Valvoline Synpower Cash Back & Gloves Offer. Anyone recd $ yet?

Cheeper on 01/02/2018 - 23:09
Last edited 01/02/2018 - 23:21

Has anyone received their c/b or gloves yet?

I submitted a claim on 13Dec17 that qualified with all their conditions at that time.
Today 1/2/18 I inquired re the status of that claim which is now 7 weeks after lodgement.
They replied that they were having trouble finding details of my "V8 drive" and could not process my claim. !!!!!!!
I read the conditions at the time and there was no mention of any such thing.
The email I received in response to my inquiry was from "Charlie Smith Pty Ltd" who I assume is handling the promotion for Valvoline.

It seems like they are trying to "move the goalposts" after the game had started.

When you go to claim for the offer now they ask for a picture of your V8 magnet!!

Automotive

Comments

  • nocure on 01/02/2018 - 23:29

    Valvoline has teamed up with V8Race to give you this amazing promotion.
    Complete your V8 Race experience with us and purchase any 5L bottle
    of Valvoline SynPower engine oil to
    SCORE $20 cashback and a pair of Valvoline racing gloves.

  • Cheeper on 01/02/2018 - 23:31

    There was no mention in the conditions at the time to provide proof of attending a race.
    No mention was also made of driving a V8 or providing a photo of your Valvoline V8 magnet.

    • dcep on 02/02/2018 - 00:05
      -1

      by your logic, you can bend all rules as you deemed yourself not required to proof anything if tnc doesn't says how to proof you've met the condition.

      • Cheeper on 02/02/2018 - 00:09
        +1

        The conditions at the time mentioned nothing about…:
        Having attended a V8 race,
        Having driven a V8,
        Being in posession of a Valvoline V8 magnet.

        If nothing is requested or required in the conditions for the offer then what is an applicant to expect???
        Where or how did I "bend the rules"?
        Surely many here have applied for the CB… did you? Have you received it?

    • BOGOF on 02/02/2018 - 08:56
      +3

      Interesting. I submitted my application on 23/01/18, and all I was required to do was upload the receipt. I've just checked the promotion website and they now ask to upload a 'photo of a V8 magnet'.
      They have changed the requirements.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2018 - 08:11

    Did you save a copy of the T&C at the time for us to have a look at?

    • Cheeper on 06/02/2018 - 01:06
      +1

      I found one …
      https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/9265/56237/screenshot-…
      You may need to download and increase the size to read it.
      It is similar to the one i read at the time .. one difference i noticed is where it says allow 6 weeks for delivery. The T&C I read at the time said 4 weeks.
      Clause 15 is interesting.
      At the time of completing my claim in december 17 it had no provision to enter what V8 race you attended. Just personal details and upload a copy of the receipt is all that was requested.

  • JimB on 02/02/2018 - 10:41
    +1

    Rules are not just not just attending a V8 (supercar) Race but a V8 Race drive day experience (https://www.v8race.com/)

    • Cheeper on 06/02/2018 - 01:07

      The rules have changed several times since the introduction of the offer.

  • Cheeper on 02/02/2018 - 11:24
    +2

    I read the T&C several times back when I submitted my claim in mid December 17 and I clearly remember that there was absolutely NO requirement necessary apart from having purchased Synpower in a 5L container and submitting your claim along with a copy of your receipt.
    Yesterday, after first being told by Valvoline Promotions that my application did not qualify, I replied stating that at that time no special circumstances had to be met in the T&C of the offer.
    They replied this morning..
    "Sorry for the confusion ***. I am just trying to locate your entry. Currently it is not on any of our databases. Could you perhaps send me a copy of your receipt, so we can fulfil your entitlements?"

    I hope others here also have success.

  • mkk85lamathotmailcom on 04/02/2018 - 01:58
    +1

    Hi there,
    Same problem with me.
    I've purchased heaps of 5 Litre Valvoline Synpower bottles from Autobarn & Repco in the past 2 weeks/fortnight,….lodged all the relevant on-line claims, even emailed Valvoline about how the claim was going, …..
    still no $20 cashback & gloves have arrived in the mail ?….
    This is definately dodgey going?
    They have changed the terms & conditions for sure now!!

