Papa John's Obamacare Stance Costs Company Its Reputation: Study

[meegbear]

Source: Huffingtonpost.com

Turns out nobody wants a side of politics with their pizza. Public opinion of Papa John's dropped precipitously after CEO John Schnatter's public comments about Obamacare, according to a new study from YouGov BrandIndex, which researches brand perception for marketing directors, brand managers and PR reps. The site conducts thousands of interviews a day, providing real-time info that shows trends and responses to different marketing techniques or in this case, public gaffes.

The national pizza chain's YouGov score -- which the site uses as an indication of brand favorability -- dropped to four at the end of November, down from 32 on election day.

YouGov tracked the public's perception of three restaurants following anti-Obamacare comments made by company CEOs. Papa John's, Applebee's and Denny's all suffered a hit in consumer perception. Denny's score even fell to zero after franchise owner John Metz announced a five percent 'Obamacare surcharge' in November. The brand's score jumped up to a six shortly afterwards "potentially due to CEO John Miller's apologetic statement a few days later," according to the YouGov report.

Applebee's score dropped more than 25 points after Zane Tankel -- who owns 40 Applebee's in the New York area -- appeared on the Fox Business Network and expressed reluctance to expand because of the health care overhaul.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/03/papa-johns-obamacare_n_2233525.html

[Overseas]

1. K&R. Glad to hear it.

[HughBeaumont]

2. More wealthy guys holding on to the Reagan mantle of greed.

The world's passing you by; we're all evolving and moving on . . . and there's nothing you can do to stop it. We're no longer hypnotized by Horatio Alger crapola. It's not going to make even one atom speck of difference in your life if you have to pay more taxes and you know it. This isn't about money . . . it's about you and your wealthy friends' ability to keep us in LINE.

[AAO]

30. Milt Friedman is no longer welcome here.

[1StrongBlackMan]

45. I don't understand your comment. n/t

[pansypoo53219]

60. crapitalist economist.

[1StrongBlackMan]

69. I know who Friedman is ...

I just don't see how the comment applied. If anything, the survey suggests that the "invisible hand" is slapping PJ.

[2naSalit]

74. Milton Friedman was a capitalist economist

who pretty much designed and orchestrated the financial hegemony, (also known as disaster capitalism) that we practice and suffer from today. If you read Naomi Klein's book Shock Doctrine; The Rise of Disaster Capitalism you'll get a clear idea of what he was all about. Or you could watch this movie adaptation kindly posted a couple days ago by one our DUers...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101783779#post3

IMHO he was one of the most dangerous players of the 20th century who set us up for the debacle we are in the midst of today. He was able to seduce our government at a time when most of us weren't paying attention and those who had higher levels of education were fewer due to the cost of education. He should have been left to wallow in his own stench decades ago instead of being allowed to destroy what we once considered freedom. Unfortunately he lived a long life of entitlement at our expense and only finally died six years ago.

Given all of that, you will understand the post you made query about.

[hifiguy]

81. When the history of the 20th century is written

100 years from now - presuming there are still humans, and that they are writing history - Milton Friedman will easily make the "Top 10 Worst People of the Century." He has been directly responsible for more needless human suffering than anyone this side of the Austrian Corporal, Uncle Joe Stalin and Mao.

[2naSalit]

89. All those

wrapped up into one ugly-demon-nightmare-POS-from-hell.

[RKP5637]

39. Can't wait for these guys to fade into obscurity as dinosaur relics of the faded past. n/t

[Salviati]

3. I'm never ordering from them again.

There are other better pizza places to order from, but I still used to order from PJ's every now and then. No more.

[AAO]

31. Only did once and it sucked. Bad.

It's especially nice to be able to boycott things you aren't actually using anyway!

[Bluzmann57]

51. Almost every town of any size in the USA has a local pizza joint

Buy local. It helps the local economy and often times is better quality than chain franchise places.

