CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wendy's is clarifying rumors that they will soon roll out surge pricing next year. The fast food joint said they will actually offer “dynamic pricing," which means they’ll be able to offer discounts to customers “on the fly."
But with companies like Uber and Lyft that do rely on surge pricing, financial expert Judson Gee shares some tips consumers can use to keep more cash in their pockets and are not left asking, where's the money?
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“I think consumers do have a lot of choice these days," Judson Gee, managing partner for JHG Financial, exclaimed. "Consumers have gotten very intelligent, they're smart."
Gee said in order to save some money, you’re going to have to do your research.
"It does take some time, it does take educating yourself on how to navigate that system.," he said.
But what does that mean? Gee shares some examples, like before pulling into a fast food drive-thru, check the store’s app for menu prices.
“Whether it's Burger King or McDonald's, you know, in french fries, we're now at $6, because it's 12:30 p.m., then I'm going to look on McDonald's or Burger King and find out what their french fries cost.”
And if you’re looking to get home after a concert at PNC Music Pavilion and Uber is 10 times more expensive? Gee said you’ll have to go “old school."
"And so taxi cabs are regulated by the county or the city, or maybe even the state," he explained.
This means they don’t have surge pricing, but riders might have to wait longer when the demand exceeds the supply.
Long story short? Gee said if you’re looking to save money, you’ll have to get creative .
“So you know, just gotta be savvy I think," he said,
Wendy's said along with dynamic pricing, they also plan to use digital menu boards to offer discounts and special offers to customers during slower times of the day, so it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the next few years.
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