McDonald's Closes Deal Stacking Loophole, Angering Savvy Customers
The fast-food giant has reportedly implemented a 15-minute timer on its self-service kiosks, mirroring the app's restriction and ending a popular money-saving tactic.
McDonald's customers are expressing frustration after the fast-food chain reportedly closed a loophole that allowed them to stack multiple discounts and rewards in a single visit. Previously, customers could use self-service kiosks to bypass the 15-minute cooldown period between redeeming deals on the McDonald's app. This allowed patrons to scan their rewards account, complete a transaction, and immediately obtain a new code to apply another discount. The workaround gained popularity on social media platforms, with users sharing how they managed to utilize several app-exclusive offers consecutively.
Reports emerged on Reddit from customers claiming the system has been updated. A user stated, "it's official guys," noting that the kiosk now features a 15-minute timer for deals, similar to the app's existing restriction. This change effectively prevents customers from repeatedly logging into the kiosk to exploit multiple deals within one order. The extent to which this change is being rolled out, whether nationwide or on a franchise-by-franchise basis, remains unclear.
Customers voiced their disappointment, with one Reddit user commenting, "If there’s a way to block you from getting good deals, McDonald’s will figure it out." Another acknowledged that limiting coupon usage is a common practice across many businesses. Some customers indicated they would adapt by placing separate orders or visiting multiple locations to maximize savings, though others found this approach to be "a lot of effort."
Despite customer discontent over the change, McDonald's has reported strong sales figures. The company saw a 3.9 percent increase in sales at restaurants open for more than a year in the January to March quarter. Overall sales rose 9 percent to $6.52 billion, with profits climbing 6 percent to $1.98 billion. These results come after periods where McDonald's faced criticism for becoming too expensive for some families.
In response to cost-consciousness among diners, McDonald's has emphasized value offerings, introducing new breakfast "meal deals" and promoting more affordable menu items. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski stated, "McDonald’s is not going to be beat on value and affordably." The company remains one of the largest fast-food chains globally, though it was recently surpassed by Chinese cafe chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea in store count.
