This was posted 3 years 1 month 12 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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McDonald's Menu Hack: McChicken $3.65, Big Mac $4.35, Quarter Pounder $5.40, Cheeseburger $2.45, Filet O Fish $3.60

3340

I worked much of my youth at McDonald's and knew that you could purchase patties separately. Sometimes you feel like just buying a burger but the high price of a single burger puts you off. I bought 4 4-1 patties with ketchup today as the double beef and bacon and bacon was discontinued. I ate it with a fork and ketchup they put on it, not bad for a pound of meat.

I never did the math but always heavily suspected it's cheaper to pay for the ingredients of a burger than a complete burger.

Yes they call it a 10 to 1 if you say these magic words they will believe you used to work for Macca's and treat you better
10:1 1/10 pound on Cheeseburger, Big Mac etc
4:1 Quarter Pounder Patty
3:1 1/3 pound Angus Beef Patty

Price Breakdown Cheeseburger
10 to 1 Patty $1.2
Ketchup Free
Mustard $0.5(You can live without it but for the sake of like for like comparison I've added it)
Dehydrated onion (Free)
Pickles (Free)
Your mileage will vary it's free to add to a seperate complete burger it's usually free. If they want to charge for it for it you can go without it or pay whatever they ask
You can also buy a complete cheeseburger and go ahead add 10x of onions and pickles to it for free and redistribute it
Buns ($0.75)
Total Price $2.45 RRP($3.95)

Quarter pounder
4 to 1 Patty $2.25
Sesame seed Buns $0.75
Ketchup Free
Slivered onions $0.5(Sub for dehydrated onions for Free if you want)
Pickles Free
Mustard $0.5
Cheese x 2 $0.7x2

Total Price $5.4 RRP($6.7)

McChicken
Chicken patty fried $2
Sesame bun $0.75
Lettuce $0.5
Mayo $0.5
Lettuce Free
Total Price $3.65 RRP($6.5)

Big Mac
2x10 to 1 Patties $2.4
Cheese $0.7
Sesame bun $0.75
Dehydrated onion Free
Pickles Free
Big Mac Sauce $0.5
Lettuce Free
Total Price $4.35 RRP($6.75)

Filet of fish:
Filet o Fish Patty $1.60
Burger Bun $1
Tartare Sauce $0.5
Cheese $0.7(Includes half slice so you get more)
$3.6(RRP $5.8)

With these prices you can construct pretty much any burger in the restaurant for 30%-50% cheaper with some exceptions being Hamburger 🍔, Chicken 🐔 and Cheese 🧀 and low priced burgers.

If this deal does well I might publish the price hacks for Grilled Chicken and Angus burgers. I have included the link to the nutrition menu so you know what ingredients to ask for. Angus Patty is called 3 to 1(Around $3) and Grilled Chicken Breast(Around $3).

This is a long running hack deal until Macca's decides to patch it.

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closed Comments

  • +1

    +1 just for the sheer amount of effort

  • Great, just what you all need. More for less.

  • +1

    Could you remove the name of the staff member please? Thankyou

    • +1

      Done. Don't want to get them in trouble for destroying Mcdonald's business model unwittingly

    • -1

      Too late, it's in the revisions.

      • Thanks didn’t realise you could look at revisions

  • How do you add these from the mobile app?

    • +1

      You can't this hack requires going to a register or drive through :)
      I'm keeping the register people in a job

  • Wow. Nice maths.

  • +2

    Yeah good idea on paper but not going to even try this hack at an actual Macca's.
    I saw that ordering most burgers in a double or triple was cheaper to then remove the 2nd or 3rd patty than it was to order the single burger.
    Would hate to be the one assembling burger orders that read:
    Double Quarter Pounder
    MINUS 1 4-1 patty.

    Like WTF.

  • +1

    One good thing though… if you want an Egg McMuffin just the muffin by itself (with no Bacon), order an:
    English Muffin (from staff member), with Egg (and Cheese if you want). This is cheaper than say a Bacon + Egg with no Bacon. However, you can't order it in a meal

    • What is the price of English Muffin and the Egg? I'll add it to the list

      • +1

        English Muffin is store level price (so changes), but a slice of Cheese is $0.60 at my store, and an Egg is $1

        While we are on the topic, a Mighty McMuffin is only $0.30 or so more expensive then a Double Bacon + Egg, but includes a sausage patty.

        • Looks like cheese price is localised too, what is Muffin price at your store?

    • +3

      I'm confused why above you're insulting this process as too confusing and no major benefit but then you're offering additional suggestions; is your option less confusing with more cost benefit? Please decide which side of the drive-thru you sit on.

