Kelloggs - 25000 Winner Email
 

For your best interest please file a complaint with the MI Attorney General.

Please use the following link:
https://www.ag.state.mi.us/cp_division/w3cp_c01_new.asp

Make sure to mention Kelloggs- 1 Kellogg Sq
Battle Creek, MI
& Epiinc - Battle Creek, MI

A consumer investigator told me that the more the merrier and better, and you have nothing to loose.

You do have something to lose, companies like this won't ever offer competions like this online again.

Some programmer made a mistake, is it worth filing official complaints about this? Besides that, their T&C's are in their favour...

Actually, consumer affairs is our taxes at WORK, nothing to loose, but it will be on record that kelloggs engages in sweepstakes fraud.
If Kelloggs defrauds me on this sweepstake, then why not on the cereal?
I have switched to General Mills.

Give me a break. This isn't fraud. Somebody made a mistake. Nothing more. You didn't win anything and you don't even deserve the 500 miles thay are giving. I would hope that the Attorney General's would not waste their time on this. There is real consumer fraud that needs to be stopped.

Fraud is far too strong a term to use here. (And tossing serious legal accusations around lightly, apparently without understanding what is being written, is too serious to pass by without comment.)

Fraud requires intent. One definition of fraud is "a purposeful unlawful act to decieive or manipulate in order to damage others." You can look up others in your own law books.

I don't think anyone has seriously suggested that Kellogg's or its agents did this on purpose.

They goofed up. I will leave it to others to decide if their goof exposes them to legal liability. Fraud, however, ain't in it.

I agree - this was simply a mistake.
No reason to escalate the situation.

Funny thing is that before I joined this list I would have been the first person arguing vehemently for my miles as my right because they goofed. But being on here and seeing other people act that way- and even threatening legal action - has made me see how petty it really is. Thai opened my eyes.

Fraud is one thing, and yes that should be brought to the attention of the public and law enforcement- but honest mistakes happen and are another matter.

If they are not willing to make a peace offering like American has graciously done - I am not willing to tie up the legal system with this. I will simply choose for myself if I want to use them in the future (and the answer is probably yes).
I want to be the legitimate winner http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

While I think this thread belongs on the AA board (where it may get closed), I must respond that American did not make a mistake. Kellogg or its agent did. Why should anyone question whether to continue to fly AA?
I will switch to General Mills when they too offer AA miles in exchange for eating my normal food!

Cheers.

[This message has been edited by kappa (edited 05-01-2003).]

One aspect of this I find very interesting is Kellogg's reluctance to tell the news media just how widespread the erroneous notifications were. On one hand, they seem to imply that it was only in the thousands. On the other hand, they indicate that the reason the link to the 500 mile ex gratia goodwill gesture didn't work Monday morning is that it was overwhealmed with responses.

I think they really should come forward and indicate publically how many thousands of these erroneous notifications went out.

This is a post from yahoo messages on finance.yahoo on the Kelloggs board.
http://messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=FN...78659&mid=3384

There was no purchased required to enter this contest. Those that are huffing and puffing about taking their business elsewhere did not buy anything.

To me, it is like being mad at the airline because they put you on the Bump waitlist, called you to the podium and then did not need you and you did not get a bump voucher.

It really must be a slow day on other news fronts.

All this proves, IMO, is that there is another person out there upset with Kellogg's over this.

Like others have said, crying "fraud" is way out of line. Fraud implies intent to cause harm - something which no one here can establish, I don't think.

Now, I did get one of these winner mails, but I never got the apology letter. I still can hold out (a little) hope. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Mike

I just spoked to a Sr. specialist at kelloggs: Jennifer Gankers, she said that kelloggs is monitoring flyertalk.com
If enough posters will show their opinions about kelloggs and their snafu, or postings about a boycott, kelloggs will offer a better and sweetened goodwill gesture.
Indication was to about 12500 miles.
Jennifer can be reached at:800-962-0052

Why am I not surprised about who started this thread...? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Why dont we start burning Kellogs products in the streets, run them over with bulldozers and maybe they will give us each a million miles to go away.
mike

As long as they come for free! and yes! Kelloggs will get the message. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

My 500 AA miles posted yesterday as "AADVANTAGE --KELLOGG 500 MILE ADJ"

My 500 points posted also.

It was sure exciting to get the winner email, but I wasn't too disappointed to find out it was an error -- precisely because I had seen so many others on FT receiving the email, I knew it had to either be a scam or a mistake.

I do think 500 is reasonable. Although all of the webpage problems I had to overcome to get those 500 miles were kind of annoying.

I don't think Kellogg's really owes anyone more than that -- just MHO.

However, if they start giving out more miles but limit it only to the complainers or only to those that didn't respond to the 500 mile offer then I will be a bit ticked.

If they do up the offer, it needs to be to everyone. Again, MHO.

Since I've received two winner notifications (early Saturday and early Sunday) and no 500-mile offer as yet, I'm confused. When I called Kellogg's, the CSR suggested that I might have accidentally deleted the latter (which I know I didn't). At this point the whole thing has been more trouble than it's worth.

------------------
Vasant

They made an honest mistake. That happens. I would not try to hold them to it. If they intentionally misled people then it would be a problem, but I would not go after them for it. I am sure if anyone here made a similar mistake, it would be appreciated to not be held to it. Be thankful that you are getting 500 miles out of it. That is better than you probably ever expected to get (now you did not expect to win, now did you...).

I agree they had a puter glich Don't be greedy

Maybe I'm stupid but,

Kellogs made the error - not American Airlines, forcing Kellogs to buy miles from AA to distribute to winners increases their cash balances.

The economic cost of the error falls on Kellogs not the cash strapped airline.