[sdfernando]

52. Yes, buy local when you can. It supports your community!

We have a great pizza joint here in Hillcrest (San Diego) called BRONX PIZZA. If I'm getting a pizza that is about the only place I will order from. Locally owned and operated and a really great bunch of employees!

[RoccoRyg]

58. Pizza!

I used to work at a local pizza place in high school. I highly recommend supporting your community businesses.

[tabasco]

88. What I miss living in downtown Pittsburgh ---

so many good pizza joints!

[hifiguy]

83. There's a great neighborhood pizza joint just a few

blocks from me. I will happily pay a couple of bucks more to (1) get a vastly superior pizza; and (2) support a local business. Fuck "Papa" John, his greed and his shitty pizzas.

[Arugula Latte]

59. Their pizza is horrible (cardboard tastes better) but for some reason my son likes it.

The other night we were tired and just wanted to order a pizza. My son lobbied for Papa John's. We shot that idea down. Never again. My son said, "Oh, because of the politics, right?" He understood. We got Papa Murphy's instead.

[MurrayDelph]

68. Probably tastes like school pizza

It's been over 30 years since I last tried LAUSD pizza (as a teacher), and six years since a friend brought a Papa John's over. So there was a 24 year gap between the experiences, but I do remember being underwhelmed with both.

[BlueStreak]

4. That sounds bugus to me.

How could a score go to zero? I bet 95% of the public never heard the story at all.

[DefenseLawyer]

33. It's a league game, Smokey

Mark it zero.

[joeglow3]

43. Exactly. I have to call BS

A score of 4 or zero means all thugs were pissed, when we know they were creaming their jeans. Rmoney got over 40% of the national vote, after all.

[1StrongBlackMan]

47. Have you participated in their surveys?

They're actually pretty well designed.

In this case, the participant wouldn't have to have heard the story ... The survey would have provided the quote and asked whether that position influenced your opinion of the chain. It also would have asked questions about whether business owners should allow their politics to bleed into their business.

[BlueStreak]

72. In that case, the OP headline is misleading

I assume they surveyed only 0.0000000000000001% of the population. It isn't plausible that reading that quote to the survey respondents would cause a significant change in attitude towards Papa Johns.

It sounds like the actual finding is "Survey finds most people don't like businesses that try to thrust themselves into the middle of a national political debate"

And I would agree with that up to a point. I certainly think it is fair game for a company to promote green things they are doing. And a gun shop certainly has the right to put its 2nd Amendment position out in front of customers. Those things are relevant to the businesses. I think the issue is when somebody like Trump, Papa Johns or Denny's uses their position of power to threaten Americans, particularly where they have no particular expertise on or connection to the issue. In both the cases of Denny's and papa Johns, these people were not experts on health care and in fact were not very affected by the ACA because most of their employees were already part time, and most of their franchisees are small enough to not be heavily impacted by the ACA's provisions.

[tex-wyo-dem]

94. I would tend to agree with you if...

The polling company discussed in the article was dismissed by industry as "hack", but it appears from the article that YouGov is taken seriously as a legitimate gauge of public opinion. In other words, their polling and statistical methods are considered sound by the very institutions that they are analyzing...(A very strong endorsement in my view).

[Joe Bacon]

5. I'll deal with the local pizza shop.

Family owned. Better pizza than the crap Papa Johns makes.

[demwing]

6. A Nation's moral center is not determined by how many of its citizens go to church,

or believe in God. It has nothing to do with our work ethic, or our "traditional" family values. It certainly isn't measured by how much profit we accumulate, or how many pizzas or pancakes we sell.

It's determined by how well we provide care for others.

I think people are slowly waking up to that fact. I think Obamacare was an inoculation against the virus of selfishness.

[Occulus]

64. I hope you don't mind my stealing that.

That is a quote worth spreading around.

