McDonald’s is a household name in fast food, for better or for worse. Their menus have some of the better known staples in fast food, such as the Happy Meal, Big Mac, and the Quarter Pounder and have even entered our popular lexicon. The cult status of the names given to the meals by McDonald’s, in addition to their enormous popularity over the years, has made this food chain one of the largest in the free world today.
However, the recent economic recession and financial turmoil which is even spreading countries outside of the United States can even make coupons useful for fast food purchases. From groceries to hardware, coupons can now be used to claim discounts and freebies. McDonald’s coupons have been available for a while now, making claiming some savings from your local McDonald’s that much easier, especially in this day and age where prices for other goods are soaring.
The History of McDonald’s and Fast Food
The McDonalds first opened up in 1940, started by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The brothers’ introduction of the Speedee Service System in 1948 helped set the stage for the innovation of modern fast food practices.
While many are familiar with McDonald’s famous clown mascot Ronald McDonald, the original mascot of McDonald’s was actually a man with a hamburger shaped head wearing a chef’s hat named “Speedee.” In 1967, he was replaced with the famous clown mascot who we know now as Ronald McDonald. The iconic double arched M symbol in use today did see widespread use until 1968.
The first McDonald’s branches soon expanded from the United States into neighboring countries such as Canada, and Costa Rica, Panama, and eventually ventured away from the Americas as far as Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, France, El Salvador and Sweden, in order of the date these branches opened.
Today’s McDonald’s menu includes numerous other items besides the staple hamburgers that have been added through the years. Many other countries have also added foods that are indigenous to their regions such as rice meals and soups.
The Big Mac is one of the staple food offerings from McDonald’s. This beefy burger includes two ground beef patties served with the special Big Mac sauce, said to be similar to Thousand Island dressing. Sandwiched between the patties and toasted buns are onions, two pickle slices, shredded iceberg lettuce, and cheese. An additional middle bun called a club layer separates both beef patties, giving the burger an overall larger appearance.
Along with the Big Mac, the Quarter Pounder is one of the two McDonald’s signature menu items. A quarter pound ground beef patty is garnished with ketchup, mustard, onions, two slices of pickles, and two slices of cheese. The Quarter Pounder was invented by Al Bernardin, then Vice President of Product Development for McDonald’s in Fremont, California in 1971. Some countries which do not use the Imperial measurement system know it as a Royal Cheese or the McRoyale.
The prominence of McDonald’s around the world has led it to become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life. It has also become a frequently used topic of controversy regarding obesity, corporate ethics and consumer responsibility. Regardless of what you may think of this company, they undoubtedly give happiness and affordable food to many people around the globe, and are the gold standard on which other fast food chains are based. If you are having qualms about McDonald’s foods, but don’t have a choice because of the recession, then coupons will make your purchasing experience from them less painful!
How To Claim Coupons for McDonald’s
McDonald’s coupons can be presented in order to claim a financial discount or rebate when purchasing products of all kinds, and is usually in the form of a ticket or document. McDonald’s Coupons are usually produced under the supervision of manufacturers or retailers themselves, and can be packaged with various kinds of consumer goods. McDonald’s Coupons can then be used in stores during their sales promotions, even at McDonalds’; a discounted price with McDonald’s coupons is relatively common worldwide.
Through the mail, in popular publications, on online websites or even just handed out to you on the street, price conscious consumers can use McDonald’s coupons to claim big savings. Retailers benefit from these coupons as well, as larger volumes of customers who avail of lower prices can sometimes mean for bigger profits. Regions where price competition is running high can also be a targeted use of coupons by manufacturers. Governments in different countries also issue coupons or stamps to citizens, which can be used to claim certain kinds of services.
From the tried and tested method of including coupons with newspaper and magazine advertisements, consumers now have many more ways to claim McDonald’s coupons than ever before. From the official website of McDonald’s to third party websites, printable versions of McDonald’s coupons can now be found around the internet. Major retailers, specialty shops, and grocery chains also offer digital coupons loaded onto membership cards and can be claimed for use on later dates.
Clipping McDonald’s coupons from publications such as newspapers is a popular method of obtaining coupons, both for McDonald’s coupons and for other product coupons as well. While this can be particularly problematic in that establishments may go through the process to discern whether your coupons are legitimate or not, don’t let it discourage you from using them to claim offers like a buy one get one or product discount opportunity.
