I don't really understand why one would need to pre-order a Papa Murphy's pizza to begin with. I think the longest I've ever waited for one that I've ordered in the store is about 3 minutes. You have to go to the store to pick it up anyway, why not just order it when you get there?

Oooooo, bitter much?

Seriously, we just had one of these open right near our house. Have gone there at least three times, phoning ahead each time, and laugh at the poor schlubs waiting in line to order, then walk right up to the register and give them my name. Under five minutes later I'm walking out the door with my pizza pie.

And this is with a brand new store staffed entirely by high school kids, all still learning how to do it.

If you don't like it, you haven't paid yet. Wait as long as you feel appropriate, then leave. You don't pay until the pizza is in hand.

Wow - I've never, ever had this problem and I get Papa Murphy's all the time. I'm pretty sure this is just one location that's screwing up like this.

As far as the cost gripe in that blog... Papa Murphy's similar in price to Domino's or Papa John's or whatever, but the difference in quality is huge. They use excellent ingredients and don't skimp on them.

Wow, now I'm hungry. Thanks a lot, Consumerist.

@DrWebster: Maybe they thought it would be faster if they ordered ahead, so it would already be ready when they showed up.

I would have left after the first 20 minutes. What is the sense in waiting 80??

@Meat_Shield: They can't just leave, they've already paid (in step 2)

Off-topic: I just love how other pizza chains [Uno, Papa Gino's, etc.] at least try to sound Italian when naming their company which specializes in a food strongly associated by our cuture with Italian cuisine. What name do these guys use? Murphy. The first time I heard of them selling pizza under an Irish-based brand name I couldn't help but laugh. [Nothin' against the Irish, I am one myself.]

why not just order it when you get there? Because you SHOULD have to wait while they fix the phone-in orders first.

The whole concept of Papa Murphy's baffles me. Why the hell would I order a pizza I have to bake myself at home? It is a buttload cheaper if I was going to bake a pizza at home to just make it myself or even get one from the local grocery store (frozen or also freshly made at most grocers). I had someone bring one of these pizzas to an event I was at and could honestly say it did not taste any different than the same crap bake at home pizza Wal-mart sells.

Especially 80+minutes hell if Pizza hut takes more than a half-hour on a fully cooked one I make them eat the cost (and never pay for a pizza up-front).

Wait what is the advantage of using this place at all?

Gahk. Something ate my previous post.

Sorry Shawna, missed that in the post. At my location, you don't pay until the pizza is in hand.

DRWEBSTER: my location (probably because it is still new) always has fifteen deep at the walk in line when I go there.

I had this exact same problem with Wings over Newington in CT on Superbowl Sunday. I sent them an email on Monday and still have yet to get a response.

I've been eating at Papa Murphy's for years. I've never waited more than 5 minutes for a pizza. It's great if you want to pick it up early in the day to eat later at night, they have a great selection of fresh toppings, you don't have to pay for delivery, you don't have to tip, and you don't have to wait for some kid to get lost trying to find your house. You get your pizza fresh out of the oven.

Really, why would you choose anything else? This incident is the exception, not the rule.

I've got a suggestion to insert into your list.

New Step 11: Take your thumb out of your ass and go to the counter and actually ask how long your pizza will be.

Seriously, you waited for a freaking hour without even bothering to ask what the hold up is? Idiot...

Honestly, this is as bad as those pathetic loosers who complain "awwww, girls don't like me, they only like assholes, nice guys finish last, etc." but never even bother to as a freaking girl out! Gaaaaaaaaa!
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I need a drink...

@smitty1123: Assert ones self? Can't someone else do it?

I had a party last night, and made 3 pizzas using refrigerated dough. I used fresh toppings of my own choosing, didn't leave the house, and it took 14 minutes. I spent about $6. I really cannot understand spending $10+ on pre-made frozen pizza that you have to pick up.

@Bay State Darren: Next up: Murphy's Sushi 'n Steak!

Hey here's my pizza making tip for the week. If you buy some pizza dough like Alison said - just go to the salad bar for your toppings - instead of buying veggies and chopping them up.

Slather on the sauce and spread on the toppings, and bam you're done.

uhm, it's not delivery, it's DiGiorno's?

Or, better idea: Go to a locally owned and operated pizza joint, buy dough from them. Top with whatever you like and bake at home. Life is good.

@DrWebster: Seconded. It's always been faster to walk in, as this clearly proves.

@shawna_m: It never is. In the four or five times I phoned ahead it was ready and waiting once. I just show up now.

@shan6: It's relatively cheap and good quality (for what it is compared to my alternatives.)

@Meat_Shield: It's all in the timing I think. I usually drop in mine at around 7:00 and it's crickets.

So let me get this straight. They have a business where they sell pizza, and you have to bake it yourself? And that is all they sell?

What state is this located in? It would go out of business in a week if it was here in New York.

Obviously, if you have to bake it yourself, you own an oven. So in the 80 minutes this blogger spent, He could've made his own dough, and his own tomato sauce added some cheese, and various toppings. It probably would've tasted better, and he could take pride in the fact that he made his own pizza.

The one we had here in C'dale, was in wallyworld and was good, but lasted less than 6 months. Kinda sad, but not really. I miss any CHICAGO pizza, best in the world.

@causticitty: Same here, I'd be gone. Eighty minutes of my life that way, no way.

@AlisonAshleigh: They're not frozen or pre-made.

@PotKettleBlack: Much like in the Domino's threads, local mom-and pops are few and far between for me. Pizza Schmizza is close, but is considered "Gourmet" and more expensive.

The main problem I've seen across multiple PMs is that they're staffed by powerless and barely trained employees. That's fine when things are going smoothly, but problems send them into the weeds. Watching them struggle with errant orders or special requests can be trying.

