Do you ever complain to try to get something for FREE?

[intelligent_discuss]

Recently I have been in a complaining mode and have got alot of gift cards and certificates for my trouble.

Movie sound went out for 20 minutes. Complained and got four gift certificates

Rude service at a chain restaurant. Complained through the Internet and got $20 in gift certificates

Food was tough and undercooked. Manager let me order anything on the menu for free

We waited to long for the food and had to hunt down the Manager and Waiter in the kitchen. Complained on line and got a $25 gift card.

Sure we could have just never returned and kept our complaints to ourselves, but then we would not have got over $100 in gift cards and free food. What do you think about complaining to get freebies?

 

[freckles and boo]

I think LYING about something to get free stuff is a crappy thing to do. The sound going out in a movie would merit a complaint. Food that isn't edible merits a complaint.

 

[SandraVB79]

I'm not a complainer, and I have my opinion about people who make up complains just in order to get something for free.
Or people who order something from the menu, who don't like it (nevermind it's cooked how it should be) and then demand something else, for free, just because they order something they didn't like.

One time, at a hotel near Washington DC, we complained to the manager. All week we had bene treated really lousy by the staff. We just wanted to let the manager know how they treated some of their guests. To our surprise, we got 3 nights for free. Had never expected that coming.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I usually don't complain unless it really irritates me to no end. Usually, I just fill out one of those "Hows our service" cards" and leave it at that.

 

[ilisao]

If I complain, it's so that the problem can be rectified. I don't complain with the intent of getting anything for free. If I am given something, that is merely a bonus.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

If I complain, it's so that the problem can be rectified. I don't complain with the intent of getting anything for free. If I am given something, that is merely a bonus.

That is exactly what I was going to say.

 

[Philadisney]

I usually don't complain unless it really irritates me to no end. Usually, I just fill out one of those "Hows our service" cards" and leave it at that.

Same here. The only time I ever complained to a company was when I opened a bag of tootsie roll pops and one of them had no wrapper on it and looked all smushed and like it had been chomped on...it was pretty gross. I emailed the company and just got back a reply saying "Sorry, that happens sometimes."
A friend of mine's mom bought a box of 6 granola bars years ago, and when she opened it there were only 4 inside. She sent an angry letter to the company and they sent her several cases of free granola bars!

 

[Karibeth19]

My husband is a managing partner of a sports bar/restaurant, and his biggest pet peeve is people who have a problem, but wait until they get home to complain online. If you have a problem with your meal or with the service, ask for a manager immediately. Most managers are good businessmen and want to make it right for you, even if the problem is yours, not theirs(Such as you don't like what you ordered.). They want to keep your business! What bugs DH is when people have a problem, don't tell their server or ask for a manager, wait until they get home to fire off a complaint online, and then he has corporate breathing down his back as to why they weren't taken care of during their visit. He could have fixed it if he had known!! Granted, there are bad managers who are not willing to help, and then an online complaint is justified. But, if you have a problem at a restaurant, ask for help while you are still there and give the staff a chance to make it right for you.

 

[Bethy Lou]

If i complain it has to have been REALLY bad and I rarely get anything free from it. DH on the other hand gets free things from complaining all the time. I think they take him more seriously.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have found that as I have gotten older I make my complaints known more than I did when I was younger. I do not do it for free perks but because I feel that if a business wants to keep my business they need to learn what I feel was wrong. I worked my way through college as a waitress and I have an enormous amount of respect for these people because of the amount of abuse they get, that being said if I have lousy service I reflect it in my tip and tell the manager so the person can learn what they need to do to improve their service. I have also gone to the internet to complain when the management has ignored what I had to say. Yes I have gotten things for free as a result but that was not my intention. I am upset about the gratuity being taken out of the dining plan in disney because the last time I used it we left something extra for great service and complained to the management for lousy service.

 

[RadioNate]

If I complain, it's so that the problem can be rectified. I don't complain with the intent of getting anything for free. If I am given something, that is merely a bonus.

