Advent win upset

sallyhowse

I won an insta advent competition run by the London International horse show. I got the Wem in January and they passed my details to the prize provider and said if I hadn't received it by the end of the month to let them know. I was contacted the following week with an abrupt email congratulating me but also telling me I owed her £10 for p&p and a positive review on Facebook!

I responded politely saying that i was suprised there was a mandatory charge as it wasnt mentioned on entering and that £10 seemed expensive (the prize is an art print so a piece of paper in a tube) and was there any other postage options. I didn't explicitly refuse but I wasn't really willing to pay that much if I'm honest.

I recieved the following reply:

I’m so sorry to hear that you can't afford the £10 postage.

However I don't have the time or inclination to deal with your request therefore the prize will be transferred to another individual.

Hope your situation improves soon

Have a nice day

I was a bit upset to be honest it was an awful response.

I've contacted the people who ran the competition and they have said they'll look into how it can be resolved but I'm not hopeful.

Shall I just leave it? The art is not really something I would have bought but it's nice and would have made a great gift so I am a bit gutted but I still think £10 is a lot for postage and wasn't disclosed prior...

oliveoyl

What a stinky attitude - I'd be tempted to leave them a negative review on Facebook! 

Hope your comping year improves x 

MSE_Laura_F

I'm sorry this happened to you @sallyhowse.

Do you have a link to the competition?

sallyhowse

Hmm @MSE_Laura_F does this work?

ellenvan

That is terrible customer service - I would not pay the £10 on principle

eyeballpaul

terrible reply

post the reply on their Facebook page?

No T&Cs?

Ask ASA what they think?

sallyhowse

Yes it's a bit odd aswell as she now appears to have disappeared from Instagram so I assume that means she blocked me and i just cant see her, even though I've never contacted her on Instagram before

I could try ASA thank you for suggesting

Ms_Dee

sallyhowse said:

I won an insta advent competition run by the London International horse show. I got the Wem in January and they passed my details to the prize provider and said if I hadn't received it by the end of the month to let them know. I was contacted the following week with an abrupt email congratulating me but also telling me I owed her £10 for p&p and a positive review on Facebook!

I responded politely saying that i was suprised there was a mandatory charge as it wasnt mentioned on entering and that £10 seemed expensive (the prize is an art print so a piece of paper in a tube) and was there any other postage options. I didn't explicitly refuse but I wasn't really willing to pay that much if I'm honest.

I recieved the following reply:

I’m so sorry to hear that you can't afford the £10 postage.

However I don't have the time or inclination to deal with your request therefore the prize will be transferred to another individual.

Hope your situation improves soon

Have a nice day

I was a bit upset to be honest it was an awful response.

I've contacted the people who ran the competition and they have said they'll look into how it can be resolved but I'm not hopeful.

Shall I just leave it? The art is not really something I would have bought but it's nice and would have made a great gift so I am a bit gutted but I still think £10 is a lot for postage and wasn't disclosed prior...

I am so sorry you have been spoken to like this, even if it had said postage was to be paid and you missed it (I know you haven't because you provided the post) but even if you had I'd expect a professional who would like business would be politer and more tactful in response. 

Joolski

sallyhowse said:

Yes it's a bit odd aswell as she now appears to have disappeared from Instagram so I assume that means she blocked me and i just cant see her, even though I've never contacted her on Instagram before

I could try ASA thank you for suggesting

Her feed is still on Instagram.  If you've not contacted her on Instagram, can she can block you?  
I would certainly not be happy to receive that message.  The rudeness is unnecessary.

sallyhowse

Thanks for your advice and support, I knew this wasn't how I should have been treated but doubted myself a little.
I haven't recieved any further reply from the competition organiser and so I have submitted a complaint to ASA. I'm interested to see what they think of this

flowercandle

Very unprofessional using "I do not have the time or inclination"  It was also unprofessional to do a competition without making it very clear there would be postage costs or having terms and conditions with it clearly stated.  

I hope the person concerned is completely embarrassed when ASA enquire on your behalf and realise they sound like a tit.
I would be upset too but remember the way people treat others is a reflection of them and not of yourself.