Last time I went to pick up my order I had to wait for a dispute between the teen cashier and a guy with an undated coupon. Teen: It's expired. Him: There's no date, how can you tell? Repeat. Eye-roll. Criminy, GIVE HIM THE DOLLAR OFF AND LET THE REST OF US GET HOME!

As for making something better at home, I agree it's easy, but about once a month at the end of a long day I'm the last guy to want to go shopping. I appreciate being able to call PM on my way, then call home to have the oven pre-heated. Bang, done. Unless there's a dreaded "coupon event."

Sometimes it just takes a while to get sufficiently baked.

This is my favorite story: Ordered Papa John's (2 pizza deal) on the internet at 5:55 pm. Arrived at store at 6:25. Line of people...wait. Asked to pick up my order. Man said come back in 10 minutes. Um..ok. Sat in my truck for 15 minutes. Went back inside. Line of people again...wait. Finally get to the register. Man looks around, looks at tickets...rushes to the back..slops together 1 pizza and tosses it in the oven. Says it will be ready in 15 minutes. Umm...
#1.I ordered TWO pizzas
#2.I want them made well...not thrown together.
#3.It is now 7pm.

Got my money back, and haven't been back since. I've seen a sign outside of that store this week that made my day though: "Give us another chance. Under new management".

I never liked their process; the wait was always surprisingly long for something that is supposed to be super-quick. Also, the crust always comes out gummy, no matter how I cook it. I don't go there anymore.

That happened to me. Called ahead to order, was told it would be roughly 2 hours, just about told them where to put it... got in the car, drove about 30 seconds down the street, and was home within 5 minutes with the pizza that I had ordered upon walking in.

OP went wrong with step 2. You don't pay until you have the pizza. Seriously, how hard is it to ask if your order is ready before you pay? If it's not ready, simply ask that they take 2 minutes to assemble the pizza (just as if you walked in off the street).

Or try the drive through. Ours has one and it takes priority over phone orders and walk-ins.

As to what do they offer? Ours regularly sells 16" pepperoni pizzas for $5. Extra toppings are usually $0.50 to $1.00 more, each.

From order to eating (including travel and cooking time) it's about 30 minutes for a pizza that tastes better than Dominos or Pizza Hut, for $5 less, and a couple of pennies more than it would cost to make yourself.

We had one open up about two years ago around here. They have this stupid ordering system that "requires" your name and address and phone number, even if you walk on in to order ...

I am now known as "Santa" in the system, as they do NOT need my information.

And to answer some people who said you can make the same thing at home ... try actually EATYING poppa murphy's pizza for once ... you can tell some ingredients they use are not available to the general public ...

I simply cannot imagine sitting on my butt for 80 minutes, twiddling my thumbs, wondering where my pizza is, and NOT ASKING SOMEONE what was taking so long.

@Bay State Darren: My sentiments exactly! In what land would a proprietor named "Murphy" make a decent pizza? Happy that there's no need for this malarchy (sp) on our happy island paradise.

@SpdRacer: No more Quatro's eh? That stuff ruled when I was a Saluki.

I've had Papa Murphy's pizza before. Know what the "secret" ingredient is that distinguishes a good pizza from the kind most people make at home? Most people buy part-skim mozzarella cheese. Try buying whole milk mozzarella instead. Then your home-made can taste just as good as the pizza restaurant pizzas.

@AlisonAshleigh: Wow - you didnt have to leave the house to buy pizza dough or fresh toppings? Do you have a pepperoni tree in your back yard?

@Shannara: And to answer some people who said you can make the same thing at home ... try actually EATYING poppa murphy's pizza for once ... you can tell some ingredients they use are not available to the general public ...

Yeah, like industrial-grade emulsifiers and preservatives. Their pizza does not taste right to me.

@ everyone that says cooking your own is cheaper...what are you putting on it? Where do you buy that stuff?
Me, I like toppings. Not just cheese, if I were to make my own pizza I would have to buy: Dough, sauce, peppers, onions, ham/canadian bacon, regular bacon, ground beef, cheeses, and mushrooms.

Hmmm, I think the 10 dollar mark has been passed at that point.

@thatgirlinnewyork: So... Goldstein's Dim Sum Palace is a probably not worth checking out? Thanks!

(And Luigi's Kosher Deli, too, I'd bet.)

@xerloq: "From order to eating (including travel and cooking time) it's about 30 minutes for a pizza that tastes better than Dominos or Pizza Hut"
That's not really saying much at all.

So it's better than the worst pizza I've ever had in my entire life? A ringing endorsement.

Perhaps I am just spoiled living in New York, where in every town, there are at least a dozen good pizzerias.
I can't even begin to understand how Pizza hut or Domino's could stay in business in New York.

I really like Papa Murphy's. We have another place in Columbus called Mama Mimi's, and it's quite good. Blue cheese, caramelized onions, and apricot marmalade pizza...mmm

@rrich: I would eat at Goldsteins, I bet their shrimp fried rice would be the sh*t.

@Lo-Pan: forgot pepperoni.

@suburbancowboy: Because their pizzas are inexpensive and not terrible. I like Pizza Hut a lot except for it is usually very salty (to me).

And Linda McCartney's Steak House probably isn't very good either, come to think of it.

i go to papa murphys up the street but then see the line and go to local mexican food chain and get three meals for the price of a pizza lol........

i just checked my papa murphys has lower health food scores then the mexican food place lol

@Lo-Pan: Good point. A natural affinity for Chinese food. Not debateable.

Of course, I remember going to Chinese restaurants in Brooklyn as a kid that had kreplach on the menu, so there ya go.

Sorry but buying a take and back pizza is stupid in the first place and then on top of that ordering ahead of time 20 MINUTES! Should have just hit up one of the local mom and pop shops in the area for the same price and just as fast.