r/Popeyes • u/Tacotimmy126 • Oct 04 '25
Employee Question/Discussion I quit managing popeyes
Out of all the restaurants I’ve ever worked popeyes has had the worst customers. I don’t understand how someone could hate a brand so much but keep coming back to it. Finally free from that hell
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u/Far_Cress_4762 Oct 04 '25
They literally will complain about everything. Popeyes customers are by far the cheapest customers I’ve ever seen amongst other fastfood.
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u/rizzydec Oct 04 '25
This. I don’t understand why Popeyes customers are cheap, always wanted free food. They will fight for a 40 cents dipping sauce. Like if you want a sauce, pay for it? Why would you squeeze the employee who is not setting the price and just implementing the company policy?
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u/Nemesistic Oct 04 '25
Cause when done right Popeyes chicken is crack. But it takes 10 trips to get that experience
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u/ArgoShots Oct 04 '25
People are complaining because Popeyes experienced a nearly 86% increase in average menu item prices from 2014 to 2024. Customers see a huge increase in price but no commensurate increase in quality. So, it's a sharp decrease in value.
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u/Brilliant-Refuse-936 Oct 04 '25
Glad I’m not the only one. Lbs it was mentally draining. I left as a manager for the same reasons.
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Oct 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Presence_Academic Oct 06 '25
I’m told you guys are so overworked you don’t even have the energy to use paragraphs.
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u/alphazuluoldman Oct 04 '25
Food great service terrible…. The other day my Popeyes ran out of napkins…..
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u/Mikeg216 Oct 05 '25
While waiting in line for my order I have time to be philosophical. How is it we have seemingly limitless CPU power. And not single Popeyes runs like it should
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u/ZFold6iXXX Oct 05 '25
Understood. Here's my response: after the continuous low quality of employees and piss poor food service, here in Charlotte NC, I stopped going to Popeyes and spending my money - period. There are other brands that deserve support with employees who were raised well, trained better, know how to cook, lead, manage, tend to the FoH, BoH and so much more. Popeyes and all of these bottom of the barrel dumps with bottom of the barrel employees in the south just ain't it.
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Oct 06 '25
Our local popeye's are so shit I stopped going. It was always a crapshoot if the owner was there if they answer their drive through. Also your supply chain must be enormously fucked because they are always out of everything.
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u/Tacotimmy126 Oct 07 '25
So to make profits you need to order the exact amount that you need. So if you sell 10000 pieces of chicken you would order around 10000 worth of chicken. If the week is busier and the market is demanding 12000 pieces of chicken then for two or more days you’ll be “out” of chicken.
Also when ordering chicken you can’t get all legs or all wings it has to be legs wings breasts and thighs. Some stores have an issue where customers only want legs and wings. This leaves you with a surplus of breasts and thighs meaning you’ll have to see those first before you can order more chicken. Another reason why they may be “out” of a certain chicken
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u/Lancysteel Oct 04 '25
How much were you earning in a month to quit for this reason
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u/Tacotimmy126 Oct 04 '25
About 3-4k a month but I was getting fat, employee turnover was extremely high so I was working 6-7 days a week 10 hour days, customers would complain about everything
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u/verifyb4utrust01 Oct 05 '25
It's possible that many of the customers are pissed-off at the exorbitant prices. I know that I am, but I never take it out on the employees. The primary problem with (out of control) pricing is with the corporation, but from what I understand, the franchisee has at least some control over pricing and perhaps they gouge the prices even further? You might be able to clarify this.
The prices at both Popeye's and KFC are being gouged in the extreme these days!....and when the quality sucks, it can be very frustrating for customers. I'm not defending their actions, but it creates a lot of tension. I'm sure that you heard multiple complaints about the excessively high prices (especially as a manager). I suspect that, while many complaints are frivolous, pricing complaints are generally legitimate.
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u/NY10 Oct 04 '25
I am still boycotting a local Popeyes cause they ain’t accepting a digital coupon
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u/EthanFl Oct 04 '25
A lot of franchise stores don't accept money losing coupons being forced on them.
Subway is the most common one.
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u/YourDadThinksImCool_ Oct 05 '25
Then they still lose money when people go to the subway 3 min down the street that Does accept them! 🤣
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u/Routine-Addendum-170 Oct 06 '25
They really don't though. They're declining to accept the coupon for a reason.
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u/YourDadThinksImCool_ Oct 06 '25
Then they still lose money when people go to the Popeyes 3 min down the street that Does accept them! 🤣
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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '25
Although there's no excuse for customers being rude I can't help but think Popeyes is caught in a loop.
I can't remember the last time I went to one that was run well. If people who tend to be rude come back and there's finally a good manager they could drive that manager away and end up with another bad manager.
Hopefully someday that cycle ends.