# Do you buy Papa John's pizza? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937 "2014-06-03T16:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/61 "2014-06-03T23:54:34Z")
When I was in college PJs had like 2 large 1-topping for $10. I would get it and fill my mini fridge and have dinner for a week. It was awesome. They knew how to get us addicted, just like free Microsoft and Apple products for college kids. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/62 "2014-06-04T00:06:36Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’m at a point in my life where if I’m feeding just myself and a couple other people, I _purposely_ pay more than $12 for pizza that’s better than “just fine.” Papa John’s/Dominos/Little Caesars/etc. are strictly for feeding larger parties on the cheap. I feel the same if it’s me and the kids and the wife and I’ll drop $30+ for a family size from our favorite local joint. If it’s just me and the kids, I go cheap because they’re not picky and I don’t mind slumming now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/63 "2014-06-04T00:06:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I stay away from the big pizza chains, preferring a local family owned place. Likewise. I can’t remember ever even ordering a chain pizza myself. Why, when there are so many fabulous local options that aren’t owned by some corporate behemoth? ETA if I want the cheapest possible meal, I can walk 2 blocks to probably any of a dozen taquerias and eat for less. Or I can cook myself. I’ve pretty much always got the makings for grilled cheese, and I know there’s no extraneous crap in it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/64 "2014-06-04T00:14:17Z")
I don’t buy Papa Johns because I think the sauce and crust are too sweet. I mean, I don’t like the man’s politics, but I’m not going to refrain from buying from somebody because of that. But I’m just not a fan of the pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/65 "2014-06-04T00:22:32Z")
I don’t feel I should have to agree with, or even bother trying to figure out, a CEOs personal views when determining whether or not to shop or eat at a place. I eat at Papa Johns because I like their pizza even if I don’t necessarily care for his politics, conversely even though I support the Chik-Fil-A CEO I don’t eat their because it don’t eat food with MSG dumped all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/66 "2014-06-04T00:26:23Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Didn’t vote because there’s no option for “Yes, I like the pizza even though I don’t agree with his politics.” > > John Schnatter is a piece of shit. But I have always loved his pizza. He’s starting to price me out of his client base, as their prices seem to be trying to creep up without anyone noticing. > > I don’t agree with the politics of Chick-Fil-A either, but I patronize their locations several times a month. Just look for the coupon codes online if you are ordering online. I can’t remember the last time I paid full price for one of their pizzas; their is never a time when you will type in “papa John’s coupon” and not be able to find a 25% off coupon code. I don’t think I would ever order PJ’s if those coupons were not available. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/67 "2014-06-04T00:32:38Z")
If there was one near us, and it was good we might get one once in a while. (there isn’t so we don’t) Hmmm, on one hand that’s a shitty attitude considering you owe what you have to the sweat of your employees. On the other hand, it’s unverified whether he actually said it. Now, if I witness a manager mistreating employees or customers at one location, it will make me think twice about going back to that store. But I think if I had to verify the politics and employee treatment at every business I patronized, I’d be growing my own food and my clothes would look like an extra from the Matrix. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/68 "2014-06-04T00:51:52Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I bought Papa John’s pizza once, probably 15 years ago. It was utter crap, and I’ve never made that mistake again. Even if I agreed with that d’bag, I wouldn’t order another. In any case, this would be a piece of cake boycott for me, as I never intend to buy another anyway. That’s more or less my opinion. Domino’s used to be my “worst pizza chain evar!” vote, but now I think it’s Papa John’s. (Since they’ve redone their crust, I actually can tolerate Domino’s.) Pizza Hut is fine, too. Probably my favorite of the three. Honestly, though, there’s a good number of frozen pizzas and ready-to-bake pizzas I prefer to all three of these. Hell, the cheap-ass ready-to-bake pizza I can get at Aldi for like $5 for ginormous size I like better. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/69 "2014-06-04T01:22:09Z")
I certainly don’t eat it - but do his practices actually differ all that much from those of any other giant fast food corporation, or is he in trouble just because he expressed them out loud? I mean, which ones say “Hey, our profits this quarter are “excessive” - let’s share them with our low level workers!” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/70 "2014-06-04T01:23:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > (Since they’ve redone their crust, I actually can tolerate Domino’s.) Growing up, Dominos was far and away the bottom of the barrel, just complete and utter garbage; burned white bread with ketchup and an American cheese slice was better. But just after they changed their crust a few years back I happened to move within a couple blocks of one, and it’s not bad; the rectangular “Artisan” pizzas are actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/71 "2014-06-04T02:34:35Z")
I have never tried their pizza but I have discovered a restaurant can easily advertise their pizza in a way that makes it look much better than it actually is. In fact, they can show pictures of a pizza that bears no relation at all to their actual pizza. So far as I know, there must not be any laws preventing restaurants from doing that because so many of them do that. Maybe it would be better to say that if there exist any such laws, they must be very weak because so many restaurants clearly ignore any such laws. I would be happy to name all the restaurants that I have discovered that do this. But they are all local and wouldn’t mean anything to most of the posters here. But it really angers me when that happens. About a week ago, I ordered a pizza that appeared fabulous and after eating just one bite, I threw the rest away. It was awful and it was $30 down the drain. I ordered the large size because in the past I have found large sizes and small sizes can taste quite differently and I wanted to find out if their large size was any good. FYI, the reason they can taste differently is because the large size (or “party size”) uses a different method of cooking and the crust tastes very different. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/72 "2014-06-04T02:37:31Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I have never tried their pizza but I have discovered a restaurant can easily advertise their pizza in a way that makes it look much better than it actually is. > > In fact, they can show pictures of a pizza that bears no relation at all to their actual pizza. > > So far as I know, there must not be any laws preventing restaurants from doing that because so many of them do that. > > Maybe it would be better to say that if there exist any such laws, they must be very weak because so many restaurants clearly ignore any such laws. > > I would be happy to name all the restaurants that I have discovered that do this. But they are all local and wouldn’t mean anything to most of the posters here. > > But it really angers me when that happens. About a week ago, I ordered a pizza that appeared fabulous and after eating just one bite, I threw the rest away. It was awful and it was $30 down the drain. I ordered the large size because in the past I have found large sizes and small sizes can taste quite differently and I wanted to find out if their large size was any good. Jesus. What large pizza is $ 40? (ETA: I swear that it was $40 when I originally responded.) Even at the most foodierific pizza joint, I’ve never seen one more than $25. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/73 "2014-06-04T02:39:59Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > No, because I think the pizza isn’t that good. We’ll buy Round Table (when we’ve got the money to spare), and either Pizza Guys (if we want to go cheap) or Dominos (if we’re really slumming it). I tried Domino once and couldn’t believe they could get away with selling pizza when the box tasted better than the food. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/74 "2014-06-04T02:53:42Z")
I’ve never tried Papa John’s Pizza … is this the guy with the QB Manning commercials. I like Manning … I guess that’s why they use sports stars that you like, uh? Is this the wrong place to ask what makes a good pizza? Not who, but what makes a pizza better than \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_? I like NY thin crust pizza and something called a Pizza loaf that they roll up and slice like bread in NY of course. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/75 "2014-06-04T03:24:04Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > I certainly don’t eat it - but do his practices actually differ all that much from those of any other giant fast food corporation, or is he in trouble just because he expressed them out loud? > > I mean, which ones say “Hey, our profits this quarter are “excessive” - let’s share them with our low level workers!” [In-N-Out starts new employees out at $10.50 per hour](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/07/31/what-happens-when-fast-food-actually-pays.html). > [@](#): > > “We start all our new Associates at a minimum of $10.50 an hour for one simple reason,” the company notes on its homepage. “You are important to us!” Among the benefits it offers to full-time workers are “a package of medical, dental, and vision benefits,” a retirement plan with “ a Defined Contribution Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan,” free meals on work days, and paid vacations. > > Or take Dicks Drive-in, a six-store chain in the Seattle area, whose menu of benefits resembles that of a technology company. Wages start at $10 per hour, but the benefits include “100% employer-paid health insurance and employer-subsidized dental insurance to every employee who works at least 24 hours per week,” educational scholarships, child-care assistance, and paid community service. It’s a way of—duh!—retaining people. “Almost one-third of all Dick’s employees have worked for the company for 2 years or more,” the company notes. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/76 "2014-06-04T04:21:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Jesus. What large pizza is $ 40? (ETA: I swear that it was $40 when I originally responded.) Even at the most foodierific pizza joint, I’ve never seen one more than $25. Large or family sized pizza with four or five toppings? With tax and delivery, that can easily be over $30 depending on where it’s coming from. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/77 "2014-06-04T06:11:05Z")
Yes, BUT I don’t like the pizza or his politics. BUT, I like to order some kind of pizza and Papa Johns was the first/only option in my area at the time that allowed online ordering at the beginning of the 21st century. So since it was the only pizza I could comfortably order in 2000, in 2014 I still have my account with them and it’s easy and not significantly worse than comparable options. There is exactly 1 semi-convenient seller of “real pizza” in my area, and it’s more difficult to purchase there. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/78 "2014-06-04T06:14:28Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Just look for the coupon codes online if you are ordering online. I can’t remember the last time I paid full price for one of their pizzas; their is never a time when you will type in “papa John’s coupon” and not be able to find a 25% off coupon code. I don’t think I would ever order PJ’s if those coupons were not available. They also send emails and have local promotions. I always get emails that say since the local hockey team scored a goal I get a coupon. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/79 "2014-06-04T06:17:11Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Likewise. I can’t remember ever even ordering a chain pizza myself. Why, when there are so many fabulous local options that aren’t owned by some corporate behemoth? > > ETA if I want the cheapest possible meal, I can walk 2 blocks to probably any of a dozen taquerias and eat for less. Or I can cook myself. I’ve pretty much always got the makings for grilled cheese, and I know there’s no extraneous crap in it. Depends on where you are. The farther away from NY, you have a hard time finding pizza. I rarely see any in the Midwest, but there seemed to be decent options in the Mid-Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937/80 "2014-06-04T06:47:21Z")
You know, I can’t remember if I ever tried them or not. I have memories of it not being all that great, but I don’t know if those are my own memories or from anecdotes from others. I do care about their politics, but it really has nothing to do with why I have no intent of ever trying a pizza from them. I actually would like to, so I could remember if I’ve actually tried one or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-papa-johns-pizza/689937.md?page=5)