      • Less confusing for the customer and the staff - less chance for error. There are register buttons to do the Muffin + Egg hack, but nothing to add ketchup and onions on a hamburger bun

        • Oh I'm sorry I was unaware, theres not a button for it!? You mean you'd need to enter a manually typed grill order with a keyboard like a neanderthal? I'll try to stick orders with buttons to not upset the balance.

  • What does “10 to 1 Patty” mean for the Cheeseburger?

    • +1

      It means it is 1/10th of a pound. Burgermaniac can explain more

      • Actually got it.

        Thanks!

      • I think you explained it very well. 4:1 means 1/4 of a pound etc

  • +1

    Anything for fileto fish?

    • +3

      The base price of Filet of fish is lower but:
      Filet o Fish Patty $1.60
      Burger Bun $1
      Tartare Sauce $0.5
      Cheese $0.7(Includes half slice so you get a whole slice not 1/2)
      Total Price $3.6

      • Thx!
        Never thougjt abiut getting fish and sauce + some chips.

        Easy fish and chips 😁

  • +2

    Poor 12 yr old kid behind the counter who struggles to put through a simple meal is going to be able to do this ?

    • +11

      They have to be 14 and 9 months to work here in Australia.

  • +2

    Geez this is funny….

    Reminds me of a time when I was working in telco retail and the customer wanted an iPad and a pen bundle. And I said, if you get the iPad on a plan separately, pen on a plan as a pay-as-you-go accessory separately, it turns out $120 CHEAPER over 24 months but you're still paying both over 24 months….

    He said "NO I WANT THE BUNDLE" and im like: "sir, its still the same bundle, but im just separating the items on the plan so its cheaper for you"…. he's like "NO" and im like to myself: "well… enjoy giving the telco $120 more of your money for an overpriced brand"

    • +1

      He might have been claiming it back through his work. Easier to claim or he can hide the pen in the total price…

      • I dont really know anything about business claims through work, but wouldn't it be the same even if work paid for it?

        • +2

          No - some workplaces (mine included), will classify it as an 'iPad package'. If you separate the items, they'll only pay for the iPad, I'd have to pay for the pen myself.

  • -2

    We need an unofficial McDonald's Hack Discord, any chance you could start one?

  • -1

    How do you get 10x onions and pickles for free? Ordering on the app it doesnt let you add more than 5x pickles and they charge for extra onion

    • Dehydrated onion and pickles is free on Cheeseburgers
      The only limit is how many times the Mcdonald's workers presses extra

      • Ok so that's what I was asking. You have to order at the counter or drive thru rather than using the app or kiosks. That rules me out of contention right there

  • +1

    This goes against my rules of never asking for no pickles, and never ask for a custom order. I just wont give them an excuse/reason to get back at me for being 'difficult'

    • +12

      Do you like pickles? Maybe its time to develop a backbone and start asking for what you want

      • -5

        OK. I want you to use correct punctuation.

        • I guess, time not right, now.

    • +1

      The actually hack is ALWAYS ask for no pickles to guarantee a freshly made burger

      • They can't just take an old burger, pull out the pickle and give back to you?

        • Nope

        • I think its an allergy thing. if they take it out the residue may cause issues. I'm sure that doesn't stop most stores from just doing it anyway.

      • I think it's actually asking for no seasoning/ salt and pepper

  • +4

    I haven't worked at or eaten maccas in nearly 25 years, but am loving that the lingo (and this hack) hasn't changed in all that time!

  • +6

    you forgot the most important ingredient… shamelessness hahaha GJ OP

  • +6

    Just an FYI,.

    A cheese burger McHappy meal is cheaper then a small cheese burger meal.
    Same items. And you get free toy.

    • +1

      Yes, the meal is capped at $6.20. This is a good deal if you don't mind being seen with a kids box and toy.

    • +1

      I get a small cheeseburger meal whenever I go to maccas and never thought of this. Cheers.

    • +1

      McHacky meal

  • +5

    I’ve “hacked” my app so I can order the individual ingredients I want, no need to go to the register. A few of us Aussie Carnivores have figured out how to order the qtr pounder patties, Aussie Jack cheese and eggs without ordering a burger.

    2 qtr pounder patty
    2 Aussie Jack cheese
    2 egg
    = 11.55

    Keeps you full for a day

    • How did you hack it?

      • +15

        Oops, that example order was 3xpatty,3xcheese,3xegg

        How to hack the app

        1st Order something like a coffee in the app. Finalise the order and make payment, but stop before you check-in (the part where you say you’re at Maccas and they give you an order number). Your order will have a code and you won’t yet have been charged.

        Then go to the counter, give them the code for your pending order and ask to amend it by adding the individual items you want. It’s essential that they edit the order, not create a new one. You’ll also need to pay the server for the order, the app won’t charge you for the amended order.