    Can we somhow file a claim via "Fair Trading Commission" on this one you think?
    Worth the while or not, you say?….

    NB: I even got a return email from the same guy saying they'll check there computer system for the original lodgment/claim….
    But have not heard back from him yet!
    Not sure whats happening.
    Maybe should call them over the phone.

    • Cheeper on 04/02/2018 - 10:39

      Back in mid December there was no requirement in the T&Cs for the claimant to have attended a race meeting or have taken a track ride in a V8.
      Since then the conditions of the offer have changed as you have noticed.
      I guess the conditions of the offer that existed when you purchased the oil would be the ruling factor?
      T&Cs for these things usually state that they can amend or end an offer when they choose to cover themselves if it goes wrong.
      If the new requirement existed when you made your purchase then I don't like your chances.

  • JimB on 06/02/2018 - 10:35
    +1

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/9265/56237/screenshot-…

    'The promoter reserves the right to change the T & Cs without notice.'

    It sucks but it looks like they exercised their rights to change the T & Cs without notice.

    • Cheeper on 12/02/2018 - 23:56

      BUT ……….they are obliged to comply with the conditions that existed when you made your purchase.

  • Cheeper on 07/02/2018 - 17:43
    +1

    Finally received it.. the gloves are top quality btw. This is the second Valvoline promotion I have taken advantage of, the last one was in 2016. Both times it was a pain in the a55 getting the promised bonus.
    Can't understand why a business would try to promote their product by offering a bonus then go all out making it difficult to claim?
    I might just avoid them in the future.

  • Daniel Plainview on 12/02/2018 - 17:37
    +1

    Lodged my claim for 2 x 5L's back on 12DEC17 - still waiting - was lodged via this promo:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/348280

    It never ceases to amaze me home many companies run 'promotions' that are sooooooooo badly administered that they end up generating more bad will against them and their brand than any positives! I mean really whats the point if you just want to piss customers who are buying your products off so badly that they swear to never do so again.

    Very annoying and amateurish (and seriously these cashbacks are often VERY dodgily outsourced to 3rd parties who can be rank amateurs - I recall a decade or so ago a pal of mine was doing as a side gig for a major intl company, I was amazed and horrified!)

    Emailed Valvoline's main AU contact address to try and get a resolution.

    • Cheeper on 12/02/2018 - 23:54
      +1

      My purchase of 2 bottles was 12/12 and claimed a few days later. The conditions to qualify for the claim at that time mentioned nothing apart from buying the Synpower 5L oil and submitting the online claim with a copy of your invoice.
      No other requirement was requested.
      I contacted the promotion managing co after 7 weeks of nothing @ … https://valvolinepromotions.com.au/contact
      He coughed up rather quickly when he realised that I was not going to be fobbed off.
      They will say that they have misplaced your details/submission (bulk deletion imo) and ask you to submit a copy of the invoice and your details again.
      In the copy of the conditions back then there is a part where they say if there is a problem with your submission they will contact you… Never happened..
      I wonder how many claims have been "misplaced"? DOFT NSW/ACCC would love this.
      It is a wonder that companies dont keep a check on these promotions as they cost a lot to run… but when mismanaged can create the very opposite desired result.
      I for one will be going back to buying Castrol after being stung with this offer and another they had back in 2016.
      It is just crazy.

      • Daniel Plainview on 13/02/2018 - 08:39
        +1

        Hmmmmmm sorry to say it but I definitely smell a rat here…….here's a little theory for you - suppose you're the company sending out the cashbacks. Which if I'm to understand it is in the form of EFTPOS cards for $20 each - which I'd say are pretty much untraceable.

        Mailing out would be via untracked post - so again untraceable…..and I'm sure they have T&C's to essentially say if our records say we sent it and you didn't get it - thats too bad.

        So lets say that instead of sending some of these redemptions out I decide to 'retain' a % of them for myself. Out of 100 times I do this how many of those people will ACTUALLY complain/get in contact etc? 50%? 75%? Dunno and in those cases I just cut my profits and send the cards to them…..

        Seems a pretty foolproof plan and would significantly add to the profit margin for administering this - as I'm sure they're paid very little to do so….and as I've said I know from experience these are often outsourced to very amateur, work from home operations.

