This review was coerced....
Written: Jun 16 '09 (Updated Jun 17 '09)
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We bought a computer for a friend that came without some software she really needed. So, we went looking for Microsoft Office and found it here at decent prices.... all of the available versions are here, with all of the information about each one very easy to find.
There was even an offer to get a $10.00 instant coupon after we clicked to add the product to our shopping cart. Of course, there's no way we're going to turn down a free ten dollars! Who wouldn't want to make a great deal even better?
So I clicked the link to get the $10 off coupon. That didn't give me a coupon code, however. It opened a chat box, where I was told that I could get the coupon, but only AFTER I wrote a review. THIS review, in fact. (I've revised this review a bit from its original form, to reflect the truth as I see it, not the truth as the vendor wanted me to write it.)
I don't think it's fair to require someone to post a review BEFORE one even finalize a product order. To get the coupon deal, you have to write a review -- no review, no coupon. And the review had to be a minimum of 200 words to get the discount price. I think it's a bit underhanded to coerce someone to write a review praising a company to the skies before they've had a chance to truly evaluate the product, the shipping speed, the responsiveness of the vendor, etc. before even having finished placing an order. It's not quite extortion, but it seems fairly close. I can't comment about shipping or delivery speed. Haven't received the product yet. Hmm... I hadn't even finalized the order yet, either! In other words, my writing a review was, shall we say, premature.
Because it was slightly misleading to click on a coupon link and get a chat box, I rated this company's ordering process as more difficult than easy. Straightforward it wasn't, in my opinion.
I did receive a confirmation email and then one saying the order had been shipped. I also found a web site offering the exact same product for $11 less than what I paid -- no coupon required, no need to write a review. Let's just say I've learned a lesson here.... skip the coupon, do a bit more searching, and you can get a better deal.
I think it would be more ethical for Outlet Deal to just lower their prices and eliminate the so-called coupon deal which is a solicitation for a review in this fashion. I'd have written a more favorable review of the company. The word 'extort' is defined as "obtain by coersion or intimidation" -- and that's exactly what this vendor does in order to gain reviews.
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Microsoft Office 2007 Basic
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actualmary
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