Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Free Walmart Gift Card?

Has anybody heard of a company called Buyers Advantage? They recently sent me an offer to receive a $40 Walmart gift card, and the offer was made through a bank that I used to do business with. Apparently, if I sign up for Buyers Advantage, they will send me a free gift card, and I can cancel within 30 days. Otherwise, my bank account will automatically be debited a $14.99 monthly fee for the service.

But, they left the biggest question unanswered: What exactly is Buyers Advantage? Is it a type of purchase insurance, or a discount program? This point was not clearly spelled out in the offer materials. But in the very fine print on one of the inserts, separate from the reply form that you have to sign, is a brief mention that the service is a price protection guarantee program. It says that they'll refund "the difference between the original purchase price and sale price when items go on sale within 90 days of purchase in the same retail store". The program is offered through a company called Trilegiant Corporation (TLG).

So, the funny part of this marketing campaign is that they are not even trying to sell you the product, but instead are promoting the free Wal-Mart gift card offer. Also in the fine print is that they don't actually send you the Walmart gift card when you enroll. Instead you have to return another form that in included in the membership materials they send, and allow four to five (more) weeks for delivery.

After I saw how many hoops there are to jump through to get a $40 gift card, I decided not to enroll in this program. But, I'm curious if any of my readers have signed up for Buyers Advantage, and what experiences they had. I am wondering if there are complaints about this company, or if this is a scam? Did you get charged for something you didn't really want?

PFS

21 comments:

  1. I received the offer in the mail, but I'm still contemplating on sending it in or not. I read all the fine print too, and to tell you the truth, I just want the free $40 gift card. I am willing to wait for the 4-5 weeks it takes to get the "gift card form" to redeem it, but I noticed that it also says at the very end of the fine print "Subject to the terms and conditions set forth on the gift card. Please allow 4 to 5 weeks for delivery" again.... So... hmm. Do you know WHAT the terms and conditions set forth on the gift card are? If not, how can I find out? I've been looking on the internet but no luck in finding what the terms and conditions of the gift card are.

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    Replies
    1. Don't sign up. When you call the number to cancel yor subscription no one answers that line. You spend days trying to cancel this crap

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  2. Don't do this. It's a scam. I work for the Wal-mart company and got this in the mail. I reported it to my Manager. It would be nice if the company posted this on the website or something.

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    1. i got one from processing center in nashville tn i live in indpls in it says a 40.00 walmart card is waiting for me all i gotta do is call a 1-800-toll free number and enter a reservation code only giving me 48hrs
      i know this isnt real none of them are dont go for them

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  3. The offer sounded a bit dubious to me. I don't know what the specific terms and conditions are for the Wal-Mart gift card, but I had assumed that they were the same for all gift cards. It just seemed like a lot of hassle to get the $40 card without being charged a monthly fee.

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  4. I got an offer for 2 $20 WM gift cards for signing up for Buyers Advantage as well for signing up for $16.99/mo if I don't cancel before the 30-day trail period (which begins once I receive their materials which it says should arrive 4-5 weeks after I send in the reply cards with my credit card info). It just sounds like a scam. I'm not going to do it; I can't see any good reason to extend my credit card info for a sketchy $40 when I don't really know who's getting my info and what "gotchyas" will be involved.

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  5. I joined Buyers Advantage only in order to get the 40 Wal Mart gift card. I canceled before the 30 days was up, and I sent off for the gift card which I recieved within 3 weeks. I was never charged anything at any time.

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    Replies
    1. I have been trying the trail memberships for about three years and received about 1000.00 in walmart gift cards,200.00 in visa gas cards,50.00 lowes,50.00 sears and 300.00 in fingerhut and have never been charged anything..Trail memberships where to Buyers Advantage, Great Fun, Auto Advantage Gold and several more. The card that comes inside of the membership is also free postage and a simple phone call to cancel after the trail membership is up I have never been charged anything.

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    2. Anonymous February 12, 2013 at 5:22 PM sounds like a shill for the scam company involved here. Go peddle your lies somewhere else, you douchecanoe.

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  6. It seems that this is a legitimate offer. But Buyer's Advantage is hoping that you will forget to cancel. I am glad that you were able to get your Walmart card without being charged anything.

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  7. even if you forget after the 30 days, when you call to cancel, they reimburse you

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  8. Sent fr it months ago, did not received gift cards, but never got charged either.

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  9. Signed up for the membership, received the materials about 4 wks later. Sent in for the gift card about 3-4 wks ago. Still waiting to receive. Cancelled membership with no problems, although they did offer me $70 in additional gift cards to keep membership.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous,

      I just recently received a letter from this mysterious company approximately a week and a half ago and sent in my information as well. After reading these comments, I think I am giong to opt out of it. By chance would you have the number or website handy that I can use to cancel this membership?

      AnonymousII

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  10. 1-800-999-4227
    Call that number to opt out.

    I've done the offer 2x. 1 time one year, then the next year, in my wife's name. I called to cancel after 3 weeks, they tried to keep me going, but I cancelled. Later I received some stuff in the mail from them, and later after that, I received the gift cards, and they worked...

    I genuinely had no problems, except the first time I did it, I forgot to call, so I got charged the $15.99 (or whatever) for the first month after the "trial period."

    The Buyer's Club was something related to home furnishings at discount...

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  11. I'm scared to give n..I wana try it but idk

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  12. i recently recieved flyer in the mail from triliegiant corporation saying to claim a 40 dollar gift card for wal-mart i looked the company up they have 25million dollar and more lawsuits against them its a scam don't do it

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  13. Just received a flyer from Trilegiant corporation, searched it up and also found that they're just offering a scam.

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  14. I tried it and they send me a gift card and a lottery ticket and a teddy bear and sex whenever I want it....you should call right away

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  15. was sure it was a scam. but if you walmart shop a lot it saves you big. even after when it's on sale. trust walmArt not to advertise using scam corp. the people. complaining had no plAns of trying theoffer to begin with.they just looking for the free gift card tobeatwalmarr out of $40

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  16. People listen! Go with your gut feeling! If it sounds to good to be true! then it usually is! After all they want to charge your credit card to send you something for FREE?

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