        Not saying thats definitely happened here but unsure how confirmed received entries just seem to get lost/misplaced - at best its incompetence at worst straight out fraud/theft.

        PS. Thanks for that different email address - I sent the following email to them:

        RE: SynPower $20 promo

        I lodged a claim for 2 x MST 5-30w 5L on 12DEC17 - have email confirmation from Valvoline confirming this which I can provide. It's now over 8 weeks later and I've received nor heard anything further.

        Please advise what is happening regarding my specific claim.

        I should advise that a large number of claimants have been discussing this and other Valvoline cashback promotions and there appears to be an unusually large % of persons who have received no contact at all from Valvoline over similar time periods & when contact was made it claimed that there entry was 'misplaced', which at best casts significant doubt onto the administering of this matter and opens potential complaints being lodged with both Valvoline HO and the relevant consumer trading bodies &/or others should it be applicable.

        I would appreciate a resolution of this matter and an explanation as to why I had to contact Valvoline Promotions after 8 weeks to get this done.

      • JimB on 13/02/2018 - 12:09
        -1

        'I for one will be going back to buying Castrol after being stung with this offer and another they had back in 2016.'

        Maybe, maybe not.

        You'll just continue to buy the cheapest synthetic oil when SCA have a sale, whether that be Castrol, Nulon, Valvoline etc.

        • Cheeper on 13/02/2018 - 12:17

          SCA no longer sell Valvoline.
          Do you only buy the highest priced item on the shelf?
          Apart from just trolling what is the point of your comment?
          This post is about those that may not have received their CB… did you notice?

        • JimB on 13/02/2018 - 13:13
          -1

          @xywolap:

          No I don't buy the highest priced item, but I highly doubt you will buy Castrol if Valvoline is cheaper at the time.

        • Cheeper on 13/02/2018 - 17:01

          @JB1:
          … and again … trolling. Go away, get a life.. please.

  • Cheeper on 13/02/2018 - 12:07

    Opps moments in cashback promotions is not new. They get the publicity & people buy their product. Actual payouts of the cashback per purchase would most likely be less than 10%?
    Some people cant be bothered submitting their claim, of those that do most forget about it.
    Of the ones that remember submitting it weeks/months later most cant be bothered chasing it up…

    I think i saw the same CB & gloves offer being made in the US??

    Oh… BTW. The person who runs the Valvoline Aust FB site is also the same person that will respond to your query to the promotion site.

    • Daniel Plainview on 13/02/2018 - 12:31
      +1

      Yes, I agree cashback's are done for a reason - they're a helluva lot cheaper than simply reducing the price of a product due to all the potential ways buyers can not meet all the requirements to get the money back.

      But what we're or atleast I'm suspecting here is something else altogether which is how legit entries (and we don't know the exact number and I would be certain they won't advise us either) have magically gone missing. Even 1 going missing is pretty hard to explain - and we've had atleast 2 in this thread alone.

      Just saying if there's nothing dodgy going on it's a bad look.

  • Daniel Plainview on 13/02/2018 - 12:27
    +2

    So dunno what % of entrants supposedly had their entry misplaced or lost etc but what a surprise they've just sent me this:

    Hello Nick,

    Just an update to let you know we have checked the promotional database and unfortunately unable to locate your entry.

    Would you mind please emailing me your receipt direct so we can validate and fulfil your submission ASAP and mail this out to you today.

    I'm super, super sus about this…..other than them being incompetent, how do I and apparently multiple other persons register correctly - get an email back saying you're registered (which also said don't contact them as they'll be in contact if anything further was needed) - and yet 'magically' there's now no record of our entry??????

    Best case incompetence…..thats human error etc as no adult thats been given the job of administering a cashback that presumably is tens of thousands of dollars is just accidently deleting parts of a database like they're a chimp on a keyboard. So I'm not buying that as a legit excuse, makes no sense.

    What does make sense and I'm sorry to again suggest it is that all the entries were received etc - as the more the better - but instead of being sent out to the actual claimants, they've been 'lost' but the cashback cards etc claimed against them…..I'd bet thats likely a very easy and hard to track thing.

