KFC Customers With Free Coupon From Oprah Ask: Where's The Chicken?

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Customers at a New York City KFC hoping to redeem coupons for a free meal were disgruntled when the fast-food restaurant ran out of its new grilled chicken, but Internet rumors of a riot were unfounded, a Kentucky Fried Chicken spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"Some customers were upset because they couldn't get their chicken, but there was no riot," said Laurie Schalow.

Schalow said the Manhattan restaurant on East 42nd Street plans to begin honoring the coupons again Thursday after it resupplies the kitchen.

The coupons were available on Oprah.com for 24 hours beginning Tuesday after Oprah announced the meal promotion on her show. Each downloadable coupon can be redeemed for two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit.

KFC, owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Yum Brands Inc., introduced its new Kentucky Grilled Chicken about three weeks ago. The new menu item is being touted as lower in fat, calories and sodium than the traditional deep-fried chicken for which KFC is known the world over. It even has its own secret recipe, kept under lock and key near the original 11 herbs and spices recipe for fried chicken created by KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders.

Schalow said the grilled chicken has been a huge success, and the combination of a bad economy and Oprah's popularity created a "perfect storm."

"We prepared for it," Schalow said, noting that a KFC restaurant can only serve so many people during the lunch and dinner hours. "We didn't prepare for this extreme."

But Schalow said customers have until May 19th to redeem their coupons, Mother's Day excluded, and she encouraged the public to return later.

A spokewoman for Oprah's Harpo Productions in Chicago said they are not aware of any problems with the coupons.

Schalow said KFC restaurants across the United States were bustling on Wednesday because of the coupon offer.

"A lot of restaurants experienced very, very heavy traffic with people trying to redeem the coupons." she said, though KFC headquarters did not hear of any other problems with customers other than the those at the New York City franchise. "All stores are very busy today, very long lines, that's what we're hearing."

Schalow said some KFC stores may have run out of some products, such as mashed potatoes and gravy or cole slaw, "but they are substituting as best they can."

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Associated Press Writer Caryn Rousseau in Chicago contributed to this report.

Comments

[Drugzoo]

08:36 PM on 05/31/2009

I assume the KFC paid to have Opera announcing about the free offer coupons on her site. KFC should be responsible for not being prepared. For KFC to not honor the coupon and to require coupon holder to come back is not fair. They should do what the airlines do to require passengers to give up their seats. Come back on another flight and get a bonus of $200 (or free flight). In this case, give the poor coupon holders a free drink or order of popcorn chicken!! It should make everyone happy and it gives KFC a second chance to keep its good name. DAvid@ Drugzoo.com

[sidsamant]

02:18 PM on 05/12/2009

Read more about Rodger Eaton's apology at
http://www.aircheese.com/article/kfc-dominos-ms--apologies-part-i

[undecidedvoter34]

02:08 PM on 05/12/2009

what a mess this was! a mess that has KFC and oprah's name on it!! shame on KFC for misleading people. false advertising!

http://showhype.com/story/kentucky_fraud_chicken_fraud_from_kfc_on_oprah_winfrey/

[Sherry9898]

03:30 PM on 05/11/2009

I haven't eaten KFC for years, but in my experience they hire the dumbest slowest people on the planet. I remember one young man who couldn't seem to take an order for two simple meals without any special circumstances. And finally when I thought he got it, he turns around and says, "I just screwed up your whole order!" Too funny, I couldn't help but laugh.

I've also been there when they ran out of chicken, no coupon needed.

Just sitting in the dining room of any KFC will be educational, look at the morons who work there and look at the fat slobs who eat there.

I've heard KFC introduced vegan chicken in Canada. Why not USA? Americans aren't interested in being fit OR compassionate. Sad sad sick people... Too bad there are so many homeless and hungry, survival of the fittest and smartest!

[LevickSC]

11:55 AM on 05/08/2009

It may seem that KFC’s Oprah coupon giveaway is hurting the company, but if they play their cards right, this could be a perfect Oprah-tunity to showcase the popularity of its grilled chicken. If KFC is to turn this crisis around, they need to engage the disgruntled customers and emphasize the overwhelming popularity of their grilled chicken, particularly when promoted by TV’s favorite pitch women. I wrote more about strategies KFC can pursue on Bulletproof Blog: http://www.bulletproofblog.com/2009/05/07/kfcs-oprah-giveaway-snafu-provides-opportunity-to-grow-its-brand/
-Gene Grabowski

[LooktotheLeft]

07:25 AM on 05/08/2009

People in other countries come together by the thousands and/or hundreds of thousands to protest economic issues, fundamental human rights, etc. What does it take to get Americans out to do the same: being deprived a free chicken dinner, worth all of $4.95, from KFC.

