July 2008 Archives
Update, 9/22: BoomerTowne.com is down permanently. Read the email from founder Herschel Peddicord here.
Boomertowne.com members have been contacting me, asking for information on the growing wait times for gift card redemptions. This is something that's concerned me as well: my first redemption, on 4/25, shipped 4 weeks later...but my second cashout, ten days after the first, took 7-and-a-half weeks! My next redemption was made over 11 weeks ago and is still not showing as being shipped. :(
A week ago, I sent an email to BTVoice, the program's owner, as well as an email to support. I told them I was in the process of writing an article on the delayed gift cards, and I said that I felt most people would be understanding of the delay if it was just explained. The lack of communication from management was really worrying the membership. I asked BT to please reply with some kind of reassurance for their members. They did not respond.
From the messages I've gotten from members, as well as from what I've read on BT's discussion board and chat rooms, the last GCs sent out were requested on May 8th. I think it's no coincidence that this is about the same date when the points were credited for the April referral bonus promotion. I saw my referral bonus show up in my account on 5/9 and promptly cashed out. Obviously, I'm still waiting for my GCs.
It's purely conjecture on my part, but I think the referral bonuses for April exceeded their expectations. Combine this with the TV advertising at around the same time, and I can see where there would be both a financial and a staffing hangup.
On 5/19, about ten days after the referral points were credited, BTVoice announced that GCs were going to be delayed but would go out within a 6 to 8 week timeframe. He blamed this on the TV commercials creating a need for more staff.
Then on 5/28, BTVoice made his announcement that starting on 6/1, new members would need twice the points to cash out.
This happens ALL THE TIME with points programs: they start out with unbelievable, unsustainable earnings as a promotional gimmick, then when the membership reaches a certain tipping point, the owners scale back by either increasing the number of points to cash out or by decreasing the number of points you can earn. I thought it was very fair of BT to "grandfather in" existing members so they wouldn't need double the points for redemptions. Sometimes, though, being fair is too costly. That's the concern that I have with BoomerTowne at this point.
With a promise of 6 to 8 weeks, now going on 12 weeks, for redemptions...what's BoomerTowne management telling members? Little to nothing. Some forum posts about the GC delays have been deleted without explanation. Chat moderators say they're as in the dark as we are (bless Cherbear's heart, she's handled the flurry of inquiries with infinite patience and politeness). Those who have (unlike me) received an email response from support, were told the following: "Your rewards have not shipped yet. We are shipping based on work flow and cannot provide an exact ship date for your order. Once your rewards ship, you will recieve an email notification accordingly. Your inquiry and patience is appreciated."
At this point, I think it's wise that BoomerTowne members give serious consideration to the amount of time they're spending on the site, and don't spend time there that you don't mind going unpaid. BTVoice has said repeatedly that the site was intended for social networking, with points/rewards being a nice little side bonus. If the points become too costly, don't be surprised if they're phased out. In fact, it's been rumored that some kind of announcement regarding BT and/or BT Points is coming out soon.
I hope that the site gets its financial affairs in order. Until then, I can't in good conscience recommend BoomerTowne as a points program to new members. I do think it's still a nice site for pure social networking, but as far as receiving rewards for activity there -- my feeling is that big changes are ahead, and they may be disappointing.
Member of the Borders Rewards program? There's a nice coupon out, good for today and tomorrow, for 40% off list price of movies (including double-disc sets and Blu-Ray), limit three. Here's the printable coupon, or you can use code BR4906 online at Borders.com.
There was an annual meeting yesterday between Microsoft and its stock analysts in which the company announced a few upcoming initiatives to push its Live Search program (now integrated with Cashback, formerly the cashback part of Jellyfish.com).
In this meeting, it was announced that Facebook was going to incorporate Live Search into its site by the end of 2008. The AP article on the meeting, "Microsoft defends search investments to analysts," said that, "Microsoft...will provide search ads alongside results." MS didn't elaborate on how this was going to look exactly, but you'd have to assume they'll include Cashback ads.
The article goes on to say that Microsoft is going to be the default search engine on new HP computers starting in January. This part of the article concerns me, however: "The PC maker will also install a special Web browser toolbar, demonstrated Thursday, that can tell when Web shoppers are searching on Google for certain products, then lure them to Live Search for a rebate."
