Competition Ghosting!

[sarahmac77]

This is quite a weird one!
I won a competition with a magazine. I won leggings, a competition top, saddle pad, quilted coat, rug, boots and a load of other stuff. Also good timing as I just got my first horse!
However, the company that I won them from haven’t been in touch to ask for my size and they said they would within 28 days, and then they haven’t been in touch at all. It’s been three months now and it’s very weird to complain about something you won for free but it seems a bit shitty to tell someone they won something, for that person (me!) to reply with, ‘amazing I never win anything!’, And then to not hear anything again. I’ve chased them a few times but they don’t seem to be doing anything to follow it up. Should I just leave it?

 

[Kaylum]

Wow thats a lovely prize I would contact the magazine to be honest for them to chase up with the company.

 

[sarahmac77]

Yes I have! Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I have now been back in touch with the magazine three or four times.

 

[sarahmac77]

I guess there’s not much more I can do!

 

[TPO]

What magazine was it? Might be worth contacting them via social media or contacting editor directly.

I know of one writer/editor of a monthly horse mag who is very active online. Someone like that might be able to help

 

[Widgeon]

Yes I would politely chase it up with the company. It would look bad for them were something like this to spread on social media, so even if it's for no other reason than that, they should be motivated to deliver what they promised. Or if that fails / you're feeling a bit passive aggressive, you could post a "really polite and disappointed" message on their FB wall or tweet them or something like that. I have found that highlighting a problem via social media often produces a response where none was previously forthcoming.

 

[ycbm]

The company got a lot of free publicity in the magazine and it's hoping you will go away. It's the kind of thing I'd keep on at until you get your prize.

I would threaten them with a complaint to trading standards and look up the legal rights of a competition winner to receive their prize. I suspect they entered into a legal contract to supply those goods to the winner by accepting your entry, and that you could raise a small claim for the value of the goods. I'd threaten that first, then do it, myself, it's online and is easy and cheap.
.

 

[Afon_34]

Definitely keep chasing.. the company & magazine! Like others have said, could contact them via social media as that often seems to make places reply ?

 

[J&S]

Citizens Advice can give you templates of the letters to write that contain the correct legal terms to use when contacting them. I don't us social media myself but I would think a little bit of Twitter or FB bad press might make them do the right thing.

 

[paddi22]

social media is often the fastest way to shame companies into responding.

 

[sarahmac77]

Thanks... it just seems so mad to have to do that when it's supposed to be a nice thing but, I will wait a few days and if no response I'll do that.
Ridiculously because of something else I do (non-horsey) I have 17k twitter followers... which may be a threat (though none of them ride but still...!).

 

[Amun]

Totally understand why you feel weird to chase something you won for free but on the other hand, the magazine probably had a good promo with this competition and many people might spend some time on it. So it is very rude and extremely unprofessional to just ignore the winner/winners (who also look forward to their prizes and got ghosting instead). So I would be very tempted to leave a public comment on their social media for future competitors if they keep ignoring you.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I would 100% tweet about it, tagging in the company and the magazine, and I'll be stunned if it's not sorted quickly!

And don't feel bad about it - competitions are not run just out of the goodness of the company's heart, they gained publicity or contact details from it and need to honour the prize.

 

[milliepops]

as above, be a squeaky wheel and then go public if you have to! hope you get your goodies soon, or at least a good explanation of the delay and revised timelines if there's been some kind of hiccup.

 

[dogatemysalad]

As a last resort, I've found posting politely on Facebook gets a swift response from rogue companies.