6683 8 3 econsultancy_xml <p>A spokesperson <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7061767.stm">told the BBC</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p> <em>"A £25 discount code was created for a small group of specific customers. </em> </p> <p> <em>"This code was then circulated, without our authorisation, through a number of websites resulting in around 3,000 customers obtaining a discount for which they were ineligible. </em> </p> <p> <em>"As a result, in accordance with clause 2.3 of our online terms and conditions we have re-charged this discount back to their accounts and have written to them individually to explain.” </em> </p> </blockquote> <p>Littlewoods is not the first company to be caught out after failing to close loopholes in online discount campaigns, and won’t be the last. <a href="/blog/662-online-discount-woes-hit-hamleys">Hamleys</a> and <a href="/blog/695-sainsbury-s-in-new-online-voucher-mishap">Sainsburys</a> are also recent victims, so it is in good company.</p> <p>The firm said it was within its rights to recall the cash from shoppers’ bank accounts and that Trading Standards was <em>“satisfied”</em> with its actions. But clearly, the mistake will have caused a level of brand damage.</p> <p>The BBC said it mirrored Threshers’ widely-publicised discount 'mishap' last year – except that that is believed to have been a fiendishly clever marketing trick to boost sales in the run up to Xmas.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.littlewoods.com/rf/navigation/entersite.do?redirectTo=home">Littlewoods</a> said it was <em>“looking at a number of ways of ensuring this doesn't happen again." </em></p> <p> <strong>Related stories:</strong> <br /> <a href="/blog/674-uk-portals-to-launch-promotional-network">Portals to create promotional network</a> <br /> <a href="/blog/1670-viral-agencies-claim-60-growth">Viral agencies claim 60% growth</a> </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>A spokesperson <Link URL="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7061767.stm" Window="Self">told the BBC</Link>: </Paragraph> <Block> <Paragraph> <Quote>"A £25 discount code was created for a small group of specific customers. </Quote> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Quote>"This code was then circulated, without our authorisation, through a number of websites resulting in around 3,000 customers obtaining a discount for which they were ineligible. </Quote> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Quote>"As a result, in accordance with clause 2.3 of our online terms and conditions we have re-charged this discount back to their accounts and have written to them individually to explain.” </Quote> </Paragraph> </Block> <Paragraph>Littlewoods is not the first company to be caught out after failing to close loopholes in online discount campaigns, and won’t be the last. <Link URL="/blog/662-online-discount-woes-hit-hamleys" Window="Self">Hamleys</Link> and <Link URL="/blog/695-sainsbury-s-in-new-online-voucher-mishap" Window="Self">Sainsburys</Link> are also recent victims, so it is in good company.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>The firm said it was within its rights to recall the cash from shoppers’ bank accounts and that Trading Standards was <Quote>“satisfied”</Quote> with its actions. But clearly, the mistake will have caused a level of brand damage.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>The BBC said it mirrored Threshers’ widely-publicised discount 'mishap' last year – except that that is believed to have been a fiendishly clever marketing trick to boost sales in the run up to Xmas.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Link URL="http://www.littlewoods.com/rf/navigation/entersite.do?redirectTo=home" Window="Self">Littlewoods</Link> said it was <Quote>“looking at a number of ways of ensuring this doesn't happen again." </Quote></Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related stories:</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/674-uk-portals-to-launch-promotional-network" Window="Self">Portals to create promotional network</Link> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/1670-viral-agencies-claim-60-growth" Window="Self">Viral agencies claim 60% growth</Link> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2007-10-26T08:05:00+01:00 8 1 econsultancy_xml <p> <strong>Littlewoods has become the latest retailer to fall foul of a runaway online voucher campaign.</strong> </p> <p>The home shopping brand, which had distributed a £25-off discount code to <em>“a small group of specific customers”</em>, ended up having to recall cash from thousands of bargain-hunters when the promotion went viral.</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Littlewoods has become the latest retailer to fall foul of a runaway online voucher campaign.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The home shopping brand, which had distributed a £25-off discount code to <Quote>“a small group of specific customers”</Quote>, ended up having to recall cash from thousands of bargain-hunters when the promotion went viral.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 1875 364465 Littlewoods hit by latest discount mishap false 2007-10-26T08:05:00+01:00 littlewoods-hit-by-latest-discount-mishap 2009-04-30T06:39:34+01:00 2009-04-30T06:39:34+01:00 996