BP Still Sucks

Because I'm a BP gas cardholder (prior to the infamous Gulf of Mexico oil spill), I received an offer in the mail at the beginning of January labeled "Exclusive Offer for BP Cardmembers." The offer is for a $10 rebate when you fill up your gas tank five times in the next two months. And, because I'm a BP cardmember, they gave me my first code free, so I only have to fill up my gas tank four times to get the rebate.

I don't normally fill up my gas tank at BP, even though it is on my drive home. For one thing, because of my anger over the Gulf oil spill, but I've gotten over that for the most part. Primarily, though, it's a few cents more per gallon than the Shell or Marathon (formerly Texaco) stations on my drive home from work. When BP was hurting for customers, you'd think they would have lowered their prices to compete with neighboring rivals, but no.

Even though the pricing is a bit higher per gallon, I stopped by a BP to fill up my tank because with the $10 rebate check I was promised I'd be getting, I'd make out better in the long run. I filled up my tank, using my BP card at the "pay at the pump" option. I can't recall the last time I actually went INTO a gas station store. I prefer to do everything at the pump so I don't have to leave my car and/or stand in line inside behind people buying their cigarettes, tonight's dinner, lottery cards, etc.

I didn't see any "code" on my receipt so I contacted BP via email to see what I had to do. In their response, they told me that after purchasing my gas at the pump, I had to take my receipt INSIDE, hand it to the cashier, and, in return, I would get a code. Now, I ask you: what sort of cardmember benefit is that? I get to pay at the pump AND go inside, doubling my time spent at the gas station? Where's the logic?

For the extra time and aggravation it would take for me to do all that, BP can keep the $10. You can find me pumping my gas at Shell. (I'd go to Marathon, too, but their pumps don't accept the Marathon gas card; I'd have to go inside there, too, to use my Marathon card. Go figure.)

Mail-In Rebates

Growing up, my family always purchased Peter Pan peanut butter. To this day, it's remained my favorite. It seems to have more peanutty taste and doesn't taste as dry as other peanut butters. Therefore, I was sad and disappointed to learn that Peter Pan peanut butter was pulled from the shelves in February 2007 due to salmonella poisoning. It's been almost six months now, and while I haven't gone peanut butterless, I do miss my Peter Pan.

I purchased the latest release of Disney's animated Peter Pan DVD in March 2007. Unfortunately, due to pre-packaging, the DVD was released with an offer from ConAgra Foods (the producer of Peter Pan peanut butter) for a $3 rebate when you purchased a loaf of Wonder Bread, the Peter Pan DVD, and a jar of Peter Pan peanut butter. ConAgra said ON THEIR WEBSITE they would honor the rebate if you downloaded their "special" rebate form and purchased the first two items and ANY jar of peanut butter, despite the pulling from shelves of their own peanut butter.

I normally don't buy Wonder Bread anymore (as I'm no longer an 8-year-old kid and prefer heartier varieties of bread), but I chose to buy it since it would be like I was getting it for free once I fulfilled the obligations of the rebate. I got everything together and mailed off my rebate. Two months later, I get a notice that I did NOT fulfill my obligations. I thoroughly examine the evidence and, in my haste, apparently enclosed all the original receipts for the (circled) items, but not the Peter Pan DVD proof of purchase. It was at this time that I debated whether or not the $3 was worth it anymore since I had by now spent about 80 cents in postage. I mailed it in, though, and awaited my $3 rebate check.

A month later (today), I receive another letter saying that I STILL have NOT fulfilled my obligations. I reread everything again and I had submitted everything as instructed the second time around. I don't know what else to do. I'm dumbfounded and completely irritated at the scam. Obviously, ConAgra is trying to recoup their losses by not honoring the rebate, hoping everyone will just drop their efforts. Sadly, this is not the first time I've run into this problem with so-called rebate promises. Many, many different companies have done the same thing to me, even though I've taken the time to gather and send all the necessary proofs of purchases, receipts, and whatever garbage or proof of life they request. I would invite them to my home to see the actual items, but then they'd probably just tell me that I stole them. Congratulations, ConAgra. Please...enjoy my $3.