SodaStream sent out of date food items, tells me to get stuffed

MamaMoo_2

Dunno if it makes any difference OP, but I bought a load of short dates SS Syrups on the cheap from Asda about a year ago. Still drinking them now, they still taste just as good as the bottles I have which are in date

ap1986

They could've sent you a load with a one day shelf life and they'd still be within their 'terms'... Up to three months doesn't mean a guaranteed three months.

I don't see why their letter isnt acceptable, they've apologised and given a reason why they can't/won't replace them - I don't see what more you want?! They weren't rude or unprofessional - I think it's a perfectly acceptable letter

Pollycat

deepindebtor wrote: »

You misunderstand my comment on the terms.

What I meant was 8 days falls quite short of 3 months.

I was not to say they did not meet their terms, just fell far short of their best efforts, which are ideally a minimum of 3 months.

You see, you say 'ideally'.
Your experience wasn't ideal but Sodastream did nothing wrong by supplying you with in-date goods.

And, if your complaint was worded as unclearly as your post, I'm not surprised that Sodastream responded as they did.

In fact, your first post shows that Sodastream had to query what you meant.

deepindebtor wrote: »

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

Personally, if I were replying on behalf of Sodastream, I wouldn't have made the point that the items were free.
I'd have said that - according to what the company says on the website - we have fulfilled our obligation as we attempted to provide items with a 3 month shelf life but couldn't because of stock levels.
I think their reply insinuates that a free item is attracts less concern than one you pay for.

deepindebtor wrote: »

I still feel angry and now surprised that so many people are willing to accept this as being ok. Quite a surprise, maybe in my business I shouldn't try so hard to please people????? Maybe that extra mile isn't worth it anymore? Wasn't the way I was taught but there you go.

I accept that what happened is OK because your supplier didn't supply out-of-date goods and didn't give you a cast-iron guarantee that the goods would have a 3 month shelf life.

They have done what it says on the tin.

d123

OP, you might want to edit the title to be more truthful, the product wasn't out of date, and the SS reply hardly told you to "get stuffed", it was reasonably accurate and quite inoffensive.

Pollycat

I'd like to 'thank' the above post more than once. :T

Darksun

We're talking about concentrated sugar syrup in sealed sachets. They'll be good for years beyond the BBE date

mattyprice4004

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.

Farts are methane, which is loaded with energy. As long as there's no 1 fart per customer' rule stock up, and sell them all to the gas companies. Better, I'll convert my car to run on it.

Pollycat

deepindebtor wrote: »

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

Question:

Is the sample pack clearly labelled as such or is it a random, off-the-shelf pack of any flavour they choose to send you?

If it is a special pack used purely as a free sample and therefore sent out to everyone who registers their machine, I don't see how you can expect Sodastream to definitely supply flavours with a 3 month shelf life.

7.
What is the shelf-life of the SodaStream flavours?


Our flavours are all packaged and labelled for maximum freshness. "Best before dates" will vary and are printed on the bottle. We endeavour to give you at least 3 months remaining shelf life. Please check your bottle for exact information.

paddyrg

The samples (syrups) don't have a timer that switches over from 'good' to 'toxic' at midnight on the 8th day (unlike fresh cream products,for instance), so don't worry, you'll be fine. In fact, given they contain so much sugar and other preservatives, I suspect you'd likley also be quite fine if you tried them in 1yr 9 days. They have to give a BBE date, but it is often quite arbitrary - maybe 2 years in the future - so a few odd days won't make measurable difference.

pulliptears

MamaMoo wrote: »

Dunno if it makes any difference OP, but I bought a load of short dates SS Syrups on the cheap from Asda about a year ago. Still drinking them now, they still taste just as good as the bottles I have which are in date

Snap!!

I have about ten boxes of samples I picked up from Makro that went out last year. They taste exactly the same as the in date ones.

To answer another question Soda Stream usually pop in a free sample pack with anything you order from them. When I ordered a couple of syrups a few months back I was given a sample pack with the order.