Happy 2010 by teapotqueen

Happy New Year Peeps!

Make this decade a good one!

As per usual, the views reflected in this post are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.

Given the recent spotlight put on web based “incentive” programs, I thought I’d share what I heard from Pizza Hut when I asked about this very topic back in September.

On September 19, I was having my typical Saturday night at home and decided to order pizza for dinner. Since Papa Johns doesn’t deliver to my area and Dominoes is well..Dominoes, I went with Pizza Hut. Standard operating procedure, I ordered the pizza and afterward, I was “qualified” to sign up for some scheme or another. I didn’t take a screenshot so I can’t remember which. I was annoyed enough by it to tweet about it since I knew Pizza Hut was at least paying some attention on twitter:

Pizza Hut wasn’t going to explain itself in public and responded:

I sent them my e-mail address via DM and they responded:

Turns out that correct information was a carefully crafted email response claiming that “the Web Loyalty program provides value to customers at a time when they need it most.” To quote Amy Poehler, REALLY?

Here is the full text of Pizza Huts email response:

Hi Erica,

Thank you for your question.

The Web Loyalty program provides value to customers at a time when they need it most. Pizza Hut customers who are members of the program receive $10 cash back every month and that’s just one example of many companies and services that offer discounts and specials through the program. To enroll, our customers complete a three-step opt-in process upon checking out online. If at any time they wish to discontinue membership or if they feel that they inadvertently signed-up, customers can call 1-800-889-8776 for a full refund.

Sincerely,

Alexa Robinson
Pizza Hut

Now, forgive me, but I don’t fully believe this. Why would Pizza Hut claim this scam is good for consumers even after its been targeted for a Senate investigation and settled a class action lawsuit for potentially hundreds of millions?

Well apparently there are up to 10 million reasons why Pizza Hut keeps it around. Ah, the almighty dollar wins over consumers again. While Pizza Hut falsely claims that these scams are valuable for customers, in reality, they are most valuable for Pizza Hut, customers be damned.

Remember that next time you’re ordering pizza. Frankly, I’ll be ordering from Pizza California. They’re local and they don’t try to scam me for the sake of their bottom line. Their Gold Rush pizza is pretty damn good too.

As per usual, the views, (ideas, photos, and mockery too) in this post are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.

Oh Microsoft.

Who did you have vetting your Windows 7 party participants? I know you didn’t let everyone play because I know several people who applied and didn’t get selected. Yet, for some reason, you chose me?

Me who works at a company that your upper management seems to want to obliterate?

Me who publicly derides Windows whenever the mood fancies?

You could have Binged me and found out all this stuff yet still, somehow, you decided that I’d be a good person to throw a forced promotion party for your new OS (or is it a Service Pack with a shiny new title).

I’ll be the first to admit, I signed up for it. See my mom just got a new computer with Windows Vista. She hates Vista. Like, a lot. I promise I had nothing to do with that but you should have seen the smile on my face when she called and told me so. She repeats it too. Anytime we’re talking about her computers, she tells me. Even went so far as to have me put “Om-boo-tu” on her older computer with Vista just so she didn’t have to deal with it anymore. Promise. So when I got the opportunity to maybe give her a version of Windows she didn’t despise (for free!), I didn’t pass it up.

So here we are. You’ve selected me. I am a woman of my word so I will have the party.  We may even discuss Windows 7. Like so “thanks for the playing cards Windows 7! I’m all in” or “thanks for the fancy tote bag Windows 7. It’s perfect for my gym shoes!”

Anyway, I know you’re looking for promotion with this whole thing so far be it from me to begrudge you your shine. Here, I will unbox this party pack you sent me. You’re welcome.

Windows 7 Box

Box

It's here!

It's some junk in a box!

Nope, not fake.

Random crap from various vendors that I'm supposed to give party guests.

Puzzle and Playing cards. I'm thinking poker.

Centerpiece, Napkins, Balloons, Streamers

Letter, Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition (wtf?) 32bit and 64bit versions.

Poster.

Party bags for guests to put the crap from vendors I'm supposed to shill.

The whole shebang, minus box.

So there it is. Thanks Microsoft?