Get in while it lasts. Feel free to skip to the TLDR; section for the actual hack…
Receipt 1: https://ibb.co/8nZb3MJw (Whopper with Natural Cheese - $6.40) (Usually $10.10 or $9.30 without cheese)
Receipt 2: https://ibb.co/jPFnbTqN (Jacks Fried Chicken Whopper - $7.45)
Receipt 3: https://ibb.co/r2Lsqx9P (Spicy JFK Pickleburger - $9.35)
So I'm gonna bite the bullet and post this fully knowing that the first HJ'S SPOOK(Rep) that see's this, at their very first convenience will straight away have this outlawed in every store nationwide, but to be frank, I am over the corporate greed of these major conglomerates, and I am also sharing this to spread awareness of how much these companies are currently ripping us off. I am homeless, I sleep on cardboard, and I am on DSP so I have to live VERY frugally. I also don't have a phone to do the Shake 'n' Win thing. I am also absolutely disgusted that the Whopper has NOT returned to the voucher deals in a long time, and when I found out about this hack I was completely outraged at how much we are being rorted by this corporation. Very Un-Australian Jack Cowan! If you leave this hack here though, maybe you redeem some form of honour IMHO. Only time will tell…
So, I discovered that instead of paying '$8.95 for a Small Cheeseburger Meal', I can actually get the same thing which ALSO includes a small toy and fancy box for $5.95! Its hidden in the kid's section of the self-serve machine under 'Cheeseburger Kid's Meal'. I usually add the 'Angry Onions' for 50c extra, and upgrade it to a Biscoff Shake for another $2 extra, which comes to a grand total of $8.45, which still works out to be 50c cheaper than the adult counterpart? How does that even work…
Anyway, it doesn't stop there! After dealing with many staff/stores, begging them to give me a normal Whoppers instead of the 'Plant Based' fake meat whoppers, and the arguments that ensued just by me trying to survive, I managed to have a debate with one of the workers who tried selling me a full priced meal instead of what I requested, and whilst playing around with the POS, we both came to the understanding that there was a significant price difference between ordering a burger by ingredient VS a standalone, full menu priced burger. Also, the pricing on the self-service machines VS front counter POS can be different at times (30c vs 50c etc), and NOT all customization's are available at the self services machine. I have even noticed that ordering a full-priced meal at the counter (such as a whopper meal) CAN be cheaper than ordering at the self-service machine for some unknown reason.
They told me I shouldn't mention our interaction to anyone. I have kept it this to myself for quite some time, but now, after gaining what feels like a 100 kilos and realizing it's time for a break, its time to blow the lid off this conspiracy. Take this as my protest also, I hope it lasts a long time, but knowing how greedy the world is, I expect this to be 'patched' sooner rather than later. Sometimes you gotta to something drastic to create change, so without further ado, here it is! D:<
TLDR;
THE HACK: Just like McDonald's, you can order every ingredient separately at Hungry Jacks. The difference is, that they usually assemble what you order instead of giving it to you in 10 separate boxes for your own self assembly. Usually works out $3 cheaper than ordering a burger itself from the menu. So the process, as an example (and prices may vary between stores/states):
1) Go to the FRONT counter. Wont work at self-serve. DON'T be a GOOSE and hold up the drive through trying this method…
2) You have to ask for the following: "Can I please have a ___________________
For a Whopper ($5-$6 ea / Usually $9.20+ single item)
- 1x 5inch Bun ($0.75)
- 1x 5inch Beef Patty ($2.20)
- Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles ($0.50c each)
- Ketchup and Mayo ($0.30c each)"
- (If you want a WHOPPER CHEESE +50c for 'Fake Cheese', and +60c for the 'Natural Cheese' - I prefer 'Natural' to trick myself that I am eating more healthier)
Double Whopper ($8.75-$9.50 ea / Usually $12-14 single item)
Same as whopper above, but substitute 1x Beef and 1x Cheese with)
- 2x 5inch Beef Patty
- 2x Cheese
CUSTOM JFC Whopper ($7.45-$8 ea)
1x 5inch Bun OR 1x 'Brioche Bun' ($0.75 to $0.80)
1x Jacks Fried Chicken Fillet ($4.10)
- Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles ($0.50c each)
- Ketchup and Mayo ($0.30c each)"
- Go the Cheese, it pairs nice with the Chicken ($0.50 Fake / $0.60 Natural (PREFERRED))
CUSTOM 'Spicy Pickle-bird' ($9.35 ea)
- 1x 5inch Bun OR 1x 'Brioche Bun' ($0.75 to $0.80)
- 1x Jacks Fried Chicken Fillet ($4.10)
- Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Jalapenos, Gherkins ($0.50c each)
- 'Signature Spicy Sauce' ($0.30c)"
- 2x Natural Cheese ($0.60)
Pretty much the combinations are endless. The last 2 I created myself and to be honest, I'm starting to enjoy the Chicken Whopper over the Beef Whopper.
