Well, it seems as if KFC has decided not to accept their internet coupons. With all the complaints and problems people were having, someone decided to place a PDF coupon on the Oprah website. It was later pulled down, but not before copies spread across the internet like wildfire. I don’t know who from Oprah decided to put a PDF up, but I’m sure they are seeking new employment now.
But KFC will be offering a Rain Check to everyone. You can see details from the KFC President HERE. I’m wondering if they will give four rainchecks to everyone (because we could print the coupon four times), or if they are just going to give one. It’s hard to tell by the wording.
They are also offering $10 gift cards to the first 200 people to register HERE through the 10th. 200?? Sounds like those will be gone in a matter of seconds.
But on a positive note, El Pollo Loco thinks it’s a shame what KFC has done. Remember the free meals they offered last week? They didn’t turn down the masses like KFC did. According to Rachel, you can bring your KFC coupons into El Pollo Loco on Mother’s Day for a FREE 2 piece meal of their citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken plus a choice of two small sides, two tortillas and fresh salsa. Yum! Call your locations to see if they will be participating in this.
In my opinion, I think the food at El Pollo Loco is better than KFC, not to mention their business practices are better. Go for the Crazy Chicken!!
UPDATE: Check out this video…
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My boyfriend and I went to KFC on Wednesday to get our free meals (we only did one each, I am kicking myself now!) We waited about 45 minutes in line and then about 30 minutes until our order was complete. While we were waiting for our chicken to be done (they had to put a new batch in the oven while we were there) they gave us complimentary sodas as well. We got the food to-go and ate at home.
Was it worth it? I don’t know. I could have used that 1:15 to cook a meal from food that I had in the house. But while we were at KFC we met some new people, chatted with them in line, and we got to try some new food that we probably wouldn’t have gotten any other way (we very rarely go out to eat). I think it was a toss up for me.
We did chat a bit with the guys & gals at the counter and they said that corporate told them to expect about 100 coupons used a day. At 7pm, they had gotten 700+ coupons! And people were still coming in. I am not surprised that KFC pulled the deal at all.
Wow, what a mess. I was able to print two copies of the bricks coupons, so I kind of wish they would honor those and just not honor the PDF that was put on Oprah’s site. I know that would be hard for the staff to deal with though. I don’t think we will deal with getting a raincheck. A lot of people will sure be mad.
We were treated sooooooo bad at KFC I dont know if I will even go back to be honest!!!
I printed the q’s off there site NOT Oprah’s. I went thru the drive-thru and DH went inside(because were told that they would only take 1 in the drive thru.
Well when I finally got up there the women GRABBED the q’ out of my hand and told me I had COPIED it and trying to scam them!!!
I was shocked and told her, “NO, I had printed it off there site”
She then closed the drive thru window!!
THEN to make it better DH was told that they weren’t taking ANY printed off q’s…..how does that EVEN make sense???
Also I wantefd to add I looked at there site and that is A LOT of work! They shoukd just give it to you when you go in!
Free anything causes a stir no matter but this was just outright crazy for people to storm KFC and then not leave for some no so great chicken. We printed one and I doubt any of us will go thru the trouble of getting a “raincheck”. I can understand them not honoring them on Mother’s Day but there should have been shorter time limit if you ask me. PLus, the person who put the .pdf on Oprah’s site should NOT be fired. That’s Oprah’s Official site and many times there have been 24 hour giveaways way prior to this KFC fiasco. Mom must have seen it ON her show as she is not a net geek like me. So just for the record, it very well may have been something Oprah herself talked about on her show. Will research and see.
Just as I thought, she had it on her site & on her show. Proofs here – http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12321072
And http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090430-tows-kfc-coupon-download
I haven’t been to KFC in over two years and thought I would try their new chicken with my sister yesterday. They put their ad out on Oprah’s show and her website. I don’t quite understand how they didn’t expect the turnout especially in this economy. My sister and I were still able to enjoy a nice lunch somewhere else but I saw an obviously down on their luck family leaving visibly upset after seeing their sign that they weren’t taking them. I’m very disappointed in them. I wished I had an El Pollo Loco here. They seem like an awesome company.
We used our coupons on the first day and didn’t have any trouble with them being accepted. I’m glad we used them quickly!
I was actually rather disappointed in the quality, though. It was nice to get a free meal, but El Pollo Loco’s meal was FAR better food.
