Originally posted by racerchk Ok guys, see my post here from July? Well CIL still hasn't made good on the contest! They tell me that they need to fly a designer in especially for me, that it takes time for this to happen. Also that they want to present me with the $1350 in person, and they they still haven't found a painter to do the job! I am getting really frustrated, and want my house painted before the snow flies! I have called them, emailed and let them know how frustrated I am, and keep getting told just to wait, and it's their first contest and they still need to get it sorted. Has anyone else had trouble collecting their prize? And suggestions for me? Thanks fishies!!

Most of the larger prizes I have won over the years probably average about 4 months to receive. The prizes you want the soonest tend to take the longest. Patience is a big part of contesting. Good luck, but it sounds like they will be taking a while before the fulfillment!

you just won this right? honestly, you will probably have to wait a while. they are co-ordinating with the people they have contacts with.

i always think that i'm getting something great for nothing so, i'm pretty patient and i never want to be a person who they dread getting on the phone.

Originally posted by racerchk Ok guys, see my post here from July? Well CIL still hasn't made good on the contest! They tell me that they need to fly a designer in especially for me, that it takes time for this to happen. Also that they want to present me with the $1350 in person, and they they still haven't found a painter to do the job! I am getting really frustrated, and want my house painted before the snow flies! I have called them, emailed and let them know how frustrated I am, and keep getting told just to wait, and it's their first contest and they still need to get it sorted. Has anyone else had trouble collecting their prize? And suggestions for me? Thanks fishies!!

You can play hardball and complain to the Competition Bureau of Canada the agency that monitors contests in Canada as it is frowned upon to advertise a contest then offer considerably less than what was advertised.

That being said it seems early days for that. There are other posssibilities in terms of being patient, offerring the solution of local designer,etc.

You get more bees with honey than with vinegar.

Originally posted by Andie you just won this right? honestly, you will probably have to wait a while. they are co-ordinating with the people they have contacts with. i always think that i'm getting something great for nothing so, i'm pretty patient and i never want to be a person who they dread getting on the phone.

If you read the post included you see it was won in July. July to October is a ridiculous amount of time to wait.

The funniest thing just happened: both Canpar and Canada Post came to my door with surprise deliveries at the SAME time... it was quite amusing!

I won Anna Sui's 'Dolly Girl' parfume (ERV $62) from Weddingbells and 'Lady Gaga: Critical Mass Fashion' coffee table book (ERV $23) from Fashion Magazine.

Needless to say, my sister is going to have some great presents under the Christmas tree this year

I won the secondary prize in the Interac Grocery Giveaway Contest!

$500 awarded as an Interac E-mail money transfer.

Woohoo!

Yes, I understand she has been waiting two months and nine days (July 25 to Oct 4).

However... I'm just trying to point out that there are reasons to be patient (not just this person or prize specifically, but in general.) OBVIOUSLY we all get excited (I know I do) and no-one likes waiting, but it helps if you think about things from the other side....

For instance, this prize is the following:

"$5000 home makeover CIL Express Yourself contest!!
It includes a color consultation, paints, paint crew and $1350 in cash!"

Now, what is the reason CIL is having this contest? To promote themselves. So, they are going to do these things in order. (1) Schedule the consultation before any painting gets done. (2) They are going to want the consultation to be with someone familiar/(trained) in their product, and that person is probably a designer with a full time job who needs to find a spot in their schedule. Yes, they probably have several to choose from, but it's not like professionals have a ton of free time and they need to have time to get to the location. (3) CIL probably would like to take some photos for their purposes and PR. That's why they'd like to give the money in person and why they'd like the job done well.

So, all I'm saying is we should all be thankful that companies are willing to run contests at all, which we all benefit from, and let's remember they all have jobs to do, just like us.

Patience is a virtue, right?



QUOTE]Originally posted by ronnie99
If you read the post included you see it was won in July. July to October is a ridiculous amount of time to wait. [/QUOTE]

Well it was the end of July which was the week before a long weekend.

Plus promo. people do take holidays so I expect no one really got assigned to it until after the long weekend in September.

In my view they have only had a few weeks to organize it if you discount long weekends and holidays..

But the winner could always approach the competition bureau and see what their feed back would be about the wait time.

Originally posted by j_star07 I won the secondary prize in the Interac Grocery Giveaway Contest! $500 awarded as an Interac E-mail money transfer. Woohoo!

Congrats to you....

what a great prize - congrats to you!

Originally posted by j_star07 I won the secondary prize in the Interac Grocery Giveaway Contest! $500 awarded as an Interac E-mail money transfer. Woohoo!

