Chinese+Netizens+Protest+KFC's+Credibility+Crisis

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 =Chinese Netizens Protest KFC’s Credibility Crisis= //by [|VERONICA] on 2010/04/14// //in [|CHINA MODERN CULTURE] // KFC is probably now facing one of its biggest ePR crises in China now. Failure to deliver a promised, half-price discount on a Family Value Barrel has sent the fast food giant into damage control mode. It seems no matter how hard KFC tries to cozy up to its Chinese consumers by coming up with unbelievably localized products- fried dough sticks, soybean milk, Chinese style baked roll, they just don’t really buy it – and when they do want to (at half price), KFC can’t afford it. A search on baidu.com for “__KFC half-price Family Barrel__” shows 47,800 result filled with consumers condemning the brand and its dishonorable nature. // Accusation online is a bit too overwhelming within a short period of 7 days only. // One typical post on __tianya.cn__ gained 357,398 views and 2,279 comments during the past week. The reader comments are amusing. 
 * KFC’s** **Broken Promises;** **Canceled the 50% Off Family Barrels; Give Me Back My Half-price Family Barrelsuser:nyushanghai**

Here is KFC’s discount: It first announced the discount for April – Super Tuesday – in its official discount site __www.kfcyouhui.com__. The KFC Family Barrel was planned to be on a half-priced promotion during April 6th to 9th–RMB 32. On every Tuesday in April, customers can buy one hamburger and get one for free; Colonel’s Crispy Chicken Strips are half-priced too. The campaign even got itself a “flash sale” stunt (a 1 second act) on taobao.com. The Family Barrel started its “flash sale” at 16:00 on Apr.05, with 100 limited coupons. My classmate was lucky to grab one, and sent it to other friends as it specifically states you “can print/copy”. Today, around 12:30, I attempted to use the coupon in a KFC restaurant. Few people were aware of this campaign–even the staff. Only the store manager was calm enough to hand me the Family Barrel in exchange for RMB 32. I got it! After that, at around 3 pm, my friend went to KFC, and things started to turn bad – the manager said that the campaign was canceled! My friend got mad and called KFC customer service, but he couldn’t get through. Surrounding him were other customers who also came with coupons but left empty handed. Since there was such a big promotion, it must be because KFC expects a large reaction from their target market. Before the brand only had a discount of a few kuai, but this time there was a 32 kuai discount. They must have planned to receive a large number of customers rushing into the stores. For a company of this size, can’t it foresee consumer reaction before making a discount policy this big? Later I Baidu searched the topic and people said that the coupon was leaked beforehand; that many stores were not aware that 16:00 was the starting point, but began sales earlier; yet according to common logic, it’s just the coupon that was a flash sale, not the box of Chicken. It was stated on the coupon that printing and copying are both doable, and the period is from the 6th to 9th. Most of the staff in KFC are part-time students who also want to enjoy this privilege. My friend printed a lot to give to A Yi (personal cleaning lady–sort of a Chinese maid). They were all so glad, saying usually they don’t spend that kind of money, but bought it for the kids at home during the discount period. This is a really great discount that makes them happy. When my friend called the KFC customer service, the staff on the other end were also very eager to know what was happening. I noticed that there has always been this kind of chaos in KFC. Last time it was the Free Egg Tart that fooled me. McDonald’s get every discount straight – student card half-price on all items, 10% off for chicken wings – each is simple and clear. KFC, please, we poor students don’t want to be fooled with, OK? // KFC Family Barrel coupon. // Tianya netizens’ comments: olpe This rubbish, stop going to KFC. No nutrition and now no credibility! 抹儿 I knew this, so wicked. halilulu I went there too, happily with a coupon printed, but they told me it was canceled and refused to sell it to me. Every coupon has “the company has the final interpretation”. And that was the time it went into use. Fooled by KFC!!! I am so mad!! I am going to look for __Xuan Kejiong__ (a up straight journalist.) Wolfling Last time their Snow-top coffee was the same! cass_ Everybody let’s sue KFC!!! Let them know the peoples’ power!!! 眯悠 Go to McDonald’s. archon咩 KFC is sooo mean. They do it deliberately–McDonald’s is so much better! 找个马甲真的很难 I printed a lot too. It sucks. I will never go again. 夜礼服假面瘫 Let’s all go to Taobao, bid, pay and then give a bad comment! 半价全家桶 My friend is a law major who was fooled too. He is STILL arguing with the staff there. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">大腿时代 Haven’t been to KFC for a long time. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">涌太寻找真鱼 Never eat trash fast food. In our mother land, whatever you eat will end quite the same – either sudan red, melamine, or wasted oil. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">88卦卦 Family Barrel for RMB 32! They don’t lose a cent! <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">vivian_tz If you can’t give out so much then don’t even do the promotion. I belittle this kind of company that has no moral or credibility. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">马甲马甲我是土豆 <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">谁yy我我跟谁急 KFC is so mean, so mean, so mean. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">陈某某917 If you don’t have the capacity, then don’t do it. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">面具面具 KFC is sick! It earns so much money in China. But during the donation period for the natural disaster, KFC and McDonald’s donated nothing. <span style="color: #808080; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">qiexiaohou I support Mc! //**
 * Just finished eating a half-price Family Barrel.**
 * Ya and when my mom saw the advertisement she shouted “My daughter, I am going to buy a couple of soybean milk making machines, and set them up in front of a KFC to sell soybean milk!”**
 * //<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">我爱nicen
 * //<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">– //**