I've made no secret of the fact that I detest these shopping reminder toolbars. I don't trust them. I don't know what info about me that they're feeding to their makers, and I don't want anything interfering with my ability to get rebates from the rewards program of MY choice. I think this toolbar is going to create serious problems for those who install it, unless they intend to exclusively use Microsoft Live Search Cashback. I think affiliates of all types (including coupon code sites, competing rewards programs, and other advertisers) are going to be livid at this decision to preinstall MS's toolbar as it will potentially interfere with their income.
Member of the Borders Rewards program? Be sure to print out this coupon good for use in stores -- save 30% off the list price of a single item with a $10 purchase. The coupon is good through 7/20.
And while you're there, you may want to use this coupon (good for non-members, too), good for a free 12-oz. beverage with any cafe purchase, expiring on 7/21.
Upromise.com, which got into the social networking arena (to an extent) last September with the introduction of its Community section, has also been quietly developing several Upromise blogs -- one focused on style, one on college issues, and one for mommies.
Interesting reading -- be sure to check 'em out next time you visit Upromise, and if you're not a member already, please join with my affiliate link here; thanks!
Confirming a scoop I brought you almost three months ago, Ebates issued a press release today to officially announce that founder Alessandro Isolani has passed the CEO reins over to Kevin Johnson.
Johnson's strengths listed are responsible email marketing, SEO, and website personalization. He says he intends to improve the shopping experience for members, while increasing value to its retailers.
It's hard to improve on near-perfection, but I do have a few suggestions for Mr. Johnson: a wider range of emails for which members can opt-in (for example, one focusing on travel deals, one focusing on clothing and accessories, one focusing on free shipping offers, etc.), developing more social networking opportunities (enhancing the shopping blog, giving members the option to create shareable wish lists and to create product reviews that could be integrated into product search results, etc.), better coordination of the daily double rebate merchant with limited time sales and coupon codes, monthly payouts versus quarterly, a Live Help option for customer support... okay, I'll stop. :) But feel free to add YOUR suggestions for improving Ebates if you have any. A little birdie tells me that they read this site sometimes.
I came across a very interesting graphic today showing how a company can progress to either loyalty or disloyalty -- it can be applied to any brand, whether it's a rewards program or a specific merchant. It's nothing terribly ground-breaking (basically common sense) but it's an interesting way to visualize the concepts.
What's happening now with Jellyfish.com is an example of how a company can have the ultimate in loyalty but can make decisions that may seem to make business sense, yet alienate its customers, causing a swift downward slide toward disloyalty.
Jellyfish started as a cashback shopping site, not much different from any other rebate portal. What propelled the company beyond loyalty all the way to evangelism was the introduction several months later of its reverse auction feature. The site had wonderful customer service and was very receptive to customer suggestions, and members ate it up -- making visiting the site a part of their daily routine, creating Jellyfish Firefox extensions, Jellyfish How-To sites, databases of prior Jellyfish reverse auction purchase prices, Jellyfish off-site chat rooms and YahooGroups, organizing Jellyfish member meet-ups, creating a Jellyfish member calendar, even sending gifts to Jellyfish headquarters like flowers and cookies.
Then the website was purchased by Microsoft, and the slide down the Loyalty Stairway began. Response time for emails to Jellyfish customer service began to increase. Microsoft pulled out the cashback shopping arm of Jellyfish for use as the new Microsoft Live Search Cashback. And most recently, Microsoft eliminated the 24/7 reverse auctions in favor of one two-hour "show" on weekdays only. Long-time Jellyfish members are furious that their loyalty is being "repaid" in this manner. Decisions that may seem to make sense to Microsoft from a business standpoint are destroying the evangelical fervor that Jellyfish members once had for the site, an asset that other companies would kill for.
Can Microsoft/Jellyfish turn it around and regain the trust, and eventually the loyalty, of its members before it's too late? Its actions in the immediate future will determine that. But I'd caution them: let your customers spend too long in the depths of Disloyalty Hell and it'll be harder, if not impossible, to make that uphill climb.
Last week, NetWinner was officially boycotted by GPTBoycott.com, a consumer advocacy website founded in 2001. "After a recent decision to retrospectively deny users the ability to redeem their earnings, instead replacing them with sweepstake entries, the site has been boycotted for non-payment of members," the boycott announcement stated.