I do not see how forcing Kellogsto purchase miles from AA damages AA's or the industry's program.

mlibers,
You really need to get some hobbies!
Something to get you outside in the fresh air. Golf? Jogging? Gardening? JMHO http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

With all the true corporate fraud out there (Enron, Healthsouth, etc.) don't you think that the attorneys general have better things to do for consumers than deal with this. Or, put another way - do you think that Michigan residents really want to spend tax money pursuing something that will possibly get a bunch of non-residents some extra frequent flyer miles that they really don't deserve?

I am not taking sides here, but in reality the FTC is truly interested in when things go wrong on the internet. Human or Tech, prior rules posted covering thier butts or not. I have read this many times. Too many errors have been recorded over the years. Mostly pricing errors (Airlines, IBM, Amazon, etc)- Some honored, some not, but other data is being collected also.

FC_Dave, I do not think you are stupid but what many people fear is that Kellogs and other companies watching these types of events will take the message to not do further promotions like this because of the risk. If you have a budget for a promotion and it gets blown out of the water, you are first going to reduce the chance that it happens again but also rethink doing anything similar in the future. Especially if they think that the rabid? angry response is because of frequent flyers.

------------------
Robert

I don't think anyone should pursue a claim through the government on this.

But -- if the fear is that promotions become scarce from the fear that something might go wrong/someone might sue, let me suggest another scenario: that a new kind of business insurance will arise to cover this risk.

Contest sponsors will pay a small premium (yes, future costs for running a promo will be higher than now) to insure against this risk.

New problem, new risk, new business, new profit model. Simple.

And if y'all succeed in getting the state involved in all of this, and contest promoters start running scared, I'll just have to get a little business going to buy up this risk for a fee. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I just got in the mail, a thank you card from the Michigan Attorney General, thanking me for the complaint.
Included was a file #, for further reference.

I don't think there was any one more upset about this than me. This was the second time it happened as far as being a winning non winner. I feel that Kelloggs may have tryed to fix there wrong by giveing 500 miles($10 value what a joke) I think they should have done better. I am sure if they gave you 10,000 miles no one would have been upset and they would have had good publicity. In reality there was 2 screw up's 1 with the email and 2nd is the way managment handled it. Also i feel that Kelloggs should not have been alone here the fullfilment center should have had to pay something to make it right since it was them who caused all this. I think that AA should have kicked in something just to help even thou they had no wrong here(good publicity for them)Between the 3 they would have been able to come up with 10,000 miles PP.
Do I want to sue NO. Would I like them to give a better offer yes. I would like the goverment to come up with a general rule that if a screwup was to happen in the future that a company be forced to justify there mistake in a fair way. Yes

I just spoke to Jennifer Gankers, What she said is that they are not going offer any thing else. I think they did what they did and thats all there going to give. I personaly even thou I am upset about it. I am going to let it rest it's just is not worth the extra Asprins you have to take.

Good idea, I'll post my opinion:

Kelloggs ~ I think your generous gesture of 500 miles for this accidental mistake is more than adequate and anyone seeking greater compensation is just trying to unfarily take advantage of the situation and you'd be better off with such unreasonable persons not associating themselves as a customer of your company anyway.

How's that milbers?

I don't think I would necessarily value the 500 miles at more than $5 but that is $5 for what inconvience? Did someone have a stroke thinking that they had won and then not. I saw the email that morning and immediately felt that something was wrong and then saw it confirmed by checking flyertalk and seeing multiple winners. People can be upset but I guess there are only a few of us that have ever made a mistake.

I guess I am an naive because accidents happen. People should be compensated for injuries but this belief that they hit the lottery is stupid. Though I believe karma pays back those type of people.

------------------
Robert

Pretty flaky topic, IMHO.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

This thread has lost all relevance. It is now just a rant. For the record I agree with
Beckles. Thank you, Kellogg, for the 500 miles.

BTW, as a former resident of MI, I'm very happy to learn that Frank Kelly is no longer AG.



[This message has been edited by kappa (edited 05-07-2003).]

Amen. Amen. A little less greed and a little more forgiveness could go a long way in these troubled times.

when I screw up and make a mistake, I keep my word, and yes I have lost revenue but gained more clients.
Surely, this case is corporate fraud, isn't enron a mistake? the list can grow bigger.
According the FTC kelloggs is liable for 25000 miles or they have to settle with the individual.
I am awaiting the outcome of the MI Attorney General.
I was advised by them, that they will seek, an agreeable settlement.
Ms. Ganka @kelloggs told me over the phone, that if we reach a settlement, It shall remain confidential, and cannot post it anywhere including flyertalk.com , she have seen lots of damage from flyertalk, and a article in local battle creek newspaper.

I agree that Kelloggs should step up and award everyone who received the e-mail more than just 500 miles. My husband and I both filed complaints with MI Atty General today. Curious to see what happens.

I really, really, really hope you people who are making the biggest stink get nothing. What a joke. "Private settlement"? Be serious-- or at least, keep it "confidential" and spare us your self-righteous belly-aching here. There is no "fraud" here-- look that word up in the dictionary. And what the hell does Enron have to do with this?

Grow UP. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif


[This message has been edited by JonNYC (edited 05-08-2003).]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Words that come to mind as I read this thread ... libel ... extortion ...

Somehow, I don't think local battle creek newspaper even registers a blip on Kelloggs' radar screen. Surely, Ms. Ganka was just kidding around when she told you that.

To all of you who are tying up the Michigan Attorney's General's phone lines to complain about Kellogg's: Please, leave him alone so he can devote all of his office's resources to going after this guy: http://www.detnews.com/2002/technolo...a01-625507.htm