A tipster just emailed: "Was ordering Domino's last night and they updated their online ordering site with an application that lets you see the pizza you are building. In Flash, with really real-looking imagery. It was pretty cool."
I immediately clicked over to Dominos.com to put it through its paces. I signed in, clicked on "Build Your Own Pizza," and started with a Brooklyn-Style crust.
Here's what the interface looks like. Topping choices exist to the right of your mock pizza, with options for full-pizza coverage, left-half-coverage, or right-half. Where applicable. Topping-amount options become available when you tick off a box and are selected via a small pull-down menu—light, normal, and extra.
I thought I'd start with my favorite topping combo: sausage and onion. Wow. That looks pretty skimpy. Let's see what different topping amounts look like, shall we?
Here's the "Normal" amount of pepperoni.
Hmm. Baby Bear don't like that. She wants "Light" coverage.
But along comes Papa Bear and chooses "Extra." Mmm. Just right!
Let's Get Crazy
Now that we're in a maximizing mood, let's make a pizza with EVERYTHING. OK. I've got all my "Meats" on there. OK, clicking off the "Unmeats" (heh, clever, Domino's). Green peppers? Check. Black olives? And, ruh roh ...
I got a little too crazy! I love the warning. It's kinda like "hold on there, pardner!" It says:
That's quite a pizza you're building. But please, be responsible with your toppings. Too many can leave your pizza on the soggy side. So keep it to 10 toppings or less.
I'm not sure if that's a suggestion or an order. Because once I clicked "OK," the interface still allowed me checkmark black olives for a total of 11 toppings.
Testing a Meme
The folks on The Sneeze last year did some funny shenanigans with the Domino's pizza coverage options, testing to see how well the chain followed through with half-and-half pies and with ludicrous orders like the "None Pizza with Left Beef" (no sauce, no cheese, beef topping on left side only).
That's the old online ordering interface just above, along with the pizza that was delivered to The Sneeze people. I figured I'd see what a None Pizza with Left Beef look like in the new system.
Ohhh! No dice.
But the half-mushroom, half-pepperoni looks nice.
Parting Thoughts
I didn't follow through on ordering any of these pies, since I had just eaten, but I have to say that Domino's continues to push the envelope when it comes to the online ordering process. It's easy, intuitive, and, dare I say, kinda fun.
And I don't know if they've been on a campaign lately to inject some humor into the brand, but I like their little bits of humor here. What, with the bit about not showing a nekkid pizza and the gentle reminder to keep toppings at 10 or fewer. That, and their pizza boxes have a funny message printed on the bottom.
I don't care for Domino's anti-Gay/anti-Choice agendas (donating to these "causes" since Anita Bryant sat on their board over 20 years ago), so they could give me free pizza for the rest of my life and I still wouldn't order from them.
Thanks for the demo. I can't say that I've ever thought "wow, I could really go for a Domino's pizza" - but when I heard about their online ordering system, I nearly ran to my computer and ordered one immediately. This peaked my interest a little more. The fact that this pizza snob is even considering ordering from them just to use the cool website suggests that someone in Domino's marketing department deserves a bonus!
Ah, Hello Brownie! Domino's WAS privately owned way back when and was sold back in 1998 to Bain Capital and has since gone public. They no longer support any anti anything (gay or choice) and have not for over 10 years! I have many gay friends that work at Domino's in multiple different capacities who love their jobs. They have the right to earn a living just as everyone else and the fact that YOU are prejudiced, biased, and uninformed is bad enough, but when you propagate lies about a company over the internet that effects peoples incomes that is sad. Maybe YOU should get your facts straight before YOU bash innocent people trying to earn a living!
Um - Tom Monaghan (who founded Domino's) did sell the company in 1998, but he retains a 27% non-controlling stake in the company. His views on catholic causes scare even the catholic groups - he is considered fringe (see quotes in this article: http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4036). Domino's pizza just isn't that good, and I choose not to send money to that guy and his crazy conservative causes. I'm not going to picket or protest, I just choose to quietly spend my pizza money elsewhere.
Heh. THanks, Paulie, but no big deal. I had thought the old Domino's debate stuff had had its time in the sun -- used to be any time I posted a Domino's thing, people would come on as above, but then they stopped. Now it's back, I suppose.
Hi, I'd like to clarify all the chatter about Domino's. I've worked here since 1985. Fact: Domino's has NEVER contributed funds to so-called pro-life or anti-gay organizations. Ever. The founder is a conservative Catholic, yes, but all of his contributions were personal. He did retire and sell the company in 1998. While he did retain a small percentage of ownership, he sold all remaining shares when the company went public in 2004. For people like "Brownie" and "Justcook," we're disappointed that you've made decisions about us based on errant information. We hope you try us someday. We might surprise you. Thanks for the opportunity to clear this up.
good god, it's just pizza folks. crappy pizza, but nonetheless, just pizza. if you don't like them, don't order from them. the whole p.c. thing is so old. if i wanted to be preached at, i'd go to church on sunday, not read a blog about pizza.
Did no one notice Adam's comment about having funny messages printed on the bottom of the boxes? Somewhere, some poor sap is excitedly clutching his computer-ordered pizza box, flipping it upside down to read this message, and shrieking in idiotic horror as the pizza flies out and lands on the floor, cheese-side down. OR... if they clutched the box together so it couldn't open, still horror as the cheese sticks to the top of the box.
