When you’ve had a rough day at work or just feel like being lazy, fast food is okay every once in a while. You might go to McDonald’s, Dunkin’, maybe Chipotle. Now, just those three restaurants together, you’re looking at billions in revenue. It can’t go up forever, though. As one Maryland TikToker put it on social media: “Capitalism eventually eats itself.” That begs the question then: Why are any of these fast food restaurants like Chipotle raising prices, then?
TikToker HBTS (TikTok/he_btruthspittin) starts off his TikTok video by commenting on Chipotle allegedly wanting to raise prices, citing a significant portion of revenue comes from people making 100k a year. “It’s stupid. It’s not even good business practice,” HBTS argues. Instead, he suggests that it doesn’t matter what the price of Chipotle’s food is, but “If they feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.”
HBTS then explains the area he lives in is “well off” and he often works with “wealthy people.” To him, even if the people he works with are wealthy enough to afford Chipotle, people who are more well off can actually afford to be stingy. If you’re wealthy enough to afford an expensive steak, you’re probably going to ignore fast food for the most part.
“A lot of CEOs who don’t know how to think like their customers fail,” HBTS states. Especially for fast food, cost and quantity really is the deal breaker. If I feel I’m not getting a lot for even $5, I won’t even bother. As HBTS put it, Chipotle is only worried about “looking at people as numbers.” As long as CEOs are obsessed with infinite growth, their businesses will always fail.
The comments in HBTS’s TikTok video were definitely on his side, with many sharing their less-than-stellar opinion of Chipotle’s food. “I can spend $50 on Chipotle but $50 is fiscally irresponsible on Chipotle when I could go to a local sit down and be treated nicer with better food,” one commenter said. I second that. The atmosphere can easily sway my decision on where to eat, especially if the staff is friendly.
“I make well over $100k. We have Chipotle and Moes and I’d rather Moes because its a better deal and free chips. Money always matters. It NEEDS to be worth it. Chipotle is not worth it,” argued another. I’d gladly pay extra if the quality serves. I walk away remembering that meal, as opposed to grabbing a cheap, fast food burger. And that good meal is even better when you’re sitting at a nice place with family.
While some commenters offered better alternatives, others pointed out the value of making your own ‘Chipotle.’ Having good food at a nice restaurant with family? Great vibes. Cooking your own good meal with family? Even better. Get your kids involved in the prep, too!
With fast food restaurants like Chipotle, I’m not convinced the cost of the food has to be put on the customer. Have you seen what these CEOs make compared to their employees? No thanks. Even if the prices stay the same, on principal alone, I won’t be buying Chipotle anymore.
