Shopper's plays their dirty games again

[sharkie]

OK, so I've missed a few pages and am trying to catch up.
I'm not seeing that cards have been unfrozen and points returned. Have any of you taken on their legal team yet? My case with the Easter card deal many moons ago led me to the point where I had to prove personal use of the easter cards. They froze my account and my mother's, my boyfriend ran out and spent his points fast. Both he and I had over a million points from the promo. Nothing came for free though, it was still $500-700 or so out of pocket to make the purchases at the time.
I used about 100 cards and made a collage on my daughter's wall. I told them that was what I purchased the cards for. They said prove it, and I did and sent them a photo. Now it makes no sense as I had well over 2000 cards. I've since given many to charities, schools, RAOKs may arrive in an Easter card at any time of the year when you are a bunny.
Eventually my card was re-instated though, as were my points.

I've been leary ever since of promos and absolutley hate the games shoppers plays. They put forth a promo, they know darn well the risks of us savvy shoppers. They also know exactly how much some of us spend in their stores as we are addicted to points and points promos.

If each and every one of us cashed in our points next bonus redemption day, wrote them a note via snail mail, and never stepped foot in their stores again I'm laying odds they might just beg us to come back.

you are probably correct, but unfortunately no matter what they do people will keep coming back to them...they know that and they count on it......I have not set foot back in SDM since this happened and it is unlikely I will in the near future....I am tired that i have to worry any points I earn will be taken away whenever they see fit....

[sharkie]

I am guessing they can't do that bc it relies on your past shopping habits. If you often buy 12 tubs of wipes at a time on sale bc you have a few young kids, it wouldn't fl@g on your account, but for someone who never does - it fl@gs

how is that fair then if they are doing this?....by giving each person a different limit or what they deem as fair without telling us first.....if I had went in SDM and they said the limit was 4, I would have been okay with that... but to decide the limit after I have purchased it....wtf is that..lol....it is like saying to customers come on in and buy as much as you want and we will decide later how we are going to punish for doing so.....I have never had anywhere else tell me after I buy the produts that I have passed the limit.....

[cushiebunny]

you are probably correct, but unfortunately no matter what they do people will keep coming back to them...they know that and they count on it......I have not set foot back in SDM since this happened and it is unlikely I will in the near future....I am tired that i have to worry any points I earn will be taken away whenever they see fit....

Well they lost a lot of my business, and of my family's because of their actions. I used to go to SDM a few times a week. now it is closer to once every three or four months. If they lose some business from each person they do this to in time it does hurt their bottom line. WOM being a powerful thing also helps. Folks read of experiences such as yours and wonder if they really want their shopping habits tracked.

Initially SDM thinks it is great because they are losing the customers whom are smart shoppers.

My whole family used to use their pharmacy, they lost us all.

They think they are so smart and weeding out the so called, 'undesirables' . All they do is force us to become smarter.

[screamy]

I'm going to have to go take a look at their FB page sometime. Sounds like there's alllll kinds of stuff going on there. I remember cushiebunny's Easter card debacle from a while back. You'd think they'd have learned by now.

[sweet sparrow]

I agree that it is invasive but every store that has a customer card tracks our shopping. That's one if the big reasons stores issue the cards. What irritates me is that with many of the grocery stores you pay higher prices if you don't have the card (I.e. allow them to track your shopping). SDM has lots if company when it comes to spying on our purchasing (and even payment method) habits.

Definitely, and each customer agrees to it when they sign up for an Optimum card. The issue that I have a problem with is SDM making decisions to freeze your account, remove your points, or question your purchases, without the customer being able to justify their purpose or go through a runaround just to get their points back. For example, if someone needs to buy wipes or diapers for a new mom that can't get out to the store in one particular week, I would think that would be okay. It is at any other store. If there happen to be bonus points attached, it appears they would rather have us shop elsewhere.

I've often offered to pick up items for others that can't make it to the store. Most recently, it was for a friend with a newborn. The baby had to go back to the hospital unexpectedly for health issues in the first month and she wasn't able to pick up baby items. This past year, I've bought supplies for a wedding party since I was in charge of the shopping list. I also buy things for my parents who sometimes don't have the physical strength to walk to the store. I have bought many things out of line with the ages of people in my household and my usual purchases, but I hope that does not make them suspect that I am selling them on ebay. Now I'm not buying more than five or six items at most, usually three or four, but it will show up as an anomaly on my account.

The stories of regular shoppers that have had bad things happen are what concern me. It's silly. We shouldn't have to be concerned about ridiculousness like this.

