Tupperware "abuse" crackdown
 

I had several one dollar gift certificates that would not go through. These were charged to my credit card. The ones that did go through were used with the 15% discount that was offered at MyPoints (on merchandise-not gift certificates) and therefore caused a greater value in mdse than certificates! Now read this letter when I contacted customer service! Keep in mind I did not run to them until I tried for many days to use them. I have some certificate #'s that were traded to me by other members and they had problems, too, not just ones that I purchased. Not like I hacked their site. Sounds like they have accused me of being a criminal! I certainly don't like the tone of this at all.
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In response to your inquiries regarding redemption of your e-Gift Certificates, I have reviewed your purchases of Tupperware® products and compared them with your purchases of e-Gift Certificates. Based upon my investigation, I have concluded that you have abused and manipulated the e-Gift Certificates in an inappropriate manner. The value of the Tupperware® products you have purchased with your e-Gift Certificates equals or exceeds the face value of the e-Gift Certificates. Accordingly, Tupperware will not be unlocking your outstanding $1.00 e-Gift Certificates for your use. You should be advised that Tupperware takes necessary measures to assure the integrity of its business systems and programs and that abuse and manipulation of our business systems and programs [b]will be met with appropriate action, legal and otherwise.[b/]

Sincerely,

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Edited to say that I checked at Planetfeedback.com and they have over 62 Compliment AND Complaints. I only spot checked and NONE of the complaints that I checked were answered by the company. This really did surprise me.



[This message has been edited by fscher (edited 03-26-2003).]

I'm not someone who participated in the MyPoints-Tupperware offer, but all I have to say is this:

Hey, this is capitalism. It's up to the business to make sure they can compete in the marketplace. If they have a $5 minimum on gift certificates, they should have some sort of (very, very simple) safeguard in place to make sure you can't buy one for less than $5. But they don't. They shouldn't lash out at the consumer -- that's bad business; they'll just end up losing customers. They should close the loophole and continue from there.

I can't blame consumers taking advantage of a business's stupidity when businesses take advantage of consumers' stupidity all the time. It's a two-way street of manipulation.

Well, I might be going to Tupperware prison with you. Send me a pie with a saw in it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

But when did you use your certificates?

I think it was last Tuesday when I used eight one dollar Tupperware gift certificates to buy a container. I used the MyPoints link I got in e-mail to earn 800 points doing this. I also had to use my credit card for $3 of the purchase, since my certificates didn't cover the whole amount of my purchase. My MyPoints account, is still open, as of this morning.

excuse me, where did I get a 5.00 bill for 1.00? If what you say is true, of course that would be a neat trick. That is not the case.
The site allowed us to change our minds at the end about the amount we wanted to purchase. And very easily...no hacking or major manipulating at all!
I PAID (not stole) one dollar for a one dollar certificate. Period. As far as points, MYPOINTS said with ANY purchase 800 points would be rewarded. Their site did not have to issue points for certificates, but it did (and other sites reward for buying certificates, too - no crime here). They clearly say no points will be issued for certificates if you go to Walmart, Target and others BEFORE the link takes you to the site. Tupperware made NO exclusion of giftcertificates. Turns out there is an exclusion in the member agreement, but honestly, how many people re-read their member agreements EVERY time they go to a site? I signed up years ago and have not read it since. Without hashing this and having it go ugly, the discount was clearly offered. That is the ONLY reason I got more product than what I paid! I paid for the amount AFTER discount was applied dime for dime, quarter for quarter, period. The only BENEFIT I got were points issued.

[This message has been edited by fscher (edited 03-26-2003).]

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[This message has been edited by Superd1 (edited 03-26-2003).]

Super Nerd sorry to say this, because ou might be a nice person, but you are an idiot.

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[This message has been edited by Superd1 (edited 03-26-2003).]

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[This message has been edited by Superd1 (edited 03-26-2003).]

There is no place in FT for personal attacks. Along with the MyPoints member agreement, you should reread the FT rules of participation as well. You may disagree with another's statements, but keep the flames down.

