Every Friday consumers in search of money-savings promotions visit WCIA's website. Their Frugal Fridays promtotion provides visitors an option to purchase gift certificates at 1/2 price. That means that you can buy a $50 worth of gift certificates for only $25! Not a bad deal. Or is it?
There are conditions:
1) There is an expiration date. Even though state law requires that items of cash value cannot expire and must be redeemed by a business, this program gets around that by simply reminding customers that there is "no cash value".
2) It can't be used on multiple visits. That means if I have a $50 in gift certificate and only spend $30, I'm not getting my full $50 worth.
3) No cash back for unused amount. In the past example, if you only spend $30 and they don't give you $20 in change. What a rip-off.
4) You an only use on certificate at a time. So if you happened to purchase multiple $50 certificates and took several friends out for a dinner for $100, you would have to pay $50 when the waiter comes back to remind that you can only use one certificate at a time.
5) No alcohol. So in the past two examples, your beer and wine would not be covered.
6) Tax not included.
This program really makes your earn your 50% off. I recently talked to a friend who feels that he got "ripped off" because he spent $14 and provided $20 worth of certificates. He will never go back to the business because they did not give him $6 in change. I explained to him that it still sounds fair because the conditions were clear and that he really only paid $10 for $14 worth of food. Still a pretty good deal, I thought. After researching the program for this post, I see that the businesses doesn't get any money at all because they pay with their product while the WCIA Frugal Friday program keeps all the money for promoting their business.
Here's the question: is it appropriate to put so many conditions in place, or is it a scam? One thing is for certain, it SOUNDS like a great deal.
I guess they should tell you that you're buying a coupons. That seems to be what you're getting.
Well, I can imagine the program would not be very profitable if you could get cash back as change. Then I would buy the $50 gift certificate for $25, use it to buy something for $5, get my $45 dollars in change, rinse and repeat. It is what it is. Read the terms and conditions (as you did) and how can it be called a "scam"?
Fair, but reflects badly on WCIA.
"Read the terms and conditions (as you did) and how can it be called a "scam"?"
You'd think....
"Fair, but reflects badly on WCIA."
And the businesses also! People don't stop going to WCIA to purchase products then they are pissed that the business did not provide change. It's probably not favorable to a businesses who has to flag down the customers in advance and remind them that reading is FUNdamental. It is not favorable to the businesses afterwards who have to remind customers that reading is FUNdamental. Since the business did not even get paid for the "gift certificate", they can't give change. Sounds like a lose-lose scenario to me.
The thing you need to realize is that people who sell advertising are selling a product with an unknown value. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. So they have to resort to scamming you. In my experience, everyone who sells advertising is a low-life, slimy, scammer. A total lack of ethics permeates the business. It should therefore be no surprise that someone in the advertising business would come up with such a slimy program as the Frugal Fridays coupons.
People who sell items/services with no concrete value are prone to becoming pathological liars. It's simply the result of a positive reinforcement loop: I lie and scam, I eat. I don't lie and scam, I don't eat.
Relevant: (Lots of profanity, but well worth it)
www.youtube.com/watch
"It should therefore be no surprise that someone in the advertising business would come up with such a slimy program as the Frugal Fridays coupons."
For the record, I think the program is brilliant. If I extend just a little effort, I can save 50%. That is very attractive to me and worth me having to use my thinking cap. Then again, I'm the type who will take the time to understand an offer.
The problem is that people think they are getting ripped off. Did they get taken advantage of because the program assumed they read the fine print? Is it appropriate for the marketing company to argue that these conditions are very straight-forward? Should these types of programs be banned because they require people to read?
I think you're making a connection that the writer isn't asserting.
Advertising people are scum, regardless of whether the Froogal Frydays program is reasonable and proper or not.
In my experience, everyone who sells advertising is a low-life, slimy, scammer.
Which would mean the operators of IlliniPundit are slimy scammers, since they sell ads.
Sounds like you've been burned by a "low-life" ad man or ad woman. Consider doing your homework before plunking down your bucks on advertising. Not only are there reputable marketing experts ready to help you with a plan to grow your business, but there are not-for-profit business organizations that can help noobs like yourself the ways of the marketing world. Good luck to you.
"Which would mean the operators of IlliniPundit are slimy scammers, since they sell ads."
Yeah, I think that's their point.
<shrugs>
If you want to talk about consumer scams and slimy marketing, let's have a discussion about replacement vinyl window salespersons. THAT is a profession wrought with bloodsuckers.
On July 21st, 2008 at 07:38 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:
If you want to talk about consumer scams and slimy marketing, let's have a discussion about replacement vinyl window salespersons. THAT is a profession wrought with bloodsuckers
At least those vinyl window salespersons are working!, paying taxes unlike some of the Anonymous "tax parasites" laying around with both hands out waiting for Uncle Sam to punch their meal ticket!!!
settle down Gregg, I didn't know you sold windows for a living.
If you want to talk about consumer scams and slimy marketing, let's have a discussion about replacement vinyl window salespersons. THAT is a profession wrought with bloodsuckers.
Wow is your bloodsucker meter out of whack. Check these guys out for a real look at slime.
I have to say, this thread did not go in the direction I was hoping. : )