My host body is a big fan of Coca-Cola and, for once, he and I are in full agreement.

Coke is a tasty beverage with plenty of caffeinated goodness to get you through the crap-awful day.

So imagine our delight when they launched the CokeZone reward scheme.

You enter the numbers from the bottles onto a website, save up your points and then you can exchange them for fantabulous rewards!

Well, that’s not quite how it works…

What actually happens is, you save up the points, select a reward, CokeZone take the aforementioned points away and then proceed to pack and post a big box of shiny sod all.

On the 14th of December 2010, having amassed a large amount of CokeZone points (due to the constant lack of any reward worth claiming) I decided what the hell and ordered a Coca-Cola branded, 2GB USB Memory Stick.

I have USB Memory Sticks, I don’t need another one, but this one has the Coca-Cola logo on it and could come in handy for backing up all those viagra e-mails and offers of Nigerian wealth so I figure, why the hell not?

I redeem 150 points for this USB stick, enter my address details, wait a day or two for the clunking, creaking website to process the information and then receive confirmation.

My USB Stick is on it’s way!

The question is, on it’s way to where?

By the end of December i’ve not received it but in a move which is entirely out of character, I give them a little longer due to the Christmas post and I say nothing.

January arrives, January goes, nothing.

February 1st and i’ve decided enough is most assuredly enough.

I enter a query on the CokeZone webform which says, simply enough:

I ordered a 2gb USB stick on the 14th of December 2010 and am yet to
receive it.

Please advise?

Thanks

I also drop them a gentle nudge via Twitter and await response.

The @cokezone Twitterites get back to me fairly sharpish and assure me that I shall have a response by Friday 11th, if I don’t, i’m to let them know.

So I wait, I play a little X-Box, I join some hashtaggery on Twitter, I groan in dismay as the country collapses in on itself like a poorly built house of cards…

Friday 11th arrives and sure enough, there’s an e-mail from CokeZone

Wondering which far flung hellhole they’ve mistakenly shipped my USB Stick to, I open the e-mail and see this…

I’m sorry you didn’t receive your reward. We want to help, and will look into this further. We will get back to you within 5-7 business days.

So i’ve waited for this response which has in turn asked me to wait?

No deal.

I reply to the e-mail, tell them i’m most disgruntled or discombobulated or whatever other dis applies to the situation and await further response.

I wait until today, 16th February 2011.

They’ve had the 5 from their 5-7 day response estimate and I have had it up to…my hand is pointing to my forehead, ok?…up to here.

So, I reply once again:

Hello

I am still awaiting any news on this reward.

I think the time you have taken is absolutely ridiculous

Please reply promptly

Short, to the point and for me, remarkably restrained.

The day rolls on and then, as I enjoy yet another “Connection Interrupted” break from Black Ops, a hearty bing bong from my laptop announces the arrival of e-mail.

Eager to read news of my surely, soon to arrive USB stick, I open Outlook hurriedly and…ah.

Dear James,

Thanks for contacting Coke Zone. We’re glad you took the time to email us.

Most items are dispatched within 7-10 days. However, sometimes it can take 28 days for delivery. You can check the status of your order on ‘My Account’ page. We are researching the reward and will let you know our findings as soon as possible and will share your comments with the team and appropriate departments. Thank you for your feedback.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,

Deborah

This will not do.

I sent the reply you are about to read and i’m looking forward to hearing back from them…

Dear Deborah

Perhaps, before sending out the bog standard auto response, you might take two minutes to ACTUALLY READ the history attached to this ticket number?

Some items might take 28 days? This particular item is at 60+ days and counting.

I could understand the delay if, for example, I lived at an Arctic science station, at the heart of the Amazon rainforest or in space.
In actual fact, I live in a fairly easy to locate village in the United Kingdom, hell, I gave you the address.

Have you ever seen a map? They’re amazing, you look at them and you can work out where stuff is.

I suggest you grab my USB stick and post it, send it by courier, strap it to a trained pigeon or fire it out of a catapult in the general direction of my home, whatever it takes to get it, along with the massive pile of free goodies which you’re sending to make up for the awful service, to my house as soon as possible.

Yours in eager anticipation,
Al

UPDATE : 24th February 2011

Well, well, well…

Over the past couple of days I have resent my address (at the request of the @cokezone Twitterers, because the helpdesk guys struggle with e-mail and are still trying to work out how to open the big, monitor shaped envelope in which their mail has apparently been delivered…

I received this e-mail today, and I have changed Francis’ name to Frank, to protect the….ah crap, Francis it is then.

Dear James,

I wanted to let you know that the USB Stick and vouchers will be going out to you today or tomorrow. Please keep an eye out as they should be with you shortly.

We’re truly appreciative of your patience. Thanks for being a member of Coke Zone.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,

Francis

My reply is as follows:

Dear Francis

I will keep an eye out and, with luck, a following wind and the grace of a non-specific deity, soon I shall clutch to my bosom that most cherished of items, a Coca-Cola branded USB stick.

I have a blue USB stick now which I have been using, but it is as nought compared to the radiant beauty of your Coca-Cola sticks.

I have yet to tell Bluey (I call the blue stick Bluey) that he is being replaced, I hope he won’t take it too hard.

Perhaps it would be best if I took him out back and put a bullet in him, “Old Yeller” style.

Old Yeller was the name of my old Yellow USB stick.

Yours sincerely

James

UPDATED – 08th March 2011

I must, grudgingly, admit that Coca-Cola have sent me a fully functioning, 2gb USB stick and 2 x £5 HMV vouchers, at last.

So, I guess CokeZone and I are on good terms now right? Not quite.

Just a quibble, CokeZone, but get your ROGOF vouchers sorted, you’re screwing up my weekends…

5 thoughts on “Get points, trade points, wait…”

  1. Any news? I’m literally on the edge of my seat in anticipation of an update…

  2. I do hope you remembered which alter you were supposed to sign the email with in RL. I fear Al may not have as much luck as James, though his luck appears to be fairly sucky, so far.

    I can’t help feeling that instead of offering piddly 2gig memory sticks, perhaps Coca Cola should run a scheme where one can exchange points for oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash and, if one saves up enough, actual dental treatment. Because if anyone drinks *that much* Coke, they probably need it.

    Disclaimer: I’m a Diet Coke girl, myself. Fat Coke is just mingin’. I’ve recently developed a bit of a taste for Fanta too though.

    1. I attached James’ name to it also but I think the Al Vimh name carries more gravitas, more dignity, more abject terror.

      Coca-Cola has no affect on the teeth whatsoever, this is a lie and I will heartily gum anyone who says otherwise.

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