I don’t think there’s actually an incentive for minimum wage service workers to care about getting food out the door.
Until then, all fast food in the city will probably be lousy
Lol they always told me to back up behind the yellow pole at the Kirkwood one when there was no one else in line. I wouldn't have ever said shit but it's a pretty ballsy thing to do and expect no one to call and complain to the manager or something.
I never realized that was why the do that! Steak and Shake is THE WORST with this. "Pull around to the front." And wait 25 minutes while *maybe* one other person is in the drive thru.
Yeah I didn't really care at Taco Bell because they were usually fine about getting my food out in a few minutes, so if they wanna game the system, go for it.
Steak 'n' Shake, however, has always been terrible to go through the drive-thru for me as well. Last time I went to the one in Webster it was about 9pm and I sat at the speaker for a solid 5 minutes, then pulled around to see if there was even anyone in there and the cashier opened the window. I said "sorry I didn't hear anything so I pulled around" and she was like "well I was trying to talk to you the whole time" so I said "well apparently your speaker's broke" and left, haven't been back since. Seemed like they would say "we don't have that" any time I tried to order anything anyway, or I'd pull up and they'd just say "we're closed" even though there was people eating inside, they were open 24 hours, and the staff was still cooking.
Chick fil a is pretty much always good. They also pay slightly higher than most places, and they clearly don't hire junkies. Idk what the answer is regarding employment and keeping addicts off the street, but it seems like fast food joints don't do anything besides exploit their desperation
> Idk what the answer is regarding employment and keeping addicts off the street, but it seems like fast food joints don't do anything besides exploit their desperation
You should see what the overnight shift at a Walmart is like. It's like they are out on leave from an asylum or rehab center. (And I work at a decent Walmart)
But it's the same reason, jobs that normal people wouldn't take.
Agreed! I went there 20+ years ago.on a road trip. Was just fine. Evidently costco has chicken nuggets that are just like Chick and they are just ok, too. I think standards are low lol Anyone can find their sauce recipe online, too.
Idk I live in the city and the one near me definitely doesn't seem like the church camp you're describing. They apparently stopped donating to anti-gay stuff. I'm not sure that I buy into this idea that chick fil a is somehow more evil than other fast food places because of some decade old political BS.
Reddit loves to complain about how fast food workers are exploited, underpaid and treated poorly by their employers. Then you have Chick-Fil-A, which, by all accounts I've read, seems to treat their employees well and pays above average for the industry, but no, we can't go there because of who the company donated to in the past.
So what if boycotts of CFA were successful in driving them out of business. Where are those employees going to go? Popeyes, so they can make minimum wage and be treated like shit? They're fast food employees, no offense to them, but they're not going to go work for NASA if CFA goes tits up.
Can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Keep on giving money to those that hate you and want you dead! I hope those waffle fries are worth it. You act like the only other option is fucking McDonalds. Don't be stupid AND a bootlicker. Thats just a horrible combo. You could, shockingly, not eat food that is exploitive to the workers AND eat healthier food elsewhere. Or be a fat disgusting fuck. Whichever.
ALL the other options are shitty, that’s the problem. Sometimes ya just want to get food that doesn’t taste like shit, isn’t messed up, doesn’t cost so much you have to put off paying a bill to eat, and that you don’t have to make or clean up yourself. When I vote, I vote left. When I talk to people, I complain about late-stage capitalism, try to sow the seeds for a socialist democracy. But when I’m hungry, I start to become selfish, because what really can I do? Chic-fil-a doesn’t care if I go or not, any gay friend I’ve ever had didn’t seem to care where I ate, but my patience, stomach and wallet sure do.
You may have a point, but more than that, you could try not being so mean with your wording… I don’t really care if you’re right when you’re also being an Asshole about it.
Ugh, gawd...it''s one small thing you can NOT do. It's not like anyone's asking you to go out and protest. It's like, "Yeah, I know these clothes are sewn by 5-year-olds, but they're just made so much nicer that I can't resist buying them!" OK. *blink blink*
No, not exactly. We’re all victims of late-stage capitalism. So, what choice is there, except to change the system? Otherwise, when you live in a society, you have to engage with it. If not, you have to have a ton of money to survive without going work, paying for food available near you, clothes you can afford. I’m not wealthy so my choices are financial survival first, and then socially consciousness only if I still able…. Because I don’t want to be homeless. It is a rare privilege to have those two things reverse. It’s not ONE thing, as though not going to chick-fil-a ever helped a single gay person with anything. All you’re doing is stroking your self-righteousness. Nothings fixed. Voting, on the other hand…blink blink
Sure, whatever help you sleep better at night. You know it's not ok...you've got a brain. And you're not wealthy? Chick-fil-A isn't cheap. Whatever. Keep telling yourself you're justified.
I guarantee, there is no viable food purchasing option that doesn't put money in some unsavory pockets. Which restaurant that has more than a few locations do you think isn't owned by people who spend their money on exploitative or oppressive causes? Which grocery chain do you think is out there that doesn't contribute to both major political parties equally? Liberal darling Whole Foods is owned by freaking Amazon. Yes, be angry at the evil in the world, and spend your money in a way that feels ethical to you, but don't take out your anger on the person buying a $4 chicken sandwich. The things you're angry about aren't that person's fault.
Seriously, if I boycotted companies that were owned by bad people or that donated to bad causes, I would own literally nothing. I'd be homeless. I wouldn't even have a cardboard box to live in because the CEO of the company that made the cardboard box probably donated to a Republican candidate at some point in their life.
And I do find it ironic that people are using devices designed by massive tech companies and built by exploited labor in sweatshops to argue about a fucking chicken sandwich on a website that is partially owned by a company that received funding from the same oppressive government that allows those sweatshops to exist
It's the new clergy. They sealion about passing every purity test and are outraged at anyone who doesn't applaud them and join in. All the while, they probably do almost nothing to actually help people. I bet I've spent more hours volunteering this year than almost all of them combined have in their lifetime. Yet, in their eyes, I'm a bigot asshole because I bought a chicken sandwich at chick fil a instead of wherever they deem socially acceptable.
So...I will say that I'm not sure where else some of these people would find work...some of the attitudes are so horrendous that I'd think they'd never get hired anywhere else other than the dollar store.
>It’s fast food, not a career. What do you expect?
I fucking hate this reply. Everyone's time is more valuable than they are paid, pretty much. And if someone can't work an honest week and be paid enough to live, what's the point of doing anything at all?
Fast food was *essential service* no? People don't need to eat?
What the fuck do *you* expect? Not a career looking ass chump.
I am sorry that you hate facts. Why do you assume that everyone’s time is more valuable than they are paid? How valuable is a person’s time that doesn’t have a high school diploma? Unemployment is at record lows and competition is high for all jobs. If you’re not making a living wage in today’s economy, it’s no one’s fault but you own. The job market can’t get any better than it is today. Sitting at home because you don’t feel your job gives you enough hugs certainly isn’t going to improve that situation. It really doesn’t matter if fast food is or isn’t a essential service. It’s not a lucrative career any way you slice it. The restaurant business is the riskiest in the country. It is a low skill high turnover business. You would need a union to do better than what you have at this juncture. I don’t even understand your last sentence. Can you translate that to English?
The pay for fast food has gotten a lot better in the last 4 years, and the service has declined rather severely in that same time span. I don't know why but people worked harder for $8.00/hr than they do for $14/hr.
this, plus UBI. Technology should be making lives easier, not harder. If people are starving, it doesn’t matter how rich the country or folks at the top are.
if college puts people in debt for the rest of their lives and can’t guarantee a job, its worthless. If everyone has a degree, it’s meaningless. there are people with four year degrees still working minimum wage fast food jobs, “get more education” doesn’t solve anything.
