Complaint Review: Pepsi - Purchase New York
- Pepsi pepsi.com Purchase, New York U.S.A.
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- Category: Convenience Stores
Pepsi RIPOFF Some stores don't accept "Buy Dew Or Pepsi 20 Oz Get One Free" bottle caps Purchase New York
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Pepsi could make it eaiser to redeem caps
*Consumer Comment: Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
*Consumer Comment: Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
*Consumer Comment: Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
*Consumer Comment: Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
*Consumer Comment: Stated in the contest rules...
*Consumer Comment: And how again is that a ripoff?
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I have noticed, during various Pepsi promotions, that some retailers, mainly "mom-and-pop" amd independent grocers and convenience stores, refuse to accept Pepsi bottle caps that either offer "Buy Dew or Pepsi 20 Oz (or 1 Liter) Get One Free", or for some promotions, a free 20 ounce or 1 liter bottle.
I have no problem redeeming the caps at corporate-owned supermarket, drug store, convenience store, gas station, and mass merchandise chains, but many mom-and-pop/independent grocers and c-stores refuse to accept the bottle caps for free or buy one get one free product.
I was told by a beverage store owner that the way Pepsi sets up their bottle cap redemption policies, that Pepsi bottlers will only give credit for the bottle caps if they are redeemed in lots of 100, a plan that heavily favors chains over independents. Stores such as Giant Eagle, Tops, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, K mart, Target, Wal-Mart, Circle K, or Speedway would have no problem obtaining 100 or more Pepsi caps for redemption, but the owner of "Joe's Market" may have problems coming up with a few, thus not being able to accept the bottle caps. Pepsi needs to make it clear in their contest rules that some retailers, mainly small businesses, have the right to refuse to accept bottle caps offering either free product or buy one get one free product.
Most people who see this kind of cap on a Pepsi bottle tend to assume that any retailer who sells Pepsi products is obligated to accept the bottle caps, when, in reality, the only businesses accepting the bottle caps are major corporate chain stores. Another suggestion would be for Pepsi to change its bottle cap redemption policies so small businesses can get equal footing with the major chains, whether the business is getting credit for one bottle cap or 100,000 bottle caps.
I also understand that these same stores also refuse to accept "free product" caps from Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up promotions as well for the same reasons.
Toby
Berea, Ohio
U.S.A.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/27/2005 06:46 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/pepsi/purchase-new-york/pepsi-ripoff-some-stores-dont-accept-buy-dew-or-pepsi-20-oz-get-one-free-bottle-caps-pu-158601. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
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#7 UPDATE EX-employee responds
Pepsi could make it eaiser to redeem caps
AUTHOR: Nathan - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Saturday, May 26, 2007
Hello, I used to work for Pepsi Cola in Mississippi so all these facts might not be true for your case. Most of the time you have to redeem caps in a case amount, for twenty ounce bottles is 24. That way the salesman can give you one free case. Even though it is in the rules that anyone may choose not to participate in the giveaways, Pepsi (or franchisee in that area) could simply lower the amount of caps needed to a half case so smaller stores could accept them. I really just falls back to pleasing the consumer. I can go to a Exxon, Cstore or where ever but really I shouldn't have too.
#6 Consumer Comment
Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
AUTHOR: Toby - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Per previous rebuttals, I have read the "official rules" regarding cap redemptions for various Pepsi (and other soft drink) promotions. From past experience, I have had better luck redeeming "free product" or "buy one get one free" bottle caps via chain stores as opposed to mom and pop's/independents. There are some mom and pop/independent stores that DO accept the bottle caps; either they do adequate enough volume with soft drink sales to make redemption worthwhile, or they are willing to fight with Pepsi/Coke/Dr Pepper-Seven Up to make sure that they get credit for the bottle caps that their customers redeemed. Most retailers, both chain and independent, treat these bottle caps as a "manufacturer's coupon". But then again, there are many mom and pop/independent food stores that refuse to accept manufacturer's store coupons as well, again because either they deal with low volume, that they won't be compensated, or that they don't want to be bothered with them. A suggestion I had, and I've seen stores actually do this, is to post signs, either on the pop coolers or by the registers, that their business will NOT accept the bottle caps, which will read, "Sorry, we do not accept Pepsi bottle caps" or something similar. This will avoid confusion for those customers who DO NOT read the "official rules"; all they see is that "buy one get one free" cap and expect the store to honor it. And also, from my past experiences, sometimes finding a store that accepts/not accepts the caps can be confusing, especially if it involves stores that are part of a "chain", but in which either all of the stores are individually owned and operated, or if some locations are "corporate" and other locations "independent". One store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Convenient Food Mart on East 71st Street in Cleveland, OH...I have redeemed caps at other Convenient Food Marts without any problem...either the other stores were corporate-operated or in which the store's owner chose to participate. Another store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Bi-Rite supermarket (a chain of independent co-op stores) at East 65th and Fleet Avenue in Cleveland...I assume that there are other Bi-Rites that DO accept the bottle caps. Again, depends on the owner or franchisee. To repeat, posting a sign will avoid confusion for those trying to redeem bottle caps that DID NOT read the "official rules".
