If you Google “McDonald’s senior discounts” or “best senior discount list,” you’ll find dozens of lists claiming the latest senior discounts for the over-50 crowd.
Here’s a little secret, and something most publishers out there don’t want you to know: Most senior discount lists online are outdated and unverified. How do I know this, you might ask? Over a decade ago, I created one of the first comprehensive senior discount lists online, and it went viral!
90% of Senior Discount Lists Are Outdated and Inaccurate
I’m embarrassed to tell you that 90% of the senior discount lists online are inaccurate, but there’s an understandable reason for that—verifying senior discounts can be tedious work! I checked most of the published (online) senior discount lists before writing this piece and came away wondering, “Who’s verifying this stuff?”
Interestingly, many restaurants and retailers have switched from offering senior discount programs for REWARDS PROGRAMS. For example, Raising Cain’s rewards program is called the “Caniac Club”. KFC’s rewards program is called “KFC Rewards”.
By asking consumers to opt in to a rewards program, companies can gather more customer data for engagement purposes down the road. It’s brilliant, and on the surface, it seems like a win-win.
So what’s the big deal if most senior discount lists are outdated? Well, if you went to your local McDonald’s or Burger King expecting to receive a senior discount, you might be disappointed to learn at the point of purchase that they no longer had the discount you were expecting.
Senior Discounts and Promotions Drive Purchase Intent
The truth is, discounts and promotions drive purchase intent. Here’s some interesting data I was able to find on this phenomenon:
- A 2023 report by McKinsey & Company highlighted that discounts and promotions are among the top factors influencing purchase decisions, particularly in retail and e-commerce.
- According to a 2023 survey by RetailMeNot, 80% of consumers said they are more likely to make a purchase if a discount or promotion is offered.
- Regarding loyalty programs and personalization, a 2023 study by Salesforce found that personalized promotions (e.g., discounts tailored to individual shopping habits) increase purchase intent by 40%.
Behavioral economics experts continue to support the notion that discounts and promotions accelerate decision-making and increase consumer purchase intent.
In the travel and hospitality sector, a 2023 report by Expedia revealed that a whopping 70% of travelers would book a trip sooner if a promotion were available. That’s incredible!
The Truth About McDonald’s Senior Discounts
I recently had the opportunity to as a McDonald’s franchise owner about their senior discount policy today. Here’s what I asked and how he responded:
Me: “Please tell me about senior discounts at McDonald’s. They used to offer a “senior coffee” but now I think some franchises do and some don’t. What’s the latest and how are those decisions made (and passed down)?”
McFranchisee: “IMO – senior drinks is something that probably started in the 80’s and most have just carried it on. There’s no program or guidance on it. In fact, I’ve never heard it talked about in a meeting – ever. You can activate the keys if you want to. Some people abuse it so franchisees have removed them.”
So, the bottom line for McDonald’s senior discounts is that it depends on the franchise. My local McDonald’s offers a one-dollar “senior coffee.” Some may not offer a senior discount at all anymore, but you can always ask!
Senior Discounts: Tips to Remember
So here are a few senior discount tips you can take to the bank:
- First, take all the discount lists with a grain of salt. These lists are published at a given point in time, and rarely updated, because it becomes a lot of work for publishers to do so.
- Second, just because most of these senior discount lists are inaccurate and outdated doesn’t mean that a particular restaurant or retailer won’t give you a senior discount. Many of them can and do, regardless of a published policy or not.
- Finally, I always advise people that asking about senior discounts and promotions never hurts. What’s the worst they can say? No, I’m sorry, but we no longer offer senior discounts! (Just ask.)
Chris is a seasoned healthcare executive with decades of experience and the co-founder of AgingToday.com. Chris is an expert in digital transformation, health technology and artificial intelligence. He's currently focusing on how these innovations can be leveraged to improve the lives of aging adults.
