You Won A 65-inch TV From Charter Cable! Here Is Your 19-inch TV!
The News Courier reports Charter Cable ran an online contest asking kids to submit stories about why their dad was the "World's Greatest Dad," and the winner was supposed to get a 65-inch TV...instead, a 19-inch one showed up on his doorstep. Is this any way to treat The World's Greatest Dad?
UPDATE: Charter has responded to this post and says they're working with the family to get them a better prize.
UPDATE: Charter Gives Family 2 TVs After Contest Snafu
The winner was the straight talking submission penned by Mike Lewis' daughter, who said her dad was the greatest because he got up every morning, worked hard, and worked in the yard. When it came time to deliver the goods, there were miscommunications back and forth as Charter Cable marketing employee Jeff Hatcher tried to process Lewis' W-9 (part of the contest rules were that the winner had to pay sales tax on the prize). Then Hatcher realized the promised TV was too expensive for his marketing budget and sent a 19-inch one instead.
"It’s an insult," Chris Lewis, the mother, told Enews. “We already have a 40-inch TV, so we really don’t need a 19-inch...they shouldn't be allowed to promise whatever they like and not follow through."
Congratulations, Jeff Hatcher of Charter’s marketing offices in Alabama and Georgia, who ran the promotion, you are officially a jerk. Delivering the real TV was too expensive, but man, that free publicity, it sure was free. We don't know whether you have kids, but we have a feeling you won't be up for World's Greatest Dad anytime soon. Maybe Your CEO, neil.smit@chartercom.com, would be interested in hearing about what a great job you're doing marketing the company.
Cable system fails to deliver promised prize to local winner [The News Courier] (Thanks to Brian!)
(Photo: Getty)
In response to this post, Marty Richmond, Charter Communications Director of Investor Relations and Communications, wrote:
This letter is in response to your July 8 post regarding Charter Communications and its “Charter Presents Father’s Day in HD” contest.
In May, Charter announced an essay contest for kids of all ages to write a brief essay about why their Dad deserved to win a giant HDTV and free Charter services for a year. More than 10,000 essays were submitted and a grand prize winner in Bristol, Tennessee, along with four finalists, was selected.
In addition, due to such an overwhelming response to the contest, we expanded the number of winners to include “honorable mention” finalists. At the discretion of our local offices, these winners could be awarded prizes ranging from free services to an HDTV.
In Charter’s East Division, which includes the state of Alabama, 10 19-inch HDTVs were awarded as honorable mention prizes. In the case of the Lewis family of Limestone County, Alabama, an honorable mention prize was intended to be awarded. The details presented to the family were about a 19-inch HDTV honorable mention prize, not the grand prize 65-inch HDTV. Regrettably, this was not clearly communicated.
Charter has worked with the Lewis family, and we have awarded them prizes that are more aligned with their understanding of the contest.
We ask that you post a clarification and welcome you to contact me directly for any further details.
As information, attached is the original press release announcing the contest, a press release announcing the grand prize winner, and a press release summarizing the results.
Regards,
Marty Richmond
Got it. Glad the Lewis family expectations, set by your employee, Jeff Hatcher, will be accommodated.
Here are the three press releases:
Charter Presents Father’s Day in HD
Tell Charter why your Dad deserves to win a giant HDTV and a free year of
The Charter Bundle™St. Louis, Missouri, May 27, 2008 – Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) today launched a contest in which kids of all ages can submit a brief essay telling the Company why their Dad deserves to win a giant high definition television (HDTV), along with Charter High Definition® (HD) service and The Charter Bundle™ free for a year.
“What better way to spend Father’s Day than by watching your favorite shows, movies, and sports on a giant HDTV with your Dad,” said Barbara Hedges, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing for Charter. “And with a free year of The Charter Bundle, he’ll receive Digital Cable® for access to On Demand, Charter High-Speed® Internet for a fast and reliable Internet experience, and Charter Telephone® for unlimited local and long distance calling.”