I haven't had Dominos pizza in a long time (personal taste preference, as a kid, I liked the local pizza parlor better, and when I went to friends' houses for pizza, Dominos always had black olives on it, which I hated as a kid)... and if I have to go chain, I go Pizza Hut... but this does make me kind of want to try ordering from Dominos. I like wings =D
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18 Comments:
I don't care for Domino's anti-Gay/anti-Choice agendas (donating to these "causes" since Anita Bryant sat on their board over 20 years ago), so they could give me free pizza for the rest of my life and I still wouldn't order from them.
Thanks, anyway.
Brownie at 5:31PM on 12/11/08
Thanks for the demo. I can't say that I've ever thought "wow, I could really go for a Domino's pizza" - but when I heard about their online ordering system, I nearly ran to my computer and ordered one immediately. This peaked my interest a little more. The fact that this pizza snob is even considering ordering from them just to use the cool website suggests that someone in Domino's marketing department deserves a bonus!
peachypear at 6:02PM on 12/11/08
If only their pizza was as good as their website...
Spanno at 6:14PM on 12/11/08
Agree with Brownie. I can't believe Serious Eats is giving Domino's face time. This whole post horrifies me.
justcook at 6:55PM on 12/11/08
That None Pizza with Half Beef is hilarious
greyrussian at 7:07PM on 12/11/08
Ah, Hello Brownie! Domino's WAS privately owned way back when and was sold back in 1998 to Bain Capital and has since gone public. They no longer support any anti anything (gay or choice) and have not for over 10 years! I have many gay friends that work at Domino's in multiple different capacities who love their jobs. They have the right to earn a living just as everyone else and the fact that YOU are prejudiced, biased, and uninformed is bad enough, but when you propagate lies about a company over the internet that effects peoples incomes that is sad. Maybe YOU should get your facts straight before YOU bash innocent people trying to earn a living!
GetReal at 7:24PM on 12/11/08
Um - Tom Monaghan (who founded Domino's) did sell the company in 1998, but he retains a 27% non-controlling stake in the company. His views on catholic causes scare even the catholic groups - he is considered fringe (see quotes in this article: http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4036). Domino's pizza just isn't that good, and I choose not to send money to that guy and his crazy conservative causes. I'm not going to picket or protest, I just choose to quietly spend my pizza money elsewhere.
funchefchick at 8:11PM on 12/11/08
On a lighter note, maybe your Domino's driver will deliver your pizza in this car:
http://www.tmz.com/2008/12/11/aston-martin-with-extra-pepperoni/
holdthemayo at 8:25PM on 12/11/08
And I forgot to add: LOL
holdthemayo at 8:27PM on 12/11/08
@Adam You want me to divert this to a dough tossing debate?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 11:06PM on 12/11/08
Heh. THanks, Paulie, but no big deal. I had thought the old Domino's debate stuff had had its time in the sun -- used to be any time I posted a Domino's thing, people would come on as above, but then they stopped. Now it's back, I suppose.
Adam Kuban at 11:20PM on 12/11/08
Pizza wank (seriously?) aside, the updated online ordering system is pretty cool. Kudos on the developer who made that!
omarac at 4:27AM on 12/12/08
Hi, I'd like to clarify all the chatter about Domino's. I've worked here since 1985. Fact: Domino's has NEVER contributed funds to so-called pro-life or anti-gay organizations. Ever. The founder is a conservative Catholic, yes, but all of his contributions were personal. He did retire and sell the company in 1998. While he did retain a small percentage of ownership, he sold all remaining shares when the company went public in 2004. For people like "Brownie" and "Justcook," we're disappointed that you've made decisions about us based on errant information. We hope you try us someday. We might surprise you. Thanks for the opportunity to clear this up.
TMcIntyre at 8:34AM on 12/12/08
good god, it's just pizza folks. crappy pizza, but nonetheless, just pizza. if you don't like them, don't order from them. the whole p.c. thing is so old. if i wanted to be preached at, i'd go to church on sunday, not read a blog about pizza.
carriebwc at 9:27AM on 12/12/08
They could be a big contributor to the get ESNY laid fund, and I'm still not sure I'd order from them.
ESNY1077 at 10:05AM on 12/12/08
Did no one notice Adam's comment about having funny messages printed on the bottom of the boxes? Somewhere, some poor sap is excitedly clutching his computer-ordered pizza box, flipping it upside down to read this message, and shrieking in idiotic horror as the pizza flies out and lands on the floor, cheese-side down. OR... if they clutched the box together so it couldn't open, still horror as the cheese sticks to the top of the box.
I haven't had Dominos pizza in a long time (personal taste preference, as a kid, I liked the local pizza parlor better, and when I went to friends' houses for pizza, Dominos always had black olives on it, which I hated as a kid)... and if I have to go chain, I go Pizza Hut... but this does make me kind of want to try ordering from Dominos. I like wings =D
feistyfoodie at 11:53AM on 12/12/08
@feisty - I noticed, and I couldn't believe Adam didn't say what it was!! It's a trick...now we all have to order. =)
akk328 at 12:35PM on 12/12/08
This is like creating a Facebook page for your pizza.
JudgeFudge at 4:07PM on 12/12/08