Another Dealfind Failure - Pink Lime

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

The regulation says specifically that it doesn't apply to promotional cards.
I'd say groupons and the like are pretty clearly promotional cards.

I'm thinking the legislation is more for cards where you pay the face value of the card, meaning if you pay $50 and you get back $50 that you can only spend in that store, then it can't expire. But if you pay $20 and get a coupon for $40 that you can only spend at that store, that can expire because it's clearly a promotional card, and the face value is above what you paid for it.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Do you actually get a gift card though? The link still says $30 for $60 value. Also, the common regulation on the groupon coupons is that it doesn't cover taxes. A cash/gift card from a store will. I'm guessing that's what avoids the alberta laws and probably the class action suit.

Doesn't matter that you don't get a card. It specifically includes vouchers, and these are pretty clearly vouchers. It also doesn't say anything about purchasing them at face value, so just because you get it at a discount isn't a factor.


From the Service Alberta page

Prohibit expiry dates on gift cards, gift certificates, and vouchers that have been purchased and have monetary value

I'm pretty sure the only reason they're still doing this is they haven't gotten sued over it yet.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Doesn't matter that you don't get a card.

I didn't mean card as in 'card' specifically. Shantz had the same idea, but much better worded than my post.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

From the Service Alberta page
Prohibit expiry dates on gift cards, gift certificates, and vouchers that have been purchased and have monetary value

I'm pretty sure the only reason they're still doing this is they haven't gotten sued over it yet.

I have to agree with you. If the voucher/gift card is good as cash in store, regardless if the value is more or less than the actual purchase price of the voucher/gift card, it has monetary value. Therefore, it should be governed by the Alberta Fair Trading Act and should not have an expiry date on it.

If not, then merchant can simply, for argument sake, give a discount of $0.01 on gift card, say a $20 gift card for $19.99 and claim that to be promotional card and slap an expiry date on it. I'm sure the merchant will make more money from unused gift card this way then from the actual $0.01 discount they give and render the Fair Trading Act, in this case, useless.

So a $20 for $40 worth of any food or drink voucher at a restaurant has monetary value because it is good as cash at that store. Notwithstanding the fact that the value on the voucher is inflated, it is still a gift card and shouldn't have expiry date on it.

However, if it is $20 for a certain steak dinner (could be worth $40) and nothing else type of voucher, it has no monetary value and it is not a gift card.

[Bill Bumface]

How are those stupid Visa "My Treat" cards legal?

I think you have to pay a premium to get them in the first place (more than $20 to get $20) and then after 6 months you're charged a cancellation fee equal to the remaining balance on the card. Such a scam. When I was given one I wondered if the person secretly hated me.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

How are those stupid Visa "My Treat" cards legal?

I think you have to pay a premium to get them in the first place (more than $20 to get $20) and then after 6 months you're charged a cancellation fee equal to the remaining balance on the card. Such a scam. When I was given one I wondered if the person secretly hated me.

They're issued by a financial institution, so they don't fall under the regulations since they're not tied to any one retailer.

There are lots of ways for companies to get around the legislation, so it's also up to consumers to know what they're buying.

[darklord700]

Pink Lime is selling coupons again today (May 11, 2011).

http://www.dealfind.com/

[JustAnotherGuy]

So did they originally sign up for more than one round of coupons or are they knowingly selling these coupons with no realistic intention of allowing them all to be used?

[darklord700]

I don't have specific knowledge to this question but my guess is that the later is correct. I cancelled my previous Pink Lime coupons when the merchant didn't return my phone call placed a few weeks ago about making appointments to redeem the coupons. This fact indicates that the merchant is more interested in selling coupons than anything else.

[ken0042]

The one thing I will give them; at least today's coupon is somewhat more reasonable as far as their business standpoint. The $30 they will make is about the same as what they often have for a walk-in special on their sandwich whiteboard.

[fredr123]

Is anyone else having problems booking an appointment for yesterday's deal?

[ken0042]

Yeah, seems to be a real pain in the butt.

[gottarunnow]

DO NOT GO HERE! Bought my mother a Dealfind voucher which includes a Haircut, Wash, Scalp Massage, Blow Dry and Choice of Partial Highlights or Full Colour. There will be an additional $25 charge for hair exceeding shoulder length.

My mother has a SHORT bob cut and needed a root touch up to blend in with her brown hair. As soon as she got there Bassem (Owner) immediately told her that she would have to pay an additional $25 as her roots are white (duh!) and he couldn't use just hair color on it. He had to charge an additional $25 due to a whole bunch of extra products needed in order to touch up her roots (he was trying to upsell !).

Thank goodness my mom stuck to her guns and told him that he was not honouring his voucher. The $25 was only for past shoulder length hair which she does not have! She proceeded to have a haircut by a lady who was nice and did a good job. At the time of paying for tips and GST he AGAIN insisted that my mom pay an additional $25! Again, my mom has a short bob and only with hair past shoulder length is there an extra $25 charge.

He then started to yell at my mother and said, 'Fine! Don't give me a tip and don't ever come back here again!' He didn't even cut my mother's hair. WHY should he even expect a tip from her? She had already given a cash tip to the lady who cut her hair! Also, the front end receptionist charged my mom 10% GST instead of 5%. My mom was so mortified that when she paid the gst portion it didn’t even occur to her she was overcharged until she returned home.

