Confusion and Backlash Ensue after IHOP Changes its Name to IHOB to Promote New Steakburgers
14, Jul, 2018
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What started out as a fun marketing ploy to raise interested in a new menu offering turned into angry/confused customer sentiments for IHOP. Known for their stacks of pancakes, IHOP decided to change their name to IHOB, and flip their “p” to a “b” in the process, to promote their new line of steakburgers and forego heavily promoting their breakfast items (gasp!). It wasn’t long before customers were growing wear and concerned.
We’re giving away 60¢ short stacks on July 17 from 7a-7p for IHOP’s 60th birthday. That’s right, IHOP! We’d never turn our back on pancakes (except for that time we faked it to promote our new burgers) pic.twitter.com/KsbkMJhKuf
— IHOP (@IHOP) July 9, 2018
Just a month of announcing their new menu and name change, IHOP let everyone know that it was a marketing gimmick aimed at getting attention for their burgers. However, even though IHOP reassured customers that this just a temporary marketing effort, both customers and other restaurant chains let their unfavorable opinions be known.
Wendy’s called out IHOP over its “lame name change:
Remember when you were like 7 and thought changing your name to Thunder BearSword would be super cool?
Like that, but our cheeseburgers are still better.— Wendy’s (@Wendys) June 11, 2018
Whataburger says it’s sticking with only hamburgers:
As much as we love our pancakes, we’d never change our name to Whatapancake
— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) June 11, 2018
White Castle is not changing its name anytime soon:
We are excited to announce that we will be switching our name to Pancake Castle.
— White Castle (@WhiteCastle) June 11, 2018
Denny’s is making light of the whole situation:
👦: Grandpa, do you remember the Great Burger Wars?
👴: lol no I was chillin drinkin milkshakes and trying to make sense of Westworld— Denny’s (@DennysDiner) June 11, 2018
Judging from the tweets above, all press is definitely not good press. Not only were their customers upset at the name change but other restaurant chains were able to take the time to exploit what was perceived as a odd and silly name-change for their own benefit.