Katie
LaVergne,#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, November 07, 2008
I have been the customer service director for Simplicity Gourmet for five years, and I just wanted to clear up a few misunderstandings that this particular consumer has. One, is that sales tactics do not equal scam. Every single company that sells a product has a way that they market their products: magazine ads, newspaper ads, word of mouth, television ads, radio ads, etc. We choose to market our products directly to the customers and put our money into meeting consumers face to face at bridal events, in home dinners, and trade shows and to giving them a free gift for their time and consideration. While, I understand that this consumer is making claims that they clearly state are their own opinion, what is not understood is that this is your own opinion, the fact is that it's not rooted in fact, is now circulating the internet, and can be very devestating to a company. I would like to clear up few claims made in the points of this complaint: "Okay, basically what I found is that the company, 'Selected Brides', aka 'Simplicity Gourmet' " ~ Simplicity Gourmet and Selected Brides are in no way affilicted with one another. Selected Brides is it's own, free standing, individually owned company that sells a brand of products seperate from Simplicity Gourmet. Selected Brides is a bridal company based out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Simplicity Gourmet is in Nashville, TN. Simplicity Gourmet has an exemplorary BBB report and is an accredited BBB company. You may check out our file online: http://nashville.app.bbb.org/report/37004265 "You have to buy your own airfare- which will probably be in the ballpark of a few thousand, no matter where you go overseas." ~ We offer a 3 day, 2 night accomodations package for attending the showcase. We clearly define what this includes as, "all your meals and snacks, beverages, alcoholic or non, and non-motorized sports, such as windsurfing and kayaking and of course the hotel accomodations" when the appointment is scheduled on the phone. I don't see that buying your own airfare makes us a scam? We assume that the majority of consumers that are planning a honeymoon, would be buying their own airfare any way. We do give these pacakges to all consumers who attend our showcases, no matter if they purchase anything or not, just as our thank you for your time and consideration. The complaint was made at the price of our cookware (which is far less than the All Clad cookware this is mentioned and much more highly warrantied), think of how much we would have to charge if our complimentary sales incentive packages included airfare to every single consumer attending our shows, nationwide, even the ones who never purchased a single product from us. "You have to pay taxes on the trip. Before you even book the trip- you have to pay the hotel taxes! $49.50 U.S.D. per person, PER NIGHT!" - First of all, I'd like to apologize, I think you may have received an outdated extension form. There is a one time, $50 refundable deposit (NOT per person) due at the time of registration and paid to the vacation booking company. Then you have to pay your sales tax on the trip. This is a federal law - as when you win a car on a gameshow or win the lottery, the consmer is repsonsible for paying the gift sales tax per federal law. The taxes on our trip usually run around $50 as well; again, they are paid directly to the travel company and are not due until booking. "You have to book your entire trip through their travel agency (Coral Beach Travel & Tours in Florida). You also have to give their travel agency 60-days notice on your trip- or they charge you a $75.00 penalty, PER PERSON." - You CAN book your entire stay through the travel agency, which is NOT Coral Beach Travel and Tours (it's ODENZA MARKETING GROUP - another reason I think you have an outdated voucher) but you are NOT required to do so. Yes, the travel agency does require at least a 60 day notice. These rooms are rooms they set aside for promotional purposes and the spaces are limited. Once the promotional rooms are booked, they do not other availability and are charged a surcharge to use the certificates. That's why they ask that you begin your booking process no less than two months before your travel date so that they an ensure that you get the best rates available for the trip you want. You can extend your stay at a discounted rate (which is the cheaper way to go) but you do not have to use them at all. Feel free to book your extended stay on your own or even at a different hotel once you have received confirmation on your complimentary nights. Finally, and this is the most important issue that I would like to address, the claim that we "pre approve" your credit is a gross misunderstanding and completely false. We do NOT, in ANY WAY, pre-approve your credit. What is explained at the showcase is that if you do choose to finance your order, we have a rigourous fail-safe credit approval system. If you are approved for credit (ONLY AFTER you filled out and signed a credit application giving us permission to do so), then your credit is reveiwed and you are contacted via phone by a credit agent to verify your identity and once again that you agree with the sale amount, the monthly payment amount, the interest amount, etc. We will not approve an order for shipment unless your identity and order information is verbally verified with the finance company. We consider this an "above and beyond" practice to protect the consumer from any identity theft issues. At any point in time, if a consumer needs help booking a trip, we always help in any way that we can. The problem comes when we are never contacted that there is an issue. We are happy to resolve any issues regarding trips that we give away but we cannot help in a situation that we are not made aware of nor given the opportunity to correct. For this consumer, you can feel free to contact me anytime via phone or email if you decide you would like to use your trip: [email protected] or 866-897-7676. I would also be happy to provide the contact phone number if needed for the Vacation company, Odenza Marketing Group. Many Blessings, Katie Snyder Client Services Director Simplicity Gourmet, Intl. 866-897-7676 [email protected]