Lindt Chocolate offer with SHE magazine: it's a scam

mademoiselle_2

I am absolutely furious!

I took out a subscription with SHE magazine after receiving a mailer that promised an introductory 'gift' of a casket of Lindt chocolate ("worth £30"). I subsequently noticed that there was a thread on here about the offer; so obviously, a lot MSE'ers were interested in what sounded like a good offer - nice chocolate for Christmas for the kids, etc.

Prepare to be disillusioned! I have today phoned the subscriptions dept, as, guess what, the chocolate didn't arrive. The operator I spoke to was smoothly practised in his patter: they were 'so sorry', the stocks were 'exhausted'; and they 'would be' writing to disappointed subscribers to offer an 'alternative'.

Having taken him to task for about 15 minutes, and questioned him thoroughly, do you want my interpretation of this?
- they deliberately print these misleading mailers, knowing full well that most people will be disappointed, but what do THEY care, they have garnered a subscription.
- If you don't phone to complain, I strongly suspect that you will receive NOTHING.
- If you DO phone, they offer cheap 'alternatives'. I was offered some Charles Worthington shampoo, or a Good Housekeeping cookery book. Neither are of anything like the quality of the original gift offered.
- I noticed that this month's issue is offering a different subscription enticement - a set of ceramic hair straighteners. Hell, I even posted an item about it! *furious* But guess what? No, that 'could not be offered as an alternative'. I strongly suspect that they, like the chocolate, never existed (or if they did, were limited to a handful of sets that they give away as a loss leader).

I want people to know that this is in my opinion a COMPLETE AND UTTER SCAM. National Magazine Company are cynically peddling their subscriptions with offers of expensive gifts that will never be honoured.

DON'T BUY THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS!

My next port of call will be Trading Standards.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Seakay

Thank you for letting us know; perhaps you could remove the other post that you refer to so that people who miss this warning aren't taken in?

Strepsy

I'm always so tempted by those subscription offers. Always wondered how they're viable as they seem to give so much away. Now we know.

Idiophreak

I'm not 100% sure where you'd stand legally on this, but based on my limited studies of contract law I'd hope that if they can't provide a free gift thats an acceptable alternative (probably some other chocs to the value of £30) you've got a pretty good case to tell them to shove their subscription and walk away.

Jazzyjeff_2

Firstly yes it is wrong that you did not get the chocs and have been offered such a low alternative. However, if you read the thread on this me and loads of others DID receive the chocs so they didn't never exist and there were more than a handful.

I suggest you just cancel

kimnhol

I received the box of chocolates as promised about a week ago, really nice selection but they havent actually made it to christmas. :embarasse Im sure they will keep to there word and offer an alternative.

mademoiselle_2

kimnhol wrote:

I received the box of chocolates as promised about a week ago, really nice selection but they havent actually made it to christmas. :embarasse Im sure they will keep to there word and offer an alternative.

I'm pleased that you and others got the chocolates, kimnhol, but it makes me even angrier that I didn't!! I actually responded to a mailer on an insert in a magazine - and applied online, within a day or so of first seeing the thread here on MSE. So I applied in good time.

What makes me so suspicious is that the hair straighteners, offered as an incentive in the January 2007 issue, are already 'not available'. How fair (or honest!) is that?

weaver

mademoiselle wrote:

I am absolutely furious!

I want people to know that this is in my opinion a COMPLETE AND UTTER SCAM. National Magazine Company are cynically peddling their subscriptions with offers of expensive gifts that will never be honoured.

DON'T BUY THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS!

My next port of call will be Trading Standards.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

How can it be a scam if people have received these ?????

I applied 8th November vis the internet and mine arrived - without any phones call to the company.

A good offer is always oversubscribed, I had this with Harpers last year, offered different gift ( should have been Molton brown goodies ) I got a dove set - not in same league but also 6 months free subscription. Ive always found if you are polite and couteaous the Poor operator - whose fault it isnt that the gift is not available, will be willing to either cancel the subscription or try and help as much as possible.

You should never take out a subscription just for the gift.

Its only a scam if no one gets what they promised and many have received the chocolates - Unfortuatley this time you were unlucky it could be me next time - Id cancel the sub and wait for the next one to come along. Which it will.

poppyamber

weaver wrote:

How can it be a scam if people have received these ?????

I applied 8th November vis the internet and mine arrived - without any phones call to the company.


Its only a scam if no one gets what they promised and many have received the chocolates - Unfortuatley this time you were unlucky it could be me next time - Id cancel the sub and wait for the next one to come along. Which it will.

Here here!!

I know a few others who took sub out and never had to chase for the gift! :rolleyes:

It was a popular gift and it ran out :rolleyes:

I have missed out on offers before and been offered a substtute, thats just life.

Edna_Bucket_2

mademoiselle wrote:

...- If you DO phone, they offer cheap 'alternatives'. I was offered some Charles Worthington shampoo, or a Good Housekeeping cookery book. Neither are of anything like the quality of the original gift offered.

They've run out and offered you an alternative, so what's the problem?

My answer would have been "that's great - I'll have both of them please, and how much shampoo are you offering me? Can you guarantee it is the same price or more as the £30? Oh and are you going to chuck in an extra bottle over and above the £30 for my inconvenience - that's the least you can do, isn't it?"

sammyy

What day did you order the sub?I ordered on the 4th nov but chocolates didn't turn up.I rang them and they said "sorry ,we've run out" and offered me the same substitutions as they did you.I opted for the Charles worthington set and he said they would arrive within 28 days,but about a week later the Lindt did turn up.I don't think they really have a clue what they're on about.