Sweet ‘n smokey chipotle wings have arrived at Popeyes, and you can score a free six-piece order in the new flavor. Until Sept. 8, customers can grab a free order of wings with any purchase in the official app of $10 or more.
Popeyes' brand goal is to become the "official wing of watching football," so this won't be the only promotion they offer this season. Keep an eye on the app for new deals and discount codes. Meanwhile, you can try their latest flavor for free whenever you crave delicious chicken wings. Just make sure to order through the app as a rewards member.
The free six-piece wings may help you stretch your fast food budget , but other menu items won't. Here’s why Popeyes seems to be so expensive compared to other fast food options.
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1. Location
There are more than 3,000 Popeyes restaurants across the country. Almost every state has at least one restaurant, but Texas is home to the most — there are more than 400 Popeyes outposts in the Lone Star state.
Where your Popeyes is located can have much to do with how much it charges. Popeyes restaurants are franchises and may have the flexibility to charge based on location.
In a more affluent area, you may see higher prices because the restaurant can increase prices and still get customers through the door.
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2. Taxes
While taxes may not impact the menu price, they can definitely affect the total amount you pay for your food.
A few states have zero sales tax (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon), but the other 45 and the District of Columbia have sales taxes ranging from 4% to 7.25%.
3. Regional or limited availability items
Sometimes, restaurants (including Popeye’s) test out new or limited-edition products in certain regional markets. Because they are temporary items, they may cost more to source.
They may also be conducting market research to determine what price points draw in more customers. Either way, special items may end up costing you more to try.
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4. Slowing sales
During the summer of 2019, the famous “Chicken Wars” pitted various fast-food chains in a chicken sandwich competition.
Popeyes quickly joined in and added a chicken sandwich to their menu on Aug. 12, 2019. Its popularity increased sales for the fast food chain by 38% by the end of the year.
However, that popularity and market share have continued to shrink. Raising prices may seem counterintuitive, but the chain may be increasing the cost of its menu items to combat the reduction in customers.
5. Inflation
While inflation has cooled down in the last couple of years, 2022 saw a record high of 8.3%. Even though the inflation rate has slowed, it was still 3.4% in 2023. Rising costs of food, transportation, and labor can all impact the cost passed on to the customer.
Customers have even noticed that coupon values have changed from just a couple of years ago, and prices have almost doubled for some items. Complaints surround the fast food chain increasing costs to consumers because of corporate greed.
6. Food delivery app markup
Online orders from apps like Doordash, UberEats, GrubHub, and other food delivery services grew enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the demand has cooled a bit since then, the convenience of having food delivered right to your door is hard to resist.
It’s no secret that these apps mark up their prices, but the percentage increase over in-store pricing can be almost 100% and sometimes more than that. If you order Popeye’s from a delivery app, you can almost guarantee it’s going to be overpriced.
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7. Tuesday Special
Popeye’s has had a long-standing Tuesday Special. It’s often called the “two-piece Tuesday Special,” and customers can score two pieces of chicken (one leg and one thigh) for cheap. In 2017, the price was $1.49; in 2023, the price jumped to $2.99, depending on store location.
Because Popeyes is a franchise, individual restaurateurs can decide whether or not to offer this special. It’s unavailable for online or in-app orders, and the price will vary by location.
Tuesdays are typically slow days for restaurants, so the stores offer a special to get people in the door, hoping they’ll buy more than just the discounted item.
However, if your store offers this special, they are selling food below their typical costs — and have to make that margin up somewhere else.
Bottom line
Popeyes is trying some different marketing and promotions to quell criticism that the chain is overpriced. Last year the popular fried-chicken chain launched a new "sweet 'n spicy" wing flavor that became their best-selling item since the launch of their chicken sandwich, and they're hoping this new wing flavor will bring in similar enthusiasm — which is why they are giving customers a chance to try it for free and save money .
The promotion is nice, but it seems like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. Popeyes may need to focus on adjusting the base prices of its regular menu to keep customers satisfied.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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