[demwing]

79. thanks!

please do

[Digital Puppy]

73. +1

[Kelvin Mace]

7. Never ordered their pizza in the first place

In fact, I avoid chains and eat a locally-owned pizzerias. Better pizza, service, people.

[SummerSnow]

37. Me too

I get my pizza from a family owned pizza parlor. The owner is 75 still makes good pizza..tosses the pizza in the air.His father had owned it when he was a boy when they came here from Italy.Best pizza I ever had.

[jonesgirl]

8. Papa who???

Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey...GOODBYE.
He already has his stadium in Louisville @ UofL, now he's involved with the NFL (giving away 2 Million free pizzas)...and he wants to cry about the Affordable Healthcare Act. Idiot.

[politicaljunkie41910]

23. Particularly bothersome when by their estimates, insuring their employees

would at 25 cents to the price of a pizza. I would gladly pay 25 cents extra for a pizza if it meant health insurance for their employees.

[jonesgirl]

53. Not me.

The price of the pizza is overinflated anyways. How do you think he paid to build the UofL stadium, and give away 2 million pizzas? Goes to show how much profit he had to get these things done, but yet he can't afford to do something good for the employees WITHOUT using the excuse of raising prices.

[blackspade]

75. He didn't pay to build the stadium.

It was paid for with government bonds.
His name is on it for the same reason YUM is on the Arena downtown: Payoffs and licensing.
Have you seen pics of his house though?
It probably costs as much as that stadium!

[dballance]

29. Yes, Seems a bit Ironic he can give away 2 million pizzas

but providing health care, what is really a basic Christian value to help others, is such an abomination to him.

[obama2terms]

50. he's such a hypocrite

[nevetsbboc]

57. and this is the guy who spect 250K on a car...

It has been reported that "Papa John" wanted the first car he ever owned and was willing to pay $250,000.00 for it to the guy who had it.

[oliverrams1]

62. I got a coupon for a free pizza from PJ's in my email

I trashed it and was so happy to do so.

[SummerSnow]

38. He's losing money over his decision.

I bet his 2 million free pizzas won't last.lol

[alp227]

78. Big Poppa

[griloco]

84. Papa Putz. n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out.....

you don't mix business with politics.
What it does show is the ego of some CEO's that really believe that their opinion carries weight with the populace. That's because they are being told they are right all the by the people they sign paychecks for and they begin to believe it.

[City Lights]

10. This makes me very happy!

These CEOs are completely out of touch with the American people.

[plethoro]

11. Excellent. I'll never eat at any of these

places again. Great job. I am just wondering if stuff like this will finally be the beginning of the end of the Internet.

[d_r]

12. I hope it impacts their bottom line

I've been noticing a lot of promotions from them so I guessed that sales were off

[Panasonic]

19. Way off - If Peyton Manning was a smart investor - he should sell off the franchises ASAP

and invest locally.

Plenty of better choices.

[Tigress DEM]

13. Good

[liberal N proud]

14. They lost more than that with me

They lost any business I might have ever thrown their way.

[MissNostalgia]

15. PJ sold my email

I still think Papa Johns sold my email address because following requesting my online ordering account be deleted, there was an influx of spam emails the next day.

[Champion Jack]

16. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of crap peddlers…

[Panasonic]

17. We found a local pizza a long time ago,

My wife declared it the best pizza of all of Colorado, and it's just 6 blocks away from our house, 2 less than Papa John's.

Ordered it last night, delivered still piping hot from the oven...

How we never frequented that place, I'll never know....

Tipped the driver well too!

[intheflow]

21. Where in Colorado, what business?

I haven't been able to find a decent pizza shop in the Denver area since I moved here a decade ago.

[Panasonic]

27. It's called I <3 NY Pizzeria

It's located at 600 S. Holly St, in Denver right next to Major Medical Supply on the southeast corner of Holly and Leetsdale.

Here is their website: http://www.nypizzaden.com

I have lived in this neighborhood for many years, but never have tried this pizza place up until recently.

