The Pathetic Story Of Vouchers In India

Heena

9 years ago

It’s been so long that I did a post based on my personal experience, something like THIS and THIS. I still have lots of stuff to share. It’s just the time constraint. Anyhow, I am back with another post. Freebies and vouchers are quite a sad scenario in India. Here’s my experience:

Situation 1: At Faces Canada store, Select City Walk

So I and my friend casually hop over to their store only to find ourselves overwhelmed by the beautiful variety of lipsticks there. At the end, we find our billing amount shooting over Rs.2500. As with any other drugstore brand in India, there was no good scheme. There was a nail paint free and that too from some 3-4 selected shades of theirs (nearing expiry! cough!). So the lady at the billing counter hands out this beautiful looking vouchers in pink and screams that they are ‘absolutely free’. Some feeling of disbelief hovers around me but I thank her nonetheless. We rush out of mall since we are already late.

It’s only when we got a seat in metro and did we started to read the terms and conditions, we wanted to go back to mall and return this to them. Before I begin with, let me tell you that one voucher can be redeemed against a purchase of Rs.1000.

Coming to the first pointer

*10 friends*

So I clearly need to make 10 friends first! I have 2, so I need to make 8 more. (New year goals! Woah!)

And God forbid! Even if I managed to make 10, coax all of them into buying FACES products and use these vouchers, the little star would roll out some mysterious terms and conditions (READ: Valid till stocks last) which won’t let me have free products for Rs.3000!

1st condition: The coupon is only valid at FACES outlet(s) Select City Walk. > That’s awesome! So to save 100 bucks on my purchase, I should consider travelling 3 hours to and fro from my house whenever I want to purchase a FACES product.

2nd condition: One coupon is valid for one billed purchase only.> So if by any chance I land up at the same Saket Faces counter and like products for Rs.3000, I shall come up with tricks on getting my products billed in three installments of Rs.1000 each. This way I will get the discounts but will end up wasting my time as well as time of customers that are waiting in line.

3rd condition: The coupon needs to be presented to the store staff before billing. > Because even after crossing all hurdles when you manage to buy some of their stuff, you realize that you have forgotten this voucher at home. So you will have to pay a full price! Wow! I wonder what purpose does the voucher number serves to customers.

Oh! I can’t discuss more! Let’s move on to another painful situation.

Situation2: At Lifestyle stores

Lifestyle stores! Ah! Their vouchers as well as loyalty cards are one of a kind. I clearly remember that previous year I got to lower my billing amount by a crazy Rs.100 amount after shopping from them for an entire year of shopping worth more than Rs.10,000. That feeling.. That feeling just killed me!

Couple that with the vouchers they churn out that depict small brains into making. So after I shopped for Rs.5000 nearing April end, I was given out 4 vouchers worth Rs.500 each. Now read the terms and conditions in short in the below picture:

So in two months they expect me to spend another bomb and avail their vouchers. I wonder why they even waste so much of paper.

God! I really can’t talk more! But there really needs to be a revolution in the vouchers and freebies that are held out to us. Because they don’t look like a token of thanks even by any remote chance. I don’t even want to get started with the freebies brands decide to offer to us on their minimum purchases. There are rare times when I witness a good one. Otherwise most have 2-3 limited set of nail paints to offer or other products with no seal and expiry dates mentioned on them.

Care to share any such bitter experience of yours? Grab a drink and start typing! I’m all ears for it!