--- title: The Great Burger Bundle Bungle description: How did McDonald's make a mess of their bundling promotion? Learn what they did wrong in this simple pricing example, and how the lessons can apply to all companies that offered bundles image: https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Boy%20and%20burger.jpeg --- [![Holden Advisors](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/hubfs/Holdenadvisors_November2018%20Theme/Images/logo.jpg)](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/) - About - [Overview](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/) - [Core Values](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/core-values/) - [Leadership](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/leadership/) - [Partners](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/partners/) - [Careers](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/careers/) - [Solutions](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Sales](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Overview](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/improve-sales-performance) - [Negotiating With Backbone](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/negotiating-with-backbone/) - [Selling With Backbone](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/selling-with-backbone/) - [Coaching](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/coaching/) - [Pricing](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Overview](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/improve-pricing-performance) - [Audit](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/audit/) - [Analytics](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/analytics/) - [Value-Based Pricing](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/value-based-pricing/) - [Insights](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Blog](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/blog/) - [Video Series](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Pricing with Confidence](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/pricing-with-confidence) - [Publications](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Books](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/insights/publications/books/) - [White Papers](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/papers) - [Newsletter](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/newsletter) - [Case Studies](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/studies) - [Events, Webinars & Podcasts](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/insights/events-webinars-podcasts/) - [Reed’s Bookshelf](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/bookshelf) - [Contact](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/contact-us/) - About - [Overview](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/) - [Core Values](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/core-values/) - [Leadership](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/leadership/) - [Partners](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/partners/) - [Careers](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/careers/) - [Solutions](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Sales](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Overview](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/improve-sales-performance) - [Negotiating With Backbone](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/negotiating-with-backbone/) - [Selling With Backbone](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/selling-with-backbone/) - [Coaching](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/coaching/) - [Pricing](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Overview](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/improve-pricing-performance) - [Audit](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/audit/) - [Analytics](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/analytics/) - [Value-Based Pricing](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/value-based-pricing/) - [Insights](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Blog](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/blog/) - [Video Series](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Pricing with Confidence](https://go.holdenadvisors.com/pricing-with-confidence) - [Publications](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/#) - [Books](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/insights/publications/books/) - [White Papers](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/papers) - [Newsletter](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/newsletter) - [Case Studies](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/studies) - [Events, Webinars & Podcasts](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/insights/events-webinars-podcasts/) - [Reed’s Bookshelf](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/bookshelf) - [Contact](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/contact-us/) # Holden Advisors Blog # The Great Burger Bundle Bungle Posted by [Reed Holden](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/author/reed-holden) on Aug 12, 2020 8:42:00 PM ![Reed Holden](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/hubfs/Reed_Holden-081_CROP-150x150.jpg) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Recently, McDonalds had a special pricing promotion that caused a 10% reduction in demand for fries. Allegedly, the drop in demand was the result of a 99-cent burger promotion. The promotion unintentionally incentivized consumers to switch from buying their usual combo meals that included fries and a drink at a bundled price. These combo meals are a traditional winner for franchises as customers who normally buy just the burger and a drink can opt to add fries at a discount versus purchasing all three items separately. They might even choose to “super-size” it with bigger drinks and fries at higher prices, adding more profit to the purchase. As a dad and now a granddad, I have fallen into that trap more than once! ![Kid and hamburger](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Kid%20and%20hamburger.jpeg?width=300&name=Kid%20and%20hamburger.jpeg) McDonald’s dollar promotion succeeded in driving sales for burgers but short-circuited the purchases of combo deals which had been a solid mainstay of the product offering. While Mickey-D’s executives did not publicly comment, our hypothesis is that both sales and profits took a pretty good hit because soft drinks and fries are huge profit centers for fast food operations. While this is a simple pricing example, the lessons learned can apply to all companies that offer bundled or packaged solutions to their customers. Currently, we are in discussions with quite a few companies who are interested in bundling their offerings to offset declining sales due to the pandemic. Good bundles, when executed properly, can be a source of competitive advantage that will draw in demand from competitors. If you are considering giving bundling a go, consider the following: - Bundling products and services works in almost every buying environment. It simplifies the purchase and causes customers to buy more because of the discount of the bundle versus the individual prices of items. The discount doesn’t need to be large—just 10-15% is often effective - To work, bundled prices should be lower than the combined list prices of the components. If the price of any of the individual items in the bundle is lower, the incentive to buy the bundle is lost. Sellers cannot use a bundle to raise the prices of the components unless prices of the components are raised too! The critical success factor lies in controlling the prices of the components of the bundle - Individual product prices must be reviewed and rationalized within the context of the bundles in which they are included, even during short-term or end-of-month promotions. That is the only way to protect the integrity of the bundle. It is critical that buyers know they are getting the best deal by buying the bundle - Developing Give-GetsSM options within a bundle is one of the most powerful sales tools that salespeople can use to execute more profitable deals History has shown that bundling works in almost every environment. This strategy leads to greater customer satisfaction, higher sales, and higher profits. But, like anything else, bundles need to be executed with precision. If a great marketing company like McDonalds can “bungle their bundle,” it is wise to approach your bundling strategy with advanced planning and caution. Can you supersize it? Topics: [pricing](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing), [bundling](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/bundling) ### **Search the Holden Advisors Blog:** This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Subscribe Below: ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Tag - [Pricing with Confidence (68)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing-with-confidence) - [Negotiating with Backbone (63)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/negotiating-with-backbone) - [Selling with Confidence (43)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/selling-with-confidence) - [Newsletter (41)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/newsletter) - [Uncovering your Value (26)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/uncovering-your-value) - [Celebrating 10 Years of Pricing with Confidence (12)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/celebrating-10-years-of-pricing-with-confidence) - [value selling (9)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/value-selling) - [Selling with Backbone (8)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/selling-with-backbone) - [value (8)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/value) - [pricing (6)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing) - [Commercial Transformation (5)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/commercial-transformation) - [Setting Price (4)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/setting-price) - [customer experience (4)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/customer-experience) - [actionable insights (3)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/actionable-insights) - [procurement (3)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/procurement) - [sales (3)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/sales) - [Pricing Strategy (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing-strategy) - [big data (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/big-data) - [buying center (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/buying-center) - [customer loyalty (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/customer-loyalty) - [pricing metrics (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing-metrics) - [winning proposal (2)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/winning-proposal) - [Driving Accountability (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/driving-accountability) - [Silos (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/silos) - [b2b pricing (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/b2b-pricing) - [bundling (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/bundling) - [gatekeeper (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/gatekeeper) - [jump the shark (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/jump-the-shark) - [on demand (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/on-demand) - [peloton (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/peloton) - [pricing models (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/pricing-models) - [product portfolio (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/product-portfolio) - [rabbit (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/rabbit) - [revenue (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/revenue) - [rolling stone (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/rolling-stone) - [subscription (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/subscription) - [tidying up (1)](https://blog.holdenadvisors.com/tag/tidying-up) See all ### Newsletter and Blog ### About Us Holden Advisors are experts in the pricing and sales performance development space.  We help our clients take control of their differential value and use it to transform their business. ## [Learn More](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/negotiation-value-pricing-consultants/) - Quick Links - [Contact](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/contact-us/) - [About](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/about/overview/) - [Blog](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/blog/) - [Books](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/insights/publications/books/) - [Case Studies](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/studies) - [Negotiating With Backbone](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/sales/negotiating-with-backbone/) - [Value-Based Pricing](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/solutions/pricing/value-based-pricing/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/privacy-policy/) - [Home](https://www.holdenadvisors.com/) Copyright © 2018 Holden Advisors. 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