What's happening is that the franchised stores are not being reimbursed for the coupons. I was told that Oprah is backing corporate for the costs of the free chicken; franchise stores, if they participate at all, are simply giving away food and losing the money.
This is the third KFC I've checked in the city, and the third with signs stating their lack of participation. It was apparently poorly planned on corporate's part. This particular manager didn't even know of the promotion beforehand, but she's working to find a compromise, such as a day where the specific store will accept the coupon.
Maybe KFC should have called Quiznos for advice before planning a massive giveaway without reimbursing franchise owners.
UPDATE: An admin on the Oprah.com messageboards (yes, there are Oprah.com messageboards) posted a contact address for coupon issues.
Please email KFC.PublicRelations@KFC.com with any problems concerning your KFC coupon.
Thank you,
-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer
Check out these signs from DB in Dallas and Casey in South Carolina. I give creative spelling bonus points.
PREVIOUSLY:
Going to KFC For Free Chicken? You've Got A Long Wait
Some KFCs Are Already Out Of Free Chicken
(Photo: Morton Fox)
]]>It sounds like these people work for the federal government.
]]>no, they could have created a technical solution to that problem. or simply had people fill out a form online or something so the coupons would be mailed in the first place. i'm sure there are many ways to confirm identity or limit printouts in other ways. they are paid to think of these things after all:P the worst solution was a download. especially since it was promoting dangerous behavior for less savy computer users. no company should encourage casually installing programs on peoples computers over something so trivial.
]]>You get varying degrees of consensus on issues like this, and often, decisions about style depend on how strong that consensus is. Until recently, the NYT style guide did recommend using apostrophes for plural initialisms, and yes, there was much wailing, gnashing of teeth, and emotional justifications both in support and defense of the style. (The support side goes that it eliminates ambiguity in some cases, and the apostrophe indicates elision.) But the fact is, it's just a stupid typographical convention, and the point of having prescriptive style in the first place is to enforce some consistency and clarity. It's not formal logic, and there is no ultimate authority on what's correct and what's not.
]]>@unobservant: I had to ask 3 people in my office what the hell that meant! "you-NUR-ing?"
]]>I live in Indianapolis, which was a test market for this grilled chicken. I have had it a few times (I have been in the habit of getting 1 piece grilled, 1 piece fried for variety.) I like KFC's chicken ok, but then again, I don't think that greasy necessarily equals nasty. Anyway, to me, the chicken tastes like they fried it with the seasoning directly on the skin, but without batter, and then they pulled it out of the fryer and put it on the grill for a couple of seconds. I know that sounds bad, but it's not terrible. It's not as greasy as the normal fried chicken, but it still seems greasy to me.
]]>Hm... I'm as big a grammar nazi as any, but um. These are misspellings on the parts of people in fast food. Spelling and fast food have extremely little in common.
Also, education could be the highest priority for our precious little snowflakes here, but it wouldn't have much impact on the fact that the people writing things like 'unuring' are probably immigrants.
But don't get me wrong. I wish people would spell things correctly too. I'm just sayin.
]]>Aw I don't think you look nasty!
]]>KFC probably paid her to promote the deal.
( 300 million people * $3 per meal = $900 million )
]]>I am not honoring the word unuring, but I may unthink this decision later.
]]>Unfortunately, spelling rules are an entirely different story.
I thought the chicken in the picture looked okay, but the mashed potatoes and gravy made me gag. I can actually feel the grainy/slimy texture in my mouth just looking at it. Ugh. Bad flashback to public school lunches.
]]>Despite what your fourth grade Language Arts teacher said or implied, there are no such thing as appointed arbiters of language who determine what's right and what's wrong, especially with something as insignificant as typographical conventions.
]]>It's actually pretty tasty! The meat inside is nice and juicy. It's just the char on the outside that makes it look greasy.
]]>I don't watch television, let alone know anything about Oprah(I just learned that she was involved from this article) but while I was at work my mother forwarded me a link to some coupon. I installed some crapware to print the coupon (it'll be purged when the computer is restarted) and I got 3 copies from one print command...