With Charter High Definition service, Charter customers can choose from over 150 shows and the latest Hollywood hits On Demand. HD customers also experience crystal-clear picture quality up to 6X the resolution of regular TV.
One lucky Dad will win the grand prize of a giant HDTV, plus a year of The Charter Bundle with HD service for free, and four finalists will win a free year of The Charter Bundle with HD service. For additional contest information, visit www.charter.com/HDdad.
Over the past year, Charter has invested over a billion dollars in capital to serve its customers and to enhance its service capabilities. Charter is committed to investing in its communities, providing an advanced network on which residential and commercial customers rely for their communications needs, and delivering value to all its customers by offering high-quality products and services backed up by superior customer care.
Tennessee Dad Wins “Charter Presents Father’s Day in HD” Contest
Daughter nominated Dad to win a giant HDTV and a free year of
The Charter Bundle™ with Charter High Definition® serviceSt. Louis, Missouri, June 12, 2008 – Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced the winners of a contest in which kids of all ages submitted brief essays telling the Company why their Dad deserved to win a giant high definition television (HDTV), along with Charter High Definition® (HD) service and The Charter Bundle™ free for a year.
Abe Manogue, the contest winner and leukemia survivor, was nominated by his daughter who said in her essay: “My Dad worked really hard to get through three years of sickening chemotherapy. Before he was really able to, my Dad acquired a job to better support his family, and voluntarily got off disability. When he comes home at night, tired from his long day, he really enjoys watching TV.”
“We received over 10,000 entries for this contest, which reinforces our customers’ desire for quality high definition,” said Barbara Hedges, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing for Charter. “HD customers experience picture quality up to 6X the resolution of regular TV. With Charter High Definition service, our customers can choose from the most popular networks and nearly 200 shows and the latest Hollywood hits On Demand.
“And with a new HDTV and a free year of The Charter Bundle, our winning Dad will receive Digital Cable® for access to On Demand, Charter High-Speed® Internet for a fast and reliable Internet experience, and Charter Telephone® for unlimited local and long distance calling,” Ms. Hedges concluded.
Four lucky finalists from St. Louis, Missouri; Boiling Springs, South Carolina; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Fort Worth, Texas each won a free year of The Charter Bundle with HD service. Furthermore, due to such a positive response to the contest, Charter expanded its winners to include “honorable mention” finalists as well. More than a dozen Dads in markets across the country were each recognized with additional prizes ranging from a free HDTV to Charter High Definition service.
For contest information, visit www.charter.com/HDdad.Over the past year, Charter has invested over a billion dollars in capital to serve its customers and to enhance its service capabilities. Charter is committed to investing in its communities, providing an advanced network on which residential and commercial customers rely for their communications needs, and delivering value to all its customers by offering high-quality products and services backed up by superior customer care.
Charter Awards More Than 20 Dads
Prizes in its “Charter Presents Father’s Day in HD” ContestDue to positive response to the contest, Charter expands the number of winners
and awards over a dozen additional prizesSt. Louis, Missouri, July 9, 2008 – Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced the results of a contest in which kids of all ages submitted brief essays telling the Company why their Dad deserved to win a giant high definition television (HDTV), along with Charter High Definition® (HD) service and The Charter Bundle™ free for a year.
“We received over 10,000 entries for this contest, which demonstrates children’s vast appreciation for their fathers and reinforces our customers’ desire for quality high definition service,” said Barbara Hedges, Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing for Charter. “Due to such a positive response, Charter expanded the contest to include ‘honorable mention’ winners in addition to the grand prize winner and four finalists. We could not have been more pleased by the response to the contest, and we are excited to recognize and reward these deserving Dads.”
Grand Prize Winner
Abe Manogue, the grand prize winner and leukemia survivor, was nominated by his daughter. Mr. Manogue was awarded a 65” HDTV along with Charter High Definition® service and The Charter Bundle™ free for a year. The Manogue family is thrilled to have won this contest, and is looking for the “perfect place” to put their new 65” HDTV.