Thanks everyone for your comments on my CIL experience.
I am getting impatient mostly because its been nearly 3 months now, and I would have thought that they would have had this scenario sorted out before even having this contest. They have asked me if I know of any designers or painters around my city (a major Canadian city too, not a small one wit no resources!). I gave a couple of suggestions, but really, should I be the one doing all the legwork here? Don't they have a pool of retailers they can choose from?
They have been telling me for weeks now that the cheque is in the mail for the cash prize portion of it, then last week, they tell me that they would rather present it to me in person and take some before photos of my home. This is fine with me, but its just taking so darn long and seems so unorganized.
I guess when you aren't a paying customer, you aren't a #1 priority.
My mother always said that you catch more bees with honey than you do vinegar, so I am really trying to be nice and understanding throughout this process.
Ill keep you all updated! :-)

Originally posted by racerchk Thanks everyone for your comments on my CIL experience. I am getting impatient mostly because its been nearly 3 months now, and I would have thought that they would have had this scenario sorted out before even having this contest. They have asked me if I know of any designers or painters around my city (a major Canadian city too, not a small one wit no resources!). I gave a couple of suggestions, but really, should I be the one doing all the legwork here? Don't they have a pool of retailers they can choose from? They have been telling me for weeks now that the cheque is in the mail for the cash prize portion of it, then last week, they tell me that they would rather present it to me in person and take some before photos of my home. This is fine with me, but its just taking so darn long and seems so unorganized. I guess when you aren't a paying customer, you aren't a #1 priority. My mother always said that you catch more bees with honey than you do vinegar, so I am really trying to be nice and understanding throughout this process. Ill keep you all updated! :-)

Okayy - hold up here. LOL -
First they ask YOU if you know of any designers??...And then they straight out lie, say the check is in the mail, but oh now they want to present it in person?...Well, if the check had been in the mail, how did they get it back once they decided they wanted to present it in person??
Something sounds fishyyyy about that from every angle.
Not cool, not cool at all. And you have every right to be annoyed. If anything, I'd be weary. That just sounds like an absolute gong show with them!

The cheque in the mail thing is not classy or truthful..

Asking you about the designer..honestly wouldn't it be better for you to have imput in who you would like in your home making recommendations.

Our daughter won a spa package from teletoon a couple of years ago. There was bit of chasing back and forth. When they finally said they did not know of a spa I suggested several I knew of and they were quite receptive to going with that even though technically they were to arrange it..

I often think with trip wins they should give people a certain amount for hotel costs and then let you work out where you will stay. I have had trips wins staying in very nice hotels but without breakfast or too many amenities and I know for the price that has been paid I could have found a comparable place with breakfast..This is especially a concern when there is no spending money for food/entertainment.

Thanks everyone for your comments on my CIL experience.
I am getting impatient mostly because its been nearly 3 months now, and I would have thought that they would have had this scenario sorted out before even having this contest. They have asked me if I know of any designers or painters around my city (a major Canadian city too, not a small one wit no resources!). I gave a couple of suggestions, but really, should I be the one doing all the legwork here? Don't they have a pool of retailers they can choose from?
They have been telling me for weeks now that the cheque is in the mail for the cash prize portion of it, then last week, they tell me that they would rather present it to me in person and take some before photos of my home. This is fine with me, but its just taking so darn long and seems so unorganized.
I guess when you aren't a paying customer, you aren't a #1 priority.
My mother always said that you catch more bees with honey than you do vinegar, so I am really trying to be nice and understanding throughout this process.
Ill keep you all updated! :-)

sounds like you are getting the runaround! I would tell them that you would like this settled after such a long time of waiting or you wish a name of someone higher up, a supervisor, yes..even the CEO of the company.. who put the contest on ..that you would like to talk to that person to get things moving and straightened out! this should make them move on it! sometimes it is the promo marketing company who picks the winner and 'fluffs' around..what i would so is go to the actual company who gave the cash flow to the marketing company to monitor and disperse this contest prize..you will get results then..just do it in a firm but nice manner..be thankful for the win..say so and then just say..the problems and the wait you have endured to get this prize is frustrating etc etc..! trust me..you will get results..if you need more help..feel free to email me and i can surely help you go forward with this!
kat70@dccnet.com

;-)

Thanks Scraps for the info and offer!
Things seem to be getting on track now. They have presented me with the $$ portion of the prize and now we are getting all the details sorted out with the designer and painting crew.
I have taken 'before' photos, so the before and after should be on their website once everything is complete. I'll pass on the link once its all done.
Thanks all once again!