Consumerist
badvertising
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coupon madness
Pizza Hut Coupons Let You Choose To Be An Idiot If You Want
While digging around on the Pizza Hut website's deals section, Jacob found this murderers' row of pizza coupons, which lets you get a large one-topping pizza for $9.99, $10.99 or $11.99 — your choice! He writes: More » -
here come the cops
This Chuck E. Cheese Restaurant Really Knows How To Party
Police had to respond to three separate incidents in one day this past Saturday at the Chuck E. Cheese in Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania, according The Patriot-News. We hope the police got some free slices or skee-ball tickets on that last call. Well maybe just free skee-ball tickets. More » -
pizza
Unlimited Pizza Toppings - Limit: Five Toppings
While it's true that the laws of physics limit how many toppings one really can put on a pizza, reader Andrew in Austin was still amused to read this ad for Gatti's which features "unlimited" toppings with a limit of five toppings. More » -
kristy and michael
Infamous Domino's Where Gross-Out Video Was Recorded Closes Doors
Remember that Domino's Pizza, the one in North Carolina where Kristy and Michael recorded themselves doing gross things to the food? The Charlotte Observer has reported that the location has gone out of business, at least for now—"closed signs have been placed in the windows and the phone has been disconnected."
"Infamous Domino's location closes doors" [Charlotte Observer] (Thanks to Timothy!)
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contests
Papa John's Camaro Drives To Court
We all should have known that at the intersection of a long-lost car, a multi-national pizza chain, and a huge cash reward, there would be litigation. Papa John's owner John Schnatter offered a $250,000 reward for his 1971 Camaro. A couple who formerly owned the car helped Schnatter track it down, but didn't receive the reward because they didn't hold the car's title. They did receive a $25,000 "finder's fee," but claim that the reward should rightfully be theirs. Now the company and the couple are suing each other. [WKLY] (Thanks, Becky!)
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franchises
Not All Camaro Owners Got Free Pizza From Papa John's
Like Quizno's and KFC before them, Papa John's went and set up a cute promotion without making sure that all of their franchisees have signed on. Papa John's founder John Schnatter was reunited with his long-lost 1971 Camaro, and to celebrate, promised free pizza to anyone who drove up to a Papa John's restaurant in a Camaro. Except, you guessed it, not at all Papa John's locations. More » -
recalls
Kraft Frozen Pizzas Recalled in 17 States
Time to check the freezer. Kraft, Jack's Original, Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza, Made with Pork, Chicken & Beef is being recalled because it might contain "a soy protein allergen." In other words, Kraft needs to warn carnivores that they may be eating soy. More » -
ripoffs
Dallas Cowboys' New Stadium Offers $90 Pizza With No Toppings
If man were to dig a fancy pit that rich people would fight to throw money into, we suppose it would look a lot like the Dallas Cowboys' new $1.2 billion stadium. For only $800,000 you can rent a suite that doesn't include tickets to the game — or food and drink. More » -
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free stuff
Free Food From Pizza Hut Via Twitter And Facebook
The new Pizza Hut social media intern has her first assignment, and it's to give out codes for free stuffed pizza rolls to the company's followers on Twitter and Facebook. Let's hope they've planned ahead better than KFC did. [Mashable] (Thanks, David!)
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rebranding
Pizza Hut Tries To Avoid Blame For Its Pizza, Shortens Name To "The Hut"
Update: To clarify, Pizza Hut isn't changing its name. It's co-adopting "The Hut" is a secondary branding mark, or something like that. (Thanks to William!) More » -
is it lunchtime yet?
Food Advertising Reality Check: Pizza And Burger Edition
This doesn't quite qualify as "unacceptable food." More like "food that doesn't look quite like depicted in the ads." We bring disappointing photographs of a frozen pizza from fancy-pants grocer Whole Foods, and a humble cheeseburger from Jack in the Box. More » -
mascot assault
Man Assaults Chuck E. Cheese During Kiddie Attack
A 34-year-old man in Massachusetts will pay a $500 fine for ripping off the head of Chuck E. Cheese and yelling at the guy inside, says WBZTV. The man was angry that Cheese had allegedly pinned his child against a video game machine while trying to escape a swarm of children who were hopped up on skee-ball and pizza. More » -
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apologies
Former Domino's YouTube Gross Out Girl Can't Get A Job Now
Kristy Hammonds, the woman who filmed her friend Michael doing inappropriate things to the food they were supposed to be preparing, needs a job to feed her two kids. She says she's been trying to get work at other fast food restaurants, though, which might be part of the problem. More » -
takeout
Campusfood's 75 Cent Service Fee Annoys College Students, Restaurant Owners
UPDATE: Consumer Victory! Campusfood's "Service Fees" Disappear
I live in the dysfunctional, pothole-riddled college town of Albany, NY. When I want to order takeout food with a minimum of human interaction, I use the Web site Campusfood. I've used them since 2005, and was happy with them...until last week.
See, all is not well with the Campusfood business model, and they've made some changes that have irked restaurant owners and customers alike. More »
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free stuff
Consumerist Detectives Get Coupons For Free Dominos Pizza For A Year
AdAge has interviewed the Consumerist commenting detectives who tracked down the Domino's pizza YouTube food tainters, and it turns out they've been rewarded with free pizza. More » -
domino's
Arrest Warrants Issued For Domino's Outlaws Kristy And Michael, While Domino's Prez Apologizes Online
The saga of Kristy and Michael, the two (former) Domino's employees whose on-the-job shenanigans made it to YouTube earlier this week, continues. Now there are warrants out for their arrests, and Domino's says it plans to sue them. Seriously, if you work in the food industry and are nursing some grudges, just... try to hold them in until you can find a job better suited to you. More » -
pizza
Domino's Accidentally Gives Away 11,000 Pizzas in Bailout Promotion
This morning, Rick Broida posted a great deal from ubiquitous pizza chain Domino's at his Cheapskate blog on CNET. Customers could get a free one-topping pizza (carryout only) by ordering online and using the coupon code "BAILOUT."
The problem: It never was intended to be a real promotion. More »