After work around 7:00pm I drove on over to the KFC and got into the drive through, there was only a couple cars in front of me. When I placed my order I was told that they were out of the baked chicken and they'd have more in about 20 min. At this point I was trapped, no way out cars in front and back, no room to maneuver. I was planning on grabbing something more than the 2 piece meal anyways since I'm a big guy and I knew that wouldn't fill me up. So, I just ordered something else, I was in line anyways.
I placed my order, put on my iPod, and started waiting. About 2 minutes later I move up one slot and now I could see the drive through window, 3 cars in front of me. There I sat. I could have driven away, but I didn't. The people in front of me and behind me both drive away. In total I waited 17 minutes. (17min elapsed on the podcast I was listening to)
When I finally got to the drive through window the manager was waiting and I told him about the drive aways and he confirmed my order. He apologized for the wait. Then I said "So, you said it would be a 20 min wait until the baked chicken was ready, I've been in line for 17 minutes, may I have some free chicken?" and I gestured my coupon at him. He chuckled and said "Sure Thing". I handed over my coupon and got my chicken. I only used one cupon, saving the others for later or to share.
The chicken itself was ok, the skin of the thigh piece was kinda slimy but the other 2 pieces were pretty good. (Yes, he gave me an extra piece without prompting, and an extra biscuit.)
So, while I won't eat at KFC any more frequently since the food wasn't very good they did manage not to disappoint me in the end.
]]>Had to get mac n cheese and mashed potatoes, but the chicken was pretty good. I enjoyed it and might try it again in the future (vs. probably would not have tried it at all if it wasn't free).
]]>@spanky:
I don't believe you. You have a reference for that indication of the apostrophe?
]]>I went to my local KFC to redeem my coupons and they had signs on the door about the raincheck, and I had to fill out a form and supposedly they are sending the coupon out in a week, plus a free pepsi.
Kinda sad because I had planned to go on my day off and enjoy my dinner but oh well. I just hope the coupon doesn't have a one day restriction, I work weird hours and can't always get to my KFC on certain days.
]]>Truthfully, I didn't want more at all. I only hoped it was better than it turned out to be.
Re: Choice of sides -- the local KFC/Taco Bell outlet rang it up under "Oprah" (as others have pointed out). There's an automatic listing of what comes with an "Oprah" so there was no choosing anything else.
]]>I notice a sign on the door, saying they can no longer honor the free chicken coupons. Unsurprised, I step inside and try to order a two-piece combo. The woman informs me that they're out of "chicken on bone," at which point I leave.
See what I mean? This is why these things are fail.
]]>The only real authority when it comes to language is whoever happens to be paying or grading you.
]]>@kjherron: I hate misused apostrophe's!
]]>The moment Oprah announced this I said to myself "Oh no!" Reminded me of Denny's free breakfast.
Any franchise operation has to be very careful with these. If their franchise agreements don't FORCE all restaurants to participate and they have all been advised before the program starts, your asking for trouble.
IF the KFC stores are required to honor the coupons legally and I were corporate, I would shut down a few resturants and yank their franchise agreement. That should knock the others in line pretty fast.
Franchise owners who refuse to honor coupons and promotions are asking for trouble. It makes THEM look bad and makes customers never come back.
]]>Please remember, however, that this is from a girl that recently defaced a Houlihan's menu for an incorrectly used apostrophe. Where it said, "Kid's love them!" I circled the apostrophe in red Sharpie and wrote "THIS IS WRONG! PLEASE SEE ME!" Yes, I carry a red, fine point Sharpie with me at all times; yes this is why I am not a teacher.
]]>@YouDidWhatNow?: "I slow down, then I go first" -People's thoughts at a 4-way stop
]]>@fantomesq: Glad to hear that at least some people are having their coupons unured!
]]>Looks like this will put an end to the multiple coupons. I am sure it says somewhere on the form one coupon per address.
]]>At first I thought it was "urining". ew.
]]>Sheesh, STOP with the free food coupons. Nothing good ever comes from these promotions. The internet makes these coupons available to EVERYONE and their mom. Why don't they just offer discounts, or promotions like buy one get one free?