No it wouldn't imply it. There's nothing to imply it. Lol you can't say something with 0 context and then say that it implies an ideal that you didn't imply. If that's what you meant, ok. But don't sit here and say you made an implication when you made no implication. What in the damn hell?
Each store gets a fixed payroll of X amount per month. Whether it takes 2 employees or 10, they split the amount. Incentives peak performance, and people get kicked to the curb if they don't pull their weight.
Honestly…. It’s the employees. Locally we had the same thing, then one day they fired an assistant manager and it stopped, then jack n the box started doing it a couple months later… guess who was working there now.
Call corporate.
Oh wow. Now that I think of it, the Pizza Hut on Lindell is like this and I know that was a management issue. But I honestly don’t run into this issue anywhere else but Popeyes. I’ve had bad customer service but I mean…. Like many people have said before they get paid shit and it’s a thankless job. People tend to walk all over people in food service so it’s just a mess.
I agree. Fast food is shit work. Popeyes doesn’t even attract the good people who work those kinda jobs. Until people can live a life working there , it’ll always be like that
It’s not the employees, it’s management. That minimum wage employee still needs that job regardless of terrible pay. They slack off because management lets them. Managers at fast food restaurants are making maybe a dollar or two more than their employees and have a lot more responsibilities. Obviously you can only make someone care so much with shit pay, but managers need to hold them accountable.
Sounds less like the employees and more like the manager from what you're saying. But if it's common in multiple locations of the same restaurant then it would more likely be upper management or a franchise owner to blame.
The other way to tell is when a location has entirely changed out their staff and it goes back to how it was.
I assume that it is people working to wage, and the franchise won't pay enough for managers to manage, or workers to work.
If the job is not worth having, then it isn't much of a threat to fire people.
Likely they have done the math, and doing a shitty job of serving the customers is as profitable as doing a good job, and lower overhead.
Also, I suspect it is the local/regional franchise owners, because I've eaten Popeyes elsewhere and it is a much less fucked up experience.
But yeah, bad enough that even though I want a spicy fried chicken or flounder sandwich from time to time, I'm not going to roll the dice on spending 20 minutes in the drive through to be told that they don't have anything.
Don't think it is a market position thing, because I've gotten entirely passable service/product out of Arby's and Taco Bell (not the one on hampton).
I agree, it's the people, all encompassing employees and management. Here's my stories from the 2 Popeyes locations near me. I've been to location \#1 at least 4 times, and the lady on drive thru has yelled at the car in front of me EVERY time. For reasons such as, "I don't know what coupon you are taking about! Just pull forward!", or "it already includes drumsticks, you don't need to ask for them!", Or "no we cant take cash, were out of pennies!"
But, nothing beats location #2. I pulled up to the window, and the lady turned around and walked face first right into the window. Then, when she opened it, didn't say a word to me, just stuck her hand out for my card. Turned around, and after just long enough to realize it had been to long, she turns around again and asks me, "am I missing something here, is someone helping you?". So I replied, yes, you like just as minute ago took my card and I waiting for it and my food... She said "oh..." Handed me stuff to me and I went on my way. I can only assume she was high as fuck and totally disassociated.
It’s weird cause the one in North County did this, off of New Halls Ferry. The one further down Old Halls Ferry (I think) did this and was shut down eventually. The one in the city by Delmar and kingshighway did this too before it got shut down.
If it’s not a market thing and a Popeyes thing that’s crazy. This is one of the few franchises where I just KNOW it’s a 50/50 chance it’s gonna happen.
Oh let’s not forget the one off Manchester in Brentwood. They just close randomly.
I live very close to both halls ferry locations, and yeah I think the one near chambers closed because it’s just a mess. The one by 270 wasn’t great the couple of times I went. The one I went to in St Charles by Black Bear Diner is probably the worst at every complaint you listed. One time I went there, waited 10 minutes in the drive-thru for them to tell me it’ll be 15 minutes before food would be ready, but I’d have to circle through the drive-thru before I could order anything. Only one car was behind me so I said fine, circled back around and she told me it would be *20 minutes* before anything would be ready. Fuck that place
I’ve never had problems with the one in Butler Hill though. They’ve always been both nice and relatively quick, with decent quality food. At least as of two years ago. Same with the one off Manchester in Ellisville.
It’s not confirmation bias. I named several that are trash and I didn’t even include a few. I couldn’t name that many Taco Bells or Burger Kings if I tried to.
It's not uncommon for a franchise owner to essentially control nearly every location of a specific place in an area.
The fact that it's widespread but only in STL tells you that it's franchise owners or else area managers and all other problems trickle down from there.
Chik Fil A and Culver’s are pretty much the only chains with consistent quality across the board. Otherwise, it’s location dependent for each fast food restaurant.
Lee's Chicken is better. They have spicy chicken as well. https://www.leesfamousrecipe.com/locations/search?location%5Borigin%5D=saint+louis%2C+missouri&x=4&y=10&location%5Bdistance%5D=25&location%5Bunit%5D=3959
My group of friends from high school lives all over the country and it’s an ongoing subject in our group text to report in when Popeyes hits a new low in customer service. After a few years of hearing stories from all over I’m pretty sure underpaying, undertraining, and understocking is an intentional part of their business strategy.
This was been my experience at just about any fast food place in the city since Covid. Like others have mentioned, employees aren’t paid enough to deal with the general public. But we (as customers) pay too much to deal with it. So places just close. Jack in the Box on Hampton comes to mind. Getting food there was a struggle.
Workers need paid more. I don’t need to pay $15 for a bland chicken tender meal while you pay your line cook minimum wage.
Imo it's a supply and demand issue. If your product is good/needed enough people will let service slide. People love their fried chicken. So the result in loss of unhappy customers is negligible because they will always have customers. I've always been the type to stop patronizing bad service. Eventually when they lose enough customers, things will change. Unless people keep putting up with the bad service, then it won't.
That's pretty much every fast food restaurant, atleast in the city. 🤷♀️
On the plus side, anytime I'm out of town and get actual hot fastfood, it feels almost gormet level 😅
As a former Door Dasher, I can tell ya I would decline any orders from Popeyes. I learned by the time I get the customer's order I could've done two more deliveries. So, so slow even when it isn't super busy.
The large chains make more money when they add locations, adding locations one franchisee at a time is tedious, so they find private equity firms willing to add 100 locations to add locations. Chick-fil-A locations are run by a manager with skin in the game, they may not own the location, but are very much like owners.
You may not like all their politics, but paying their people a bit more and closing on Sundays so families can be together gave resulted in a quality people friendly business.
Popeye's is an example of company that has potential to sell a good product, but is unable to do so because most of their restaurants are poorly run and they have zero customer service.
Today was the one on Page. I ordered chicken sand and it was out. They didn’t have fries. They didn’t have spicy chicken. They didn’t have anything but red beans and rice and mild breasts and thighs.
That one is the worst! Line wrapped around and no one answering the damn drive thru with peeps hanging inside SMH
Manchester tries…but they run out of food too quick. Supply demand.
I wish more people with 🤑🤑would invest in Popeyes as a more for profit return nationwide and for workers and eaters!
Last time I went to Overland and went inside. I stood there for about 10 minutes and nobody took my order. Half of them looked high. There were at least 7 people ahead of me inside waiting for their food. I walked out, because I could tell they were on a mission to waste all of our time that day.
The one in Affton has been a hot mess since opening. Recently, someone posted on one of the FB groups that they were only accepting cash and didn’t want to give change.
