Papa John's Pizza has me riled!
By lovesfreedom
@lovesfreedom (1245)
United States
March 14, 2007 10:06pm CST
Well, this may seem insignificant to many people, but to me, it really serves to get my feathers in a dander!
I live in a military town. It is a small town that really does depend on it's military to make up the bulk of income producing businesses. It can be like a ghost town during deployments since not only are most of the soldiers gone, but many of the wives and families leave the area and go stay with others in their hometowns.
So where does Papa Johns Pizza fit into this discussion? A friend of mine called them to order a pizza and asked for the military discount that they advertise in the phone book. She was promptly told the discount was for officers only. When I found this out, I called to ask about it and was told it was for Higher NCOs only. Well now, that certainly leave out most of the military now doesn't it? My husband is an NCO and when I told him, he was apalled that they would distinguish in this manner.
I asked the lady if she thought it was unfair to the lower enlisted and others in the military. She gave me the song and dance about how she didn't make the rules, yada yada and I should call back and talk to the manager tomorrow. I will do that, as well as the main company. See, I am a military wife, I know all about following chain of command. So, tomorrow, my dialing finger will be busy and then when my questions are asked and I have my answer, I will write an article about it, then I will talk to the local newpaper about running the article.
Yes, it is a small thing to some, but for me, when we send these young ladies and men to war, the least that could be done when they get back is offer a discount on a pizza, don't you think?
Plus, there is the question of false advertisement. The ad says military discount available, shouldn't it say military discount to higher NCOs available?
What is your opinion? If a company is going to offer a discount to a group, shouldn't everyone who is a member of that group be given the same consideration?
7 people like this
10 responses
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
15 Mar 07
I think that is terrible!! I think a Military Discount should be for all military-spousces included!! I know when I see the military discount sign or whatever I hesitate to try and get it since I am only a spouse but I have never had a problem. You would think they would give the discount to the lower ranks since they don't make as much money!!
2 people like this
@lovesfreedom (1245)
• United States
15 Mar 07
That was my first thought, the lower enlisted make up the bulk of the military and make the least money. They need the discount more than anyone. Papa Johns has never been my favorite, but they have lost my business altogether now.
1 person likes this
@Melizzy (1381)
• United States
16 Mar 07
LovesFreedom you just answered your own question. The bulk of your town is military. If they gave that discount to every single military person, they would make no money, go out of business, etc. Now, they definitely should have made it clear in the article that it is only for the NCO's. That, they were wrong with.
I support our military and I think (in a very un-military like way) that all things should be equal. However, I get that they won't make money, but they shouldn't offer it for one group if not for all.
@tictac714 (975)
• United States
15 Mar 07
If Papa John's does not want to offer a military discount to everyone in the military, then they should not offer one at all. The way they are doing it is just plain insulting.
2 people like this
@lovesfreedom (1245)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Absolutely! A slap in the face of all military personnel
2 people like this
@lovesfreedom (1245)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Thank you very much! You are right, they do not deserve the business of any military. what really burns me is that here, some of our lower enlisted take jobs there in order to make ends meet. That is another gripe not related to this, that any soldier should have to take another job is a disgrace. Ok sorry, back on subject. Thank you for your support.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
15 Mar 07
Good grief! I'm appalled that a company would discriminate like that! If they're offering a discount to Military personnel, then it should be for ALL military, spouses included!
I'm glad that you decided to do something about this. Why should the pizza place be allowed to discriminate like this?
Here's hoping you get the answers you need to write your article for the paper, and let us know how you get on with it all.
Good Luck!
2 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
15 Mar 07
I would be riled too, I think your course of action is a good one. I am the wife and daughter of retired military men, and I have never seen that kind of exclusion - unless an NCO was trying to get into the officer's club. The enlisted offer their sacrifices just as well as the officers, and the e1's can use as much support, appreciation, and encouragement as the e8s, perhaps even more so. These young men (and women) are signing up for military service during a time when there is much uncertainty in the world - they did not sign up during times of peace and easy going (like perhaps the higher nco's did) if a place is going to recognize military duty - then by all means the newer members ought to be recognized!
that would burn my beans!
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I was a military wife as well and even now it would royaly piss me off. A discount should be, if they choose to disciminate by rank, be for the lower ranks as they dont earn as much as NCOs and Officers. I think all the miliary should get the discount regardles of rank and if I were you I would follow trhough to the bitter end and if there is another pizza place I would boycott Papa Johns.
1 person likes this
@hoghoney (3747)
• United States
15 Mar 07
yes I agree with you GO GET THEM. I think that the military people should get their pizza for free it is the least we can do for them risking their lives to pertect us. I will call them here and see if thy say the same thing we all should do that in our home town and protest them.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
16 Mar 07
Gee, kick a guy (or girl) when they are down, the lower the rank, the less money they make, the more likely they are to order a pizza rather then go to a sit down restaurant.
We went to the PJ in Great Lakes, we could not see the specials, because they were on the counter, displayed low, behind everyone's legs. After we ordered I saw the special and felt like I got ripped off. I asked the guy to cancel the order and then place it for the special, he refused, said it was company policy. Then said I was being cheap and petty for asking to do this. ( HEllo, I was unemployed and drove 1/2 across the country to see my kid graduate from boot camp, we were tired and hungry!)
It then took over an hour to get the pizza and was not that good
I wrote to corporate, using the email address, explaining to them that maybe the specials should be displayed somewhere they can be seen. I never got a response. I will never go to a PJs again, I will sooner eat frozen!
1 person likes this
@onabreak2 (1161)
• United States
16 Mar 07
There might be a little astrick by it where you will find in small print what they are telling you. So many companies do that. But you are right and I would write to the corporate office or email them. They have a web site you can go to and complain about it. You really need to go as high up as you can.
They will probably send you a good coupon for maybe a free pizza. I am sorry they are treating the military like that. They should be giving them a free pizza when they come back from overseas.
Good luck and be sure and go to the top.