I was soooo angry after hearing this that I took my mother to the salon the next day to confront and ask Bassem for an explanation and apology for his HORRENDOUS treatment to my mother. He had no excuse or explanation and to make matters even more infuriating, when I asked him to apologize to my mother he glared at me and told ME to apologize to HIM!!!! I wanted to make sure I confronted him during the day when there were other customers in the salon so they would all hear what happened and also indirectly warn them about how he treats and CHEATS his customers. I bet he has never had a customer come in and call him out in front of all his employees and customers!
My mother was humiliated and so embarassed! Is this how they treat customers??? Are they abusive to older women? (My mother is 65yrs) I have reported them to the BBB. I hope no one ever has to experience the abuse my mother received from him!

[gottarunnow]

DO NOT GO HERE! Bought my mother a Dealfind voucher which includes a Haircut, Wash, Scalp Massage, Blow Dry and Choice of Partial Highlights or Full Colour. There will be an additional $25 charge for hair exceeding shoulder length.

My mother has a SHORT bob cut and needed a root touch up to blend in with her brown hair. As soon as she got there Bassem (Owner) immediately told her that she would have to pay an additional $25 as her roots are white (duh!) and he couldn't use just hair color on it. He had to charge an additional $25 due to a whole bunch of extra products needed in order to touch up her roots (he was trying to upsell !).

Thank goodness my mom stuck to her guns and told him that he was not honouring his voucher. The $25 was only for past shoulder length hair which she does not have! She proceeded to have a haircut by a lady who was nice and did a good job. At the time of paying for tips and GST he AGAIN insisted that my mom pay an additional $25! Again, my mom has a short bob and only with hair past shoulder length is there an extra $25 charge.

He then started to yell at my mother and said, 'Fine! Don't give me a tip and don't ever come back here again!' He didn't even cut my mother's hair. WHY should he even expect a tip from her? She had already given a cash tip to the lady who cut her hair! Also, the front end receptionist charged my mom 10% GST instead of 5%. My mom was so mortified that when she paid the gst portion it didn’t even occur to her she was overcharged until she returned home.

I was soooo angry after hearing this that I took my mother to the salon the next day to confront and ask Bassem for an explanation and apology for his HORRENDOUS treatment to my mother. He had no excuse or explanation and to make matters even more infuriating, when I asked him to apologize to my mother he glared at me and told ME to apologize to HIM!!!! I wanted to make sure I confronted him during the day when there were other customers in the salon so they would all hear what happened and also indirectly warn them about how he treats and CHEATS his customers. I bet he has never had a customer come in and call him out in front of all his employees and customers!
My mother was humiliated and so embarassed! Is this how they treat customers??? Are they abusive to older women? (My mother is 65yrs) I have reported them to the BBB. I hope no one ever has to experience the abuse my mother received from him!

[red sky]

Please contact springs1 to get your word out. Fight the good fight.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by gottarunnow

DO NOT GO HERE! Bought my mother a Dealfind voucher which includes a Haircut, Wash, Scalp Massage, Blow Dry and Choice of Partial Highlights or Full Colour. There will be an additional $25 charge for hair exceeding shoulder length.

My mother has a SHORT bob cut and needed a root touch up to blend in with her brown hair. As soon as she got there Bassem (Owner) immediately told her that she would have to pay an additional $25 as her roots are white (duh!) and he couldn't use just hair color on it. He had to charge an additional $25 due to a whole bunch of extra products needed in order to touch up her roots (he was trying to upsell !).

Thank goodness my mom stuck to her guns and told him that he was not honouring his voucher. The $25 was only for past shoulder length hair which she does not have! She proceeded to have a haircut by a lady who was nice and did a good job. At the time of paying for tips and GST he AGAIN insisted that my mom pay an additional $25! Again, my mom has a short bob and only with hair past shoulder length is there an extra $25 charge.

He then started to yell at my mother and said, 'Fine! Don't give me a tip and don't ever come back here again!' He didn't even cut my mother's hair. WHY should he even expect a tip from her? She had already given a cash tip to the lady who cut her hair! Also, the front end receptionist charged my mom 10% GST instead of 5%. My mom was so mortified that when she paid the gst portion it didn’t even occur to her she was overcharged until she returned home.

I was soooo angry after hearing this that I took my mother to the salon the next day to confront and ask Bassem for an explanation and apology for his HORRENDOUS treatment to my mother. He had no excuse or explanation and to make matters even more infuriating, when I asked him to apologize to my mother he glared at me and told ME to apologize to HIM!!!! I wanted to make sure I confronted him during the day when there were other customers in the salon so they would all hear what happened and also indirectly warn them about how he treats and CHEATS his customers. I bet he has never had a customer come in and call him out in front of all his employees and customers!
My mother was humiliated and so embarassed! Is this how they treat customers??? Are they abusive to older women? (My mother is 65yrs) I have reported them to the BBB. I hope no one ever has to experience the abuse my mother received from him!

HA... is this our new Springs1?

[Chingas]

Did you the whole thing twice??

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

HA... is this our new Springs1?

Right down to the RANDOM capitalized words. Needs SOME ******asterisks***** though!!!11!!!1!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by gottarunnow

Also, the front end receptionist charged my mom 10% GST instead of 5%. My mom was so mortified that when she paid the gst portion it didn’t even occur to her she was overcharged until she returned home.

Leaving aside the rest of your post for a moment, if your mom has a receipt saying they charged her 10% GST, I bet the CRA would be interested in that.

You can report suspected tax evasion or fraud here:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/nvstgt.../menu-eng.html

[Bigtime]

I love when threads on CP pop up on google searches of companies.