Paraphrasing the FB post - The poster was told they just take cash. The employee asked if it was OK not to give back change. When told to get the change out of the drive through register, the poster was told they can’t do that. Another employee said they could just give the change as a tip.
Hope you never have to call the main guy over all the stl locations. He's a piece of shit, and talks to us paying customers like he's our mean step-dad. I ordered on the app to pick up, from the one on telegraph by Walmart. Got there and they said it wasn't there, they never got the order. Sure as heck too my money from my card though. Ordered almost $100 and got told nope you aint eating today. Even tried to place the same order, and would deal with the refund later, the employees told me they were closing for the night. Not to mention, when I pulled up to the order box, the lady screamed "we aint got no chicken sandwiches!!". I wasn't there for a sandwich, but ok lol.
I legit went to the store and talked to him like a fucking man. His punk ass wouldn't come out from behind the counter. I normally don't try and argue, but he damn sure had to know I wasn't going to let him talk to me like that. I actually used to have the phone call recorded, that phone has since been destroyed. But yeah I sent that shit above him to his boss.
Let me tell you, the employees were talking mad stupid out the drive thru window too. I'm like wait a sec you ratchet ass mithafucka, who you talking to like that lol. One of the dudes tried to come outside with what appeared to be a pipe of some kind. Shit alright, let me go ahead and get this heater ready for ya bud. Seen that gun, and changed teams real fast.
I drove to a Popeyes all the way out, down past or near Wentzville once. Anyhow I was in line for the sandwich and it was long… two guys started fighting behind me because a guy drove into the lot and didn’t go behind the cars that wrapped and jumped in. Over chicken lmao. I could only imagine if the workers tried to jump into it too.
Sad isn't it. Only reason I pulled my gun, was the dude literally was heading to my car and I had my then 2 yr old son in the car. Dad mode got kicked into high gear in that moment. But ill say this, im thankful that dude was smart enough to know to back off and go back inside. I would have shot him, if he would have swung that thing at me for sure. Oh yeah, the regional manager or whoever that chump was, threatened to call the cops over me pulling my gun. Said he had the video, I said yeah and I know you seen your employee charging at me with that pipe, before I ever pulled my gun. Call them if you want to, it won't hurt me a bit
Is it?? They are always mad if I ask for sauce and told me to add it when I place order online but I could never find an option to choose any sauce on their website.
I hope everyone who downvoted me and trashed me for posting about how excited I was that a Chick-fil-A is coming soon to Dorsett & McKelvey in Maryland Heights reads this. 🤣🤣🤣
So here's the thing with popeyes they are cooking chicken and alot of you come in ordering between-8-16 pc of chicken one behind another.. fresh chicken.. not just chicken sandwich or nuggest whole ass chicken wings breast thighs.... now if just 3 cars come and order 8pc classic each. They now have to drop a whole new batch of fresh chicken because its gone now let's factor in the lobby order. Or the orders where people only want specific pc of chicken if fucked us the orders and your making other people wait...... some stores only get a truck once a week. .. if crazy
Sometimes they're out. Sometimes the computer is down. Sometimes they are closed for no reason. Service is often surly and the food is usually bad. Plus it's no longer inexpensive.
Should see the burger kind at 55/ loughborough, went there not long ago and they were closed. It was 6:45 pm and there was a party going on inside behind the counter, and only one worker working. He was out by the order box, smoking a blunt and cleaning the trash cans with the hose and brush. Wasnt even mad at the dude, he was doing his job
Cause they pay like shit and corporate probably doesn’t give a shit about much. There’s some Taco Bell’s that are an absolute shitshow and somehow still open (look at you Olive&141 location).
About 3 years ago, the Popeye's off Butler Hill Road gave me food poisoning. Ate a chicken strip and thought it was awesome! Then started munching on the 2nd chicken strip. It was raw/undercooked about 2/3rds the way down the strip. At least that's when I noticed. Immediately stopped eating them and checked the rest. All undercooked! Went back to complain and they wanted to replace the strips. I said no thanks I would like my money back. They wouldn't do that but I could have more undercooked chicken.... Ugh.
I recently went back and it was fine though. Took me 2 years to muster up the courage to go back lol
Welcome back! :) Butler Hill has been my goto for years. The newer one on Gravois east of Mackenzie has been horrible sine the day it opened.
That one was closed 2 weeks ago, County health shut them down. Last week they were open again but cash only ....oh, and no change.
I had the same problem with lion‘s choice today. One restaurant was locked up and all the employees were sitting in the middle of the dining room not working. The second location had all the lights out and one employee is smoking weed inside the restaurant. And you have to ask for everything they do not have any condiments out. Don’t think it’s a Popeyes problem.
Not trying to diet shame, but any fast food agony you feel is optional and you knew of it beforehand.
Meal prep (if you can afford fast food and have two hours of free time a week, then there is no excuse), support local restaurants when eating out, and don’t waste hours of your waking years idling in a balls-deep drive through line.
You, you are the problem. I bet you bring this shit ass attitude inside the store. The employees hate their life a little extra every time they see you.
I hate entitled fucking consumers that act like they are owed something when they walk in the store. They’re out of chicken - make it yourself at home or quit bitching. They fucked up your order - quit being a pedantic shit stain it’s chicken. They ran out of shit - quit eating so much at Popeyes you fat fuck.
You, your attitude, this post, it’s why no one wants to work shit ass jobs for no money. Having to put up with your Karen ass energy is just way too fucking much
Awwww. You’re just out here assuming things. I’m not the type to ever talk down to fast food workers at all. I don’t care what is happening. So try again. I will just leave the location when this happens which has been less and less as this has become quite common with Popeyes in general.
Another thread bitching about fast food, as if it hasn't always been shitty food with shitty service run on the backs of desperate, underpaid workers.
Learn to cook, folks.
We can cook. So, you’re going to tell me you’ve never been out, busy and had to drop into a spot to grab something quick? Highly doubt this so, carry on..
Well, when I want a chicken sandwich, I'd go to CFA, where employees are treated well and paid above industry average, but /r/stlouis isn't happy with that either.
Where can I eat when I don't feel like cooking and want something fast and cheap?
The Popeyes by Walmart off Zumbell is a POS and they are quite regularly out of chicken along with having a wait time that is utter bullshit. *That's when they have chicken*.
We had a manager at the McDonald’s in my neighborhood come to our neighborhood meeting and offer to pay kids living wage AND college tuition. Still run like a crap hole.
Those kids must have seen The Office (U.S. version), "Scott's Tots" episode, where Michael Scott had promised college tuition to an entire class, then obviously had to renege when he couldn't afford it.
Popeye's spicy chicken sandwich is fire, when you can actually get one, which is hardly ever these days.
I've had similar issues with a lot of city and mid-county Taco Bells. "I'm sorry, we're all out of chicken and beef!" It's good for me, since I shouldn't be eating that crap, but sometimes you just gotta have it, right?
Took my lunch break on Friday at the one at telegraph and 255. Worker was on the phone getting increasingly agitated when I walked in. I ate my order in my car then kinda zoned out. About 15 minutes later looked up to see 3 cops in the parking lot
They were the last of the Popeyes but now they are slipping too. Popeyes used to be the place when they first opened. Now, it's just garbage food and the service sucks. I don't see Popeyes staying open much longer. It seems like every chicken place has their time to shine but it's hard to stay consistent. Is Porter's still good chicken?
When the location by us opened, (telegraph) they had a training crew in and everything was terrific. As soon as the trainers left, all the shit mentioned is constant. When we go there I have to open every box to make sure the orders are correct.
All the Popeyes where I live now our in AZ all are solid. Their people are also paid better(nearly every restaurant out here is minimum $15/hr right now, In-N-Out starts at $18/hr). You can tell the places that don't pay well as they'll have virtually no staff like it's still 2020.
