Is this promotion no longer bringing in the crowds?

Lines outside McDonald's (left) and Tim Hortons (right), Royal Centre, Vancouver, BC

I've been keeping an eye on Tim Horton's "Roll Up The Rim To Win" for a few years. McDonald's seems to be doing everything possible to undermine its biggest competitor in the coffee business.

The last few times I've looked at this mall, where the two firms are right across from one another, the line up has been bigger at McDonalds. (Yes, I know that this is a tremendously unscientific survey and fraught with many types of error.)

Sign in the window of McDonald's, Royal Centre, Vancouver, BC

McDonald's is also using free coffee as a way to capture more market share. This will be the the second time this year that McDonald's has offered its customers free coffee for a week.

It will be interesting to see the next financial results from Tim Hortons to see if McDonald's disruptive efforts are actually have a negative effect on Tim Hortons' sales.