]]>Maybe it shares space with an A&W or a Long John Silvers or Taco Bell like the ones around here.
Maybe they are unuring the 2 piece fish coupon for LJS.
]]>@Blinky987: Actually, based on this article, it would appear that most franchises decided it was not a profitable move to include ANY users.
]]>I agree. KFC is slow when there's hardly anyone in line, let alone a mob of people. Is it really worth it, if you have to wait almost a half an hour or more for it?
]]>I think it's clearly corporate's fault. Besides, this kind of food will eventually kill you if you eat much of it.
]]>@Crabby Cakes: I noticed the "Att: KFC" on the sign too. At least they didn't put "From, The Customers."
]]>@bohemian: It is possible that the mispelling was done on purpose for humorous effect. You know, spell the word the way it sounds when spoken with the regional accent.
]]>That's not all that went wrong. Yes, the franchises aren't getting paid for the promotion. That's poor planning, but that also could have been observed with the Quizno's promotion, which has the same failure.
They also failed to ensure that the coupon delivery system would work properly, as many people have failed to download the coupons at all. Again, something that could have been seen with the Quizno's promo.
Finally, they failed to give the franchisees something to offer customers that couldn't get the promotion for some reason, either because chicken ran out or because they werne't taking part in the promotion. The hard part is getting customers in your doors, and you're going to fail AFTER that? Sadly, this was also Quizno's failure.
So clearly the real problem was not doing their environmental analysis and learning from the mistakes of their competitors.
]]>Not sure that I really trust an Aussie running KFC though...
]]>My spelling is horrible. My schools/education did not fail me. They tried their best and taught me ways to work around learning disabilities that will always be there.
]]>Store was well-prepared, fast & friendly. Even gave me choice of sides, and it tasted pretty good too. A good experience to the point I thought about writing them a letter (which I NEVER do). Maybe I should.
]]>It is simple marketing. Geez. They know the coupon will reach the most if they allow Windows users to print...
Besides, everybody knows your typical Linux geek will not leave his computer long enough to get some free chicken when he/she still has Mt. Dew and Cheetos within arms length.
]]>Later that evening, I tried to print the coupons at home on my Canon MP210 printer. This time, the software and web browser said the coupons printed--but no documents of any kind ever came out! It's like the print job never made it to the printer itself! When I went back, jumped through all the hoops again, the web browser (probably in cahoots with whatever malware I'd naively installed) said that I'd already printed the coupons, and dumped me to another page. All I could do now is provide my name, physical address, email address, and phone number. "Someone will be contacting you shortly," it said.
I'm going to give these folks a week to make good on all this--then, I'm filing formal complaints with my state attorney general's office, and the Federal Trade Commission. I have no coupons, but I've handed over some personal information that should fetch a pretty penny on the "mailing list market."
This is fraudulent and deceptive advertising, plain and simple.
The online Federal Trade Commission complaint form can be found here.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
While the FTC will not do anything for you, personally, every complaint submitted helps establish a widespread pattern of negligence, at the very least... or fraud, at the worst.
]]>Or better yet, I should just walk into the KFC and say "Give me my free chicken without a coupon, as anyone can get the coupon. I'm saving a tree and my computer's security".
]]>When you said "molded" I immediately thought of the McRib.
]]>Please email KFC.PublicRelations@KFC.com with any problems concerning your KFC coupon.
Thank you,
-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer
]]>@RandomHookup: ..pretty industry *standard*
]]>My only problem was posting teh coupon link on Facebook and having to deal w/ an eco-terrorist friend thats a member of PETA.
Had to tell me that they cut the chickens head off w/o putting it to sleep first.....
@kylere: Perhaps, but it's pretty industry for limiting the number of coupons printed.
]]>Apparently, their not needed. ;)
I see what you did there!
]]>But then, if it tastes like heaven, I wouldn't really care what it looked like.
]]>The only thing about promotions like this is that you're not gonna get the best quality due to them trying to serve everybody in a timely manner...
]]>@nakedscience: Wait, I'm dumb (shut up, I've had 2 hours of sleep), I thought you were trying to type "international promotion". Ignore me, move along.
