Consumerist
Reader Brent wanted to pass along this valuable coupon that entitles you an Arby's Flatbread Melt Combo for $4.99. Brent thought he would get in on the action himself and headed down to Arby's, but then realized the normal price for the combo is $5.00, merely 1 penny more. He used the coupon anyway. Brent's letter, inside...
Let me start out by saying that I love your site. I try to limit the fast food that I eat and that I buy for my family, however I do eat at Arby's now and then. I also check the newspapers for coupons whenever I can. This evening my wife saw the Arby's Philly Flatbread Melt commercial and asked if would go get her one. I knew that I had clipped some random coupons this past weekend, so I grabbed my coupon folder and headed to Arby's. Upon arrival I pulled out my coupon folder and fished out the Arby's coupons that I had. I ordered a Philly Flatbread Melt Combo. I had to double-check the coupon after ordering. I took a picture of the coupon, and a picture of the menu board at the Arby's.
When I got to the window, I handed the young man the coupon I had and asked him why they would even bother printing these. He laughed, and said he wasn't sure....then asked if I wanted to use it. I laughed and said sure, and saved a penny. I guess they figure if someone thinks they are getting a deal, it's enough to get them to the store.
Thanks for the heads-up, Brent. Don't laugh, if you use this coupon 500 times you got yourself a free lunch, buddy. I would be remiss if I didn't mention this coupon is only valid until 5/31.
Comments
It's not giving a good deal that matters, it's giving the impression it's a good deal.
a penny saved is a penny earned
Oh my gosh, you mean restaurants give on "non-discount coupons" just to get you to go there?
Pizza places have been doing this for as long as I can remember. Especially with their newspaper inserts.
I wonder how much it COST Arby to have this ad and coupon produced?
A penny saved, a penny earned!
And the customer can't use an expensive 'normal price' as an excuse not to return and purchase again!
I see much win for everyone in this situation.
ps: A final observation- Are not the prices at fast food shops decided upon by the INDIVIDUAL FRANCHISE? I know from experience that food courts/free standing stores/rest stop locations often have widly varying pricing structures and menus. Perhaps there is an Arby's out there where that very same coupon would save a person 25cents?
I'm pretty sure those coupons were printed before the meal was made $5.
I believe the meal was made $5 to counter Subway and Quizno's recent $5 meal deals.
Arby's is usually pretty good with the coupons.
Last time I went to Arby's, I ordered a reuben combo with Pepsi. When you do that, they don't ask you; they just default to the large size. Next time, I just order the damn sandwich.
@HungryGrrl: You got a good point there. I think most Arby's are franchised, so the $5 was probably set by the owner, not the national office.
That combo seems ridiculously cheap already, considering the sandwich itself is $4.79. I would think the combo would be at least $6.00.
@edicius: That is what I was thinking. When the sandwich is $4.79 - normally the combo is more then just $.21 more.
My guess they printed & planned for those coupons a month+ ago - and since then, their combo price came down... maybe to help compete with Quiznoes & Subway.
Curious if it is $5 combo at ALL arby stores... or just those who are in a competing area with Quiznoes & Subway?
Your wife sees a commercial on tv, and sends you out the door to pick one up?
Hoping she's preggers...
lol i also have a coupon folder! high five!
i gotta say arby's coupons are meh. you're better off with the buy 1 get 1 coupon.
Actually rather than saying the combo is cheap, I think the sandwhich is ridiculously overpriced. $4.79?? I mean common, you probably get 70% of what a big roast beef would be as far as content. I'd value that sandwhich at $2.99 at most.
My never eat at Arby's coupon saved me $5.00
@Steaming Pile: Whenever I go for fast food I make it painfully obvious that I want a "medium number 9, corned beef, with curly fries". The reuben is number 9 right?
I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's.
Remember, some things are "on sale" and some things are "for sale." The difference is whether there's a real price cut.
Damn...now I want Arby's...there aren't any near me :( Only fast-food place I'll eat at.
From a marketing perspective coupons are sometimes issued to test the response rate of a certain media or the market itself. It allows the issuer to track consumer behavior.
@HungryGrrl: Most franchises have a price structure which must be respected chain wide. There may be different prices at different locations, but they are likely the same in the same type of locations (stand alones, food courts, movie theaters, nested locations (inside another store)).
There was an Arby's a few minutes drive from the college I went to. They always had "2 for 1 Roast Beef" specials....lived off of that place for a few years. Still have an odd subconscious draw to them....
The coupon may be crap, but now I am totally craving that sandwich. Curse you, pregnancy hormones!
I'll one day send in pictures... I found an ad for Dominos pizza where the "Special" cost more than buying all the items separately. People that don't pay attention to things like this deserve to pay more.
I haven't been to Arby's since they stopped doing the 5 roast beef sandwiches for $5. Now I see I could have saved a penny on a combo. Damn! I'm such a fool!
they still run the 5 for $5 around here in tampa from time to time... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
To be fair, Arby's does allow you to save up to 6 cents with this coupon...
"Buy up to 6 with this coupon...not valid with any other offer"
@HIV 2 Elway: lol it tastes like burning
We're talking about Arby's here. A coupon for shit, still just gets you shit. If they wanted to do you a favor they'd price you out of the market.
Cash value 1/1,000,000 of 1ยข
@HIV 2 Elway: Ewwww, Arby's!
i think the combo being five bucks is a temporary deal, so use the coupon later.
@sketchy: It's been my experience that restaurants in the midwest are cheaper than ones on the coasts. I don't think there's uniform pricing across the country.
Then after you buy 6, it's back to the regular price!
Um, this is a steal.
You save $0.01 AND you get diarrhea at no extra charge!
Seriously, Arby's is gross.
You guys just be glad you have an Arby's within reach for a lunch HOUR...
Closest to me is 50 minutes away includes traffic...
There used to be 3 within 20 minutes, one 3 blocks away...
Bag of Beef FTW!!!!
@sketchy: This doesn't fit for all chains...there are 2 different stand alone MccDonald's and one in a Walmart within 5 miles of each other...The first stand alone (one nearest my old house) is the cheapest, followed by the Walmart, then the second stand alone. All 3 different franchise owners. And this is for most menu items too, from the coffee to the combos. Only the $1 menu is the same.
Conversely, all of the Chick-fil-As around here have the same prices, from the rich side of town to the business park CFAs
Different locations have different prices and pricing schemes. What's the big surprise? How often do you see places, especially national chains, that price in multiples of a dollar instead of $x + 0.99?
@gamehendge2000: You're right, no one should ever go purchase food for their wife, especially if they ask. One demerit!
KFC used to do this when I worked for them. Have one or 2 decent deals, and on the stuff we didn't sell much of were either no discount at all, or 5 or 10 cents off.. No real deal, but we still spiked sales
Corporate Advertising disguised as a coupon?
How shockingly common.
hey, you're also saving in the amount of sales tax you pay ;)
Where do pirates like to eat?
AAAAAAAAARBYS!!
i think i saw a porn once, it was called 2-for-1 roast beef
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