I placed an ad (using the internet) in the July 9 edition of the PennySaver, a nationwide publication distributed weekly to millions of homes throughout the US, to sell my mobile home. I proofread and confirmed the ad before submitting it to the publication along with $45.25 credit card payment. The day after I submitted the ad, a representative from the PennySaver called my home to verify the contents of the ad and my credit card information, which was correct. I sold the mobile home on July 7 (before the ad ran in the PennySaver) by placing a sign in the window.
On July 9, I started receiving calls generated by the PennySaver ad at around 9am. Before 3pm I received over 100 calls from people wanting information about the mobile home I told the callers that it had already been sold. What puzzled me was that alot of the callers asked "What's wrong with the mobile home?", to which I replied "Nothing."
I discovered the cause of the numerous calls and questions about the condition of the mobile home when I checked my ad upon receiving my mail at 3:30pm. The PennySaver made a huge error in the ad. The ad SHOULD HAVE READ: "For Sale by Owner $7000". THE AD READ: "For Sale by Owner $700". I called the PennySaver immediately (July 9th) to report the error (Needless to say I was upset with all the cheap-skates calling). The PennySaver confirmed their error and offered compensation of 10% of the total ad cost ($4.52) or a certificate for a free PennySaver ad.
Two days later on July 11th, my husband called the PennySaver and spoke to a supervisor. He let them know that he was not very happy with their "compensation" and that their "typo" was causing major disruption in our family time and the calls were constantly coming in, with no relief in sight.
The week the ad ran I received well over 100 calls per day. The 2nd week following the ad I received at least 25 to 50 calls per day; the 3rd week (NOW as I write this consumer complaints, 7/30/03) calls are still coming in, though not as many. I had to answer calls from people thinking they had found the bargain of the century; these calls would never had been made if the PennySaver had not screwed up my ad.
I feel ripped-off by the PennySaver; THEY DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. They should have at least refunded me the total cost of the ad ($45.25).
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