Freeride Raises Redemption Costs; Substitutes Redemptions
Freeride has been the subject of a lot of member complaints in the past year from members waiting months for redemptions (some recent forum posters have complained that they're still waiting on prizes from April and May), and with no response from Freeride's customer service. Finally, about two weeks ago, Freeride began emailing back some of the more vocal complainers with the explanation that there had been some sort of system glitch that delayed their prizes, giving them the option to continue waiting or to opt instead for 500 points to their account "as a token of their appreciation" plus a Virtual Visa, which was promised within a week.
In the last few days, however, members with long outstanding redemptions have been sent an email saying they were getting the Virtual Visa instead -- without making it an option...plus 250 points (not 500).
Meanwhile, the redemption costs for their GCs that have to be sent by postal mail have gone up. A $10 GC that used to cost 12,000 points is now 13,000. Obviously Freeride is trying to provide an incentive to members to cash out for emailable GCs, which don't incur a shipping cost on their end.
At the current redemption rates, Freeride's Virtual Visas are cheaper than snail-mailable GCs by 500 points for $10 GCs or 1,000 points for $25 or $50 ones. It seems to me that the bonus should be at LEAST the difference between the requested redemption and the VV cost.
The buzz on Freeride from the message forums is overwhelmingly negative, and it has been for months. Freeride is showing many of the classic signs of a rewards program in trouble: longer waits for redemptions, poor communication with members, and now, increased redemption costs. Until we get word that Freeride is making good on these old redemptions, and is sending out redemptions in a timely manner going forward, I'd suggest you do any shopping or spending offers on another rewards program.
FWIW, you can click Continue Reading to read the full text of the Freeride redemption substitution emails.
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VERSION 1 (Where you can choose to substitute your prize)
Dear Valued FreeRider,
We thank you sincerely for your patience in the wait for your redemption. We are in the process of overhauling the technical side of the redemptions effort and we want to make sure that you are properly rewarded for all your efforts in the Freeride community.
That said, we would like to know if you are interested in receiving a Freeride Virtual Visa gift card, in lieu of your requested store gift card. Virtual Visas can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, unlike brand-specific gift cards, which can only be used with the store card’s host merchant. Virtual Visas also have the added advantage of a much shorter wait-time for receipt than physical gift cards, which have to be ordered, received, calibrated, stuffed into an envelope, then sent off to you.
Should you choose to receive the Virtual Visa gift card instead of your previously requested store gift card, we’ll reward your choice with an extra 500 Tokens added to your account, with no additional cost and no further obligation whatsoever. Simply respond to this email, tell us that you want the Freeride Virtual Visa redemption instead and we’ll credit your account within 3-5 business days after receipt of your response. Then we’ll get your Virtual Visa out the door immediately thereafter.
If you still want your original store card request, we will try to expedite shipment as soon as possible. But due to the technical issues currently incurred, receipt of the card may take an additional week or two beyond this current point.
We're offering this ONE TIME deal so that we can get you the redemptions you seek as quickly as possible, avoiding the considerable turnaround time associated with physical gift cards. As you've already waited beyond your schedule timeframe, please let us know if you'd like this as an effective and expedient option. Thank you for your patience.
Lorrenn
FreeRide.com Support
VERSION 2 (Where they choose to substitute your prize)
Dear Valued FreeRider,
First, thank you for your patience regarding your last FreeRide redemption. We are in the process of fixing a technical problem that has temporarily slowed down our redemptions, and we want to make sure that you are properly rewarded.
Due to the backlog of redemptions, we will be substituting your originally selected redemption with a Freeride Virtual Visa gift card. Virtual Visa's can be used anywhere Visa is accepted online, unlike brand-specific gift cards, which can only be used with that one store.
We realize this reward is not the exact one you requested, so we will credit your account an additional 250 BONUS tokens as a "token" of our appreciation for you. You will receive your Virtual Visa gift card instead of your previously requested store gift card, AND 250 Bonus Tokens, free of course!
You should receive both the tokens and the Virtual Visa email, explaining how to redeem it, in 7 business days.
Please understand, we're making this one-time change in an effort to get you the redemptions you seek as quickly as possible. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding in helping us resolve this matter as expediently as possible. Keep on FreeRiding!!
Thank You,
Lorrenn
Date: September 16, 2006 1:32 AM
I'm one of the long suffering members and of Freeride and I'm waiting for over $200 in GC's. I'm still waiting for the "forced" Virtual visa cards and it's been over 7 business days as they said in thier email. They still say on their site that we will recieve our GC's in 6-8 weeks. HAH !!
Date: September 20, 2006 9:38 PM
Now they say the virtual visa cards will be ready by September 30th. This has turned 7 business days into 22-23 business days ; notice that september 30 is not a business day so it may take until October 2!
Everyone should boycott this piece of crap program
Date: October 8, 2006 6:58 PM
September 30, it's already October 9, this is really pathetic.
Date: October 13, 2006 2:00 PM
I have been waiting for a reward from Freeride for four months, which, it sounds like, is not nearly as long as some others. I made the BIG mistake of requesting a virtual mastercard from memolink, and find that they charge a HUGE fee if you go over the amount of your virtual card, and if you are under, you just lose the difference as they charge three dollars a month fee for every month you have it, so I am extremely disappointed in Freeride forcing us on to a virtual visa, as that is just a way of taking back most of the money you earned through shopping, clicking, etc. and you really don't get much out of a virtual visa or mastercard unless you have a huge amount in there, and even if you do, you will lose some. I am not going to do anything through freeride again, if I ever get the virtual visa.
Date: October 17, 2006 3:24 PM
I've been waiting since April for my "rewards". I think my reward is realizing that I will no longer shop via Freeride. What a crock!
I teach basic computer classes - both at a community college and private instruction. I will be sure to tell ALL my students what a piece of s**t this site is. There are many rewards programs that actually send rewards to their customers. Freeride is obviously a fraud.
Date: November 2, 2006 7:04 PM
Hi all. I've also had trouble recently with freeride. I've filed a complaint against them with the BBB, and I urge everyone to do so also. www.bbb.org.
Also, here is Freeride's address. I'm going to try and send them an old fashioned letter to see if that gets any response.
Freeride Media, LLC
460 Park Ave. South
New York, NY 10016
Thanks!