I agree. I did complain at the Beach Club last month because the room was not clean when we checked in. I did get some chocolate from management but I really just wanted the room re-cleaned.

I've complained 3x at the local Macaroni Grill about stray mushrooms in my pasta that doesn't include mushrooms at all so it isn't like I'm doing a special order but they don't care. If it wasn't DS's favorite restaurant I'd stop going there.

I also notified Disney when our traveling party all was hit with vomiting after eating at the Mexico cantina. I haven't heard back from them nor do I expect to.

 

[jimmalru80]

I really don't complain about things.

 

[Missy1961]

You ask a lot of questions.

 

[PghLybrt]

I do not mind complaints but do it at the time of service so that the problem can be rectified then.


I have a problem of those who complain just to get freebies or who complain about things that are not in anyone’s control. For example complaining to get free tickets or upgrades because your flight was delayed due to weather.

 

[AmberDaClown]

My husband is a managing partner of a sports bar/restaurant, and his biggest pet peeve is people who have a problem, but wait until they get home to complain online. If you have a problem with your meal or with the service, ask for a manager immediately.

The problem with that is there are too many stories of what the waitstaff or kitchen staff do to food of complainers.

I am far more likely to call a manager over to issue a compliment, but I will write a letter of complaint after the fact.

 

[ZuZugal]

You ask a lot of questions.

I agree...

 

[fan_of_small_world]

So you want to fire an employee just because the office gossipers are saying she badmouths you (another CB thread the OP started), and you also like to complain to get free stuff?

Hmm, I think there is a troll amongst us.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I don't complain with the intent on getting free stuff. But I do complain about things, and I have gotten comped for some.

I wrote 2 different letters of complaint (because I wasn't sure about who to send it to) about Crush N' Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon, suggesting and really hoping they would consider using tubes with bottoms in them, DS10 had slipped down into the hole on his and the "conveyor belt" or whatever that propels you through the tunnel rubbed his bottom..Not really bad, enough for a small bruise and a scrape. Not bad enough for him to want to show anyone his bottom at the park. My intent was to really try to get them to fix this, and some Dissers agreed with me when I posted here.

The VP of operations for the water parks called me on a Sunday afternoon and talked to me about it, and offered to leave 4 free tickets for us on our next visit. That was really cool, and totally unexpected. I was just trying to prevent someone else from getting hurt on the ride. I bet those tubes STILL don't have bottoms on them, do they?


And before anyone says anything about trying to prevent a lawsuit, I made no mention of any legal action at all. In fact, I wrote that we continued to go on the ride over and over, but with more caution to staying on top of the tube. We rode that thing til I thought we would puke, and we will do it again this year.

 

[legalsea]

I agree: troll. Joined May 6th and look at his/her postings.

However, fun topic here!

I do not complain, as a general rule. My best friend, however, is like the original poster and will complain about everything and anything. Once, we were at a Mexican restaurant (with our wives). Our plan: eat and catch a movie. However, at end of meal friend realized we had never been served soft tortillas (which are given free with every meal). You would have thought he was out $100.00 the way he complained to the manager. Result: bag of soft tortillas to take with us; and we were late to the movie. None of us cared two-hoots about the blasted tortillas, and my friend tossed them out.

Of course, my friend is a nutcase.

 

[luvsJack]

I can understand a manager's issue with people waiting until they get home and complaining online; but sometimes a complaint needs to go to the corporate office. I had a situation recently at a fast food place that I found it necessary to file a complaint online as well as with the manager at the store. An employee was extremely rude and although I did speak to the manager; I felt strongly that the corporate office should know how their customers are being treated at this store. Within an hour of my complaint, I received a phone call from the district manager. He offered free food for me and my family to make up for it, but I told him that it wasn't necessary. The fact that he cared enough to call and that he had met with the employees of this store was action enough for me. I very seldom complain, but when I do it is not to receive freebies, but to hopefully prevent the problem in the future.