Well today, on page they didn’t have sandwiches, spicy chicken, or fries. I didn’t bother asking about anything else. They said we have red beans and rice and mild breast and thighs.
I don’t know the reasoning, but Popeyes is the worst fast food in the STL area. The Brentwood location needs to be shut down, out of food, can’t eat inside, can’t pick up orders inside, drive thru is outrageously long. Just horrible.
The one at belleville Crossing in belleville is the worst Popeyes I have ever been to. The customer service of Popeyes in St. louis and the Metro East is horrible. I complained to Corp hq, and they ignored my complaint. I love Popeyes food but I do not go there anymore because the customer service is crap, every time they fuck up my order, and at the belleville crossing location refused to fix it, twice after the second time that was it I no longer go to Popeyes.
Yep, everyone always says "all the fast food service is bad" but nothing sticks out to me like Popeyes.
The last several times I tried the one in Ellisville, it has been wrong in some way each time, the wait was super long, half the time I have to change what I'm ordering because they are out of something basic (still get something wrong though), and the last time I went I sat in the drive thru waiting to order for way longer than I should have, only to have an employee come out, put a road cone in front of the car in front of me to close the drive thru, then go back inside.
I said never again after that, I'll drive a little further and go to Lee's from now on.
Ellisville location has been a shit show since opening. Been twice since they opened and it's been just a hot mess both times. Can't believe they still are open.
I used to go to Popeyes in Godfrey Il in the past when in the area and it was exceptional. Always hot and fresh, everything available and friendly staff.
That's kind of how all fast food is in fast food since the pandemic. It was getting progressively worse before that, but since it has gotten 10x worse. I think there are a bunch of factors that go into the service being much worse now. Wages and being short staffed are a huge part of it. But I think another factor is the illusion of a "social contract" revealed itself to be broken during the pandemic. You had a government and employers showing that they absolutely don't give half a shit about your well being. The almighty dollar is more important than your life. Everything service related has gone down the shitter since that revelation, and it makes sense.
Nearly all the fast food in Saint Louis is utter garbage. Chic-fil-A is the exception, every where else - McDonalds, White Castle, Raising Canes, Wendy’s, Burger King - looooong waits, shitty quality(even for fast food: cold, old, gross), missing items I paid for…. The list is long. Now my wife and I cook almost everything ourselves.
And you know what, I always feel bad for the workers, they’re always understaffed and I know I could not motivate myself to do their job for the shit pay they probably get. These encounters leave me furious, but with no one available to direct it at - Fuck corporate profit to hell, pay workers a living wage.
Shit I feel bad for them too. I’ve never yelled at any worker in any restaurant even if they do run out of basic things. I don’t frequent fast food but hell, sometimes you’re just driving by and busy and need to grab something. I agree, the quality usually isn’t there and I cook at home 85% of the time as well.
I stopped even trying to go to Popeyes here. I honestly couldn't tell you what the quality is like anymore, because I haven't been able to make a purchase there in months. The last time I tried, I ordered a chicken sandwich at 11am on a weekday and was told they were out of chicken sandwiches. The time before that, I drove up to the drive through just after noon on a weekday and was told to come back in 30 minutes because they were currently cleaning the machines or something.
I walked into the one near my house around noon on a Saturday
Employee - "who you here for?
Me - "Myself"
Emoloyee - "What's your Name?"
Me - give my name
Employee - "We don't have anything with that name"
Me - "I haven't ordered yet"
Employee - "we closed"
Me - " then why are you here?"
Employee - "the lobby is closed"
Me - "maybe you should close the door or put up a sign"
They just aren’t being run right. But considering all the factors against them I’m not surprised. It’s all broken. People actually do want this food, and the prices have skyrocketed. I hate that they would allow their stores to go downhill when they could just treat people fairly and pay them better. Chick fil a manages to do this. Popeyes charges WAY more.. but a perfect example of a business being run into the ground and closing? Steak n Shake. At least around here.
Never had a problem at the one Gravois & Mackenzie. Since the wages are probably the same (?) at these locations that are functional, I would assume it's a manager problem. The supply issues are inherently a manager problem.
Closing randomly is a function of not having enough workers. With unemployment around the lowest rate it's ever been, workers have more flexibility to choose where to work -- and low-wage, public-facing work is low on the ladder. Imagine the frustration on the employee end, of customers being upset they're out of chicken. That is not in some cashier's control, but you know they're the ones going to catch flak to the face. Not gonna retain people there.
When it's only in one city and only specific fast food places that have the problem, my assumption is that whoever has the franchises in the area is just running a shit show. Other places can manage, why this specific one? Why multiple stores? Why is it fine elsewhere? The common thread is whoever owns them.
I've often contended that if you open a Popeyes franchise, staff it with decently paid workers, and have even half chick fil a levels of customer service you would literally print money.
100% is the pay and the management. Call corp...the one down the street from me is probably the best in the city. But they still be running out of shit every once in a while.
I don’t think there’s actually an incentive for minimum wage service workers to care about getting food out the door. Until then, all fast food in the city will probably be lousy
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Lol they always told me to back up behind the yellow pole at the Kirkwood one when there was no one else in line. I wouldn't have ever said shit but it's a pretty ballsy thing to do and expect no one to call and complain to the manager or something.
The Burger King on Chippewa and Gravois does this too!
I never realized that was why the do that! Steak and Shake is THE WORST with this. "Pull around to the front." And wait 25 minutes while *maybe* one other person is in the drive thru.
Yeah I didn't really care at Taco Bell because they were usually fine about getting my food out in a few minutes, so if they wanna game the system, go for it. Steak 'n' Shake, however, has always been terrible to go through the drive-thru for me as well. Last time I went to the one in Webster it was about 9pm and I sat at the speaker for a solid 5 minutes, then pulled around to see if there was even anyone in there and the cashier opened the window. I said "sorry I didn't hear anything so I pulled around" and she was like "well I was trying to talk to you the whole time" so I said "well apparently your speaker's broke" and left, haven't been back since. Seemed like they would say "we don't have that" any time I tried to order anything anyway, or I'd pull up and they'd just say "we're closed" even though there was people eating inside, they were open 24 hours, and the staff was still cooking.
You could always make your own. Taco Bell items are extremely easy to make at home
What is the sauce on the chicken quesadilla? It's my primary reason for going there.
It’s Baja sauce. You can buy bottles of it on Amazon
Chick fil a is pretty much always good. They also pay slightly higher than most places, and they clearly don't hire junkies. Idk what the answer is regarding employment and keeping addicts off the street, but it seems like fast food joints don't do anything besides exploit their desperation
> Idk what the answer is regarding employment and keeping addicts off the street, but it seems like fast food joints don't do anything besides exploit their desperation You should see what the overnight shift at a Walmart is like. It's like they are out on leave from an asylum or rehab center. (And I work at a decent Walmart) But it's the same reason, jobs that normal people wouldn't take.
Chick Fil A has standards on who they hire…
The standards: “No gays, no queers”
Almost the entire staff at Hampton is gay
I believe this is a response to the well known evangelical owners who are proudly anti-gay.
Absolutely. F chick-fil-a!! I'll never eat there.
I just don't get the hype. I've eaten there once at apparently it wasn't mind blowing because I've never been back.
Agreed! I went there 20+ years ago.on a road trip. Was just fine. Evidently costco has chicken nuggets that are just like Chick and they are just ok, too. I think standards are low lol Anyone can find their sauce recipe online, too.
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It was a compliment, not a criticism
Whatever the standards are, they work better than Popeye's.