Their pesto pizza is delicious, and all of their choices are good too.

Papou's down the street has improved too.

[intheflow]

41. Is that in the same plaza as The Egg and I?

I work right around the corner from there, by 1st and Quebec. Can't picture I <3 NY Pizzeria, but may have to scoodle over that way today for lunch. Do they sell by the slice, per chance?

[Panasonic]

61. Yes, same plaza. Right behind the Egg and I on the far side, to the left side.

A good lunch spot, and yes, they do sell by the slice.

[intheflow]

99. I didn't get over there yesterday.

Had a primo parking space I didn't want to give up. But will definitely swing by in the next week. Thank you for the tip - really looking forward to some good pizza!

[ca3799]

18. I gotta add a "Me, too" to this opinions survey because

I had no idea Pappa John's treated their employees so shabbily and now that I know, I'm gonna have a hard time shopping with them.

I'm not a Denny's or Applebee's customer- they don't have businesses near me- so I won't change my purchases with them in any meaningful way, but I won't buy from Pappa John's any more and I'm looking for a local place or a local chain that treats its employees better.

[intheflow]

20. I do feel bad for the franchise owners who had nothing to do with these asshats.

I mean, Schnatter started PJ's but sold franchise rights to people who possibly don't agree with him and weren't planning on penalizing either their customers or their employees for Obamacare coverage. They just threw their hats in with the wrong franchise. And the other two, Metz and Tankel, aren't even the figure heads of Denny's and Applebees, they're just franchise owners who couldn't keep their mouths shut and now alllll the other franchise owners have to pay the price. Fucking selfish, self-centered, greedy, whiny Republicans who don't give a flying fuck about how their actions might hurt others. Makes me ill.

[Ed Suspicious]

22. Keep your politics separate from your business. I was a regular customer of Papa Johns and

previously, apart from not caring much for their food, never intentionally avoided Applebees. I do now avoid Papa, Applebes, Jimmy Johns etc. I do this as a direct result of their owners making known, so vociferously, their political persuasion.

So my behavior is lining up with my beliefs in this instance. This is bad news for these loquacious franchises.

[BainsBane]

82. Jimmy Johns?

I missed that one. That's the only one of those I ever buy from. What did he say?

[Ed Suspicious]

90. Oh sorry. That's leftover angst from their anti-union stance from a couple years ago. n/t

[dotymed]

24. This indicates (IMO), that Americans are a Progressive society

that (I hope) are finally waking up to the facts that : 1) we desperately need and can afford (it's cheaper) a national health care system like all of the other 1st world nations have, and 2) the distribution of wealth in America is untenable.
Our nation of corporate owned media that repeats the corporate talking points (designed to maintain the status quo) are finally becoming suspect in the "class struggle" that has finally become apparent to the masses. Hopefully this trend continues and spreads. In order for America and its' ideals to survive, the majority of our citizens must open their eyes to the 2 America's currently co-existing in this country. We must end the wealthy tyranny that has taken control and become one country with the same set of rules for all.
My brother (until recently a believer in what ever was "reported" on the "news&quot came over for coffee this morning. He began telling me about what he had seen on the MSM "news" this morning. It said "in order to avoid the "fiscal cliff" we must cut social security, medicaid and all entitlements." HE actually called bullshit on this. He recognized the need to actually tax the wealthy. I informed him of the tax rates during the 1950's..he was amazed and agreed that austerity for the masses was bullshit. One step at a time, Americans are waking up. IMO, "Occupy" started this awakening and I hope (so much) that it spreads and America becomes one nation...

[Cosmocat]

36. Pretty big disconnect

In this one instance, at least, I HOPE that what this represents is people looking at the bald faced obscenity of what this moron was railing against.

It is America, it is life, that a lot of people are going to have to work low wage jobs, and that higher level management is going to make a lot of money off of it.

