Alliant Promotionz Alliant Lures Christmas Shoppers With Toys 4 Tots Scam Glendale Arizona
Two days before Christmas 2007, I was shopping at REI in Tempe for gifts for my new husband. I had just returned from a one-year mobilization with the Navy and didn't have a lot of time to shop before Christmas. As I entered the store, I noticed a table with a big "Toys 4 Tots" sign hanging from it and two pleasant young women standing there. They were talking with some other people, so I entered the store.
As I exited the store, one of the young women working at the table called out to me. I went back to hear what she had to say. She asked me if I was interested in donating toys for Toys 4 Tots. There was a big box next to the table filled with toys and just a few toys left on the table. She explained that I could select a toy and put it in the box and that it would be part of the bundle of toys to be donated. My group of friends holds a "Toys 4 Tots" party every year and has for the past 15 or so years. Because I was out of the country, I had missed the party this year. So, the fact that I felt I had this second chance opportunity to contribute to this worthy cause resulted in my donation. I received a donation with the name of "Alliant Promo, Glendale, AZ 85301, (623) 847-1120" at the top.
Fast forward to January 14, 2008. I was compiling documents to prepare for my income tax filing. I pulled out the receipt and read the fine print on the back of the receipt. Here is the gist of what it said: 5% of my donation went to Toys 4 Tots and 95% of my donation went to Alliant Promotionz. The exact wording on the receipt is, as follows:
"The corporation is not a charitable organization and the person who is selling the selected merchandise to benefit the Toys For Tots Foundtion is not a volunteer for T4T's but rather, a paid employee of the corporation named on this receipt. The corporation named on this receipt retains 90% of the retail price on the selected merchandise that has the T4T's logo or sticker and no portion of the 90% is used to benefit T4T's or any other non-profit organization."
The bottom line is that this whole operation was a scam. It galls me that these people are allowed to set-up their tables outside of respectable establishments and to dupe well-intentioned people. Shame on REI (if they agreed to allow these scheisters to set-up a table outside their store), shame on Toys For Tots (if they are condoning this practice for their 5% contribution), and shame on Alliant Promotionz for their shameless business practices.
Azlt
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Carmen
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Did you read it correctly? Not a Scam at all!!
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, February 16, 2008
I am so thankful that this organiztion was outside of the REI. I also was shopping at the store the week before christmas with my kids, and my kids were actually the ones who were curious to stop by the table, where a very nice young lady was helping to raise toy for the toys for tots program. My husband is an ex marine and I have participated in the toy drives in the past, and I know how much work that is. We still never had enough toys by christmas. So immediatly I was intrigued by the toy drive and walk over to talk to her. She explained everything to me in detail about how they were doing a toy drive ( not a fundraiser, big difference), and that all of the toys collected were going to the Marines Reserve Base in Phoenix. Alot of the stores that they set up at - Like REI- don't have alot of childrens toys avaliable so they were there with toys that have been marine approved ( lots of toys had lead and had to be recalled) and were discounted. All of their toys that they had avaliable for purchased were not donated and did have a cost to them. I understood that that is why 100% of the money didn't go to Toy for Tots, but the money wasn't the main focus, but a bonus, to all of the toys that were to be raised. The girl also explained to me that in addition to all of the toys that were avaliable, they also accepted outside toy contributions, which you could bring your own toys to donate if you wanted to. In your comment you contridicted yourself several times with the percentages. If your not sure you shouldn't say anything. You go fom 95% the company retaines ( to pay it's employees- they're not volunteers and don't claim to be, and the cost of the toys) to 90%. So which is it. According to my receipt.... It says that in addition to the toys that I purchased to help 3 children, the company also gives 10% of the cost of the toy to the Marines to help them buy more toys. So all of the toys plus some of the money, so essentially it helps out twice. That made sense to me. In the past years I have purchased toys from Toys R Us to donate to toys for tots, and Toys R Us didnt give any of the money used to purchase it to the foundation. I told my husband about it later that day and he called the Marine base where he is still involved with special functions, and talked to the Gny Sgt in charge of the program this year. The Sgt in charge was so excited about the company Alliant Promo because of their work they exceeded the goal and even had toys to give to other foundations. This was the first time that the Marines actually ad enough toys, and the company Alliant Promo helped raise, I believe, 50% of that through toys and money. I will help every year through this company. So next time you want to post something about a company, get your facts right. Do some research, call the Marines base if you are so concerned. That's what I did. They are awesome!
Carmen
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Did you read it correctly? Not a Scam at all!!
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, February 16, 2008
I am so thankful that this organiztion was outside of the REI. I also was shopping at the store the week before christmas with my kids, and my kids were actually the ones who were curious to stop by the table, where a very nice young lady was helping to raise toy for the toys for tots program. My husband is an ex marine and I have participated in the toy drives in the past, and I know how much work that is. We still never had enough toys by christmas. So immediatly I was intrigued by the toy drive and walk over to talk to her. She explained everything to me in detail about how they were doing a toy drive ( not a fundraiser, big difference), and that all of the toys collected were going to the Marines Reserve Base in Phoenix. Alot of the stores that they set up at - Like REI- don't have alot of childrens toys avaliable so they were there with toys that have been marine approved ( lots of toys had lead and had to be recalled) and were discounted. All of their toys that they had avaliable for purchased were not donated and did have a cost to them. I understood that that is why 100% of the money didn't go to Toy for Tots, but the money wasn't the main focus, but a bonus, to all of the toys that were to be raised. The girl also explained to me that in addition to all of the toys that were avaliable, they also accepted outside toy contributions, which you could bring your own toys to donate if you wanted to. In your comment you contridicted yourself several times with the percentages. If your not sure you shouldn't say anything. You go fom 95% the company retaines ( to pay it's employees- they're not volunteers and don't claim to be, and the cost of the toys) to 90%. So which is it. According to my receipt.... It says that in addition to the toys that I purchased to help 3 children, the company also gives 10% of the cost of the toy to the Marines to help them buy more toys. So all of the toys plus some of the money, so essentially it helps out twice. That made sense to me. In the past years I have purchased toys from Toys R Us to donate to toys for tots, and Toys R Us didnt give any of the money used to purchase it to the foundation. I told my husband about it later that day and he called the Marine base where he is still involved with special functions, and talked to the Gny Sgt in charge of the program this year. The Sgt in charge was so excited about the company Alliant Promo because of their work they exceeded the goal and even had toys to give to other foundations. This was the first time that the Marines actually ad enough toys, and the company Alliant Promo helped raise, I believe, 50% of that through toys and money. I will help every year through this company. So next time you want to post something about a company, get your facts right. Do some research, call the Marines base if you are so concerned. That's what I did. They are awesome!
