Complaint Review: Amazon Inc

I had recently ordered products from Amazon that were promoted under a 25% discount IF the order was at least $50.  MY order totaled more than required but when I went to check out, the discount was not available nor was it applied.  I called Amazon and talked to a service rep who claimed that he could not find it, even though I had it up on my computer and tried to direct his attention to the promotion.  I ordered the products but subsequently filed a report with the BBB handling Amazon complaints. 

The respondent Amazon rep to the complaint stated that she could not find the ads.  Fortunately I had made copies that showed, in no uncertain terms, that Amazon had a promotion.  Within 24 hours of my complaint, the ads had been removed.  The BBB asked me to send them copies, which I did.  I had filed my complaint under "false advertising".  Amazon responded with a $20 gift card stating that they were making a "one time" exception with more use restrictions than I cared to bother with, however their reply did not address my initial charge of false advertising. 

To my surprise the BBB accepted that as I resolution and closed my file.  I guess it goes to show that one can escape the more serious charges by tossing a $20 bill, so to speak, to make it go away.  What's more, the agency in charge of this process (BBB) can accept that as a "resolution".  I can not begin to guess how many people fell prey to this promotion, but I intend to push this up the line.  Personally, I feel that it's a shame and a sad fact that big companies can get away with transgressions that the smaller ones can't.