causing burgers to be $16.. make up your mind buddy. And yes, these are affordable because they were already cheap in the first place. How about instead of naming cheap groceries, you give real life examples like I don’t know, gas? Oh wait that’s not cheap. Car insurance? Also not cheap. What about housing? Nope, not cheap. What about healthcare? Nope. But oh, I can get a gallon of milk for $2.99! Lol

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan Also, I’m blocking you. And erasing everything you wrote. And I frankly have no sympathy for any financial hardships you’re going through.

[noemiii]

@JacobJordan I also realize I’ve argued with you before, you’re a well known troll on here. Won’t be entertaining it again, especially if you can’t debate without cheap insults.

[Dinklex3]

I wouldn’t spend that much for a burger unless it was a special occasion. More incentive for people to cook their meals and go grocery shopping.

[sage2021]

@Dinklex3
Someone on this website said a pound of hamburger meat at the store is $25. I don't know if he was exaggerating though.

[Dinklex3]

@sage2021 In upstate Ny and Alaska 1 pound is not $25, lol. You can get 1 pound beef 90% for $8.

[strateguy632]

or... force people to eat less meat as democrats already announced.

[exitseven]

@sage2021 I just checked and ground sirloin which is what I buy is 22 dollars a pound

[sage2021]

@exitseven
That's the same kind of meat I used to buy when I made meatloaf and other dishes.
I think it was somewhere around $8 a pound?
So, did you buy it? What cha makin'?

[exitseven]

@sage2021 I bought some about a month ago. I buy the sirloin and have it ground while I wait. I make the burgers Xtra large because I but these big rolls from the bakery. I cook them on the grill and sometimes I put a couple of bacon straps in them. I toast the buns. They are very good

[sage2021]

I'll be right over 🍔

[Dinklex3]

@exitseven That’s cause they’re probably charging you for sirloin. Why don’t you just get regular ground beef? I’m not really a beef person, but some of you guys are so particular about it

[exitseven]

@Dinklex3 I buy sirloin st the supermarket and have it ground while I wait. The burgers are awesome. I think they are better than the ones you buy in a restaurant.

[RealMarek]

More likely to see automation and subsequent layoffs than full coverage through price increases. However, the price of beef should keep working its way up for other reasons and if the Biden Admin passes “conservation leases” of BLM grazing land, ranches could go under and the cost of beef could skyrocket.

[strateguy632]

interfere with our personal choices just like a tyrrany.

[OlderAndWiser]

California is governed by idiots. Expect an abrupt and severe decline in people visiting California on vacation.

I can afford to pay $28 for a hamburger but I would never do so willingly!

[Daniela1982]

You pay $28. Illegals get them for free.

[msc545]

@Daniela1982 Bullshit. Prove it.

[strateguy632]

@msc545 to @msc545 same as hotels, they gotta eat!

[msc545]

@OlderAndWiser if I recall correctly, you live in Florida which is governed by a failed Nazi. I don't think you have any room to talk about idiots in California. We are doing a lot better than your state is.

[OlderAndWiser]

Between 2022 and 2023, California had a loss of approximately 37,200 people, according to the California Department of Finance. Between 2022 and 2023, Florida had an increase of 365,200. People are fleeing California, moving to Arizona, Texas, and other destinations. Meanwhile, people are flocking to Florida. The numbers speak for themselves.

I rest my case.

[Daniela1982]

I've heard that too. More moving out than in, except for illegal immigrants.

[msc545]

You think that an influx of people is somehow an indicator of quality? Great - we have enve MORE people for you to find places for!

[msc545]

@Daniela1982 you just like to be a parrot for MAGA bs.

[exitseven]

@msc545 In the crazy state I live in the illegal aliens that are living in hotels and other facilities get 3 meals a day. The state has contracted with several restaurants and they (actually the taxpayers) pay 67 dollars a day for the three meals a day for illegal aliens.

[OlderAndWiser]

@exitseven How dare you suggest that someone on the left should yield to facts!

[Daniela1982]

@exitseven Yet homeless and homeless vets get jack shit.

[msc545]

Yes do you have some evidence for a change or is this more just gossip?

[msc545]

My Friend exit likes to post statements of unsupported facts. If I were you I would wait for some evidence to post if he actually has any.

[exitseven]

@msc545 Here is one that is currently going on. Instead of fixing the old soldiers home up for homeless veterans the state will spend taxpayer dollars to fix it up for illegal aliens to live it.

[msc545]

EVIDENCE?

[OlderAndWiser]

@msc545 https://youtu.be/S-eQdjysM7I?si=JezfQWEgZWYtWJPc

Tip of the iceberg.