]]>As to whether it's just you, you'll have to post a picture of yourself so we can see if you look greasy and nasty.
]]>@Hotscot: "an interstitial promoting "
So, you knock Microsoft for a clear typo while ... making a HUGE typo of your own? I'm not sure what "interstitial" even means....
]]>@JayCor: "For a free meal, it's not really worth the price. "
I just love the entitlement of consumerist comments sometimes. "It's free, but I WANT MOOOOOORE!!!!!"
]]>My boss just had KFC's grilled chicken for lunch and she said it was fantastic. She granted that she went in right when they opened, and that it probably depends on locations, but she said it was tasty. And she knows her chicken, trust me.
]]>Ophrah, you have disappointed me for the last time.
That's it. No more excuses. I'm pissed off with you now and you've made my s**t list. There are only three names on it,
and the other two were -convicted- of their crimes...
Even on their cow appreciation day where it seemed like everybody was coming in for their free meals there was little to no excessive wait. KFC was just not prepared properly to handle this kind of rush.
]]>I may as well just post a coupon crudely scrawled in crayon offering free french fries at McDonalds. It won't be honored any more than these coupons are, but hey it's free publicity, right?
]]>@JayCor: I got to pick my sides, got white meat, and the chicken wasn't greasy at all.
]]>@chrylis: they changed using the coupon site because the coupon site crashed... it got redirected to Oprah's site where its a PDF download (same coupon/barcode) for everyone...
which means unlimited coupons... does KFC offer free unlimited chicken? no...
]]>Hope they know how to read the instructions.
]]>Apparently, their not needed. ;)
]]>@JayCor:
They let us choose our sides when we used the coupons, and even gave us white meat...but we were probably the 3rd coupon they had seen at that point, so they were still pretty chipper about it.
As for the chicken. It was ok..I guess when I eat fast food chicken I WANT it covered in a crispy coating. I can make grilled chicken at home.
]]>@sophistiKate: I think it's Southern for "We aint got none".
Also I know of another KFC that when asked to see the colonel, the reply was "i say he dead". (right family guy viewers?)
anywho... back to work for me!
-dave
]]>@Hotscot:
I'd just be happy if people could get a basic grip on the use of the apostrophe. Such as the fact that it does not ever, under any circumstance, indicate plurality. Not even on acronyms, like PCs or ATVs. Start there, and then next we'll tackle the mind-boggling intricacies of the 4-way stop...
]]>When you put the words "Free" in front of anything fast food you're going to have some serious scalability issues, especially if your franchises aren't prepared for it.
The only times I've seen stores prepared are Wendy's with the free frosties after the finger chili incident and Ben and Jerry's with the free cones. There was a line, but it moved quickly and there weren't any complaints. There may be more incidences where it's worked out that I'm unaware of.
What did they think was going to happen, especially after the previous 4 give-a-ways by food establishments have been either a feasibility and availability cluster or a total meltdown?
I smelled this a mile away
]]>I was at Great Clips yesterday and they spelled it "inconvence". At least with "inconvinience" they attempted to sound it out.
]]>"Fk you linux users"
]]>Wait. What happened to the executive behind the Red Lobster 'endless crab' debacle? I think that I may have a guess.
]]>The KFC right around the corner from me has a Manager change atleast once a quarter. I think once you start skoolin, they terminate you.
]]>@wgrune: Looks good to me. Compared to the fried stuff at least.
]]>I'm just anxiously waiting for someone to chime in about the poor spelling... while misspelling.
]]>Edit button please.
]]>Honoring. It's quite a leap.
]]>Education really has to be a priority for this country.
]]>I figured this would happen. I didnt bother downloading it anyways.
]]>wow.
wait...maybe they meant Onion Rings! Onion shortages in SC? it could happen.
]]>Talk about not studying before the test. I wonder what the percentage is of Franchise owned KFC's?
]]>And when does Oprah Winfrey's image start taking blow back from these shilling stunts that backfire?
]]>Is it just me, or does that chicken look really greasy and nasty?
]]>