        If the server gives you a blank look when ordering the single items, tell them to find it in the “condiments” menu.

        Once your order is complete, in the app go to the “recent orders” and you can find your modified order. Go into that order and favourite the items you want.

        Then you can access them from the “favourites”

        Enjoy!

        • Ah seems fairly manual but easy for repeat orders

        • +1

          Thanks for that write-up.

          :ThumbsUp:

        • Very clever, nice one.

        • This didn't work for me. Lady said she couldn't amend my 4 digit order code.
          Instead she put through my patty order separately

    • 2x 4:1 beef patty at $2.25ea
      2x cheese at 70c ea
      2x egg at $1ea

      That's~$6.
      Wheres the $11.55 coming from???

      • I got it wrong. Should have been 3 of each

  • OP. Do you buy McNuggets still or just use a McChicken pattie?

    • I've done both but Mcchicken patties are defs better value

  • At my McDonalds some of the staff have enough trouble finding the Double beef n bacon meal for $4.95 without getting the manager to help them program it into the register.

    • The double beef and bacon and bacon was discontinued.

      • Yes this is why I started doing this :(

  • +1

    I rarely order Maccas but interesting fact I found out during the $1 Big Mac deal.

    One store near me sells Big Macs for $7.35 while a store 3 km away sells them for $6.70. Another store 5km away sells them for $7.00…..

    I couldn’t tell you if the in store prices match the app but I did find out that there are some people paying a lot more just because they choose to buy from different store using the app.

    • +1

      Not just the app. That’s standard pricing across the country. Their prices changes store to store overall.

    • Prices are determined by the franchisee. I think they can only change the value by around 50c though.

      The old bastard who owns my old store has the most expensive prices in the state. A 5 minute drive can save you a dollar or two sometimes.

  • +3

    Not the hero we deserve, but the hero we need.

  • You lot are tripping if you genuinely think that maccas doesn’t read these posts.

    • +1

      We know they do, ball is in their court
      I wonder if I get a bug bounty :P

      • +1

        You get a fly in your burger

        • Free extra meat!

  • If someone asked me what OzBargain was, I'd just send them a link to this deal.

    • Username checks out lol

    • I feel this would just confuse them more

  • +1

    For the meat, it’s actually “:”, not “-“
    10:1 = 10 patties to 1lb
    4:1 = 4 patties to 1lb
    3:1 = 3 patties to 1lb

    • Thanks, I've fixed the post

  • How much for the 3:1 Beef Patty.
    Do I need to mention Angus?

    • Wondering about this as well, maybe to expensive to mention unless you get staff discount on top of it.

    • +1

      $3 no just say 3 to 1 Patty

  • This is next level

  • +2

    Order a cone for 70c and ask for no cone, they'll put it in a sundae cup. Try your luck and ask for a squirt of chocolate. Saved you $3 😉

    • Ordered a cone once and "ice cream machine is broken"
      Thinking quickly, I said "I only wanted the cone, not the ice cream"
      Lady was very confused but gave me a cone and didn't even charge me for it

      • +1

        There is at least one video on why McDonald’s ice cream machines are always broken. It is not just here but US as well and probably world wide. Interesting…. Look it up

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDEtSlqJC4

  • Not the hero ozbargain deserves but the hero we need right now.

  • +2

    This is like being stuck behind George Costanza at the counter.

    • +1

      No soup for you

    • Complete with eye rolls, little hmph noises, throwing both palms out, yelling down the line at how outrageous it all is.

  • +1

    This should be a test for all those wanting to become an ozbargainer. If you can be so tight as to go through the whole ingredients one by one in front of the staff and customers in order to save $2 you’re in.

    • Ozbargain initiation!

    • McDonald's in, McDonald's out.

  • +1

    McDonald's is poison.

  • +7

    I'm all for saving a buck but this is a real a$$hat thing to do, think of the poor staff who are already underpaid and overworked - also, all that packaging and then reassembly, who has time for all this, what is wrong with you people!?!

    • +5

      I kind of agree, I can already picture the poor Nan who can't quite use the self serve machine waiting for 10 minutes behind a guy trying to order this thinking he's gamed the system for knowing what a 10:1 patty is.

      I'm all for saving a buck, but this is a little embarrassing at this point.

      • +2

        It is an absolute joke. If it could be done ordering via the app or kiosks I would be all for it. But going through all these shenanigans at the register or drive through speaker to save a couple of bucks is well and truly beyond me, or should I say, beneath me.

    • +1

      Yeah this is next level. I admire the creativity of it but not something I could be bothered doing myself.

      Also my local maccas stuffs up normal orders quite regularly, I can't imagine they would get this right.

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