But, the petulance of someone paying people minimum wage while making a MAJOR profit doing so throwing a public temper tantrum about having to do his part in providing some kind of medical coverage is stunning.

HOPEFULLY, this reflects a rare moment of sober reflection by the people of this country.

[dotymed]

102. So much of what Americans consider normal has only become the norm since reagan.

It is America, it is life, that a lot of people are going to have to work low wage jobs, and that higher level management is going to make a lot of money off of it.

Pre-reagan the average CEO made about 30-40% of what his/her highest paid workers did. Post reagan this increased to about 3000 to 4000x the amount of the highest paid worker.
The banksters have conditioned a generation of (non-Union) workers to believe that this is the norm but it is far from the reality that our parents and grandparents knew. IMO, they would never have accepted this as normal.

[Ed Suspicious]

25. I have to question what posts that proclaim things to the effect of "I wouldn't eat their cardboard

flavored pizza anyway" or "I only shop locally so this has nothing to do with me" add to the conversation.

[Rambis]

26. Words have consequences!

If you are a bad dickhead no one will buy your shit pizzas.

[harun]

28. I think these business owners end up with their perceptions being skewed

They inevitable have a percentage of poor employees. Employees that steal, don't show up for work, file bogus law suits, etc. They deal with this and I think their comments reflect an attack at these type of people who they feel they were not given a fair shake from. They want policies that hurt these people. When in reality it is just the way the world works. Some people just aren't going to give a shit about their $10 an hour job.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. i feel for people who are stuck with these terrible food options.

the rent and tiny spaces in nyc dont bother me at all, but the limited food choices would.

that and now that all these CEOS are such raging assholes it must make it harder to go eat a nice dinner. sucks

[heaven05]

34. good

a..holes. All. Hit em all in the pocketbook. Only thing they understand.

[Scuba]

35. The People have moved on while half of Congress still represents only a handful of oligarchs.

[HockeyMom]

40. I went to my local pizzeria yesterday

Truly a Mom and Pop operation. Dad makes the pizzas. His brother cooks the other Italian dishes. Mom waitresses and works the register. VERY small business.

They have a special needs son who I worked with a few years ago. It's very nice when I go in there and chat with them, mostly about Tommy, or things happening in the area. We all live in the same neighborhood and I would much rather give my money to THEM than a gross pizza chain.

[RedstDem]

42. Really is amazing

how could a CEO of any company that has so much competition as there is in making frigging pizza, take a chance on alienating 1/2 the populous with such stupid talk?, the terrible judgement is just amazing to me.

he lost at least one pizza a week with my family.

and we're better off now, we get local made much, much, much better pizza, so actually, thanks dumb ass!!
lol

[Stuart G]

44. There is a new Papa Johns near me...I will never go there..nt

[jRus61]

46. Better Options

I'm not sure how he looks his employees in the face after his comments basically saying he doesn't give a flip about them or thier families. I'm staying away from Papa John's not only on principal but due to concerns about what might end up in my pizza from humiliated employees.

We need a thread that highlights businesses and chains that treat thier employees well. Let the little plutocrats know that we take care of our own.

[NC_Nurse]

48. No surprise there. Arrogance has its price.

[kjackson227]

49. Schnatter was more interested in making a political statement...

and didn't think about how such an inflammatory statement would alienate a lot of the 47%ers. The idiot cut off his nose to spite his face. I bought his pizza once when the business was new and haven't bought another one since, because frankly, it didn't have much taste to it from what I remember. I'll NEVER buy another one especially now. Let the 1 and 2%ers cater to his businees because this one 47%er isn't interested.

[santamargarita]

54. Glad to hear that.

[lobodons]

55. I usually have to wait till 9 pm for Best Thing of the Day

I usually have to wait till 9 pm when Rachel tells me the best thing of the day. Got my dose in the AM today!!

