Is the McDonald’s Meal Deal Plus good value or just very good marketing?

🍔 If there’s a “bonus side” involved, you already know me and Drew are interested.

We spotted this at a McDonald’s drive-thru and at first glance it looked like a really good deal.

The Meal Deal Plus costs £5.59. You get a cheeseburger, fries and a drink. That already feels like decent value. But then comes the line that really grabs your attention, you also get a bonus side. That one extra detail completely changes how the deal feels.

Why the deal feels so tempting

Once the bonus side is mentioned, the way customers think changes. Instead of asking whether the deal is worth it, attention shifts to choosing which bonus side to go for.

Even though the price stays the same, the deal feels upgraded. The word “bonus” suggests extra value and generosity, rather than something you are paying for.

What most people don’t stop to think about

The bonus sides all come from the Saver Menu. These are some of the cheapest items for McDonald’s to provide.

For customers, it still feels like a proper extra. For McDonald’s, the cost of adding it is very low. This is where the line between good value and good marketing starts to blur.

Is it value or is it psychology?

This does not mean the deal is bad. For many customers, it probably is good value. But it is worth questioning why it feels so hard to say no.

Is it because the items are genuinely cheaper together, or because the bundle and wording make the deal feel like the obvious choice?

Deals like this show how businesses don’t just compete on price, but on how offers feel to customers.

Final thought

The clever part of this deal isn’t just what you get, but how the decision is shaped before you even realise it.

Which makes you wonder how often Business thinking hides in plain sight.

P.S. My bonus side would be 4 Chicken McNuggets. Some decisions are still very easy.

Questions to think about as a Business student

1. Do you think the Meal Deal Plus offers genuine value for money, or is it mainly effective because of how the deal is presented? Explain your answer.

2. How does the idea of a “bonus side” change the way customers make their decision, even though the price stays the same?

Extension: imagine you work in McDonald’s marketing team and want to increase sales without significantly increasing costs. Create one new promotion and explain why customers would find it appealing and how costs could be kept low.