    Very, very, very suspect.

    I've sent a response asking for an explanation and if they had some large data loss etc to explain - but feels very dodgy to me.

    PS. Responder had cc'd in email addresses for 2 other persons who worked for these two organisations - dumbass obviously hadn't heard of bcc:
    http://charliesmith.sydney/
    https://creaturelab.com.au/

    • Cheeper on 13/02/2018 - 12:40

      Ha ha ha… that is exactly the same email I got!!
      They were quick to post once i sent the invoice again.

      That is another thing they may be hoping for.. the fact that many would no longer have their receipt?

      • Daniel Plainview on 13/02/2018 - 12:48
        +1

        Oh yeah, no doubt - thankfully I've been through a very poorly run Microsoft promo a decade or so back so retained the receipt.

        I just got this email back from them when I pressed for an explanation:

        Thanks for your email Nick.

        Firstly, we apologise for the delay as mentioned the promotional database captures and validates the entries and receipts.

        We’re in the process of determining how an entry may be unsuccessful with our data team as there is a robot validation process in place.

        Each person who has lodged an enquiry has received a response from our team and an update on when they can expect their redemption. I can assure you no entries have been lost.

        Would you mind please sending me your receipt so we can validate the purchase and organise your post package to be sent out in the mail today. Could you please also send me your postal address. We apologise for the inconvenience and delay you have experienced. As soon as we have a further update and explanation from our team I will be in contact.

        FWIW I ain't buying a word of it…..if you run the promo and you stuff it up thats YOUR issue - not mine. So he's basically said our system has stuffed up. Even if that was the case the Valvoline entry stated that they'd be in contact if there was an issue with your entry - and I definitely didn't receive one.

        No entries lost? Well 'lost' seems open to interpretation…..

        Quick response is great but I will bet they just want to get one's address etc - pay them off so they can figure their mess out in silence.

  • spy on 14/02/2018 - 01:44
    +1

    Dodgy ba$tard$. What a low move - expected better from a renowned brand like Valvoline. I'm still to lodge my claim from my purchases in December.
    That's it, Nulon here I come.

  • Daniel Plainview on 14/02/2018 - 14:51
    +1

    FWIW seem to have gotten a resolution from them - they advised me:

    We have investigated the issue and 8 individual entries were impacted. All have been contacted and fulfilled. In these packs we have included extra items which we hope covers any inconvenience.

    Now 8 seems a very small number, considering I'd expect the number of entrants was easily in the thousands. Accurate? I've no way of knowing but I will have to take the guy at his word without any further info.

    The only things I can say are that when I did follow up I got INCREDIBLY quick responses….I mean really fast. So thats a good thing. Compared to other experiences they were pretty candid in saying there was a fault and they're looking into it. Again another good thing.

    So from an effort perspective I can't fault them…that said OBVIOUSLY it'd have been vastly preferable if they'd ensured their system was up to par prior to putting it into usage but without being a software boffin I will assume that there can always be variables entered that give odd results and beyond that glitches occur even in world class software/websites.

    Anyway IF you're entered any cashback promo it's always a good idea to both retain receipts and set a calendar reminder to ensure you get whats been promised - hopefully very few others were affected by this at all. :-)

  • Cheeper on 14/02/2018 - 17:32

    Only 8 claims misplaced? Yes, I believe that… :-(

  • BOGOF on 19/02/2018 - 15:57
    +1

    I submitted my claim on 23/01/18 and both the gloves and the gift card arrived today

    • alvian on 26/02/2018 - 13:03

      I submitted my claim on 24/1/2018 before they added the magnet requirement. The gloves and gift card arrived today without any follow up on my part.

  • pronoun on 21/02/2018 - 09:08
    +1

    I purchased the oil on the 25th of January, before the need for an image of a magnet.
    I went to submit my claim on the 18th of February, and discovered I needed an image of a magnet.
    Instead, I sent an email to valvoline promotions using their web contact form (https://valvolinepromotions.com.au/contact) … I have since received very helpful, very timely and very considerate responses from Sam Dwyer. I am yet to receive the item in the mail; but I'm not expecting it for a while. As long as it comes :)

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