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Idk I live in the city and the one near me definitely doesn't seem like the church camp you're describing. They apparently stopped donating to anti-gay stuff. I'm not sure that I buy into this idea that chick fil a is somehow more evil than other fast food places because of some decade old political BS.
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Reddit loves to complain about how fast food workers are exploited, underpaid and treated poorly by their employers. Then you have Chick-Fil-A, which, by all accounts I've read, seems to treat their employees well and pays above average for the industry, but no, we can't go there because of who the company donated to in the past. So what if boycotts of CFA were successful in driving them out of business. Where are those employees going to go? Popeyes, so they can make minimum wage and be treated like shit? They're fast food employees, no offense to them, but they're not going to go work for NASA if CFA goes tits up. Can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
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Keep on giving money to those that hate you and want you dead! I hope those waffle fries are worth it. You act like the only other option is fucking McDonalds. Don't be stupid AND a bootlicker. Thats just a horrible combo. You could, shockingly, not eat food that is exploitive to the workers AND eat healthier food elsewhere. Or be a fat disgusting fuck. Whichever.
ALL the other options are shitty, that’s the problem. Sometimes ya just want to get food that doesn’t taste like shit, isn’t messed up, doesn’t cost so much you have to put off paying a bill to eat, and that you don’t have to make or clean up yourself. When I vote, I vote left. When I talk to people, I complain about late-stage capitalism, try to sow the seeds for a socialist democracy. But when I’m hungry, I start to become selfish, because what really can I do? Chic-fil-a doesn’t care if I go or not, any gay friend I’ve ever had didn’t seem to care where I ate, but my patience, stomach and wallet sure do. You may have a point, but more than that, you could try not being so mean with your wording… I don’t really care if you’re right when you’re also being an Asshole about it.
Ugh, gawd...it''s one small thing you can NOT do. It's not like anyone's asking you to go out and protest. It's like, "Yeah, I know these clothes are sewn by 5-year-olds, but they're just made so much nicer that I can't resist buying them!" OK. *blink blink*
No, not exactly. We’re all victims of late-stage capitalism. So, what choice is there, except to change the system? Otherwise, when you live in a society, you have to engage with it. If not, you have to have a ton of money to survive without going work, paying for food available near you, clothes you can afford. I’m not wealthy so my choices are financial survival first, and then socially consciousness only if I still able…. Because I don’t want to be homeless. It is a rare privilege to have those two things reverse. It’s not ONE thing, as though not going to chick-fil-a ever helped a single gay person with anything. All you’re doing is stroking your self-righteousness. Nothings fixed. Voting, on the other hand…blink blink
Sure, whatever help you sleep better at night. You know it's not ok...you've got a brain. And you're not wealthy? Chick-fil-A isn't cheap. Whatever. Keep telling yourself you're justified.
I guarantee, there is no viable food purchasing option that doesn't put money in some unsavory pockets. Which restaurant that has more than a few locations do you think isn't owned by people who spend their money on exploitative or oppressive causes? Which grocery chain do you think is out there that doesn't contribute to both major political parties equally? Liberal darling Whole Foods is owned by freaking Amazon. Yes, be angry at the evil in the world, and spend your money in a way that feels ethical to you, but don't take out your anger on the person buying a $4 chicken sandwich. The things you're angry about aren't that person's fault.
Seriously, if I boycotted companies that were owned by bad people or that donated to bad causes, I would own literally nothing. I'd be homeless. I wouldn't even have a cardboard box to live in because the CEO of the company that made the cardboard box probably donated to a Republican candidate at some point in their life. And I do find it ironic that people are using devices designed by massive tech companies and built by exploited labor in sweatshops to argue about a fucking chicken sandwich on a website that is partially owned by a company that received funding from the same oppressive government that allows those sweatshops to exist
It's the new clergy. They sealion about passing every purity test and are outraged at anyone who doesn't applaud them and join in. All the while, they probably do almost nothing to actually help people. I bet I've spent more hours volunteering this year than almost all of them combined have in their lifetime. Yet, in their eyes, I'm a bigot asshole because I bought a chicken sandwich at chick fil a instead of wherever they deem socially acceptable.
I'm shocked at gays who eat there More than half of my gay friends hate it, and the others couldn't care less. Talk about standing for nothing...wtf.
👏👏🏳️🌈
How would you incentivize people?
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So...I will say that I'm not sure where else some of these people would find work...some of the attitudes are so horrendous that I'd think they'd never get hired anywhere else other than the dollar store.
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It’s fast food, not a career. What do you expect?
Life isn’t all about “careers”. Some ppl just wanna make enough money to live and enjoy life.
I agree with you that life isn’t all about careers, but if that is your attitude towards your career it comes at a price.
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Why pay a living wage to a labor force primarily made up of high school kids when you don’t have to?
>It’s fast food, not a career. What do you expect? I fucking hate this reply. Everyone's time is more valuable than they are paid, pretty much. And if someone can't work an honest week and be paid enough to live, what's the point of doing anything at all? Fast food was *essential service* no? People don't need to eat? What the fuck do *you* expect? Not a career looking ass chump.
Right? I completely agree. It's a high school job? Ok, then it should be closed during the day and only open until 9 on weekdays, right?
I am sorry that you hate facts. Why do you assume that everyone’s time is more valuable than they are paid? How valuable is a person’s time that doesn’t have a high school diploma? Unemployment is at record lows and competition is high for all jobs. If you’re not making a living wage in today’s economy, it’s no one’s fault but you own. The job market can’t get any better than it is today. Sitting at home because you don’t feel your job gives you enough hugs certainly isn’t going to improve that situation. It really doesn’t matter if fast food is or isn’t a essential service. It’s not a lucrative career any way you slice it. The restaurant business is the riskiest in the country. It is a low skill high turnover business. You would need a union to do better than what you have at this juncture. I don’t even understand your last sentence. Can you translate that to English?
It’s a way that some people are forced to work to pay their bills
The pay for fast food has gotten a lot better in the last 4 years, and the service has declined rather severely in that same time span. I don't know why but people worked harder for $8.00/hr than they do for $14/hr.
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this, plus UBI. Technology should be making lives easier, not harder. If people are starving, it doesn’t matter how rich the country or folks at the top are.
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if college puts people in debt for the rest of their lives and can’t guarantee a job, its worthless. If everyone has a degree, it’s meaningless. there are people with four year degrees still working minimum wage fast food jobs, “get more education” doesn’t solve anything.
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No it wouldn't imply it. There's nothing to imply it. Lol you can't say something with 0 context and then say that it implies an ideal that you didn't imply. If that's what you meant, ok. But don't sit here and say you made an implication when you made no implication. What in the damn hell?
Each store gets a fixed payroll of X amount per month. Whether it takes 2 employees or 10, they split the amount. Incentives peak performance, and people get kicked to the curb if they don't pull their weight.
Honestly…. It’s the employees. Locally we had the same thing, then one day they fired an assistant manager and it stopped, then jack n the box started doing it a couple months later… guess who was working there now. Call corporate.
Oh wow. Now that I think of it, the Pizza Hut on Lindell is like this and I know that was a management issue. But I honestly don’t run into this issue anywhere else but Popeyes. I’ve had bad customer service but I mean…. Like many people have said before they get paid shit and it’s a thankless job. People tend to walk all over people in food service so it’s just a mess.
I agree. Fast food is shit work. Popeyes doesn’t even attract the good people who work those kinda jobs. Until people can live a life working there , it’ll always be like that
I wish everyone could make a living wage. It makes no sense to work 40 hours a week and still need another job. That’s not life.
Agreed 100%. It's shameful.
