KFC free = Hoops = SUCKS

If you haven’t used your "free grilled chicken" coupon already, KFC (part of the YUM! company) has some hoops for you to jump through now.

The commercial on TV said that you could download a "Rain Check" at the web site or visit a store to get one, and then he (the CEO) said you could return both the rain check and the original coupon to the store at a later date for redemption, but the web site explains that you must first visit a store to get a rain check and then mail it to KFC (you pay the postage) with your original free meal coupon to (maybe, someday) receive a new coupon for a free grilled chicken meal. At which point they might just change the rules again.

The new coupons will be for a two-week period to be determined by them (ostensibly so they can control traffic/volume) and they’re going to throw in a free drink "for your inconvenience." Wholesale soda is what, $0.02 an ounce? So we spend 42 cents on postage and some more on the additional gas for the extra store visit and they throw in a 38 cent beverage?

I can’t help but think they had to know there would be an “overwhelming response” and planned this as a part of the promotion. (Assume they DIDN'T know there would be an overwhelming response... what does THAT say about these guys?)

They gave away a bunch of chicken, now they are going to restrict the redemption to one per household and get your name and address for marketing in the process. And get you to visit a store twice instead of once.

http://www.kfc.com/about/newsroom/050709.asp