$5.95 Cheeseburger Kids Meal = $8.95 Small Cheeseburger Meal. Just ask for no toy and box (or give to someone if you prefer?)(a true OzBargainer would probably sell it on eBay or something…)
PRO TIP: The staff may scrunch up their face and say 'so you want to order a 'Whopper' but with "blah blah blah"?. OR, 'So you want a Chicken Royale burger but with blah blah blah?' Just staunchly (but calm and politely as possible) look them in the eye and say "NO, I would like (Go to Step 1 and repeat, so for a whopper you would say "I would like 1x5"Bun, 1x5"Beef Patty, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, etc etc etc). They may also say, 'We cant do that, blah blah blah, OR, I gotta go ask the manager (I have never had a problem with the managers TBH, its usually the staff who give grievance, but keep persevering!). They will even lie and say its not possible sometimes, but IFKYK and they will usually give up arguing. (They act as if they work at the bank and the money is all theirs, with you being the bank robber, its sad…)
PRO TIP 2: Get a copy of the receipt, and if you have dramas in the future or they try acting dumb, just give them the old reciept and say "I would like to order THAT thanks".
I have kept receipts but no phone to upload a picture of the orders, so maybe someone else can upload theirs below?
Enjoy. (Drops Mic)
Honestly mate, its bad out here. I ran into a well mature guy (probably 80's), well dressed and extremely humble. He came up to me the other day and asked for some spare change. I could see the sincerely in his eyes and he wasnt the normal/typical 'clientele' so to speak, that hang in the area begging. I had given away my change but offered to buy him a feed (all I had was a $50 note). I took him to the Indian Restaurant and bought him a feed and he was so appreciative. I asked him about his situation (its really easy for people to open up/relate when you are also 'in the struggle') and he just explained that it's all become too much (the cost of living), how his gas bill rolled in and he doesn't know what to do, how little crumbs he gets from the government, being alone etc etc. It was so heartbreaking but he was so thankful just for the feed because that was less he had to spent that he could put towards his bills. I left him some change and told him to NEVER be ashamed of asking for assistance and wished him well.
On the other hand, you have the people that DON'T want to help themselves, always drunk and violent, leave needles in the streets and public restrooms and playgrounds for everyone to get stabbed. I wake up with the indigenous mob from Alice Springs with their hands in my pockets, pick-pocketing me and when I wake up they saying 'give us money' and 'we from Alice Springs, we Arunta mob!', saying it with like a Spanish tongue roll. Lucky I already know a bit about their traditions and culture so I acknowledge these guys are REAL tribal, usually down here for the wrong reasons or community issues, not of their own fault, but from a failed system and colonization! Even the indigenous mob down here have problems with the mob from Alice, so it must be pretty hectik up there. Haven't had the chance to go there yet but I will soon I hope, but for now, I watch 'Spanians' video on Alice Spings, and witness how the mob are when they travel down here and it seems like a very accurate example without and bias or 'only showing 1 side' etc…
https://ia600605.us.archive.org/31/items/nativetribesofce00s…
Its rough out here, but I'm still alive. There are many good, kind and generous people too, but its few and far between. Its all getting out of control and the government don't do crap all, its like they want us all to kill ourselves and wipe out those deemed 'useless eaters'. I can't seeing it getting better over the next couple years, its only gonna get worse and worse IMHO….