Four Finalists
Four lucky finalists from St. Louis, Missouri; Boiling Springs, South Carolina; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Fort Worth, Texas each won a free year of The Charter Bundle with HD service.Honorable Mentions
Due to an overwhelming response, Charter expanded the contest to include honorable mention winners. More than a dozen Dads in markets across the country were each recognized with additional prizes ranging from flat screen HDTVs to free Charter services for a year.
For full contest information, including winning submissions, visit www.charter.com/HDdad.
Over the past year, Charter has invested over a billion dollars in capital to serve its customers and to enhance its service capabilities. Charter is committed to investing in its communities, providing an advanced network on which residential and commercial customers rely for their communications needs, and delivering value to all its customers by offering high-quality products and services backed up by superior customer care.
Looks like everything is hunky-dory now. All it took was a little negative publicity.
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Comments:
Even for Charter, that is pretty damn low.
Wow, thanks this has made my choice for me. I was getting ready to change my cable/sat choice. If they are willing to do this to a kid, I do not want to be their customer. Directv here i come.
Cable company with no money, that's crazy talk.
I bet they are like my location here, they have 8 40" flat panels on the wall. Just give him 2, that will equal the size of a 65"
Delivering the real TV was too expensive, but man, that free publicity, it sure was free.
First, why would you not buy or at the very least PRICE what your grand prize is before you start the contest?
And isn't "free" bad publicity better than none at all? ;)
This just about proves my theory that marketing people aren't ever lying, they're just completely detached from reality.
I would think this is breach of contract and they're on the hook for the 65" TV. They ran a contest, they are liable for fulfilling the contest prizes. If they don't pony up for this thing, small claim them...
So, they budgeted like $300 for their prize? Maybe someone left of a zero when writing up the budget for this promo? It's not like the price of consumer electronics is some giant secret.
Or maybe they figured that the price of TVs would come down 85% in the next 2 months...
Unfortunately this is not surprising. I think every marketing/advertising/promotion degree program in the country should have a crash course on the ways to avoid terribly trashing the reputations of their clients and customers...
@rellog: The only flaw in this argument is that the entrant was 15 years old, so she'd be disqualified, and more than likely, the contest itself would be ended for not following the laws governing contests, then Charter would have to pay a large fine, and nobody wins.
Actually while small claims may work this is perhaps a criminal offense not just breach of contract. This is why sweepstakes law and those terms and conditions is so precise, its regulated. This is also why many states require you to bond for the APR of the prizes, so the money is held for payout.
OP: sue them in small claims court & report Charter for fraud to the police, your state and local cable governing boards, and anyone else you can think of. be sure that you invite a report from the local newspaper to come with you.
This is really shameful, and I can only imagine how the poor child felt, thinking she was winning something nice for her dad.
Charter = lower than dirt.
@godlyfrog: 15 year olds aren't included in contract law? Or are they just not allowed to enter contests?
THe contest was specifically geared towards kid entries. She would not be disqualified for being 15, and the contests would have been legit, as it would have been written as the parents/legal guardian of the contestant being the recipient of the prize.
@donkeyjote: You beat me to it.
Yeah, the young girl's letter was used to determine the winner, but the actual "winner" was dad, hence the W-9 thing. Maybe there'd be a problem if the little girl had to buy something to opt-in, but that's something different.
Ahem. Allow me to channel my inner woman:
Sigh. How like a man. The claims of sixty-five inches turns out to be nineteen once everything's unwrapped and laying out on the living room floor.
The word Shithead comes to mind.
@Matthew Hughes: Well, normally 15 year olds aren't allowed to enter contests but its possible that the contest was legitimized by having the parent enter the contest by submitting a letter written by their child.
There are plenty of ways around it.
If the TV was too expensive for his marketing budget, I wonder how he's going to pay the litigation fees?
They'd have more money if people would just allow their invasive advertising techniques, but noooo, people are concerned about their privacy! And because of your privacy, this great father doesn't get a 65" TV. I hope you're happy with yourselves.
hmmm...it's my understanding that a minor may be able to enforce a contract against an adult but an adult cannot enforce a contract against a minor
IANAA, but in general, a minor may use the fact that they are under 18 as a defense to the enforceability of a contract. On the otherhand, if it is the child enforcing the contract, their age is irrelevant and the contract will be enforced. Especially here where the child has performed according to the terms.