[Daniela1982]

Of course they will. Vets don't get shit, nor plain homeless American citizens. It all goes to foreigners who don't pay a dime to the general fund.

[msc545]

ONE WHOLE PLACE CLOSED? Wow!

Sorry, that is a sample of 1 which means nothing.

[exitseven]

@msc545 I forgot to include the link

[OlderAndWiser]

@msc345. Do you want to wait until the entire house is on fire before you become concerned? Not a wise course of action.

[msc545]

Lighting a match in the driveway is not therefore imply that the whole house is on fire. The closure of one restaurant in this context means nothing.

[msc545]

Generalizing from a sample of exactly one instance of anything Is not a wise method of analysis.

[OlderAndWiser]

Your new minimum wage only went into effect on April 1 (quite apropos!)

[AimeeKyle]

I can but really am not interested in a $26 burger, especially if it’s from a fast food restaurant. Minimum wage is just that…. it’s not meant to be a living wage. It’s an introductory wage. And if you age getting paid a minimum wage, I would suggest training/pick a trade/additional education to elevate your personal worth (to yourself and a business)

[Wiredone]

I would never pay 28 dollars for a burger. I bought a pizza pie with mushrooms Friday and almost died when she said it was $30.12. I haven't bought a pizza In a while. I'll be looking for a new pizza place

[exitseven]

pizza is expensive but everything is expensive.

[Wiredone]

Pizza used to be a cheap meal. That's why I very rarely eat out. It's cheaper to eat home cooked meals

[Daniela1982]

These eateries might just price themselves out of business at that kind of pricing.

[exitseven]

I have been paying 16 dollars for a burger and a Pepsi and was outraged at that

[sage2021]

Only if I was really craving a cheeseburger and it woyhave to be a burger from In-n-Out burgers.

[exitseven]

we dont have In N Out where I live.

[sage2021]

@exitseven
If you ever visit the west coast, at least stop by and try one. They are the number one burger joint.
They've been in business since the 50's and have never changed anything about the simple items on the menu.
It's very standard stuff.
And the place is always packed no matter which one I go to.
Ok, now I want a cheeseburger 🍔

[NathanDavis]

for 28 dollars... you can get some of the best Tacos al Pastor around here, and for two or three people at least

that's why I just don't go to fast food burgers, not to get cheap stuff

[DryGermanGuy]

I just checked that a Burger King Whopper costs 10 Dollar and a McDonald’s Big Mac costs 6 Dollars in Californian cities. So, no, this minimum wage increase will not drive its price up by 150 to 500%!

[strateguy632]

yeh, denial someone already wrote 11 euro. where less than 20 per hour.

[AviatorTom]

Nope, but there's a baseball park in Georgia (state) that charges $3000 for a golden burger. Don't know how many people have been able to afford that.

[katiesmuff]

It isn't a matter of what I can afford, but more of a question of would I spend that for a burger! The answer is NO

[BCRanger10]

Could I? For maybe once or twice a month, yes.

Would I? HA! No.

[BCRanger10]

It would have to be a very, very, VERY special cheeseburger for me to pay that much for it. Which, in California, is highly doubtful.

[Huntingnfishin]

Basically what that means is instead of talking to a real person you will have a touch screen with pictures that you press. And they will probably have some sort of machine to flip burgers and load fries. By raising minium wage all you really do is take jobs from the lower class

[strateguy632]

good point! i wrote something similar but you wrote it better! 👍

[Huntingnfishin]

@strateguy632 sometimes I wonder if I ramble in my replies! I can't say as though I blame industries for going to more automation instead of replying on employees who aren't always the most reliable or come with their own set of baggage. But it is a shame to see jobs like those go away

[msc545]

So how much do fast food workers get paid now? About 15 to $18 an hour? If so, $20 an hour is not a huge increase.

[msc545]

I can afford that much for a hamburger but I sure as hell don't want to and probably won't. The hamburgers I can get are not that good.

[exitseven]

Where I live minimum wage is 7.50/hr but most fast food places are paying 18-22 /hr.

[msc545]

Ok, in California it was 15 hr, now its 20.

[msc545]

That may seem like a lot of money, but our cost of living is probably a lot higher than it is in most other states.

[Juxtapose]

Sorry but no, there are already countries who pay way more than the USA and their Big Macs do not cost almost 30 bucks.

The fact that wages have not kept up with productivity for decades and wages have stagnated while prices have not gone down just shows you that corporate greed is infinite.

[TrueConfection]

Not unless I walked to get it since the cost of gas is outrageous.