IMHO, those that manipulated the system got what they deserved.

never mind.

[This message has been edited by fscher (edited 03-26-2003).]

I agree that Tupperware.com has the right to close the loophole -- but taking punitive action against those who exploited the loophole is silly and not going to solve anything. Only closing the loophole will.

My personal political preferences aside (because they're completely irrelevent; I'm just using logic here), I'm awfully curious about why people can get so outraged at people for "taking advantage of" a business, but not businesses taking advantage of people. Hey, if a business screws you, that's your problem. But if a business gets screwed because of its own stupidity, then tough for them. As I say, this is capitalism. Nobody's going to sit around and babysit you.

Tupperware.com has to deal with the fact that their system was flawed. I assume they'll take care of that. In my opinion, though, they are also taking a greater risk by lashing out their customers. After all, even $1 gift certificates amount to something. If it's not profitable enough for them, they need to change the way they do business. But by taking this silly and, honestly, immature punitive measures against people, they run the risk of putting off far more people -- including loyal customers (I assume there are some out there). So I don't think it's worth it. Close the loophole, learn a lesson, and be done with it. Why run the risk of losing a single, perhaps more legitimate customer?

As far as all the economics I've ever learned (which actually happens to be quite a bit), that's just good business sense and has nothing to do with politics.

Also, as to whether I'm in business or not, I actually am and don't understand your assumption that I'm not. I just happen to be someone who has no time for businesses that are poorly run and then moan about that fact once it's exposed. Get your ship in order and run it. When you screw up, take a hit, and make sure it doesn't happen again. Instead of whining so much, do things right!

[This message has been edited by gutt22 (edited 03-26-2003).]

In my case I have been a Tupperware customer. Have been since my kids were little (19 years now)! Not only do one dollar certificates add up (I also bought 5.00 ones before discovering we would be "allowed" to buy 1.00 certs), but I also traded other flying related items for a 25.00 GC that I used. I got points for BUYING MERCHANDISE using GCs to pay for my items, plus put excess on my credit cards for some of the purchases. So you really don't know what you are insinuating. I am the original poster and I do have something to complain about!

My "complaint" is that I paid for certificates that have BEEN LOCKED OUT. I don't see where you can justify that this is ok. I am willing to use them for merchandise, but they can certainly refund my money!

Gutt22 hit the nail on the head. If the 1.00 certs don't get used, they are really making even more money. Look at this statistic:

" Industry analysts estimate consumers spend $13 billion annually on gift certificates, most of which are purchased during the Christmas holiday season. Approximately 3-5% - $650 million worth or more - are never redeemed. "

This is pure profit for the company that sold them (whoever it is). It does not matter if they are forgotten, lost or expire!

ok, GOOD NEWS and my last post on this and update! I got an APOLOGY from Tupperware and they reinstated my certificates. I never got 15% on the certs (never expected to) but got the 15% on some items that I guess were on sale. They claim the discount is not valid on sale items and this caused some of the "FRAUD!" I certainly had nothing to do with THAT! I am not computer literate enough to even dream of that tech. nightmare, much less cause it to happen. This FTer is not going to Tupperware jail, afterall. Thanks for those of you who supported me and did not burp the lid on my cell door behind me!

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[This message has been edited by Superd1 (edited 03-26-2003).]

It's a loss leader temporary promotion. If they can manage to not leave their customers feeling screwed by disabling purchased gift certs or mypoints accounts, they will have generated a definate opportunity for continued business. If they start invalidating paid for gift certificates, then Tupperware is the one committing fraud.

They could certainly change their programming to not allow $1 gift certificates, it certainly doesn't require any hacking or fraud to make the purchase. Mypoints could put a dollar limit or gift certificate restriction on the promotion, like is in place with other merchants. Amtrak was giving away 3x the number of points (2,450 mypoints) for ticket purchases of $1 or less ... they simply changed the rules of the promo and went on.