Carmen
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Did you read it correctly? Not a Scam at all!!
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, February 16, 2008
I am so thankful that this organiztion was outside of the REI. I also was shopping at the store the week before christmas with my kids, and my kids were actually the ones who were curious to stop by the table, where a very nice young lady was helping to raise toy for the toys for tots program. My husband is an ex marine and I have participated in the toy drives in the past, and I know how much work that is. We still never had enough toys by christmas. So immediatly I was intrigued by the toy drive and walk over to talk to her. She explained everything to me in detail about how they were doing a toy drive ( not a fundraiser, big difference), and that all of the toys collected were going to the Marines Reserve Base in Phoenix. Alot of the stores that they set up at - Like REI- don't have alot of childrens toys avaliable so they were there with toys that have been marine approved ( lots of toys had lead and had to be recalled) and were discounted. All of their toys that they had avaliable for purchased were not donated and did have a cost to them. I understood that that is why 100% of the money didn't go to Toy for Tots, but the money wasn't the main focus, but a bonus, to all of the toys that were to be raised. The girl also explained to me that in addition to all of the toys that were avaliable, they also accepted outside toy contributions, which you could bring your own toys to donate if you wanted to. In your comment you contridicted yourself several times with the percentages. If your not sure you shouldn't say anything. You go fom 95% the company retaines ( to pay it's employees- they're not volunteers and don't claim to be, and the cost of the toys) to 90%. So which is it. According to my receipt.... It says that in addition to the toys that I purchased to help 3 children, the company also gives 10% of the cost of the toy to the Marines to help them buy more toys. So all of the toys plus some of the money, so essentially it helps out twice. That made sense to me. In the past years I have purchased toys from Toys R Us to donate to toys for tots, and Toys R Us didnt give any of the money used to purchase it to the foundation. I told my husband about it later that day and he called the Marine base where he is still involved with special functions, and talked to the Gny Sgt in charge of the program this year. The Sgt in charge was so excited about the company Alliant Promo because of their work they exceeded the goal and even had toys to give to other foundations. This was the first time that the Marines actually ad enough toys, and the company Alliant Promo helped raise, I believe, 50% of that through toys and money. I will help every year through this company. So next time you want to post something about a company, get your facts right. Do some research, call the Marines base if you are so concerned. That's what I did. They are awesome!
Carmen
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Did you read it correctly? Not a Scam at all!!
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, February 16, 2008
I am so thankful that this organiztion was outside of the REI. I also was shopping at the store the week before christmas with my kids, and my kids were actually the ones who were curious to stop by the table, where a very nice young lady was helping to raise toy for the toys for tots program. My husband is an ex marine and I have participated in the toy drives in the past, and I know how much work that is. We still never had enough toys by christmas. So immediatly I was intrigued by the toy drive and walk over to talk to her. She explained everything to me in detail about how they were doing a toy drive ( not a fundraiser, big difference), and that all of the toys collected were going to the Marines Reserve Base in Phoenix. Alot of the stores that they set up at - Like REI- don't have alot of childrens toys avaliable so they were there with toys that have been marine approved ( lots of toys had lead and had to be recalled) and were discounted. All of their toys that they had avaliable for purchased were not donated and did have a cost to them. I understood that that is why 100% of the money didn't go to Toy for Tots, but the money wasn't the main focus, but a bonus, to all of the toys that were to be raised. The girl also explained to me that in addition to all of the toys that were avaliable, they also accepted outside toy contributions, which you could bring your own toys to donate if you wanted to. In your comment you contridicted yourself several times with the percentages. If your not sure you shouldn't say anything. You go fom 95% the company retaines ( to pay it's employees- they're not volunteers and don't claim to be, and the cost of the toys) to 90%. So which is it. According to my receipt.... It says that in addition to the toys that I purchased to help 3 children, the company also gives 10% of the cost of the toy to the Marines to help them buy more toys. So all of the toys plus some of the money, so essentially it helps out twice. That made sense to me. In the past years I have purchased toys from Toys R Us to donate to toys for tots, and Toys R Us didnt give any of the money used to purchase it to the foundation. I told my husband about it later that day and he called the Marine base where he is still involved with special functions, and talked to the Gny Sgt in charge of the program this year. The Sgt in charge was so excited about the company Alliant Promo because of their work they exceeded the goal and even had toys to give to other foundations. This was the first time that the Marines actually ad enough toys, and the company Alliant Promo helped raise, I believe, 50% of that through toys and money. I will help every year through this company. So next time you want to post something about a company, get your facts right. Do some research, call the Marines base if you are so concerned. That's what I did. They are awesome!