MovieChat Forums > Summer School (1987) Discussion > writing to companies does not get you fr...

writing to companies does not get you free stuff in 2016

posted 8 years ago by chopperman
6 replies | jump to latest

maybe this worked in the 80's, but today all you get is a big go f yourself in response from "customer service." i tried writing to smirnoff vodka because my local chain grocery store was not honoring manufacturer's coupons. tried acting as important as possible, told them i was a loyal customer and would regularly buy in bulk when they issued coupons. they said there was nothing they could do. so no, they didn't send me a free case of bottles to make up for this like mr. shoop said they would.

Larry Gaylord: "a billion people come in on a day off, and they don't flip out!"

[–] wtkr0712 8 years ago

A defective product is a different situation than a coupon problem. Most of the time these days to avoid those complaints a mass recall is put in place. I saw a guy in a store use a coupon from the cigarette manufacturer for a free carton of cigarettes. He said the carton of cigs he had was stale and returned them so it depends on the product being defective like chainsaws glasses were poorly constructed. Kinda hard to prove alcohol is defective and your coupon's they could care less.

[–] novastar_6 8 years ago

Have to disagree, granted today we do our complaining over the phone instead of writing, usually, but anytime I open a can of Le Suer peas and there's a bug or a pea pod or something in there, I call the company, get coupons for free cans of vegetables. Once had a defective case of Coca-Cola, like half the cans were only half full or something, called the company, got a free replacement case of Coke.

[–] chopperman 8 years ago

this is my bad, i am obviously an idiot for not remembering that they used the fact that the glasses were always falling apart and that was the crux of the complaint letter. it has been a long time since i have seen this movie. it's just that this scene always stuck in my mind though, at least the key parts about acting all important and the kids getting free stuff. thank you for correcting me and sharing your stories. i shall adjust my corporate indignities accordingly, lol...actually i'm not some big complainer, this was the first time i've ever done this. the experience of haggling with a store manager, while believing i was in the right, pushed me to try.

Larry Gaylord: "a billion people come in on a day off, and they don't flip out!"

[–] Jackie_Michele 7 years ago

While this was four years ago, I think it's still relevant,

I complained to a potato chip company when I bought a bag of stale chips from my school's vending machine. I reported it online and a few weeks later a box of Chios in deferent flavor so was delivered to my classroom.

I voted for Frenchie and Dia like a sex donkey on Xanax.

[–] Jackie_Michele 7 years ago

[–] Pegasys9 7 years ago

It still works, IF you do as the movie suggests...the letter must be clearly written, threatens to hurt their business and must be from some sort of authority figure (such as..."Francis Grmp, President of Consumers Against Faulty Eyewear"). Pay more attention and you'll get results.