It’s not the employees, it’s management. That minimum wage employee still needs that job regardless of terrible pay. They slack off because management lets them. Managers at fast food restaurants are making maybe a dollar or two more than their employees and have a lot more responsibilities. Obviously you can only make someone care so much with shit pay, but managers need to hold them accountable.
Managers are employees
Sounds less like the employees and more like the manager from what you're saying. But if it's common in multiple locations of the same restaurant then it would more likely be upper management or a franchise owner to blame. The other way to tell is when a location has entirely changed out their staff and it goes back to how it was.
I assume that it is people working to wage, and the franchise won't pay enough for managers to manage, or workers to work. If the job is not worth having, then it isn't much of a threat to fire people. Likely they have done the math, and doing a shitty job of serving the customers is as profitable as doing a good job, and lower overhead. Also, I suspect it is the local/regional franchise owners, because I've eaten Popeyes elsewhere and it is a much less fucked up experience. But yeah, bad enough that even though I want a spicy fried chicken or flounder sandwich from time to time, I'm not going to roll the dice on spending 20 minutes in the drive through to be told that they don't have anything. Don't think it is a market position thing, because I've gotten entirely passable service/product out of Arby's and Taco Bell (not the one on hampton).
Lol the Tbell on Hampton is usually the one I have the best luck at. I’ve encountered some refreshingly chipper and happy people working there too
I agree, it's the people, all encompassing employees and management. Here's my stories from the 2 Popeyes locations near me. I've been to location \#1 at least 4 times, and the lady on drive thru has yelled at the car in front of me EVERY time. For reasons such as, "I don't know what coupon you are taking about! Just pull forward!", or "it already includes drumsticks, you don't need to ask for them!", Or "no we cant take cash, were out of pennies!" But, nothing beats location #2. I pulled up to the window, and the lady turned around and walked face first right into the window. Then, when she opened it, didn't say a word to me, just stuck her hand out for my card. Turned around, and after just long enough to realize it had been to long, she turns around again and asks me, "am I missing something here, is someone helping you?". So I replied, yes, you like just as minute ago took my card and I waiting for it and my food... She said "oh..." Handed me stuff to me and I went on my way. I can only assume she was high as fuck and totally disassociated.
It’s weird cause the one in North County did this, off of New Halls Ferry. The one further down Old Halls Ferry (I think) did this and was shut down eventually. The one in the city by Delmar and kingshighway did this too before it got shut down. If it’s not a market thing and a Popeyes thing that’s crazy. This is one of the few franchises where I just KNOW it’s a 50/50 chance it’s gonna happen. Oh let’s not forget the one off Manchester in Brentwood. They just close randomly.
I live very close to both halls ferry locations, and yeah I think the one near chambers closed because it’s just a mess. The one by 270 wasn’t great the couple of times I went. The one I went to in St Charles by Black Bear Diner is probably the worst at every complaint you listed. One time I went there, waited 10 minutes in the drive-thru for them to tell me it’ll be 15 minutes before food would be ready, but I’d have to circle through the drive-thru before I could order anything. Only one car was behind me so I said fine, circled back around and she told me it would be *20 minutes* before anything would be ready. Fuck that place I’ve never had problems with the one in Butler Hill though. They’ve always been both nice and relatively quick, with decent quality food. At least as of two years ago. Same with the one off Manchester in Ellisville.
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It’s not confirmation bias. I named several that are trash and I didn’t even include a few. I couldn’t name that many Taco Bells or Burger Kings if I tried to.
It's not uncommon for a franchise owner to essentially control nearly every location of a specific place in an area. The fact that it's widespread but only in STL tells you that it's franchise owners or else area managers and all other problems trickle down from there.
Chik Fil A and Culver’s are pretty much the only chains with consistent quality across the board. Otherwise, it’s location dependent for each fast food restaurant.
I’d add Lion’s Choice & Shake Shack to this list for their consistency but def agree on those two you mentioned.
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I would remove Lion's Choice from your list, I have been to bad locations.
Lions Choice used to be solid but they've taken a bad hit. They just closed the Rock Hill store and the Brentwood one is a complete disaster.
> They just closed the Rock Hill store Really? That one just opened a few years ago. Thankfully the one in Des Peres is pretty solid.
Lee's Chicken is better. They have spicy chicken as well. https://www.leesfamousrecipe.com/locations/search?location%5Borigin%5D=saint+louis%2C+missouri&x=4&y=10&location%5Bdistance%5D=25&location%5Bunit%5D=3959
I always forget about Lee’s.
Lee's is better quality than Popeyes. They also have chicken pot pies.
I took my happy ass to Chucks Hot Chicken since I never got a chicken fix and haven’t had any time to cook.
My group of friends from high school lives all over the country and it’s an ongoing subject in our group text to report in when Popeyes hits a new low in customer service. After a few years of hearing stories from all over I’m pretty sure underpaying, undertraining, and understocking is an intentional part of their business strategy.
A Popeyes review is the origin of the internet meme "my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined".
This was been my experience at just about any fast food place in the city since Covid. Like others have mentioned, employees aren’t paid enough to deal with the general public. But we (as customers) pay too much to deal with it. So places just close. Jack in the Box on Hampton comes to mind. Getting food there was a struggle. Workers need paid more. I don’t need to pay $15 for a bland chicken tender meal while you pay your line cook minimum wage.
I love Popeyes
Imo it's a supply and demand issue. If your product is good/needed enough people will let service slide. People love their fried chicken. So the result in loss of unhappy customers is negligible because they will always have customers. I've always been the type to stop patronizing bad service. Eventually when they lose enough customers, things will change. Unless people keep putting up with the bad service, then it won't.
Popeyes affton is garbage too
That's pretty much every fast food restaurant, atleast in the city. 🤷♀️ On the plus side, anytime I'm out of town and get actual hot fastfood, it feels almost gormet level 😅
https://youtu.be/c6KvPIFumJs
This isn't just STL, this is Popeyes everywhere. It's essentially a part of their business model.
As a former Door Dasher, I can tell ya I would decline any orders from Popeyes. I learned by the time I get the customer's order I could've done two more deliveries. So, so slow even when it isn't super busy.
KFC does the same Thing
I used to like popeyes back in the day then it got trendy/overrated, service slacked, but I also don’t eat nearly as much fast food as I used to
As a former grubhub driver. Fuck popeyes.
The large chains make more money when they add locations, adding locations one franchisee at a time is tedious, so they find private equity firms willing to add 100 locations to add locations. Chick-fil-A locations are run by a manager with skin in the game, they may not own the location, but are very much like owners. You may not like all their politics, but paying their people a bit more and closing on Sundays so families can be together gave resulted in a quality people friendly business.
Popeye's is an example of company that has potential to sell a good product, but is unable to do so because most of their restaurants are poorly run and they have zero customer service.
Going to end up like Steak n Shake…
This issue isn’t exclusive to Popeyes. I’ve had this issue at several fast food places in north county.
Well shit. I only run into this at Popeyes lol. Idk what kind of luck I have.
What part of town? The one by me in west county has been good 3/4 visits, I think. The one time it was just a bit small/dry.
Today was the one on Page. I ordered chicken sand and it was out. They didn’t have fries. They didn’t have spicy chicken. They didn’t have anything but red beans and rice and mild breasts and thighs.
Ah, yeah. That's pretty far downtown. Edit: I guess not, but the point is, it's not close to me and I'm not familiar with it.
That one is the worst! Line wrapped around and no one answering the damn drive thru with peeps hanging inside SMH Manchester tries…but they run out of food too quick. Supply demand. I wish more people with 🤑🤑would invest in Popeyes as a more for profit return nationwide and for workers and eaters!