[4 more years]

56. Bad food just FULL of chemicals

Never eat @ these food crap pits again

[Paladin]

63. Lots Of Other Places To Get Much Better Pizza. (nt)

[kwvining]

65. Survey says.....

47% of those surveyed said fuck their shitty pizza.

[GatorLarry]

66. Fantastic!

Let the Republicans keep these partisan, greedy Republican CEOs afloat all by themselves.

There is a price to pay for being in-your-face and pissing-off more than 1/2 their customers. It's time corporations learned that lesson. I'm just glad Democrats and Independents have started to enforce their values like GOP consumers have for years.

It's so great to see us finally dishing it right back to 'em instead of just taking it and "playing nice" when it's our turn.

[Mosby]

67. proof that their hatred of Obama exceeds their love of money. nt

[jayfish]

70. Their pizza sucks but...

there was always an outside chance I could order from them in a pinch. Not any more....

[SunSeeker]

77. +1

[demwing]

71. I prefer Papa Murphy's

but the closest store is 30 miles out

[Doctor_J]

76. They should have kept their mouths shut

Now everyone knows that for 14c per pizza "Papa" could be providing health care for his entire work force. The fact that he doesn't is repulsive tom non-teabaggers.

[Cha]

80. So big papa and the other whiners thought romney was going to win and everything

would be rosy with their greed and whine?

They bet and Lost.

To paraphrase a comment on huffpost.. "Who do these arrogant idiots think eat at their businesses.. the 1%?!!"

Thanks meegbear

[Dont call me Shirley]

85. Crappa Johns

[BlancheSplanchnik]

86. greedy repukelicanism has consequences!

Good!

(not good for the innocent employees, though)

[JudyM]

87. I look forward to their next earnings report.

If it's down, there should be a shareholder suit if the drop can be tied to the CEO's statements.

[Cha]

91. "Opposition to health care law hurts Olive Garden parent"

7:54PM EST December 4. 2012 - The restaurant company that owns the Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains said Tuesday that its bottom line is suffering in part because because of opposition to President Obama's health care law.

Darden Restaurants has rejected the requirement that employers provide health insurance to full-time workers and said it would cut employees' hours to dodge the mandate under the Affordable Care Act, The Hill notes. That would force low-paid part-time workers to buy their own insurance or be covered by government-created exchanges starting in 2014.

More..
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/04/darden-restaurants-obamacare-criticism-earnings-backlash/1746979/

h/t the obama diary

[Pryderi]

92. I hope Schnatter is arrogant enough to keep appearing in his own commercials.

It'll sink him

[davidpdx]

93. I'm glad to see someone is paying attention to the consequences these companies are facing

as a result of their shitty behavior. Getting it out there in the open puts more pressure on the companies that are trying to pull this crap.

[Kennah]

95. To wealthy one percenters who don't understand, let me explain this in simple terms: STFU!

[AverageJoe90]

96. Used to work for a smaller chain by the name of "Peter Piper" back in the day.....

Well during the last months of the Dubya administration, that is. Scheduling was kinda crappy but the pizza was good and the managers decent folks. That didn't last long though, because they went under 6 months after they opened up and I was one of the first ones let go, because I was an "extra"......

[Vestigial_Sister]

97. I don't...

eat at any of these shit-wagons in the first place...

[Tunkamerica]

98. the pictures of his palace didn't help.

A few years ago he paid a ridiculous amount (250k?) to buy back the car he had in highschool. He comes off as a rich prick with a grudge.

[Iggy]

100. The Problem with Buffoons Like Schnatter

Yes, we're free to create a business, work hard, earn millions and live in a gigantic mansion with servants.. but don't assume that means you're also free to abuse your workers-- the people who, you know, helped you get your wealth, and conduct a public campaign against providing them with insurance benefits.

[Blandocyte]

101. I unsubscribed from their email list when he said that and haven't ordered since

I was ordering about 1.5 pizzas on average from them per week. Thanks, "Papa" J, for helping me make a heart-healthy decision!