▪️This is so dumb. Basically, people invented a controversy that didn’t actually exist, and are now patting themselves on the back when Wendy’s had to clarify that they weren’t, in fact, doing what everyone was freaking out about.

▪️Wendy’s CEO announced in an earnings call that they would soon be testing digital menus, which allow restaurants and AI to change the menu throughout the day, including things like dynamic pricing and suggestive selling. This is a perfectly normal use of business technology.
https://news.yahoo.com/wendys-says-it-wont-use-surge-pricing-for-burgers-after-announcing-dynamic-pricing-whats-the-difference-between-the-2-175039236.html

▪️Media reports pick this up and start using the term “surge pricing” (which Wendy’s never used) and people en masse started claiming Wendy’s was going to jack up prices during peak times. This was an entirely made up controversy, based on nothing except people’s imagination.

▪️Then, because of all the drama, Wendy’s issues a statement clarifying that they never said or meant that they would raise prices during peak times, rather this would likely benefit the consumer by offering discounts during slow times. Idiots then rejoiced that they “made Wendy’s back down.”
https://www.wendys.com/blog/wendys-digital-news-update

▪️There is “dynamic pricing” in almost every business. If you have a fast food app, you constantly get deals and offers. As you do with apps for retailers, airlines, pretty much every business that sells you things. They are constantly changing prices to sell you things, almost always by offering deals and discounts.

▪️Wendy’s seems to be trying to incorporate what apps do (and what coupons did before that) into their physical menu. Whether it’s a good idea and actually works will be determined by the market, but that people freaked out about it is the epitome of first world problems.