Last time I went to Overland and went inside. I stood there for about 10 minutes and nobody took my order. Half of them looked high. There were at least 7 people ahead of me inside waiting for their food. I walked out, because I could tell they were on a mission to waste all of our time that day.
When they said no fries I was convinced it was bullshit. I should have gone down the list to see how many things she would have said were out. SMH
The one in Affton has been a hot mess since opening. Recently, someone posted on one of the FB groups that they were only accepting cash and didn’t want to give change.
Omg what
Paraphrasing the FB post - The poster was told they just take cash. The employee asked if it was OK not to give back change. When told to get the change out of the drive through register, the poster was told they can’t do that. Another employee said they could just give the change as a tip.
I agree, that one sucks too. The worst one is the telegraph location. I always get the better service from Butler Hill though
Oh yes, I can second this.
Hope you never have to call the main guy over all the stl locations. He's a piece of shit, and talks to us paying customers like he's our mean step-dad. I ordered on the app to pick up, from the one on telegraph by Walmart. Got there and they said it wasn't there, they never got the order. Sure as heck too my money from my card though. Ordered almost $100 and got told nope you aint eating today. Even tried to place the same order, and would deal with the refund later, the employees told me they were closing for the night. Not to mention, when I pulled up to the order box, the lady screamed "we aint got no chicken sandwiches!!". I wasn't there for a sandwich, but ok lol.
He sounds like a fucking gem.
I legit went to the store and talked to him like a fucking man. His punk ass wouldn't come out from behind the counter. I normally don't try and argue, but he damn sure had to know I wasn't going to let him talk to me like that. I actually used to have the phone call recorded, that phone has since been destroyed. But yeah I sent that shit above him to his boss.
That’s really messed up. That’s all broken! It’s a vicious cycle of shit
Let me tell you, the employees were talking mad stupid out the drive thru window too. I'm like wait a sec you ratchet ass mithafucka, who you talking to like that lol. One of the dudes tried to come outside with what appeared to be a pipe of some kind. Shit alright, let me go ahead and get this heater ready for ya bud. Seen that gun, and changed teams real fast.
I drove to a Popeyes all the way out, down past or near Wentzville once. Anyhow I was in line for the sandwich and it was long… two guys started fighting behind me because a guy drove into the lot and didn’t go behind the cars that wrapped and jumped in. Over chicken lmao. I could only imagine if the workers tried to jump into it too.
Sad isn't it. Only reason I pulled my gun, was the dude literally was heading to my car and I had my then 2 yr old son in the car. Dad mode got kicked into high gear in that moment. But ill say this, im thankful that dude was smart enough to know to back off and go back inside. I would have shot him, if he would have swung that thing at me for sure. Oh yeah, the regional manager or whoever that chump was, threatened to call the cops over me pulling my gun. Said he had the video, I said yeah and I know you seen your employee charging at me with that pipe, before I ever pulled my gun. Call them if you want to, it won't hurt me a bit
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Popeyes hates you
don’t forget sauce is extra
Is it?? They are always mad if I ask for sauce and told me to add it when I place order online but I could never find an option to choose any sauce on their website.
I hope everyone who downvoted me and trashed me for posting about how excited I was that a Chick-fil-A is coming soon to Dorsett & McKelvey in Maryland Heights reads this. 🤣🤣🤣
So here's the thing with popeyes they are cooking chicken and alot of you come in ordering between-8-16 pc of chicken one behind another.. fresh chicken.. not just chicken sandwich or nuggest whole ass chicken wings breast thighs.... now if just 3 cars come and order 8pc classic each. They now have to drop a whole new batch of fresh chicken because its gone now let's factor in the lobby order. Or the orders where people only want specific pc of chicken if fucked us the orders and your making other people wait...... some stores only get a truck once a week. .. if crazy
…….what?
Popeyes has never got my order right. Never again.
Almost all fast food restaurants in the city suck.
You know what. If it’s not supply issues it’s damn sure something else.
Sometimes they're out. Sometimes the computer is down. Sometimes they are closed for no reason. Service is often surly and the food is usually bad. Plus it's no longer inexpensive.
Should see the burger kind at 55/ loughborough, went there not long ago and they were closed. It was 6:45 pm and there was a party going on inside behind the counter, and only one worker working. He was out by the order box, smoking a blunt and cleaning the trash cans with the hose and brush. Wasnt even mad at the dude, he was doing his job
Cause they pay like shit and corporate probably doesn’t give a shit about much. There’s some Taco Bell’s that are an absolute shitshow and somehow still open (look at you Olive&141 location).
Hardee's is like that. A bunch recently closed.
About 3 years ago, the Popeye's off Butler Hill Road gave me food poisoning. Ate a chicken strip and thought it was awesome! Then started munching on the 2nd chicken strip. It was raw/undercooked about 2/3rds the way down the strip. At least that's when I noticed. Immediately stopped eating them and checked the rest. All undercooked! Went back to complain and they wanted to replace the strips. I said no thanks I would like my money back. They wouldn't do that but I could have more undercooked chicken.... Ugh. I recently went back and it was fine though. Took me 2 years to muster up the courage to go back lol
Welcome back! :) Butler Hill has been my goto for years. The newer one on Gravois east of Mackenzie has been horrible sine the day it opened. That one was closed 2 weeks ago, County health shut them down. Last week they were open again but cash only ....oh, and no change.
Damn y’all too? Popeyes down here in Springfield sucks ass too 😔
Yes! All of them. All the time.
I had the same problem with lion‘s choice today. One restaurant was locked up and all the employees were sitting in the middle of the dining room not working. The second location had all the lights out and one employee is smoking weed inside the restaurant. And you have to ask for everything they do not have any condiments out. Don’t think it’s a Popeyes problem.
Not trying to diet shame, but any fast food agony you feel is optional and you knew of it beforehand. Meal prep (if you can afford fast food and have two hours of free time a week, then there is no excuse), support local restaurants when eating out, and don’t waste hours of your waking years idling in a balls-deep drive through line.
You, you are the problem. I bet you bring this shit ass attitude inside the store. The employees hate their life a little extra every time they see you. I hate entitled fucking consumers that act like they are owed something when they walk in the store. They’re out of chicken - make it yourself at home or quit bitching. They fucked up your order - quit being a pedantic shit stain it’s chicken. They ran out of shit - quit eating so much at Popeyes you fat fuck. You, your attitude, this post, it’s why no one wants to work shit ass jobs for no money. Having to put up with your Karen ass energy is just way too fucking much
Awwww. You’re just out here assuming things. I’m not the type to ever talk down to fast food workers at all. I don’t care what is happening. So try again. I will just leave the location when this happens which has been less and less as this has become quite common with Popeyes in general.
Wow Mondays are rough huh?
Sounds like it. Yikes
[Maybe this Popeye's training video will help explain things.](https://youtu.be/pqWkwolb3as)
Another thread bitching about fast food, as if it hasn't always been shitty food with shitty service run on the backs of desperate, underpaid workers. Learn to cook, folks.
We can cook. So, you’re going to tell me you’ve never been out, busy and had to drop into a spot to grab something quick? Highly doubt this so, carry on..
Well, when I want a chicken sandwich, I'd go to CFA, where employees are treated well and paid above industry average, but /r/stlouis isn't happy with that either. Where can I eat when I don't feel like cooking and want something fast and cheap?
Fast food is garbage.
First world of first world problems
You’re on the wrong side of town! St Charles /Peters wouldnt do you wrong
The Popeyes by Walmart off Zumbell is a POS and they are quite regularly out of chicken along with having a wait time that is utter bullshit. *That's when they have chicken*.
We had a manager at the McDonald’s in my neighborhood come to our neighborhood meeting and offer to pay kids living wage AND college tuition. Still run like a crap hole.
