Ralphs promised two nights in a decent hotel in exchange for spending over $400. They admit 300,000 people qualified and 50,000 people attempted to claim their award. They won't say how many actually received the promised promotion.instead, many people were told their entry was not in compliance, or that the award was subject to availability and they ran out of awards.
They claim "the Reservation Center is the final interpreter of the intent of the terms and conditions."
It doesn't work that way in California. Their wrongful denial, or failure to be prepared for the expected response may be in violation of law. Civil Code 1770 along with BP 1500 and 17200 come to mind.
File a complaint with the California Attorney General or your local consumer protection agency. With possibly tens of thousands of victims Ralphs may find that they not only lost many customers due to terrible treatment, but it may cost them millions of dollars in restitution and penalties.
The only thing that may save them is if the Attorney general prempts everyone else from suing them, and makes a settlement that doesn't put them out of business. The current checker strike may be the least of their worries.
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