SodaStream sent out of date food items, tells me to get stuffed

deepindebtor

Hi,

Firstly let me start off by saying there are some of you out there that will think I have a cheek complaining about this, you are entitled to your opinion, but I have a reason to complain, let me explain:

I registered my SodaStream on the UK website, as a new customer they send you a free sample pack...everyone gets one.

However when it arrived the best before date was only 8 days away, for 12 samples, each making 1L of soda, I can't see me drinking 12L of soda in 8 days its a bit un-realistic. Also their website does state they will attempt to give you 3 months shelf life, the fact the item was free shouldn't make a difference here, they chose not to charge me, the order was processed as normal, so the terms apply, surely?

Now I fully understand this is free, it is a gift, but if you went to Tesco and they handed you an out of date pasty and said thanks for shopping mate, you'd be round ASDA in a flash!

This was meant to be a gift, goodwill, all its brought is ill will and anger.

When I complained this is what they said:

Good Morning Steve

Thank you for your email.

Please can you confirm the date of the product, do you mean 2013?

I am sorry for you disappointment with this matter however as the samples were free of charge I cannot replace the pack on this occasion.

Please accept my apologies.

Kind Regards
NAME WITHELD
Customer Care Executive SodaStream UK

So basically, they said, stuff you Mr New Customer, we just couldn't give a flying.....you know what.

Am I wrong to complain? I don't feel I am, other people are given this gift but I am being given a stinky sock and meant to be happy?

I was just shocked to be honest, what awful customer care and I guess I wanted to vent and make other people aware of it.

Lokolo

Well you're wrong in the fact you have said both in your title and your message that they sent you out of date items, when in fact you also said they were 8 days in date.

So they hadn't sent you out of date anything!

Now I fully understand this is free, it is a gift, but if you went to Tesco and they handed you an out of date pasty and said thanks for shopping mate, you'd be round ASDA in a flash!

For example, what the hell are you on about? You are comparing items which are being sold out of date to ones which are close to end of date.

Would you complain to Asda if they gave you something (for free) which was going out of date in 8 days!?

bebewoo

I do see your point. I would complain again about the response to the complaint. Keep it civil but talk about service levels and how very very dissappointed you are.
Some companies think it's fine to treat customers badly, but if you keep complaining they will give you something to shut you up.

deepindebtor

I did get my terminology mixed up, they were technically not out of date but rather a short date of only 8 days, while this is normally acceptable in retail for perishable items such as lettuce or fresh chicken such dates are normally not acceptable for general stock of bottled or tinned items that are not under offer.

I was also trying to flag up an issue with their own internal systems, information which should have been of value to them, as their delivery note stated a valid best before date over a year into the future but the product picked was not dated the same, so they have stock issues internally there, that was meant to be helpful.

I just felt as if I was being treated badly, I did ask how they would feel if it had happened to them and I feel most people would not be happy if they were presented with the situation I was.

peachyprice

You can't compare fresh food with a 'use by' date with a long life food with a 'Best before' date, the best before date is only an indication of when the product will be at it's prime, after this date the product may (not will) deteriorate only in appearance or flavour but will not become inedible or dangerous to consume.

I really wouldn't have thought it worth kicking up a fuss about, it's not like you can't use it after the 8 days.

OlliesDad

What an outrage.. demand a refund for everything you paid for the short dated products back.

Joking aside, it will be safe to use the items past the best before dates.. it would only be if it was a 'use by' date instead that would be an issue.

Would you prefer it if you were not given any free samples instead?

deepindebtor

Thats a strange attitude OlliesDad.

The company gave me a gift, presumably to make me purchase more.

If Argos gave me a fart in a box, i'd most likely never shop there :-)

That is what this was, a fart in a box and they were asking me to LIKE that....I don't.

peachyprice

deepindebtor wrote: »

That is what this was, a fart in a box and they were asking me to LIKE that....I don't.

How so? ..........

ThumbRemote

Essentially the free sample is an incentive for you to register the product, so they can send you marketing information.

Since you weren't happy with the free sample just ensure you remove their right to contact you.

OlliesDad

deepindebtor wrote: »

Thats a strange attitude OlliesDad.

The company gave me a gift, presumably to make me purchase more.

If Argos gave me a fart in a box, i'd most likely never shop there :-)

That is what this was, a fart in a box and they were asking me to LIKE that....I don't.

Really? You think that its not a good thing that you were given free samples of a perfectly consumable drink?

I think my attitude of being grateful for what i get may seem strange to you, however I am quite happy with it.

Pollycat

deepindebtor wrote: »

Hi,

However when it arrived the best before date was only 8 days away, for 12 samples, each making 1L of soda, I can't see me drinking 12L of soda in 8 days its a bit un-realistic. Also their website does state they will attempt to give you 3 months shelf life, the fact the item was free shouldn't make a difference here, they chose not to charge me, the order was processed as normal, so the terms apply, surely?

What 'terms'?

They made an 'attempt' to give you 3 months shelf life but didn't manage to do so.

If they had given you a cast-in-stone guarantee that the free gift would have 3 months shelf life, I could understand your point.
But they didn't and I can't.