Value Meals, Do you still feel you are saving from them?
By aeisle
@aeisle (377)
Philippines
January 25, 2012 1:40am CST
Most of our fastfood chains today offers a lot of value meals. Originally they were designed to save few coins or Pesos here in the Philippines. From our fastfoods today, do you still think you are really saving some of those coins?
I was ordering one time while trying to spend my money to the fullest meal that I can get with just few Pesos since I was a bit broke that time 
. While I am thinking what to order, I'm already trying to compute their prices while comparing to each meals so I can eat the most with the least to pay 
. I was thinking to buy a burger, fries, and a juice since I prefer it rather than softdrinks. Then as I tried to breakdown their prices wondering if I would order them separately, I was a bit surprised to find out that I'm spending more ordering their meals! 
I remember when I was a kid, value meals were only P29 at the time and they were saying save P5. Now, let's say if you order a value meal of P50 then upgrade your drinks to juice, you'll need to add P16. So basically, the price of ala carte (solo order/not meal) would be about P34 and softdrinks usually cost P16. So if you upgrade, that will be P32 already. But if you bought the ala carte for P34 then buy a juice separately for P28, that would only cost P62 instead of P66.
Maybe the value meals nowadays were no longer designed to save few coins but only for the convenience of buyers and sellers to save the hassle of ordering separately. This is why you will no longer see the "Save P5" or more beside their value meals.
Try to compute your orders too. -)
. While I am thinking what to order, I'm already trying to compute their prices while comparing to each meals so I can eat the most with the least to pay . I was thinking to buy a burger, fries, and a juice since I prefer it rather than softdrinks. Then as I tried to breakdown their prices wondering if I would order them separately, I was a bit surprised to find out that I'm spending more ordering their meals!
I remember when I was a kid, value meals were only P29 at the time and they were saying save P5. Now, let's say if you order a value meal of P50 then upgrade your drinks to juice, you'll need to add P16. So basically, the price of ala carte (solo order/not meal) would be about P34 and softdrinks usually cost P16. So if you upgrade, that will be P32 already. But if you bought the ala carte for P34 then buy a juice separately for P28, that would only cost P62 instead of P66.
Maybe the value meals nowadays were no longer designed to save few coins but only for the convenience of buyers and sellers to save the hassle of ordering separately. This is why you will no longer see the "Save P5" or more beside their value meals.
Try to compute your orders too. -)11 responses
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
25 Jan 12
I worked in a fast food restaurant for eight years and I know that most of the time, that "value" meal really has no value. I mean if you would break down the cost of each one you will see that you are really not saving anything but rather buying a set meal instead. This is one of the marketing strategies restaurants make in order to make their menus more appealing to customers.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
26 Jan 12
That is a different issue! It really depends on the restaurant and the menu that come up with value meals. There are just some restaurants where it is more practical (and filling) if you order them a la carte.
It really depends on the restaurant and the menu that come up with value meals. There are just some restaurants where it is more practical (and filling) if you order them a la carte.
@globaldoc (858)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
This thought also came in to me. I find that our number one fastfood chain is not giving out low priced food anymore. In the earlier years, these fastfood chains were considered among the cheapest, but yet, with the best quality. Now I find that their prices are not far from some other restaurant's fine dining prices already. The sad thing is that there are a lot of people who do not end up realizing this.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
26 Jan 12
Hmmm...I think Value Meals at most chains here still work out to slightly less. It's more for me though because I don't like soft drinks, so I wouldn't have those. And I usually only want a small fries because that's how much I'd eat.
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
25 Jan 12
I guess different fast food menu and places are different in different countries to according to the community culture and price affortability. SOme asian countries fast food like KFC and McD in asian has value meals tat starts from 12 afternoon to 4pm only which are almost like half price from the normal price to cater for the lunch hours.I guess to be make profit sometime it has to be affortable and not become luxury food.
@craziestqueenever (1819)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
Yes, I can still save from them and it depends on what kind of food that you wanted to eat plus on what food chain are you going to eat. I can still save on McDonalds McSavers Meal wherein it will cost only Php50.00 Crispy Chicken Fillet plus a softdrinks.
@angelako (280)
• Italy
25 Jan 12
Yes I guess when you eat and choose value meal you save a little from it.When you buy one each on the menu mostly it has a high value.Thats why ussually when we go to fastfood with my kids i eat value meal and we spend and save a litle peny.Its hard to earn money this days so I try to save and choose which is little cheaper.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
25 Jan 12
No, not really. We usually buy off the dollar menu and mix and match what we want. I find the prices at fast food have increased greatly. Why pay 6.99 for a meal when for about 2 dollars more I could eat at a sit down restaurant like Fridays or Chilis? It seems expensive to me.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Jan 12
Well, i tried it also once, buying separately. And yes, it costs me more.
So now, i would always buy value meals. But i would always buy the best value for money, value meals. One piece chicken and rice with a regular coke.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
25 Jan 12
What value meals? hahaha... You are right. Maybe it should be called package meals not value meals so that you won't be hassled in buying them separately. Besides from the increasing prices of the so called value meals, the merchandise or the product still becomes smaller and smaller as time goes by.
@Flashpointer (784)
• Philippines
25 Jan 12
I agree with you my friend, value meal before was affordable since that time when expanded value added tax don't exist. That time, when I was a kid, I enjoyed eating value meals before. Now, I am enjoying eating home cooked value meal which I used to cook or eating cassava cake to replenish my hunger. I can't afford to buy value meal today since buying a value meal price can buy food to cook for the whole day.