I can’t imagine why companies keep giving out coupons and then not honoring them (remember Quiznos?) Did they think people wouldn’t actually try to use them? Campaigns like this are only good PR if they honor them.
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What a huge fiasco! I agree, did corporate really think that in this economy that people were not going to show up? I have not ate at KFC for years and tried to use the coupon to give them another shot and I wish I had not even bothered. I was very disappointed with KFC for not thinking this thru and then to pull the coupon and call people liars, their company has been really sad fro years. Their employees are terrible and the mangers are no better, it’s a real shame.
This all reminds me of the Vyrl Mkt Inc. coupon fiasco from Facebook.
As far as the PR they are still getting it even if it is negative at this point.
Finally I’ve never been to an El Pollo Loco before but kudos to them for stepping up to the plate. I have seen many great deals from them online and it seems they really know how to keep the customers happy and coming back!
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I only printed 2 coupons (directly from KFC’s website) but didn’t used them as I was waiting for the hype to die down. However, several people I know printed numerous copies of the PDF version and were able to use 3 or 4 of them before KFC changed their mind. I agree that KFC didn’t think this one completely through. One of the KFC’s in my city actually had to close completely for several days this week because they ran out of food due to such a high response to this coupon. I have used this event to explain coupon ethics to my friends and family who do not coupon on a regular basis.
I agree that this whole KFC escapade has been informative on several levels: 1) it’s good education on why photocopying q’s is not a good idea- it get’s these deals pulled (I had to explain about unique codes and such to normally non-couponing folks all week)
2) KFC should have put this up as a brick for 24 hours only or something… as soon as I saw it would be up for 48 hrs. and allowed 4 prints, I thought… they are not going to be prepared for what is about to hit them
3) if a company is going to do something gimmicky like a free meal- they have GOT to prepare themselves customer service wise- we went on Wed. and got our free meals, but they were practically thrown at us and that was after the lady lied to us in the drive-thru and said they were out. We requested that they sub their other chicken since we had waited in line, and she just said, “Pull up” and gave us the grilled chicken they apparently had all along?!? What?!
Anyway- the long and the short of it is I’m intrigued by El Pollo Loco and not about to go back to KFC anytime soon. (Which will probably be a healthy choice anyway.)
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I was on KFC’s site several times throughout the day on Tuesday and every time I tried to click “get my coupon” or whatever it said, it either took me to an error page or a PDF page. I tried in the morning, afternoon, and even late at night, but it was either down, or it loaded the PDF. So I’m glad their going to honor the coupons, even if I didn’t get a “brick” coupon. It’s not like I didn’t try to get the “legitimate” version, and hey, I GOT IT FROM THEIR WEBSITE.
So for the store (and folks) who don’t think it should be accepted, well, I’ll just say I’m glad KFC is trying to turn this into a positive. I got my coupon the same was as everyone else–by visiting their site and printing it out.
Guess we’ll be picking up a rebate for the next time we’re in their area.
this is too funny, as I was walking around my house cleaning (well trying too) still thinking about the comment I left earlier, my local news was on and I was listening from the other room, they are doing a story on the coupons and KFC in a few minutes! I wouldn’t have thought my small town was upset, but apparently they are!
the story said that you could bring the coupon in and fill out the form to get your rain check that would be good for a 2 week period, you would get the free meal plus drink, but I still don’t think it is worth it, they way they (KFC) treated people, like criminals (we were just getting something that was offered to us) It still makes me a little upset that they did’t address that…
Poor KFC. I think their whole marketing plan is backfiring on them.
I have to say, their grilled chicken is better than their fried chicken, but the sad truth is, their grilled chicken is no where near as good as El Pollo Loco’s.
Yikes! I haven’t been in yet! I got a coupon off their website and it was a PDF, I thought it was odd as it looked like a Bricks coupon but in a PDF. I don’t have a lot of sympathy, they can limit the number of coupons from Bricks and they chose to keep it open and wasn’t the whole point that Oprah was buying it so KFC isn’t out the money? I guess just if they don’t have enough supplies. Have to check the redeption days and go in for a raincheck…
This is amazing. Oprah talked about this whole deal today on her show (I saw it while at the hairdresser) and I had no idea what she was talking about! I wouldn’t use a KFC coupon even if I could get one but there were lots of people thanking her for offering it, and the president of the company (?), very nice and apologetic, offering to make it all right. Crazy, all over free chicken.
is this new chicken from KFC fried and THEN grilled, or the other way around?
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