Eddie bauer jerks me, so I jerk back...

[TheLoneGunman]

This is my correspondance with them so far. I understand others have received similar letters. I only did this deal once and it was based on the notice on the Deals page so I understood it to be a legitimate deal offered to Got|Apex readers. As I result, I have fired back at them. If this was not a legit deal, please inform me so I can stop flaming them.
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Jody L,

I was legitimately given this code and was told to use it.
As a result, I visited your website and offered you my business. Additionally, I told others how easy it was to use and how nice a store you have.
I don't believe it was your intention to generate "bad will" with your handling of this matter and so I will give you a chance you resolve it in a satisfactory manner.
It is your prerogative to ignore me or refuse to help me, but please be aware that as a frequent contributor to many consumer and review oriented websites, your handling of this matter (positively or negatively) will be publicly noted.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and handle it appropriately.

TheLoneGunman
phone
email

------Original Message------
From: "Eddie Bauer" <[email protected]>
To: <TheLoneGunman>
Sent: March 17, 2001 7:45:15 PM GMT
Subject: Eddie Bauer Online Order

Thank you for your recent order.

Unfortunately, your order has been cancelled. The certificate information on
your order was invalid. Regrettably, we are unable to process your order due
to this discrepancy. We recommend that you return to our website to place
your order again.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Thank you for shopping with Eddie Bauer.

Sincerely,

Jody L
eddiebauer.com

[TheLoneGunman]

In LESS THAN 5 MINUTES (this at 930pm on a Saturday night), they give me a live response:

Dear <TheLoneGunman>,

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry, but the certificate number that you entered, 6029192, is not an
authorized Eddie Bauer merchandise certificate. This number has been
fraudulently posted a number of places online.

I understand your frustration, but I hope that you understand our position
as well. We are happy to honor merchandise certificates that are truly
issued by Eddie Bauer, and that are used as indicated on the offer.

If we can assist you further, please reply to this email or call Customer
Satisfaction Department at 1-800-426-6253.

Sincerely,

Laura
eddiebauer.com Customer Care

[TheLoneGunman]

I call "Laura" and actually talk to her on the phone. She eventually explains that the code listed above was "hacked" from a real code and that is why it worked but didn't have a specific dollar amount.

She said that they reprogrammed their systems to recognize this code and manually cancel all associated orders.

I never told her about Apex and she never offered any other deal.

I gave her the pitch that since this deal lured people like me to the site for the first time, that maybe it would be worth just taking the loss. She said that it would be up to their marketing people.

Oh well.

End of my saga.

[bobotego]

bait and switch...see how their marketing dept. likes that.

the code is hacked??? I don't give a fugg what it is. All I know is that it worked in your system, so guess what, IT'S YOUR FAULT AND BY THE WAY SEND ME MY STUFF!!!

[OC]

You know, if you go to a B&M and pick up an item that has the wrong (lower) price marked on it, by law they have to sell it to you at that mismarked price. Why doesn't the same thing hold true for online purchases? I say if you get a receipt for your order then the store should honor the price. In this case with EB their system accepted a valid discount code. Where the code came from should be irrelevant.

-o