This is an example of 'bundling' goods. It pays to offer some good for 'free' to entice the purchase of others.
Tim James. Probably because of what some Burger King guy called the "veto-vote." Let's say you have a group of four or five people, and one has to use the bathroom. They are in an area with a McD's and a Burger King, but the McDonalds charges $0.25 to use the facilities. Burger King, on the other hand, is free. Which are they more likely to stop at? BK. And the other four people are likely to buy some fries, a soda, whatever. BK actually offers a veggie burger (in some places) because of this. Four or five people out for a quick bite, one is a vegetarian, they all go to Burger King. The restaurant makes its money not on the veggie burger, but on the other sales. The same principle should hold true for pay toilets at places like McDonald's. Dan Lewis