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Tagged as: [|Buffalo wings], [|Business], [|Chicken], [|China], [|Family Barrel], [|Fast food], [|Home], [|KFC],[|McDonald] <span class="bracket" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 1.818em; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">{ <span style="color: #111111; font-size: 1.818em; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4 comments… read them below or __[|add one]__ <span class="bracket" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 1.818em; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">} <span class="avatar" style="border-bottom-color: #dddddd; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: #dddddd; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: #dddddd; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: #dddddd; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 2px; border-width: initial; float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: -1em; margin-top: -2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span class="comment_num" style="float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0.909em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**[|1]** <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.667em; padding-top: 0px;">**Charlie Wang** <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.909em; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">2010/04/14 at 1:52 pm Wow, seems like a very bonehead move! How should big companies react to stuff like this? Bow down to the crowd by apologizing or don’t react @ all and hope it dies down? [|REPLY] <span class="avatar" style="border-bottom-color: #dddddd; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: #dddddd; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: #dddddd; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: #dddddd; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 2px; border-width: initial; float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: -1em; margin-top: -2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span class="comment_num" style="float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0.909em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**[|2]** <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.667em; padding-top: 0px;">**Veronica** <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.909em; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">2010/04/14 at 3:33 pm In my opinion, hiding is not the way to deal with PR crisis – immediate reaction, damage control and remedy are the right approach. Especially for the KFC giant -given their reputation has indeed suffered a lot from this and that kind of crisis for all this time – it better put right its brand image, not till it’s too late. [|REPLY] <span class="avatar" style="border-bottom-color: #dddddd; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: #dddddd; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: #dddddd; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: #dddddd; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 2px; border-width: initial; float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: -1em; margin-top: -2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span class="comment_num" style="float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0.909em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**[|3]** <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.667em; padding-top: 0px;">**Charlie Wang** <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.909em; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">2010/04/14 at 11:47 pm I couldn’t agree w/ you more, Veronica. But obviously KFC’s PR company is not doing jack. BTW I browsed some more on Dianping and Tianya, saw a bunch of messages that are highly nationalistic in nature like: - China will kick KFC out! - KFC is garbage, get the hell out of the China! - Let these SBs know Chinese ppl are not to be messed with! Good god! It’s KFC and it’s 2010, not the Opium wars during the 1800’s. I take it that this is especially an issue for foreign companies, what would happen if a national brand did something similar? [|REPLY] <span class="avatar" style="border-bottom-color: #dddddd; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: #dddddd; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: #dddddd; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: #dddddd; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 2px; border-width: initial; float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: -1em; margin-top: -2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span class="comment_num" style="float: right; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0.909em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**[|4]** <span class="comment_author" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.667em; padding-top: 0px;">**Veronica** <span class="comment_time" style="color: #888888; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.818em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0.909em; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;">2010/04/15 at 10:43 am Quotation from Rand – “This is China, Baby!” Nationalism is one major topic in China – Chinese, more or less, have their loyalty to the country; it’s subconscious, deep-rooted, and sometimes could be blind. Apparently, the mainstream media and school education have accomplished their mission. But I wouldn’t say all consumers are so aggressive towards those cases. I did hear neutral voice, and objective opinions online or around myself during the national protests to Carrefour (French company), Japanese, South Korean digital products, etc. Apart from this, we have to keep in mind that internet is somewhere people vent as they want – the words could sound extreme; And without being able to tell comment source, I wouldn’t deny the possiblity that it’s the brand competitors’ manipulation, using nationalism as pretext. Sanlu Milk crisis suffered from a large consumer reaction too, only without the hype point of nationalism. Btw, I prefer McDonald’s.;)
 * __[|‘No Room For Bread’ In KFC Chicken Sandwich]__ (news.sky.com)
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 * __[|Paving the Way for KFC’s Double Down: The 5 Grossest Fast Food Ideas (Video)]__ (treehugger.com)
 * //<span style="color: #888888; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Related Posts: //**
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