KFC Revokes Coupons, Issues Rain Checks
KFC has officially canceled, voided and revoked the coupons they originally issued on their web site (and talked about on the Oprah show).
As we wrote about yesterday, some KFC fast food restaurants had been declining to redeem the free grilled chicken meal coupons promoted by Oprah on her show Tuesday.
They are now issuing 'rain checks' to those who jump through a few hoops. If you downloaded the coupon, you can print it out and take it to your local KFC, they, in turn, will give you a form that you'll have to fill out and mail to KFC. KFC says that they will then send you another coupon for a free grilled chicken meal (and a free Pepsi) that can be redeemed during certain dates listed on the coupon.
Their goal here, of course, is to try and spread out the dates during which people will be coming in to the restaurants for free meals.
I'm sorry, but a company as large as YUM! Brands (KFC's parent company) should be grown up enough to know what kinds of promotions their restaurants can handle and have the marketing smarts to be able to predict the kind of response they're going to get.
This is a shameful business failure on the part of KFC/YUM! Brands.
Oprah has changed the message on her KFC Coupon page to reflect the new 'rain check' policy.
Below is a video of KFC's President, Roger Eaton, apoligizing and explain the rain check system (the text of his statement is also below). (By the way, what is an Australian South African doing running a company called Kentucky Fried Chicken!! Listen to the video.)
As we wrote about yesterday, some KFC fast food restaurants had been declining to redeem the free grilled chicken meal coupons promoted by Oprah on her show Tuesday.
They are now issuing 'rain checks' to those who jump through a few hoops. If you downloaded the coupon, you can print it out and take it to your local KFC, they, in turn, will give you a form that you'll have to fill out and mail to KFC. KFC says that they will then send you another coupon for a free grilled chicken meal (and a free Pepsi) that can be redeemed during certain dates listed on the coupon.
Their goal here, of course, is to try and spread out the dates during which people will be coming in to the restaurants for free meals.
I'm sorry, but a company as large as YUM! Brands (KFC's parent company) should be grown up enough to know what kinds of promotions their restaurants can handle and have the marketing smarts to be able to predict the kind of response they're going to get.
This is a shameful business failure on the part of KFC/YUM! Brands.
Oprah has changed the message on her KFC Coupon page to reflect the new 'rain check' policy.
Below is a video of KFC's President, Roger Eaton, apoligizing and explain the rain check system (the text of his statement is also below). (By the way, what is a
Rain Check Policy from KFC
We are so sorry, but due to the overwhelming response to our FREE Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal coupon, we can no longer redeem the free coupon at this time. But we will honor our commitment to giving you a free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal. Please visit a participating KFC restaurant for a rain check form. Complete the form, attach your original coupon, and give it to the KFC restaurant manager or postmark per the form's instructions, by May 19, 2009, and we'll send you a rain check for your free Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal at a later date, plus a free Pepsi with our compliments. Your participating KFC restaurant will provide you with the form you need. Please note that the redemption periods of the rain checks will vary. All other terms and conditions of the original free Kentucky Grilled Chicken coupon will apply. Thank you for your understanding,
Roger Eaton
KFC President
Labels: KFC
posted by Ken at 8:23 AM
permanent link |
11 Comments:
100% Agree. Bogus. If they didn't want this volume, go on a less popular show. KFC wanted the press and they got it. Good and bad.
Correction. Roger Eaton is a South African, not an Australian. But what the heck, it doesn't change the point. He's foreign!
100% agree with you. I refuse to try their "new" chicken now. Who wants to put a stamp on an envelope and send in for a rain check? They can go chapter 7 as far as I'm concerned. I went to the McDonalds next door instead of paying to try their chicken.
I wonder why they don't even post the rain check form on their website? Hmmm they want you to go to KFC, pick up a form, and buy something while you're there. Annoying.
If KFC will not honor the "free grill chicken cupon" what will make them honor a rain check?
What the difference?
I really think KFC dropped the ball on this one.
right off the bat it seemed odd that Oprah would promote eating at KFC since this is runs contrary to all her other dieting advice
I went to KFC to redeem the coupon, but the people ahead of me were told they weren't going to honor it until the following Monday. I decided to order the new grilled chicken - it was horrible--the breasts were really dry. KFC has always been very expensive and to pay $19.99 for a bucket of dried chicken is not my idea of getting my monies worth.
For a CEO to be so uninformed of the reaction anything Oprah endorses is incredible. How could a company so enormous misjudge this so poorly. Don't you have sales and marketing people? By the way, I don't drink Pepsi so your "complimentary" item doesn't impress me.
I was outraged today to learn KFC raised their prices!
In this time when families need help and generosity, KFC is practicing GREED!
I could understand 25 cents...even 50 cents, but all prices were raised a dollar or more!
I left without buying anything and told them that was the reason. I can afford it, but what about all those families who can't? It's a moral issue.
Awful...just awful. KFC - shame on you!
Very disappointed in KFC! Not a regular customer because I don't eat "fried food" but the grilled chicken caught my attention. Went to use the coupon-had to fill out the "raincheck" form. Thought I might become a "returning customer". (Probably won't ever see the raincheck) I tried the grilled chicken the other day when someone else bought it-it's still GREASY! Guess I won't need that raincheck afterall!
I got my KFC didn't have to jump Thur circles.was told they too many people jump on the site and that they had to regroup and spread out the FREE CHICKEN over a longer period of time. I don't understand whats so hard about that.I got the information from KFC mail it in the new coupon "whoop-pee". This remind me of the saying "Small minds discuss People" Median minds discuss Thing" and "Great minds discuss Idea's" Gusses I thank the site was design wrong and some people was down loading more than one and thats why they had to redo it. I do coupons on fast foods once you
had down load on some of them you can't down load again. Now for the rest of the people heres the late new about KFC,I'm on there e-mail site or e-club new special 2 pieces Drumstick and thigh
Freshly Baked Buttermilk Biscuit
special Low Price-99 cents
Expires 7/21/09 docmorganoff
kFC mail it in the new coupon "whoo-pee"
Post a Comment
<< Home