411 Calls Reveal How People Are Saving Money

[jeffrey]

Interesting anaylsis of 411 calls and how they have changed

Restaurants like Olive Garden and Red Lobster used to be in the top 10 on the restaurant list the restaurant list, but they have recently disappeared. The current list looks like this:

1. Pizza Hut
2. McDonald's
3. Domino's Pizza
4. Starbucks
5. Papa John's Pizza
6. Little Caesars Pizza
7. Taco Bell
8. Burger King
9. Wendy's
10. Denny's

Sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden, Applebee’s and Red Lobster, have dropped off the list, while recession-proof comfort food like Pizza Hut and Domino’s shoot to the top of the list. 380% more searches for Pizza Hut have been conducted during the period, and searches for Domino’s Pizza have increased 980%. High gas prices are keeping people at home ordering in, and they are opting for cheaper alternatives. Financial analysts have explored this area extensively, and have deemed several of these restaurant chains “recession-proof stocks.”

Mobile Search Trends Show Economic Decline And Rise In Pizza

[disneysteve]

Very interesting data, though I think it also shows that people don't always think things through. When we order from Domino's, the bill with tip comes to about $28 and we eat everything at that meal. When we go out to a place like Olive Garden, the bill will be more in the $40 range but there will always be leftovers for at least one and often two more meals, making the cost per person per meal actually lower than Domino's. Just last night, we went out to casual Italian place. The bill came to $37.00, just $9 more than Domino's. We had a much better meal (eggplant parm, chicken marsala, baked ravioli, garlic bread, etc.) and I took the leftovers for lunch today. So Domino's was $9.33/person/meal and this place was $9.25/person/meal. I'll take the nicer restaurant and better food any day.

[rob62521]

You are right, Disneysteve! A lot of time people think they are getting a bargain going to "fast food" or whatever, but by the time they get their meal and keep adding to it, they aren't paying that much less than a nicer restaurant with a full meal.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Why would someone phone McDonald's anyway? Do they deliver some places? In that case, add the delivery fee and/or tip. By the way, husband and I ate there yesterday for a grand total of $4.80, tax included. I got a Happy Meal. He got some kind of sandwich and small fries. We shared the Happy Meal drink, and gave the toy to someone at another table.

[disneysteve]

I got a Happy Meal.

gave the toy to someone at another table.

You did that backwards. The toy is the only worthwhile thing in the box. You should have kept that and given away the food.

[Snave]

Why would someone phone McDonald's anyway? Do they deliver some places? In that case, add the delivery fee and/or tip. By the way, husband and I ate there yesterday for a grand total of $4.80, tax included. I got a Happy Meal. He got some kind of sandwich and small fries. We shared the Happy Meal drink, and gave the toy to someone at another table.

I was thinking the same thing! Who has ever called a McDonald's or Taco Bell? You would probably get routed to a foreign country like some are doing now with the drive through windows?

[zakity]

Forget Domino's or PizzaHut, they could just make the pizzas themselves and they are way cheaper and taste better.

[disneysteve]

Forget Domino's or PizzaHut, they could just make the pizzas themselves and they are way cheaper and taste better.

Cutting back happens in stages. First you cut back from the nice sit-down restaurant to the casual place with coupons in the Sunday paper. Then you move down to the counter-service place. Then it's the place where you drive up and talk into the clown head.

[rob62521]

I was thinking the same thing! Who has ever called a McDonald's or Taco Bell? You would probably get routed to a foreign country like some are doing now with the drive through windows?

I knew someone who called McDonalds to put in their order ahead of time. Maybe that's why these folks are calling. That or to ask if Ronald or that dog is there?

[Snave]

I knew someone who called McDonalds to put in their order ahead of time. Maybe that's why these folks are calling. That or to ask if Ronald or that dog is there?

I guess they wanted their burgers to be done and sitting under the heat lamp for 60 minutes instead of 45.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

There is a McDonald's dog? Now that I don't like to think about.

[PrincessPerky]

You did that backwards. The toy is the only worthwhile thing in the box. You should have kept that and given away the food.

heh

The question I have is why would you call 411? a phone book/google search is free.

[rob62521]

There is a McDonald's dog? Now that I don't like to think about.

Nah, the Taco Bell dog...sorry about the confusion. Remember the talking dog?

[rob62521]

I guess they wanted their burgers to be done and sitting under the heat lamp for 60 minutes instead of 45.

Now isn't that a yummy thought?