Help please - Don't know what to do =(

Fairy89

Hey all...
I had a few months out of comping, had a busy summer,
but whilst I was away I've spent since June trying to claim a prize.

I won a spa day (which I've received) and £250 worth of swimwear from an online company - I've been in contact with them since June, and i'm getting fobbed off, it takes them weeks and weeks to reply to emails, and i don't know what to do any more.

I picked the swimwear i wanted, and thought they were sending it back in august - nothing.
Then I get told I can't have my chosen swimwear anymore as the autum/winter, and 2011 collections are coming out so they don't have the stock i wanted.
I called them in oct, and she left me a long message, I actually thought I was getting somewhere; on the 28th oct she emailed me to say that she would email me the items they had in stock, in my size later that afternoon. I sent a reply the same day expressing my thanks...
and i've had nothing since.
I rang and left a message on Friday, and have sent another email today saying how disappointed I am that I've STILL not received that email.

But I'm just so fed up of chasing them now....is there anything I can do?
Anyone I can contact to sort it out etc?

I'm not an 'experienced comper' so I don't have a clue what do to in this kind of situation...or do I just leave it?

Any help will be much appreciated, and sorry for rambling.
Claire

jellie75

Hi Fairy89,

Unfortunately these things happen every so often and it feels wrong to start putting pressure on people when you won it! However they offered the prize and named you as the winner- so why shouldn't you get it? Just my opinion!
I took Toniq's advice on this a few months ago when I wasn't having any joy with a prize. She suggested writing an e mail (can't find the actual post) to the person you have been corresponding with. Tell them that you were so excited winning the prize and now to save further embarrasment you are referring the matter to the IPM (institute of promotional marketing). If you don't hear back from them- send an e mail to
Magdalena Czekalska, e mail is magdacz@theipm.org.uk who I dealt with, with the 'embarrasment' email attached. They will follow it up for you then. Hope that makes sense and helps x:)

Anisceline

That's really good advice, I was going to suggest going on facebook and adding a polite note on there as no one likes mismanagement exposed, but the above advice is even better. Or write to the CEO of the company, I've found the latter has always given me excellent results with dispute resolution or at least a settlement of sorts.

Markfezzer

Magdalena at the IPM is a star.

She sorted out a similar problem for me last year.

Fairy89

Thanks so much for your replies!
I'll give them a couple of days to reply to the email I sent them earlier on today, and if I've not heard back from them within the week I shall send them another email saying about IPM.

When/if I send Magdalena an email, shall I explain the whole situation and just leave it with them then? And have no further contact with the company in hand?

If anyone else has any other suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm willing to do anything now, just want my prize - half a year to get a blooming swimming costume, shocking!

tiddlyteri

just pile on the pressure and if you do manage to ring them ask to speak to the top boss and tell you what has been happening, that usually works for me because then at least something gets done about it

toniq

Advice above is fab, maybe when u send ur last and final email to them give them 7 days to respond,

State something along the lines of," I am left in an awkward and embarrassing position to have to keep chasing up my prize, what was an exciting moment has turned to disappointment and therefore to save myself from further embarrassment I will ask the IPM to look into this matter on my behalf if this email, like others I have sent, is ignored"

When u contact Ipm explain like you have here what has happened and see what they say back.

Hopefully you should have all sent emails to show an email correspondence, which migfht help the IPM if needed xxx

It's def good advice to CC in the Editor when u send ur next and final email as it will show how fed up u r xxx Good luck xx

timmmers

I would maybe mention where you got this advice from as well? MSE isn't without a fear factor I think Exposure of this kind of thing on a popular site like this won't be welcomed as a previous poster rightly said.

Sorry to see a happy thing turn a bit sour...hopefully they will feel the need t compensate you

t

Fairy89

Thankyou so much for all your fab replies.
I sent them a 'disappointed/fed up' email yesterday...so I'll them chance to reply to that.

I would go to the 'top boss' but I'm really not sure who that is, as far as I'm aware they are a very small company, and the woman I'm dealing with is probably one of the highest anyway... I could be wrong though...

If I've still not heard anything by monday then i shall send them an email with something along the lines of what Toni has said, with also a mention of MSE, and then I shall give it another week to respond, and then if still no joy I will email IPM and explain all.

You have all been fab...and I will be sure to keep you all updated!
Huge thanks to you all xx

Fairy89

After giving a full week to respond to me email, I have now sent the 'last' email.
I have stated in there about how disappointed I am, and that if i don't not get a response to this last email - didn't say how long, but I'll give them another week - then I shall forward all details and info on to the IPM.
Also stated that the info given to me was from MSE and that everyone has been helpful in helping me to sort this 'awful situation'

I shall keep you updated.
Thanks again to all those who helped, highly appreciated!