Maybe I have. I suspect you're the one who is lacking information. Again, tell me how the melting point of steel is relevant? Oh, and tell me why the quantity of jet fuel is not relevant as well.

So we were talking about the melting point of steel (or rather, subSTRATA was). But I'm not sure why. So please tell me why we were discussing the melting point of steel. Is it somehow relevant to making a case about a WTC conspiracy?

I don't know. Ask all the CEOs of all the fast food operations which have lower sales per store, mostly unappealing food, and crappy service. Ask them why they don't see the obvious things that In-n-Out does, because it is obvious.

McDonalds has more stores per region, but less employees per store, and food that isn't as good. Most importantly, they have less sales per store. But note that they pay extra for land leases and equipment per sale. In-n-Out pays less for land leases and equipment per sale.

Why are we talking about melting? Did I mention melting? Really, don't blindside yourself because you want to believe in government conspiracies. And yes, the quantity of jet fuel does matter.

Do you know how many other high rise buildings have been hit by jet airliners loaded with 100,000 to 200,000 pounds of jet fuel with ten to twenty floors above the impact point which are still standing?

I've been ignored by you? Does that mean that I hit the nail on the head with regard to my guesses? Anyway, I don't really mind if you ignore me.

Let me guess. You also subscribe to the following theories:

- We sheep don't know the truth about Aurora
- Man didn't land on the Moon
- Aliens are at Area 51
- Controlled demolition dropped the World Trade Center towers

In-n-Out is a demonstration that a business which pays higher employee wages can still offer high quality products made with expensive materials at lower prices. We've established that, at least for fast food.

I argue that McDonalds (and Walmart and others) do not suffer from minimum wage floors. They're clearly successful - mightily so. But it's clear that most fast food restaurants could take some lessons from In-n-Out.

They are: Adopt policies which work. Have very specific policies for how things are done. Train your employees and pay them well. Specialize and build an efficient business model.

Some things which are very specific about In-n-Out which you do not always notice at other fast food restaurants:

1. Managers never interrupt a cashier when he or she is taking an order. Cashiers, once they say "may I help you?" maintain their focus on the customer until the order is finished. I notice very sloppy and inconsistent application of this at other fast food restaurants.

2. At most fast food restaurants, I notice the floor gets rather wet when it is mopped, and then when customers walk through it, they leave footprints (from the dust and dirt on their shoes) which nulls the mopping. In-n-Out has a special procedure for mopping the floor, where only a damp mop is used, and a second employee moves with them, absorbing any dampness with a floor duster.

3. At many fast food restaurants, I notice that an employee might clean tables with a spray bottle containing cleaning chemicals, and I have experienced the mist from these bottles settle around me (and my food). In-n-Out never does this.

4. In-n-Out's food is very consistent. At other fast food establishments (not all), I have noticed sloppy construction of the food, (condiments missing or poorly spread, partially or poorly baked buns, etc.). In-n-Out trains the employees on such things, apparently, because of the extreme consistency and quality.

5. At many fast food restaurants, I have often experienced no policies regarding complaints about food - often I am met with blank stares or incomprehension. In-n-Out will always make sure the customer is treated well.

6. Most fast food restaurants offer new menu items every few months. This does not increase their menu selection, as it simultaneously causes an item to be deleted from the menu. What does this mean? Apparently marketing is a higher priority than great recipes. If they can't win the customer with food, than win them over by telling them they're still trying to figure out what the customer wants.

McDonalds is successful, and it does pay minimum wage (or higher). Yet their product is far below the quality of a much more successful operation which pays its employees more, and offers a better product (food quality and service combined), and yet on balance, seems to charge less for its products. And McDonalds' sales per store are much less than that other successful operation.  

McDoubles are $1.29 where I live. Quarter Pounders with cheese are typically $3.99. But neither really compare with any In-N-Out offering - not even the Quarter Pounder. Therefore, In-n-Out offers tastier, fresher burgers for less than McDonalds.

He also overlooks the fact that most normal people do not want to live in a society where a gun need be carried around. Who actually wants to have a pistol on them all the time?

You're bragging that nobody got shot at your Thanksgiving holiday? That's something to get excited about?

I've had an Angus Deluxe two or three times and I can let you know what my opinion is. It was okay, and simply does not compare to In-n-Out. I go to McDonalds when, say I'm at A, and I need to go to B, and McDonalds is the only place in between, and I'm hungry, and there's little time for a detour. I know for a fact (from experience) that In-n-Out generally comes out to less money, and tastes much better. Sometimes, if I'm trying to avoid spending hardly any money at a all, I'll get a McDouble for $1.29, but really, that's nothing more than a snack. Rassah, perhaps a donation fund could be put together for you to travel to an In-n-Out friendly state. So sad, otherwise.

Once again, as others have pointed out, McDonalds does not compare to In-n-Out.

Topazan,

Actually, In-n-Out brags about the fact that their restaurants have no microwaves, heat lamps or freezers. But they do have a heavy duty manually operated machine for pushing fresh whole potatoes through a grille to cut them into fry slices. Honestly, it seems your point is about kitchen costs. I did point out that at lunch hour there's approximately ten kitchen personnel in the kitchen (at above minimum wage).

Please render your opinion again once you've visited an In-n-Out.

I'm curious, myrkul. What exactly do you know?

But the real problem is dimwitted management and policy. In-n-Out burgers actually cost less than your typical McDonalds 'better' burgers. Such businesses should actually go out of business rather than fund their bad business making decisions with hiring below minimum wage employees.

In-n-Out proves that $10+ an hour wages does not result in higher menu prices, despite using fresher ingredients.

I was in an In-n-Out today. I saw no empty tables. I saw four workers at four registers, one worker calling out numbers, one worker cleaning tables, nine people working in the kitchen, and I suspect there might have been at least one worker in some back room. I saw about ten customers at the beverage bar, and about ten more standing and waiting for their orders to go.

In-n-Out demonstrates how a business can and should work. They train their employees properly. The other guys seem like a ghost town in comparison - their bad policies and bad food are what require them to pay less wages.

Ummn, no. Read my post above this. There is no premium. Their burgers actually cost less.

What are you talking about? Seriously. You can't buy a burger/sandwich at McDonald's, Carls Jr., Jack in the Box, or any other fast food establishment for less than about $3.50 that is as filling as any burger at In-n-Out, let alone their Double Double. I noticed that you tried comparing it to McDonalds' little toy cheeseburgers, which is silly. And we haven't even begun to discuss the freshness or dripping good taste of In-n-Out burgers.

Let's be clear: Most fast food establishments sell their better burgers for $3.50 and more. That's more than In-n-Out's most expensive burger on the menu. There isn't a single burger, no matter how large or expensive at McDonald's that compares with an In-n-Out burger. McDonalds' Quarter Pounder, which is comparatively dull and not that filling, and has no lettuce or tomatoes, probably costs about $3.69 and does not compare to any burger at In-n-Out.

They do have a distribution center in Texas for In-n-Outs in Texas. Their business model works. And they are expanding. And believe me, it works like crazy.

Best and freshest fast food burgers around. Best service around. $11 an hour starting wage. Fast food business model. Cheeseburger, soda and fries for $5.

Food quality: http://www.in-n-out.com/menu/food-quality.aspx

The wages paid to In n Out Burger employees, the fresh materials used in their products, and the fact that their products cost less than McDonalds.