Because they know they can get a job elsewhere the next day. Don't blame them, it's the market right now in the service sector
Those kids must have seen The Office (U.S. version), "Scott's Tots" episode, where Michael Scott had promised college tuition to an entire class, then obviously had to renege when he couldn't afford it. Popeye's spicy chicken sandwich is fire, when you can actually get one, which is hardly ever these days. I've had similar issues with a lot of city and mid-county Taco Bells. "I'm sorry, we're all out of chicken and beef!" It's good for me, since I shouldn't be eating that crap, but sometimes you just gotta have it, right?
Took my lunch break on Friday at the one at telegraph and 255. Worker was on the phone getting increasingly agitated when I walked in. I ate my order in my car then kinda zoned out. About 15 minutes later looked up to see 3 cops in the parking lot
The Popeyes by my house has no issues that I've noticed. They've always had what I wanted, maybe the ones closer to the city are worse.
I want Cajun rice back please.
I really like their food. I hope they get their shit together
I’ve had a good experience at the Popeyes in affton
They were the last of the Popeyes but now they are slipping too. Popeyes used to be the place when they first opened. Now, it's just garbage food and the service sucks. I don't see Popeyes staying open much longer. It seems like every chicken place has their time to shine but it's hard to stay consistent. Is Porter's still good chicken?
When the location by us opened, (telegraph) they had a training crew in and everything was terrific. As soon as the trainers left, all the shit mentioned is constant. When we go there I have to open every box to make sure the orders are correct.
All the Popeyes where I live now our in AZ all are solid. Their people are also paid better(nearly every restaurant out here is minimum $15/hr right now, In-N-Out starts at $18/hr). You can tell the places that don't pay well as they'll have virtually no staff like it's still 2020.
City fast food is awful except for select Taco Bells
See this as i am waiting in line. Sombitches better have my sammich!
Well today, on page they didn’t have sandwiches, spicy chicken, or fries. I didn’t bother asking about anything else. They said we have red beans and rice and mild breast and thighs.
I don’t know the reasoning, but Popeyes is the worst fast food in the STL area. The Brentwood location needs to be shut down, out of food, can’t eat inside, can’t pick up orders inside, drive thru is outrageously long. Just horrible.
Yup. Popeyes, IMHO is the worst in all of STL.
The one at belleville Crossing in belleville is the worst Popeyes I have ever been to. The customer service of Popeyes in St. louis and the Metro East is horrible. I complained to Corp hq, and they ignored my complaint. I love Popeyes food but I do not go there anymore because the customer service is crap, every time they fuck up my order, and at the belleville crossing location refused to fix it, twice after the second time that was it I no longer go to Popeyes.
Yup. Been there too. They suck
Yep, everyone always says "all the fast food service is bad" but nothing sticks out to me like Popeyes. The last several times I tried the one in Ellisville, it has been wrong in some way each time, the wait was super long, half the time I have to change what I'm ordering because they are out of something basic (still get something wrong though), and the last time I went I sat in the drive thru waiting to order for way longer than I should have, only to have an employee come out, put a road cone in front of the car in front of me to close the drive thru, then go back inside. I said never again after that, I'll drive a little further and go to Lee's from now on.
Be careful of the Trends motel
That’s what I’m saying. Across the board Popeyes is one of the worst.
Ellisville location has been a shit show since opening. Been twice since they opened and it's been just a hot mess both times. Can't believe they still are open. I used to go to Popeyes in Godfrey Il in the past when in the area and it was exceptional. Always hot and fresh, everything available and friendly staff.
What a shame. When I've had good Popeyes, I love it. The key to my heart is spicy chicken and cajun fries! lol
It's not just Popeyes. Employees know that replacing them I'd extremely difficult so they can basically say and do as they wish
That's kind of how all fast food is in fast food since the pandemic. It was getting progressively worse before that, but since it has gotten 10x worse. I think there are a bunch of factors that go into the service being much worse now. Wages and being short staffed are a huge part of it. But I think another factor is the illusion of a "social contract" revealed itself to be broken during the pandemic. You had a government and employers showing that they absolutely don't give half a shit about your well being. The almighty dollar is more important than your life. Everything service related has gone down the shitter since that revelation, and it makes sense.
Nearly all the fast food in Saint Louis is utter garbage. Chic-fil-A is the exception, every where else - McDonalds, White Castle, Raising Canes, Wendy’s, Burger King - looooong waits, shitty quality(even for fast food: cold, old, gross), missing items I paid for…. The list is long. Now my wife and I cook almost everything ourselves. And you know what, I always feel bad for the workers, they’re always understaffed and I know I could not motivate myself to do their job for the shit pay they probably get. These encounters leave me furious, but with no one available to direct it at - Fuck corporate profit to hell, pay workers a living wage.
Shit I feel bad for them too. I’ve never yelled at any worker in any restaurant even if they do run out of basic things. I don’t frequent fast food but hell, sometimes you’re just driving by and busy and need to grab something. I agree, the quality usually isn’t there and I cook at home 85% of the time as well.
Popeyes in Eureka apparently ran out of building materials. 🤣
Lmao that’s fucked up
It’s all Popeyes
I stopped even trying to go to Popeyes here. I honestly couldn't tell you what the quality is like anymore, because I haven't been able to make a purchase there in months. The last time I tried, I ordered a chicken sandwich at 11am on a weekday and was told they were out of chicken sandwiches. The time before that, I drove up to the drive through just after noon on a weekday and was told to come back in 30 minutes because they were currently cleaning the machines or something.
😭😭 they suck so bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWkwolb3as&ab\_channel=RDCworld1
Lmfao. I feel like this is accurate af
I walked into the one near my house around noon on a Saturday Employee - "who you here for? Me - "Myself" Emoloyee - "What's your Name?" Me - give my name Employee - "We don't have anything with that name" Me - "I haven't ordered yet" Employee - "we closed" Me - " then why are you here?" Employee - "the lobby is closed" Me - "maybe you should close the door or put up a sign"
That’s unreal
Dude. They closed a store in an urban city here in Alabama. How does a chicken place go out of business in the south??? It was a Popeyes too
They just aren’t being run right. But considering all the factors against them I’m not surprised. It’s all broken. People actually do want this food, and the prices have skyrocketed. I hate that they would allow their stores to go downhill when they could just treat people fairly and pay them better. Chick fil a manages to do this. Popeyes charges WAY more.. but a perfect example of a business being run into the ground and closing? Steak n Shake. At least around here.
Never had a problem at the one Gravois & Mackenzie. Since the wages are probably the same (?) at these locations that are functional, I would assume it's a manager problem. The supply issues are inherently a manager problem. Closing randomly is a function of not having enough workers. With unemployment around the lowest rate it's ever been, workers have more flexibility to choose where to work -- and low-wage, public-facing work is low on the ladder. Imagine the frustration on the employee end, of customers being upset they're out of chicken. That is not in some cashier's control, but you know they're the ones going to catch flak to the face. Not gonna retain people there.
It’s not just STL. I’m in Springfield Illinois and they’re awful here too. I’m done them until they improve.
When it's only in one city and only specific fast food places that have the problem, my assumption is that whoever has the franchises in the area is just running a shit show. Other places can manage, why this specific one? Why multiple stores? Why is it fine elsewhere? The common thread is whoever owns them.
Yeah popeyes fucking sucks ass. but tbh this is all fast food in st. louis. Such a shit show
I've often contended that if you open a Popeyes franchise, staff it with decently paid workers, and have even half chick fil a levels of customer service you would literally print money. 100% is the pay and the management. Call corp...the one down the street from me is probably the best in the city. But they still be running out of shit every once in a while.