[ccmd]

12:33 AM on 05/08/2009

"EVERYBODY GETS FREE CHICKENNNNN!!! Look under your chairs....







YOU GET A COUPON, YOU GET A COUPON, YOU GET A COUPON!!!"

[LooktotheLeft]

07:35 AM on 05/08/2009

hmmm, they serve decaf at Starbucks till Noon

[Bigredhunk]

11:01 PM on 05/07/2009

People would line up for bags of dog shite if they were giving them away free.

[ClaraKCMO]

10:04 PM on 05/07/2009

our KFC had a sign, "no oprah coupons at drive in", so I schlepped my kids into the 40 deep crowd, only to get to within 10 people and then was told,"Your coupon is no longer valid; but fill out this paperwork and we will turn it in and you will get another, different VALID coupon in the mail. They had chicken on the rack, so I do not understand this. When I questioned it they said they have exceeded their costs and are no longer required to honor the coupon.

Interesting, no? I am sure Oprah would love this info.

[LooktotheLeft]

09:40 PM on 05/07/2009

Even my dog (see picture) Rusty says "Rowf, KFC is really Rousy Ricken

[bluestatelib]

01:23 AM on 05/08/2009

Such a stupid comment, but I LOL anyway.

[LooktotheLeft]

07:12 AM on 05/08/2009

Thanks. I comments will never win any awards for intellectualism

[LooktotheLeft]

07:15 AM on 05/08/2009

I mean "MY" comments will never win any awards for intellectualism. See what I mean?

[MIMom]

09:23 PM on 05/07/2009

I tried going there yesterday. The drive-thru was backed into the street, causing traffic issues, and the lobby was packed.

I was prepared to wait, but found it odd that the cashiers weren't taking orders. Finally, I found out why. There was a TWO HOUR wait for chicken - an HOUR to wait FOR THEM TO TAKE ORDERS AGAIN and another hour for the chicken to cook. AND - drive-thru people were allowed to cut in line (before the lobby customers), as they had "priority", so it could be a longer wait.

I walked out. I tried to call KFC's customer line - busy. Tried to send them an e-mail - you fill out a form that limits your characters, so I could not give them the entire story, so I used the form to ask them to contact me.

Unreal. I understand it's free food, but c'mon....wasn't the point to ultimately get people to want to come to KFC after the promo was over? I won't.

[LooktotheLeft]

08:47 PM on 05/07/2009

THose that didn't get their f**king chicken should consider themselves lucky. KFC is one of the filthest places on earth to eat and they serve up the most unhealthly food on the planet. Anyone who waits in line to eat the s*hit they serve, should have his/her head examined

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

08:31 PM on 05/07/2009

That's bad karma for promoting so many innocent death of chickens.

[whatevertoo]

07:53 PM on 05/07/2009

KFC has stopped honoring the coupons, instead they are giving you a form to send in with your coupon and then you will recieve a coupon in the mail. KFC should be sued for not honoring the coupons and Oprah should apology for the fiasco.

[geejai54]

08:06 PM on 05/07/2009

Why should Oprah apologize? If you had cut the coupon out of the Sunday paper who would you have expected an apology from.

[whatevertoo]

08:20 PM on 05/07/2009

Well I think she should apology becomes the coupons were offered from her site and she promoted them on her show and then KFC turns around and refuses to honor or accept them. That is false advertising. The whole thing has turned into a fiasco and is unfair to the consumer.

[whatevertoo]

08:16 PM on 05/07/2009

Well I just think she should apology because she offer the coupons on her site and promoting them on her show, KFC is not honoring or accepting them. It has turned into a fiasco. It is false advertising.

[EvasDaddy]

07:52 PM on 05/07/2009

I downloaded the printer application and it wouldn't install. I went back and forth for an hour last night, getting nowhere. I'll just got to El Pollo Loco or Pollo Tropical and buy my own. Sorry KFC.

[LooktotheLeft]

08:50 PM on 05/07/2009

You saved yourself a round of food poisoning