bargain bin, why not take the hint?
Posted on 01/30/2012 8:04:53 AM PST by RWGinger
Sam's club is running a promo to get new customers by giving them a $20.00 gift card if they open an account. I have belonged for 20 years so i called to get my $20.00
They said this was ONLY for new customers. I asked how they could treat customers they've never had better than loyal customers who have given them money for years. I got nowhere doesn't seem right call customer service 1-888-746-7726 and keep pressing Zero until you get a live person
This was news to me and I consider this activism of the highest order. To demand Equal treatment for all. thank you
Give it up.
Look.....take it from a marketing professional. You’re confusing customer retention/loyalty programs with new customer acquisition. NOT the same. Try getting your cable or satellite provider’s “latest deal” for new customers if you’re an existing customer. Ain’t happenin’.
umm....you’re kidding, right?
I’m a Sam’s club member. I would not expect to participate in a “new member discount” program since I am not a new member.
If I belong to a bank that offers a new toaster with the opening of a new account, I would not expect to show up, as an existing customer, and get a toaster.
You are not being reasonable here.
I’m suspecting that your thread is actually an exercise in sarcasm.
What’s the big deal? Many businesses try to attract new customers this way, and have done this for years. I remember banks in the ‘70s gave small appliances to new depositors.
As a Sam’s Club member for 20 years, don’t you think you’ve saved considerably more than $20 by taking advantage of the discounts they offer?
Sam’s gave me a $20 GC if I renewed last year. I did.
Marketing 101. There’s nothing to complain about. You have been getting good deals for the duration of your membership.
Sam’s just named a new President. I suggest you call her office in Bentonville, Arkansas to express your point of view.
My wife and I have experienced great success in taking complaints about service or products from large companies directly to the CEO’s office. Typically if you look her/his name on the internet and call the headquarters asking for the CEO by name you will be connected directly with someone on his/her administrative staff. You likely won’t get to speak directly to the CEO (there are rare exceptions such as Costco where the CEO actually takes calls from customers). However, the person you are connected with will either be empowered to take action on the spot or will directly connect you with someone who can take action.
I do believe you are confusing loyalty programs with new customer prospecting. Some companies devote marketing dollars to prospecting (i.e. $20 off for new customers), some to loyalty (airline frequent flyer programs for example) and some to both. Companies try multiple approaches and typically continue spending against the programs that work for them. If Sam’s has a high retention rate for existing customers it is likely more beneficial for them to spend on prospecting for new members than rewarding existing members. Given their low everyday price business strategy Sam’s likely perceives it is rewarding its existing customers everyday.
Costco gives only $10, but it’s a pretty reliable enticement after the card has been lapsed a couple months.
The New Customer water fountains and bathrooms are much nicer.
It happens. Tell them you're dropping them for the competition, and it's amazing the deals they come up with. Worked with Dish and DirecTV.
It may not have been the same incentives as for new customers, but it was better than full price, and nearly matched the new customer incentives for the competing company.
With cable Time Warner is does happen to an extent. Call and ask for their retention department to complain and threaten to cancel service. It’s good for 10 dollars or so a month credit.
With the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal we did not renew our 2 day a week Wednesday/Sunday subscription. Within a month we received a renewal offer at half of what we were paying previously.
It doesn’t always work but it usually pays to at least try.
Yep. I left DirecTV when I moved. I also told them I was tired of advertising offering new subscribers 50% off what I had been paying for years (which kept going up). Now they are offering me $200 to return. Ain't happinin'.
I’ve been saying this for years about cell phones.
But thanks for the tip. I may look into becoming a Sam’s Club member now if only for the cheaper gas. Around here it seems to be about .10gal cheaper. Great for a Jeep driver :)
Sounds exactly like the "fairness" that Obama is so focused on these days...
Then the new customers would say that isn’t a deal, you’re giving it to everybody. Then Sam’s would have to offer them more. Then the loyal customers would want that. Then.............
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