You can get a DLP 56" for less than $1500 bahahahahahahaha What kind of marketing idiot doesn't research prices, let alone let their company take a PR hit for less than $2,000. WHAT AN IDIOT. I can't believe people have jobs...
In the radio industry, the FCC takes contesting very seriously and has fined stations who have been a bit loose with their rules and prizes.
As the FCC also oversees cable, I might suggest that a complaint be filed with the FCC:
Choose option 2 and give them all the facts.
Wait a minute, is this story even legit? Charter's contest page does not even list Lewis as a winner!
@Matthew Hughes: Um, they don't list last names so that's probably why you couldn't find a "Lewis" but there is a Michael L.
The Lucky Dad
Michael L.
Kalamazoo, MI
Go out and price 3 lcd TV's with the same specs, and then small claims. This is illegal.
wait...they still sell 19" TVs?
sue charter. under the doctrine of promissory estoppel the contest definitely is a contract.
I'm agreeing with Matthew Hughes. The winner of the 65" HDTV is listed as Abe M. Bristol, TN.
There is no Witney listed on the page of winners.
Is this a fake? Finalist Michael L. is from Kalamazoo, MI, writer of the letter was Kristi, if you read the story on the newspaper website, they're from Athens, AL, so not even close..this guy doesn't even appear on Charter's winners page at all. WTF???
@Matthew Hughes: There is a Michael L who was a finalist... but not the grand prize winner. You bring up an excellent point.
Gotta love their release of liability...
"RELEASE OF LIABILITY: By participating, Winner and entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, and their officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any claims made by the Winner, entrants or any other third parties related in any way to the operation of this Contest, as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses (whether alleged, threatened, or actual) to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in this Contest."
Essentially, according to this clause, they can do what they want when they want, how they want... what a load. I doubt it is actually enforceable...
@rellog: I was about to mention the fact that there is likely an escape clause in the contract that says they may send you whatever they want as the prize, including nothing.
Also, all this mess about Lewis not actually being the grand prize winner is troubling. Can we get an update or clarification on this, Ben?
Charter's site is now advertising "Win a $100 Shell Gas Card" - wonder what they will reduce that to?
@WeAre138: Probably a 19inch television...
Maybe they found out that winners already had a hi-def package. Honestly, it would make sense to give away hi-def TVs if you are a cable provider. The cell phone companies figured it out, why can't charter? They should be able to buy a hi-def for <$500 and give it away with a two year premium hi-def package.
If you measure each side ,top ,bottom, right and left you get 65 inches.
I get it now....
sounds fair
Write an essay telling us how great your dad is and you can win a 65" TV!*
* - Actual size may vary. TV may only appear to be 65" at really, really, close range.
I just fired my email off to Mr. Smit about Charters underhanded business tactics. I hope everyone else does too.
I had a supervisor who won a radio contest to go to...some music awards show in Las Vegas. It included back stage passes, and seats near the front in the center. She was to receive the passes and tickets when she got to Vegas.
When she got there, the guy who was supposed to give her the passes gave her some nosebleed seats and no backstage passes, telling her "possession is nine-tenths of the law."
Of course, the full value of the prize was reported to the IRS (something like 10 grand).
Don't recall how that one was resolved.
Sounds like a communication breakdown. Mike was a "Winner" but not the grand prize winner. He received a smaller prize for being a runner up.
I wonder how they came up with the "not enough money in the budget" story, if charter told them that or they just made it up. Im going with made it up.
For all those wondering why the winner is listed differently, this is a plausible explanation:
"More than a dozen Dads in markets across the country were each recognized with additional prizes ranging from a free HDTV to Charter High Definition service."
how are they gonna react when customers suddenly dont have enough money in their 'budget' to pay their cable bill? shame on you Charter cable