Wendy’s has teamed up with McBroken.com, a website that tracks broken McDonald’s ice cream machines across the country, to promote its $1 Frosty deal for a limited time. This partnership highlights a common frustration among customers: arriving at McDonald’s craving a McFlurry, only to find the ice cream machine out of order.
McBroken.com provides a map showing which McDonald’s locations have operational or broken ice cream machines. In a playful jab at its competitor, Wendy’s aims to inform disappointed customers that they can enjoy a Frosty instead. From now until September 30, the Frosty will be available for just $1 at Wendy’s locations nationwide.
“For nearly 55 years, Wendy’s iconic Frosty has been the go-to sweet treat fix when fans’ cravings strike, especially when the other guys’ machines are offline,” Wendy’s stated in its announcement. The Frosty is available in both Classic Chocolate and Vanilla flavors for a limited time.
Wendy’s noted that McDonald’s ice cream machines have an average downtime of two to three hours. Data from McBroken.com reveals that these machines are often unavailable between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., making lunchtime a prime time for customers seeking dessert.
The cities most affected by McDonald’s ice cream machine breakdowns include Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles. As of Thursday afternoon, nearly 15% of McDonald’s ice cream machines were reported as broken, with New York accounting for 32% of those failures.
While Wendy’s did not mention McDonald’s by name, it referred to them as “the other guys” throughout its announcement.
The rivalry between McDonald’s and Wendy’s has been ongoing for years, encompassing everything from burger competition to social media exchanges.
Despite Wendy’s clever marketing tactics, McDonald’s remains the top quick-service restaurant chain in the U.S., while Wendy’s ranks fifth, according to QSR Magazine. To maintain its market position, McDonald’s has introduced value meals amid rising inflation.
Wendy’s has also participated in the value meal trend by offering various deals. From August 5 to September 15, it sold Frostys for $1 and shared insights on how customers enjoy them—whether with fries or a spoon. Other recent promotions include a $5 Biggie Bag and discounted breakfast combos.
Related topics:
- Roller Skating Event at McDonald’s in Belvedere This Weekend
- KFC Offers Free Buckets to Celebrate Its Iconic Packaging
- Jimmy John’s Almost Became A Hot Dog Restaurant