Not impressed with Dealathon

[Thedbs]

I purchased this deal (from google cache since they're removed it from their site): http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fpEg5gV53RkJ:www.dealathons.com/%3Fcid%3D6%26id%3D785+dealathon+scale&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

because my family is going on vacation soon and we always try to pack up to, but not over our weight allowance, especially with the new baggage restrictions. At first I bought but then I noticed my address for shipping wasn'r showing up. I called and spoke to a nice guy who fixed the issue and gave me some free points for inconvenience. I didn't ask to be compensated or make any kind of stink, I just wanted my address in their system so I could actually get the item I purchased.

Then a few days later I see they have this deal: http://www.cakedeals.com/deals/view/Toronto/4-for-8-worth-of-burgers-fries-and-more-at-the-gourmet-burger-co-a-portion-of-every-sale-is-donated- (sorry I couldn't find the correct cached page) I use the free points to buy one since I live near one of the locations. The next day I get the voucher and it's only for the Kipling location. This wasn't listed in the terms and I live nowhere near Kipling. I wrote and asked for a refund. The guy told me they didn't do refund for point purchases. I responded that they should include that in their online refund policy since I didn't see that on there. He wrote back in snarky email about me expecting cash for points. I wrote back again that this wasn't what I was asking for, I merely wanted points back but if they didn't do that I'm fine giving the voucher to a Westend friend. The reply I received back he told me he had already refunded the points and it was a misunderstanding. Ok, I get that, but the rude responses were completely uncalled for.

Then today I receive an email stating that the scale order has been proceeds and that it will be shipped Sept 29. No explanation for the more than a week delay on shipping. No response to the email this time. The scale will me of no good to me seeing that it wont be arriving in time.

All in all, pretty unhappy with their service. Sure free points, but I won't be using them seeing that I will no longer do business with their company. Over promising and under delivering with a side of rude - not a good business model.

[idioteque]

I purchased this deal (from google cache since they're removed it from their site): http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fpEg5gV53RkJ:www.dealathons.com/%3Fcid%3D6%26id%3D785+dealathon+scale&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

because my family is going on vacation soon and we always try to pack up to, but not over our weight allowance, especially with the new baggage restrictions. At first I bought but then I noticed my address for shipping wasn'r showing up. I called and spoke to a nice guy who fixed the issue and gave me some free points for inconvenience. I didn't ask to be compensated or make any kind of stink, I just wanted my address in their system so I could actually get the item I purchased.

Then a few days later I see they have this deal: http://www.cakedeals.com/deals/view/Toronto/4-for-8-worth-of-burgers-fries-and-more-at-the-gourmet-burger-co-a-portion-of-every-sale-is-donated- (sorry I couldn't find the correct cached page) I use the free points to buy one since I live near one of the locations. The next day I get the voucher and it's only for the Kipling location. This wasn't listed in the terms and I live nowhere near Kipling. I wrote and asked for a refund. The guy told me they didn't do refund for point purchases. I responded that they should include that in their online refund policy since I didn't see that on there. He wrote back in snarky email about me expecting cash for points. I wrote back again that this wasn't what I was asking for, I merely wanted points back but if they didn't do that I'm fine giving the voucher to a Westend friend. The reply I received back he told me he had already refunded the points and it was a misunderstanding. Ok, I get that, but the rude responses were completely uncalled for.

Then today I receive an email stating that the scale order has been proceeds and that it will be shipped Sept 29. No explanation for the more than a week delay on shipping. No response to the email this time. The scale will me of no good to me seeing that it wont be arriving in time.

All in all, pretty unhappy with their service. Sure free points, but I won't be using them seeing that I will no longer do business with their company. Over promising and under delivering with a side of rude - not a good business model.

I think that most deal sites don't offer refunds at all, I used to work for a deal site called DealTicker and we never gave refunds, period. I think it should be pretty standard fare that if you buy something from a deal site, do your research first and just assume that if you care enough about the deal to spend your money on it, you can't get your money back if you're not satisfied.

[starchoice]

I think a distinction has to be made between the deal advertiser and the product supplier. If you bought a voucher and then only found out after that it was only good at a certain location, the deal company should make good either by refunding points or money, as the case may be. If you get a product not to your satisfaction or late, I don't see that you can fault the deal site. They don't have control over the vendor's practices. However, if the deal site states that you will get your product within a certain timeframe and you don't, the deal site has liability for that.

This deal site thing has exploded and I haven't dealt with many. I thought the Kijiji name would be some guarantee of quality service but I was wrong on that count. If you are going to go with rogue deal sites, expect to take a risk. I'm going to try and stick with Groupon. They have good service, answer promptly and make every attempt to keep you happy and...no attitude. I think they even credit you of you don't use your deal.

Having said that, I see a deal on Deal Find that I am interested in. I think I'll try that only because the product is from a local retailer with whom I have been doing business for a long time. Also, Deal Find has a phone number. Imagine that!

[andreac]

Quote from Dealathon customer service manager: "We've had lots of people write bad things about us and it doesn't affect us."


I've used many sites without problem. Get refunds if the companies go broke or don't honour agreement.

EXCEPT FOR DEALATHON

My recent experience:
worst site ever. No customer service. I bought a voucher to use at a spa and when the spa said I was ineligable for the service (because I had a tattoo), Dealathons refused to refund my money and instead gave me a credit.
Manager - Anton - compared it to me buying mik and then finding out I was lactose intollerant - not their fault.

Then said, it didn't matter to them if I was unhappy. "We've had lots of people write bad things about us and it doesn't affect us." Yep! That's what they said. Nice!