You may recall that on December 21st, Crappy Tire offered a "free gift" of a $20 card.
This offer was spammed to a lot of Canadians, many of whom objected to the mis-naming of this as "free", when in fact it had to be earned through spending at least $200.
The other problem was that they used the word "gift" in the description, and a "gift card" cannot expire. However, these were actually "Promo" cards, and expired .... in about a week!
Here's a sampling of the things our fellow Canadians said in response to this outrageously misleading Spam:
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Karen C.P.: That's not a gift. A gift is: come to the store to pick up a $X card.
Franky D.E.: A gift is supposed to be free.
Raïs D.Z.: it is not a gift if I have to spend $200 to get it. That is called a scam
Raïs D.Z.: "for free" = isn't that what a gift is, by definition ?
let me help you in case you don't know the meaning of "gift" :
"A gift or a present is an object given to someone without the expectation of payment. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free."
Gift - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bill S.: What's the gift? - you have to spend over $200 to get it! Give it free and that then becomes a gift!
Sylvette B.: It's not a gift if I HAVE to give something to receive something plus I have to give 4 × more. Ohh how they try to fool us. Keep your $50 , I' ll keep my $200 !
Doris C.: Canadian Tire? That is not a gift you are offering, Gift means something you give without consequences.
Aunt M.: A $50 "gift" that costs $200?
Andrea H.: Just so you know, Canadian tire, a gift is freely given from the generousity of your heart .......not something I have to pay $200 or more for first.......I think you don't really understand the point of gift giving......and I'm quite sure you are making enough profit to actually give every customer a gift card without them spending so much.....but then I guess you'll want your bonuses....couldn't have you missing those now could we.....
RB U.: And a gift is something u recieve without attached conditions, so please use the english language as it is meant to be understood. Not to make urselves look like u don't have alterior motives.
Dennis W.: A gift has not associated cost - don't use the word gift in this context as its false and misleading.
Dave B.: "Translation" = We're desperate for you to come in and buy something - anything!! Ha! Ha!
Jonathon P.: a gift to us? ... for what? over-charging us for the crap they are going to put on Boxing sales at clearance prices anyway? you do the math, it's no gift, more like an incentive to buy more stuff you don't really need in the first place ... and I point out the promo card is only good at Canadian Tire ... try a pre-paid Visa card - goo anywhere - and then we can talk about it being a gift!
And there was this complaint:
Don C.: I got a promo card and they refused to honour it as I was a day late due to the ice storm !! So I went somewhere else to finish my shoping for Christmas