Burger King offers free Whopper deal in response to Wendy’s 'surge pricing' backlash

Burger King: Members of Burger King’s loyalty service, ‘Royal Perks’, can get a side of cryptocurrency with their order of $5 or more. Online or in store, using a personalized code requested at the register, users will be rewarded with cryptocurrency.

At least one competitor is looking to capitalize on the backlash fast food chain Wendy’s received after it announced it was planning to test out a “dynamic pricing model.”

Burger King said in a news release Wednesday it is offering customers a free Whopper or Impossible Whopper with a purchase of $3 or more now through Friday, March 1 when customers order via the BK app.

“Surge pricing? Well, that’s new. Good thing the only thing surging at BK is our flame!” Burger King’s statement reads.

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The promotion comes on the heels of Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner saying on an earnings call earlier this month the company had plans to roll out a “dynamic pricing model” as early as 2025. A dynamic pricing model means prices would fluctuate based on time, location and demand.

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Wendy’s pushes back on notion of ‘surge pricing’

Wendy’s, however, has pushed back on the notion it is implementing “surge pricing,” a strategy most associated with ride-sharing companies like Uber and ticket sellers.

Wendy’s said in a statement that its new digital menus “would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most,” but would allow restaurants to “change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts and value offers to our customers more easily, particularly in the slower times of day.”

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was among those criticizing the move on social media Wednesday.

“It’s price gouging plain and simple, and American families have had enough,” Warren’s post says.

Other social media users lambasted the burger chain.

“@Wendys this is gonna kill the restaurant. This might be the wildest and dumbest idea. For FAST FOOD. #surge @wendys,” said @Leezo85 on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Wendy’s has no idea how easy it is to not go to Wendy’s.” said user @imranzomg on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Burger King offers free Whopper deal in response to Wendy’s ‘surge pricing’ backlash