KFC Shirley — Restaurant in Christchurch

Being a vegetarian, it’s a very rare occasion that I visit KFC. They do a nice vegetarian pepper Mayo twister (a hash brown replaces the chicken) and I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while.

The opportunity presented itself today. I was on my way across town to visit a friend in hospital, with no time to stop for dinner. “Excellent” I thought. I would indulge myself in this greasy delight, the first time in roughly two years.

I pulled into the drive through, and was greeted by static. After an interesting and awkward pause, the speaker quietly whispered “can I …..k …y….ord….”?

Me: “I’d like a vegetarian pepper Mayo twister and a small potato and gravy”

Speaker: “We don’t do twisters at the moment”

Me: “oh! Why not?”

Speaker: “because of COVID”.

Me: “But….that doesn’t make sense….”

Speaker: “we can’t get the tenders.”

Me: “oh that’s not a problem, I don’t want the tenders, just the vegetarian one with the hash brown”

Speaker: “we just don’t do them at the moment”

Me: “ok, what CAN you do?”

Speaker: “We can do a salad burger”

Me: “what’s in that”?

Speaker: “uh….lettuce, cheese, tomato, onion and a hash brown”.

Me: “Sounds perfect, I’ll take one.”

I drive to the window. An eftpos machine is thrust at me. I pay using payWave. I start to ask “Should I wait here or go to the next window…..l

SLAM! The window is closed.

I figure this is a hint, and drive to the next window.

A bag is thrust at me. Having learned from experience, I start to ask “is this definitely the vegetarian…..”

SLAM! Window number two is shut in my face while I’m talking.

Oh well. I guess I’m not paying for a high class service here.

I go on my way, and head to the hospital car park, where I unpack my feast for a quick bite before visiting time.

A new issue presents itself: I have a potato and gravy, but no spoon. Sigh.

A symptom of the times in which we find ourselves; I am equipped with hand sanitiser. I coat myself liberally and plunge my finger into the potato and gravy, just as an elderly couple pull into the park next to me. Judge away. I’ve been through some trauma to get this potato and gravy, if you only knew!

Dinner sorted (and post sanitising complete) I decide to call KFC and provide a little feedback about my experience this evening….

Bring bring…..bring bring….bring bring….. duu duu...

Very poor customer service. Most of the times they get orders wrong or don’t have food items left. One time I ordered chicken pieces and they told me they don’t have any because they have to make some. And then I answered that’s fine I can wait. Luckily got them.. another time they didn’t get our online order. I tried to call them but it was hard to go through as they not keen taking phone calls. Also I noticed the staff find it challenging to provide a good customer service. Even Supervisors have poor CS skills. Dine in experience is unpleasant as if you have to clean the tables first.

The real reason why Im writing this is because of my today’s order. First time I ordered via Uber eats as if I mentioned before it always causes errors when I ordered via their website so I end up driving there telling them my order didn’t go through on your own website.

Anyways this time it took them 1 hour and 30 minutes to make the order and it arrive in 1 hour and 40 minutes. They are known to be super slow at KFC Shirley. I assume the poor service they have performed before just bounced back even worse under the level 3 conditions.

Our drinks were warm (not refrigerated) The chips were soggy and unseasoned The chicken was dry but the worst: My snack burger was filled with brown, soggy lettuce. I had to remove it. It didn’t look good anymore, most likely off..

This is highly inappropriate compared to what we paid for it. That was it. Never ever KFC Shirley again unless they decide to improve service and quality of this branch. I rather drive a bit longer and go to...

Ok thats it as if 2x buckets in one bag meaning the bag broke and my food dropped everywhere, half filled chip packets, forgetting my potato and gravy wasn't enough!!! Last night at 9pm I went to collect dinner after a late meeting... I sat infront of the speaker to be told, Ill be with you soon then 7 to 8 minutes later am told we have run out of chicken!!!! At 9:08pm???? I ask but you close at 10pm oh no midnight to be told yeah!! To me asking why haven't you put a sign up to warn us?? I ask why let us sit here waste our petrol to tell us there is no chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken?? Not only did the server not care but she was bloody rude!!! Oh then I had to wait for 25 minutes for the cars in front of me!!! Which by the way was only 2 cars!!!! I was a weekly spender here!! Well not now!! Never ever again will I shop here!! By the way this isnt the first time that theyve run out of chicken!! It happens regularly!!! And the reason they dont put a sign out that they've run out of chicken???!!! Well how else are they going to make money selling burgers!!! This is KFC not BURGER KING!!!!! SORT YOURSELVES OUT FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO MAY JUST LEAVE YOUR POORLY RUN, FAILING BUSINESS!!!!! PS MY ALL OVER TIME FRAME AT EASTGATE KFC, INCLUDING WAITING TIME ORDERING TIME ETC... 15 MINUTES!!! BYE KFC SHIRLEY I'M TAKING MY BUSINESS...