Asda coupon scam?

snekmode37

Hello forum,

Got all excited this morning discovering a £1 off the medium counter pizza deal at Asda - my better half loves those custom pizzas. Off we went and also grabbed a few other bits we didn't plan on getting (as you do), totalling about £21.

At the till, I scanned my rewards app and the voucher. It wouldn't work! Tried it a few times and then had to give up due to the queue behind us. So we walked up to the customer service counter and I started my sentence "We've bought the pizza deal and tried to scan the..." And instantly go interrupted by the customer service lady finishing my sentence with "and the coupon won't scan, yes I know.". I said "oh you know?" - "yes it's due to the new system, they aren't working. Nothing we can do". Ok well... Off we went.

Now, checking the terms and conditions it says "Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash or be redeemed retrospectively."

Is this not a massive scam when they are fully aware the coupon won't scan but they fail to inform customers? A sign at the pizza counter maybe? Or pull the coupons from the app? They're literally luring you in with a promise, knowing people will probably grab some more bits and then you probably don't even have the option to return a custom made counter pizza either?

We wouldn't have gone to Asda in the first place and wouldn't have spent £21 if it hadn't been for this coupon. I'm really livid and don't think I'll be back at Asda any time soon. It's not even about the £1, just the fact they don't give a toss to even try inform people it's not working. With so many people on a tight budget it feels so wrong and disgusting to have such an attitude. Just feels like a massive scam to me but maybe I'm overreacting.

user1977

No, I expect it's merely a c0ck-up, not a "scam".

Aylesbury_Duck

I think you're overreacting.  It's not a massive scam, it's poor administration and customer service.  You may feel you've spent £21 you wouldn't otherwise have spent, but surely the stuff you bought you will eat/use anyway, or need in future?

I suspect a polite and well-worded complaint to the store manager will see you get a voucher for your trouble.  Go in there shouting about a massive scam and I suspect they'll make the decision about your future custom for you.

RefluentBeans

I mean the term ‘scam’ is a bit much. Feel it’s an overused term on these boards recently. 

New systems do have teething issues. Report it to the central customer services - if the one store has had an issue with it, then I doubt that it will be an isolated case, and as such they may be more willing to bend their rules. 

Whilst I understand it’s frustrating, it takes time for an issue to become known to the store and then the store to take action. Even more so on Sundays where often it’s more junior staff and a more skeleton staff. An A4 ‘pizza coupons aren’t working’ sign may have been printed but if the store has only just found out about it, it takes time for them to respond. Even more so if they’re waiting for official advice from a central team, who probably don’t work Sundays. 

I would just reach out to their central customer service team and see what they say. They may give you a coupon to apologise. 

molerat

Phone the helpdesk 0800 331 7409.  They are very good, probably the best CS desk I have used for a long time, and usually answer very quickly - I do hope they are not part of the outsourcing plans.  They will look up your transaction and credit the £1 to your account.  Last time i needed to call them I spent les time on the phone than I did waiting in store while they found someone to tell me they couldn't help !

For future reference to all reading - if anything to do with rewards don't bother in store, get on the phone.

born_again

snekmode37 said:

Hello forum,

Got all excited this morning discovering a £1 off the medium counter pizza deal at Asda - my better half loves those custom pizzas. Off we went and also grabbed a few other bits we didn't plan on getting (as you do), totalling about £21.

At the till, I scanned my rewards app and the voucher. It wouldn't work! Tried it a few times and then had to give up due to the queue behind us. So we walked up to the customer service counter and I started my sentence "We've bought the pizza deal and tried to scan the..." And instantly go interrupted by the customer service lady finishing my sentence with "and the coupon won't scan, yes I know.". I said "oh you know?" - "yes it's due to the new system, they aren't working. Nothing we can do". Ok well... Off we went.

Now, checking the terms and conditions it says "Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash or be redeemed retrospectively."

Is this not a massive scam when they are fully aware the coupon won't scan but they fail to inform customers? A sign at the pizza counter maybe? Or pull the coupons from the app? They're literally luring you in with a promise, knowing people will probably grab some more bits and then you probably don't even have the option to return a custom made counter pizza either?

We wouldn't have gone to Asda in the first place and wouldn't have spent £21 if it hadn't been for this coupon. I'm really livid and don't think I'll be back at Asda any time soon. It's not even about the £1, just the fact they don't give a toss to even try inform people it's not working. With so many people on a tight budget it feels so wrong and disgusting to have such an attitude. Just feels like a massive scam to me but maybe I'm overreacting.

Which should be answered with well you can knock off the value then. Or just refund the amount? Is there a manager? If they say no. So you get the refund. Manager has the authority.

HillStreetBlues

I wish I had a £1 for every time "scam" is misused on here.

Largs

Asda Supermarket is notoriously bad with coupons.  I have tried to use ones specifically for use only at ASDA issued by the manufacturer, they scan it, £1 comes off then the screen shows "voided entry" and the value gets added back on.  This is paper coupons and ones sent to the mobile phone with the moving barcode.  I don't use them in there now.  I agree that if you contact Asda House, they will send a gift card to use another time.  Asda seems to be getting worse, not better since changing owners in my opinion.

Aylesbury_Duck

HillStreetBlues said:

I wish I had a £1 for every time "scam" is misused on here.

"YOUR RUNNING A SCAM!!!!  ITS THEFT!!!!"

km1500

HillStreetBlues said:

I wish I had a £1 for every time "scam" is misused on here.

or mis-sold ....

Aylesbury_Duck

km1500 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I wish I had a £1 for every time "scam" is misused on here.

or mis-sold ....

It's usually "miss sold".