Yesterday, the Charlotte, NC Better Business Bureau released a report entitled, "Mid-Year 2008 Dirty Half Dozen List of 6 Worst Businesses in Charlotte Area." Topping the list: NetWinner.com.
The BBB said that NetWinner has had 229 complaints in the last 36 months, with 58 of them unanswered and 92 still pending. Unanswered complaints give a business the worst possible BBB rating, the Charlotte BBB's president said.
NetWinner.com's site traffic has tanked since the beginning of the year. According to Quantcast, the site averaged around 10,000 visitors per day in January, compared to around 2,000 in July. They've lost at least one ad network (SpotXChange, a site that had been a partner since NetWinner's inception), and they've lost several affiliate websites including TreasureTrooper and SSAN. Yet the company continues to stay in business, trolling for new affiliates with an ad in this month's Revenue magazine. The ad was for AdverGame Network, the arm of the company that co-brands NetWinner's games for partners in return for a share of in-game ad revenue.
I'd like to think that affiliates (partner websites) are simply ignorant of the company's reputation for not paying members, and not that they think it's okay for a company to unilaterally cancel its debt and continue to stay in business. However, if those affiliates simply don't care as long as they get a piece of the pie, I think they're as worthy of being boycotted as NetWinner itself. Ethics matter. Integrity matters. And remember when your mama told you that you're judged by the company you keep? NetWinner (Advergame Network) is the worst business in Charlotte. Do you really want to be associated with that?
Hallmark is doing a bonus point offer for its Gold Crown Club members starting tomorrow and running through July 20th -- buy any Hallmark Keepsake Ornament and get 250 bonus points. Details are here.
For $15, they sell a High School Musical ornament that's a locker that plays "We're All In This Together" when you open the door. For $28, you can pick up a Winnie the Pooh ornament that you wind up, then the characters circle a Christmas tree while "O Christmas Tree" plays.
If you're a member of the Borders Rewards program, you can print this coupon (or use code SE4870 at Borders.com) to get 40% off the list price of up to three single CDs today and tomorrow only. Yes, there are some old-timers like me who do still listen to CDs. ;)
Some sample prices with the coupon: the new Disney "Camp Rock" CD is $11.39 after coupon, George Carlin's "Place for My Stuff" CD (he said that routine was his all-time favorite) is $6.59 AC, NOW 28 is $11.39 AC, and the #1 Billboard album right now, Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" is $9.59 AC. All online orders over $25 ship free, too.
Just got word that MrRebates, one of the top 5 highest rebate shopping sites from last year's Shopping Rebates Comparison analysis, has dropped its minimum payout from $25 to $10.
This makes an already great program even more attractive.
If you're not a member and would like to read my review of MrRebates, click here. To join with my referral link, please click here -- thanks!
If you're a member of the Wellness360 health rewards program and you have reached the $25 minimum payment threshold, be sure to go to the site and request your payment by 7/15. Payment is by request, otherwise your earnings roll over to the next quarter. Referral earnings for the prior month don't post until the 16th, but they'll tack them on to your quarterly check after you cash out. Redeem points by clicking on Your Points, then View Report, then Redeem Points, then Request Check.
Wellness360 pays members for doing health-related activities like reading articles, tracking your vitals, updating exercise and food diaries, completing a health risk assessment, and more. Be sure to stay on each page for 10 seconds in order to get credit.
Wellness360 also just launched a community, so be sure to sign up for that for 250 bonus points.
To read my full review of Wellness360, click here. To go ahead and join Wellness360, please click here to join as my referral.
Have unredeemed earnings in your E-Rewards account? You have until July 31st to redeem what you earned through June or else you'll forfeit 75%. Saving up for a bigger reward? No problem -- there's a link on the site to complete a member profile survey, and when you do, they'll extend your expiration for another year! Complete the member profile by July 31st at the latest.
Not a member of E-Rewards? It's only open by invitation; look for invites sent by your frequent flyer program or Blockbuster. You'll be able to earn E-Rewards for completing surveys, and you can cash your earnings out for redemptions including FF miles, magazine subscriptions, Borders Rewards Bucks, shopping discounts, and more.
