For as much time as I spend on my computer, it surprises me how seldom I actually order food online. Though not exactly a new concept, (heck even Sandra Bullock ordered pizza online in The Net) many pizza restaurants either don't offer the service, or it is limited to so few delivery areas that it doesn't seem worth the effort. However, Pizza Hut is looking to change that now with the official launch of their system-wide online ordering system. It seems to have all the bells and whistles that you would expect, including special offers and coupons specific to your ordering area, the ability to create your own "pizza playlist", memory of past orders and one-click repeat ordering. I have to admit, my favorite aspect of online ordering is that you actually have a 'hard copy' of what you ordered in case of discrepancy - rather than just your word against that of the person who took your order by phone.
Pizza Hut states that they already have an average of nearly 30 online orders placed every minute during normal business hours nationwide, so you can expect that number to increase exponentially now that the system is fully functional. Do you often order food online, or do you prefer to call it in or simply just pick it up?
6-14-2007 @1:26PM Ozymandia said... We always order our pizza from Pizza Pizza, which has had online ordering in our area for a few years now. It's amazingly easy to customise the orders, and see how much the whole thing is going to cost before you hit "order". Beats talking to the teens who answer calls at the shop with less confusion and more accurate results.
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6-14-2007 @1:14PM Brian said... I'm perfectly happy with Pizza Hut and Papa Johns online ordering systems, except that both of them have a disconnect with the local restaurants. On multiple occasions, both chains have been advertising a big special on their front page, yet when you click through to your account for ordering, you're either informed that your local outlet doesn't honor the deal, or more often after you've placed your order you get a call from the local franchise to tell you that they don't carry the items, which puts you right back to telephone ordering.
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6-14-2007 @1:18PM Melissa Della said... I'd like to order more online, but most of my favorite restaurants haven't caught up with the present-day web yet. Mostly they are still running underutililzed, rarely updated websites. My favorite Mexican restaurant has had their online to-go menu "coming soon" for, oh, a few years now. ;)
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6-14-2007 @1:18PM John Henderson said... Huh. Hasn't Pizza Hut had this system in place for YEARS now? I remember ordering from it almost two years ago, and it wasn't even new then. I mean, sure they redesigned it - but it's the same old system as before. Maybe other parts of the nation didn't have it before?
Personally, I like the online system better for ordering because you can take the time to choose what you want with regards to specials. Instead of "Oh, what are your specials today?" - *thirty minutes of bickering between who's ordering while the pizza order taker waits* - "Oh, we'll have..."... you can just bicker while the computer waits. :)
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6-14-2007 @1:45PM chris furniss said... I've been using pizza hut online orders for a few years now. Papa John's too. I just prefer to not have to talk to someone and give them my credit card over the phone. They only thing that is a bit dubious about the pizza hut system is that you can enter a tip amount before you complete your order. Aren't you supposed to tip based on the delivery service you receive? What if I don't put a tip in that field, is the driver going to spit on my pizza?
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6-14-2007 @1:55PM John said... Well, the system is a P.O.S. for me. I put in my zip code in New York and my sister's zip code in New Jersey and no stores were listed. Not within 10 miles or even 20! If they can't even get a properly working database, how am I suppose to trust them enough to order?
I actually would like to see the variety of mom and pop restaurants in my neighborhood get together and put up an online system. That would save me from having to look through and keep all the menus for Mexican, Chinese, Greek, Caribbean, etc. that exist in my area.
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6-14-2007 @5:46PM arasmus2 said... In Champaign/Urbana they have what is called campusfood.com. Many campuses have it, but not all participate as much as CU does. Almost all the restaurants in the Green St. area have online ordering it is pretty sweet and I used it very often when I lived in the dorms, I could just go online and select what I wanted and then it arrive shortly. There was not only pizza but Chinese, Indian, burgers, cookies, subs, whatever you felt like.
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6-14-2007 @7:21PM karsh said... I think this has been around for years in metropolitan areas; I know I've used this service for at least two years myself. There is a huge disconnect between the website and the store, but for me, it's been in terms of delivery times. The web would say 30 minutes, and the pizza would arrive in 2 hours.
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6-14-2007 @8:11PM TC said... I just tried it and it insisted it could not find my address, and therefore I'm limited to carryout. Kinda defeats the purpose of beingable to order online
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6-15-2007 @2:33PM Courtney said... Sure, I'd use their online ordering system all the time if the stores in my area actually participated in online ordering. So if this article is saying that from now on ALL Pizza Hut stores will be required to use the online ordering system and there won't be any discrepancies (like a previous commenter said about specials only being offered in certain areas), I'm all for it.
I had ONE apartment that I lived in about 2 years ago that participated in online ordering... all other places I lived in I had to do it over the phone, which is fine too. But, I don't like giving my credit card to any one being paid minimum wage over the phone so online would be much better for me with regards to that. But, I normally pay with cash or check for my pizza to avoid the whole credit card thing.
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1-02-2008 @3:58PM Ansone said... I just wanted to let you know that I have gone to Pizza Hut in Roanoke, AL and for the past couple of times I have had alot of attitude from one of the employees. She seems to have a smart remark or attitude everytime I come in. Also when I order there is also an "hurry up and order attitude". And for the past 2 times I have called and ordered something the sauces are mixed up or either no sauce and I would either have to travel back or not sauce?? I use to enjoy going to Pizza Hut but now it seems like some of the staff does not really want to work there; once again not all but some. Thank you for your time.
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