Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Waynesville

Service has gone downhill from just slow to HORRIBLE. New location, have eaten there multiple times dine-in and take-out. 10-15 minute average wait for order to be filled. Family was willing to wait since the classic fried chicken was very good. Store interior is new, but kept EXTREMELY cold. Employees on counter register are often uncertain how to place the order correctly.

Last take-out visit was one of the worst customer experiences I have ever had.

First, young man at register gave me incorrect change, even after I went back to counter to correct it. After waiting for my order, I double checked it before leaving. Part of order was 3 classic fried chicken wings (light meat), but was instead given 1 wing, and 2 dark meat (leg and thigh). When I took the incorrect part back to counter, I was only then told they were out of chicken wings. The man just shrugged at me when I mentioned he could have told me they were out of wings earlier when I was placing the order.

When I asked to speak with a manager, a young woman came and told me they were completely out of wings to cook and there was nothing she could do. After again mentioning this information could have been passed on when ordering and that the order as filled was unacceptable, she finally offered to refund the order.

She asked me to bring the ENTIRE order back, saying she could only refund the entire order. After handing over the full order along with original receipt, the manager proceeded to ring up a refund for less than I paid. When I pointed this out, she declared that is what my order cost.

When I pointed at the original receipt she already had crumpled up in her right hand, she started yelling that I was trying to assault a minor and she would call the cops. Stunned at this behavior, we de-escalated enough that I returned all the change I received after placing the order and she returned my original money.

The employees need more complete register training, and training on how to at least let customers know they are out of certain items (or suggest alternatives). Swapping items and hoping the customer doesn't notice is completely wrong. The only manager on duty should be better trained on customer conflict resolution and professionalism, and probably should not be an...

Someone better get it together at this place. One of the worst experiences for a Popeyes. We came for dinner just before 7pm. When we started ordering we were informed they were out of both grilled and fried chicken sandwiches. So we all ordered different items. In the middle of the order, the person taking our order made sure we know that there is a "tip jar"(a Popeyes cup with magic marker on it). Have never ever seen a tip jar at a chain fast food place. Yeah, that cup didn't get filled. When our order came out the first time, missing a whole meal and one meal had white meat instead of dark. These items were brought back out, and this time the chicken was now spicy instead of mild. Went back up to complain and was told they must have been cooked in the wrong fryer, and would have to wait for more mild to be cooked. Then, while we're eating our food, all 3 employees proceed to walk out together for a smoke break. To top it all off the A/C was set to sub-zero mode, and the employees claimed there was nothing they could do about it because the manager who wasn't there (obviously) had the thermostat key. Customers were literally going back to their cars for coats and blankets. This experience was one for the...

Not sure where to start. 45 minute wait = cold food. Picture of sandwich was supposed to be a classic bacon and cheese = no bacon or cheese. Picture of drink was supposed to be sweet ice tea = no sweet or ice. 2 out of the 3 people that were there were training. The 3rd person was an 18yr old shift or low level manager that couldn't have worked there long. So it was understandable that they struggled. My question for Popeyes is where was the store manager or the district manager? Why allow your super inexperienced crew to create a bad reputation for a newly opened restaurant without stepping up? This is the 3rd time I have visited this store and all 3 experiences have been bad. And there were new/different employees on each visit. I have to believe this store cannot keep employees because they are not trained properly nor do they have the support of a team. It is a managers job to fill in for crew along with ensuring staff is trained correctly. If the managers of the Popeyes in Waynesville, NC do not start helping this store out it, will not last long. To the lady at Popeyes that tried to take my order; you were very nice and the only reason the store got a second star...