[sharkie]

no we should not have to be concerned about things like this at all...to me weather I am paying for a item or getting it free with a coupon, I am still a human being and deserved to be treated by respect....SDM has had so many problems and they are not learning from it....they should be thinking before they put promos and sales and points in their flyers....

[redhdlois]

I am guessing they can't do that bc it relies on your past shopping habits. If you often buy 12 tubs of wipes at a time on sale bc you have a few young kids, it wouldn't fl@g on your account, but for someone who never does - it fl@gs

I think you misunderstood me......I am talking about SDM putting limits on items (like Loblaws does, etc i.e. 4 per person) nothing to do with personal shopping habits.

[FallenPixels]

Personally my store limits most items to 4 per customer, regardless of sale (might also be why they always have stock)

Rather than us deciding what we think is reasonable, fair or excessive....the point is......it's Shoppers responsibility to post &/or notify their customers what the limits are (instead of clawing back points, freezing cards, etc after the fact)

Because they have a very good idea of our shopping habits, bc of the cards, they can better understand what is normal for us. I agree they should just limit all promos, but then for someone like tripsplanner who was buying diapers and wipes for triplets - she may see it otherwise as buying 4 of something for her may have lasted days when it could last me months

[sharkie]

I think you misunderstood me......I am talking about SDM putting limits on items (like Loblaws does, etc i.e. 4 per person) nothing to do with personal shopping habits.

that is what that should be doing.....like all the other stores that put limits...

[RonBC]

If every single user of Smart Canucks stopped shopping at SDM, they wouldn't care. They would probably be happy. The users here are a tiny tiny percentage of SDM customers, and most people here buy products for close to or below SDM costs (with the bonus points, bonus redemptions, etc.).

[redhdlois]

The point was.......if they put limits on their promos/sales, etc, then there would be no need to be clawing back, freezing accts, etc.......

[sharkie]

The point was.......if they put limits on their promos/sales, etc, then there would be no need to be clawing back, freezing accts, etc.......

exactly redhdlois

[cushiebunny]

If every single user of Smart Canucks stopped shopping at SDM, they wouldn't care. They would probably be happy. The users here are a tiny tiny percentage of SDM customers, and most people here buy products for close to or below SDM costs (with the bonus points, bonus redemptions, etc.).

I'm not so sure on that small percentage deal. There are many forums here which some of us feel at home at. It's almost like a big family, and then each of us has family and friends. If we ever truly did a boycott and the word spread from group to group with the reasosn why I think they would feel it. I can't see it happening though as we have addictive personalities and like to save money. Somehow we see it as saving to shop there.

In reality I look at how much I've given away because I had surplus and just couldn't possibly use it all. The time and energy I've invested, and I've discovered I am truly further ahead to stay away from places like SDM.

[anisa]

i see the optimum program as a tool for SDM to note trends, habits amongst their most loyal shoppers, and turn around and build promos and incentives and marketing plans using that info. more of a general sales building tool.

now they are snooping and spying and trying to find loopholes and stealing back points, freezing accounts.

i understand that it is THEIR program and they have every right to protect themselves against fraud and misuse of the program (other retailers using a system that is meant for individual consumers)

the way they have gone about attacking customers leaves such a bad taste in EVERYONE's mouth.

Do they give a fliying hoot? i guess not. Do we? absolutely!

i really toned down my shopping at SDM since last yr's point theft, and i wasn't even one of the victims.

I firmly believe it is more than a small percentage of their customers that they lose when they act like this. they are constantly trying to find ways of getting us in the stores, play their online games, enter their contests and do their marketing surveys. they are desperate to have us spend our money there.

i keep hearing rumors here and there that they are struggling in some ways. i wouldn't be surprised. they spend a lot of resources with all their marketing, and their PR is despicable.

i believe that it is a badly run company, the evidence has presented itself time and time again. if they don't fix themselves any time soon, they will continue to lose customers.

sorry, a bit off topic, but it really peeves me off when i see this crap.

((umm, those who bought 500 choc bars, i don't really care if their cards were frozen. i bought 4 and thought i was being indulgent :p 500 is insanity, plain and simple. donating them? well i hope there were some toothbrushes donated along with the chocolate.))

[EvilTofu]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I understand that they reserve the rights for coupon use. Since they have given you the points, it is shady to try to take it back.

Coupon is a form of legal tender, you should have the right to the bonus points regardless of the type of payment. Even if they don't allow it, they should have told you before you made the purchase.

I know they do it to protect the business from abuse, but taking it back afterwards makes me feel that they lack integrity!