I heard a radio ad stating that the Dump would give out $100 gift cards to anyone who showed up to the store on Friday the 15th. The ad said there was no minimum purchase required, no strings attached.in fact, it gave the example of finding something for $100 and getting it for free!
In the days prior to the event I went to the Dump’s website to see if they had more information on the promotion. I did not see anything. I tried to send an email but I could not because I did not have a purchase number. After that I called the Irving location to get details. The first woman I talked to said she did not know anything about the event. I called again and was told that the staff would not be notified until the morning of the event and that I could call back then. I posted a question on the Facebook wall in the hopes of getting more information. I was told by another fan of the store that they heard the ad to. I was not contacted by the dump.
On the day of the event I and several other people stood outside to get our gift cards. When the doors opened the sales staff did not know what we were talking about. They acted like they did not know a promotion was going on. Later on someone came over with some cards that said $100 off a $199 purchase. We told the person that was wrong and they told us this is the offer they were told to pass out. I talked to a manager who told me that the higher ups played a copy of the radio ad and it was for $100 off a $199 purchase. I asked the people had they heard the ad on the radio and they all said no. They had only heard it in the meeting.
I and everyone else left the store mad and disappointed. We asked each other if we had heard about the free $100. We all agreed that the ad said there was no minimum purchase required. When I got to my car I called the customer service number and was told that his manager played the ad for him and it said $100 off $199 purchase. I asked him if he had heard the ad on the radio and he said no. He told me that he would send an email about my complaint to the management.
When I arrived home I filed a complaint to the better business bureau in hopes of getting the $100 gift card that was offered in the advertisement.instead I got this response:
Date Sent: 4/22 6:03: 46 PM
Ms. Anderson,
I have reviewed the complaint you filed with the BBB concerning the advertising issue. An incorrect ad did air on the radio, but the issue was quickly resolved with the local station. While I apologize for the confusion, I am unable to offer a $100 store credit without a minimum purchase. However, I will be happy to extend the offer that ran that weekend: a $100 credit towards a purchase of $199 or more. Please contact me at [email protected] if you would like to take advantage of this offer.
Thank you,
Chip St. JohnThe Dump FurnitureDirector - Customer Service & Quality Assurance10251 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77037cstjohn@thedump. Comwww.thedump.com
My Reply:
I should get the $100 gift card with no minimum purchase because that is what The Dump offered. A company cannot offer something in an advertisement and then not provide it just because they don’t want to. There was not radio or public apology to consumers for the confusion.instead they had their customer service representatives say that I was wrong and that no such ad existed. It was only when I told them about the better business bureau complaint and the response that they said the ad was released by mistake.
I wasted my time and gas going from my home in Dallas, TX to your location in Irving, TX.in total I drove 48 miles (31 minutes each way) and wasted over an hour of my time because of your false advertisement.
My Damages: My damages are the $100 gift card that was promised but never delivered and the gas I wasted driving to and from your location. With gas costing about $3.80 last month I wasted about $5.51 round trip because of your deceptive advertisement. I want my gas money and the $100 gift card. Your claims that you cannot give away a free gift card are not true because you would not have gone through the expense of making the ad if you could not do it.
0 comments