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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Complain — Who Me?

Sometimes, YES!

target gift cardEspecially when there’s a gift card involved – FREE – and all I had to do was  complete a survey and return it for this . . . a $25 gift card ! Count me in for anything free like this.

That’s what was said in the letter accompanying the survey. As a former Photographer’s Edge (PE) customer, the sales rep wanted to know why I had not ordered in awhile.  My last order of frame card stock was nearly 2 years ago.

This is what I used the photo frame cards to produce . . .

photocardsA couple of years ago, I had a small photo card business and would sell these at various local arts/crafts shows. It was fun, but  not much profit, so the business ended. My card stock inventory is still sufficient for the next few years (maybe more).

Back to the survey which asked a series of questions about ordering and preferences. It concluded by stating that the gift card would be sent upon completion and return of the survey.

Oh, what the lure of a tangible reward will do – it was one of the fastest surveys I ever returned . (Note: The closest Target retail store is a 90-minute drive north to Salisbury, MD, but  road trips are good and gift cards don’t expire.)

Fast forward to a week ago when a PE rep calls and tells me the survey was received and, in return, I would receive a $25 credit towards any future PE purchases.

WHAT? Did they NOT read my survey, which stated “out of business” and no supplies needed. And, what about that $25 Target gift card mentioned in the letter?

“That was a mistake,” the rep says, adding that” the letter had not been checked” to eliminate that offering and would I want the $25 credit instead.

NO – my target was the Target card – apparently that was not their target. I wondered IF it ever was.

Politely declining the offer, I again mention being out of business and the call ends. Still, it irked me that a company would send the offer and later change it.  So, keyboarding away, I compose a letter to the company president – starting at the top is never a bad thing, besides his name was on the initial letter, so why not? My letter explained that a prime reason the survey had been completed and returned was the lure of a Target gift card. (Most likely I would have returned it anyway, but incentives always help.)

The letter was mailed last week. Today, “Debbie” from PE calls and tells me that as I had been previously promised the Target gift card OR (ready for this?) would I prefer a $25 credit towards a future PE purchase. Hello, anyone listening?

Now, WHICH one do you think I took?  RIGHT, and it should arrive in 2 weeks according to Debbie.

If something’s bothering you, COMPLAIN – it might work out good !

WHAT would YOU have done?
Have you ever complained to a company?

9 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Good for you!

Yes, we just complained about a sink hole down the street that had been marked with spray paint and cones several weeks ago, then ignored. Traffic had to cross into the opposite lane to get around it. It was about 6' deep and terribly dangerous to people, animals, vehicles.... My Honey took pictures, I wrote a letter to the appropriate city agency, copied our local neighborhood yahoo group, got a lead from them for which city council member to copy, did that, then got action. I also got a phone call thanking me from the appropriate agency for telling them about the sink hole that had their cones around it for weeks.

Yep, sure did complain! I must say it paid to be polite throughout the whole thing.

The sink hole is in the process of being repaired. It's quite a project with huge equipment in the street.

Let us know when that gift card arrives!

Anonymous said...

Thumbs up for you. It never hurts to complain to a company, especially if you are in the right!

Connie said...

I would have complained too! I hope you actually get the Target card. You shouldn't have had to go through all of that just to get something they promised to you in the first place. I think they should send you two gift cards to make up for your trouble.

Montanagirl said...

A number of times! lol. Glad it worked out for you.

Anvilcloud said...

Hmmm ... got a free fireplace installation once. Maybe I should blog that someday.

Out on the prairie said...

Very nice , there is power in this keyboard.

Anonymous said...

Great that You complained and will get what they actually promised! Over here they can´t change anything from what is said in the card. I wouldn´t have been that nice towards them if this had happened to me :-) :-)

Have a great day now!
Christer.

MadSnapper said...

i got frustrated for you just reading the story. hope yo get that card. these days nothing surprises me at all. I like the cards you were selling. when i worked i got into sellig cards and framed photos and had business cards cut twice. that was 5 years ago. i got and email this week wondering why i had not bought business cards in the past 5 years. the answer is there is not business.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hi All and I sure will do a post announcing receipt of the Target gift card. "Debbie" told me to expect it in 2 weeks so we'll see how long it takes.

Lois, Thanks for sharing the sink hole story and nice to hear how you acted and got a dangerous situation corrected - at least now in the works. Odd how officials didn't take notice before you acted - Good you you and Kjell! Your complaining might have saved a person or a car - maybe both.

Thanks Linda & Daisy, I wasn't thinking of being so much right but disliked the switch and wondered if more responses than expected had come in OR if there never was to be a gift card to anyplace, not just Target. And one is enough, but thanks Daisy for suggesting I should have 2.

Thanks, Mona - me too!

AC, we got you beat as we got a free TV - repair shop put a crack in the screen of our 3-year old set and gave us a brandie new one!

Yes, Steve, there is power in the keyboard and before that the typewriter and let's not forget the mighty pen!

Thanks CHrister, being nice is sometimes more rewarding as in this case.

Sandra, I still have a lot of photocards as well as blank photo card stock. Always have a card ready to send. Glad you liked the cards, thanks!