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Wednesday is National Cheeseburger Day: Here are the deals to relish

By Jordan Valinsky, CNN

2 minute read

Published 5:00 AM EDT, Wed September 18, 2024

42 comments

Many chains, like McDonald's, are offering deals on cheeseburgers Wednesday.

Many chains, like McDonald's, are offering deals on cheeseburgers Wednesday. Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images

New York

CNN

—

Wednesday is National Cheeseburger Day, with some of the biggest chains offering some much-needed discounts amid consumer complaints about rising prices.

McDonald’s, the biggest company, is selling 50-cent double cheeseburgers when they’re ordered in its app – about 45 cents more than what the chain’s original hamburger cost in 1948. It’s part of company’s string of deals to kickstart slumping sales, including recently extending its popular $5 value meal until December.

Fast food has been a low-profit margin business with little customer loyalty. Chains have been unveiling big giveaways, typically tied to their mobile apps, to help drive business and develop more repeat customers.

And McDonald’s isn’t the only burger chain to offer deals. Wendy’s is selling a junior bacon cheeseburger for just one cent through September 22, as long as you buy something else from the menu on its app. Also, Burger King is giving away a free cheeseburger as long as you buy something else that costs at least $1 through its app.

Smaller chains are offering similar deals, too. Jack in the Box is tossing in a “Jumbo Jack” cheeseburger with a $1 purchase on its app, and the Carl’s Jr. app is offering a half-priced double cheeseburger. White Castle is offering a buy one, get one deal on its Cheese Sliders in the app with the code “SAYCHEESE.”

Smashburger, which just unveiled a new logo and menu, is selling $5 cheeseburgers (which typically cost more than $7) with the code “BURGERDAY” on its app or in-store, as well as offering a vegetarian alternative. Plus, it’s giving a “bounce-back coupon” to anyone that orders the deal so customers can come back and get 50% off any burger or sandwich on a future visit.

McDonald’s pricey burgers have become a flashpoint of criticism and a symbol of elevated fast food prices. Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, wrote in an open letter posted to the company’s website in May that the company’s franchisees needed to avoid one-off price hikes that hurt the company’s reputation. And he noted that prices haven’t risen nearly as much as people think.

Still, customers have turned their backs on fast food companies, shifting to casual dining chains like Applebee’s and Chili’s, which many customers believe offer more value.

So deals are particularly crucial to fast food companies at the moment to lure customers back.

42 comments

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Conversation(42)

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Logicat

35m ago

Isn't a credit-debit card required to be loaded into the app? If so, no thank you.

Reply

cnn-user-id0rpa

57m ago

Remember---these fast food companies are making BILLIONS while whining about having to raise prices. They rarely give anything for free. Always gotta buy something & hope you then order more. Luring you in to make their HUGE profits is the...

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Reply

Doddering Husband of Jill

39m ago

In our capitalist economy, they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do: make money, and more of it every year, to sustain profit and job growth.

If they don’t move ahead every year, then they are going backwards. 🙄

Reply

Analog Kid

1h ago

"customers have turned their backs on fast food companies, shifting to casual dining chains like Applebee’s and Chili’s"

Ha ha! What?? Those establishments are closing all over the country. No one eats there anymore.

Reply

ReadWithDoubt

3h ago

It's hilarious that these are the only deals available to the public for National Cheeseburger Day. The prices of fast food, which I don't eat at all, have escalated to a horrifying degree. You'd think these chains would like to reward t...

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cnn-user-dj7zgr

4h ago

Cholesterol and ultraprocessed food continues to rule the world.

Bonne sante a vous!

Reply

bez

3h ago

It's all many people can afford

Reply

2 replies

cnn-user-jfyxqw

5h ago

...Always placing conditions on their deals means it's not a deal at all.

Reply

mmman1234

5h ago

OH NO THEY ARE TRACKING ME FOR A CHEESEBURGER! I got nothing to hide. If Mcdonalds wants to send information that i like a burger, french fries and diet coke be my guest.

Reply

Boris Norris

5h ago

Wonderful-so almost all the deals require you to download their app to get the discount-nope.

Reply

bez

3h ago

Any kind of coupon is up to the company's discretion, no?

Reply

jusducki

8h ago

I don't have a cell phone and I'm tired of being told that I can't get a sale price without using an app. From food to automotive services it's beginning to make me feel mighty angry.

Reply

bez

3h ago

Grab a phone from a discount cell company, drop your landline, and you'll immediately cut your costs. And I'm not talking about any burger coupon savings here

Reply

Doddering Husband of Jill

6h ago

You’re just hangry.

Have a cheeseburger….

Reply

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