#5 Consumer Comment
Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
AUTHOR: Toby - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Per previous rebuttals, I have read the "official rules" regarding cap redemptions for various Pepsi (and other soft drink) promotions. From past experience, I have had better luck redeeming "free product" or "buy one get one free" bottle caps via chain stores as opposed to mom and pop's/independents. There are some mom and pop/independent stores that DO accept the bottle caps; either they do adequate enough volume with soft drink sales to make redemption worthwhile, or they are willing to fight with Pepsi/Coke/Dr Pepper-Seven Up to make sure that they get credit for the bottle caps that their customers redeemed. Most retailers, both chain and independent, treat these bottle caps as a "manufacturer's coupon". But then again, there are many mom and pop/independent food stores that refuse to accept manufacturer's store coupons as well, again because either they deal with low volume, that they won't be compensated, or that they don't want to be bothered with them. A suggestion I had, and I've seen stores actually do this, is to post signs, either on the pop coolers or by the registers, that their business will NOT accept the bottle caps, which will read, "Sorry, we do not accept Pepsi bottle caps" or something similar. This will avoid confusion for those customers who DO NOT read the "official rules"; all they see is that "buy one get one free" cap and expect the store to honor it. And also, from my past experiences, sometimes finding a store that accepts/not accepts the caps can be confusing, especially if it involves stores that are part of a "chain", but in which either all of the stores are individually owned and operated, or if some locations are "corporate" and other locations "independent". One store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Convenient Food Mart on East 71st Street in Cleveland, OH...I have redeemed caps at other Convenient Food Marts without any problem...either the other stores were corporate-operated or in which the store's owner chose to participate. Another store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Bi-Rite supermarket (a chain of independent co-op stores) at East 65th and Fleet Avenue in Cleveland...I assume that there are other Bi-Rites that DO accept the bottle caps. Again, depends on the owner or franchisee. To repeat, posting a sign will avoid confusion for those trying to redeem bottle caps that DID NOT read the "official rules".
#4 Consumer Comment
Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
AUTHOR: Toby - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Per previous rebuttals, I have read the "official rules" regarding cap redemptions for various Pepsi (and other soft drink) promotions. From past experience, I have had better luck redeeming "free product" or "buy one get one free" bottle caps via chain stores as opposed to mom and pop's/independents. There are some mom and pop/independent stores that DO accept the bottle caps; either they do adequate enough volume with soft drink sales to make redemption worthwhile, or they are willing to fight with Pepsi/Coke/Dr Pepper-Seven Up to make sure that they get credit for the bottle caps that their customers redeemed. Most retailers, both chain and independent, treat these bottle caps as a "manufacturer's coupon". But then again, there are many mom and pop/independent food stores that refuse to accept manufacturer's store coupons as well, again because either they deal with low volume, that they won't be compensated, or that they don't want to be bothered with them. A suggestion I had, and I've seen stores actually do this, is to post signs, either on the pop coolers or by the registers, that their business will NOT accept the bottle caps, which will read, "Sorry, we do not accept Pepsi bottle caps" or something similar. This will avoid confusion for those customers who DO NOT read the "official rules"; all they see is that "buy one get one free" cap and expect the store to honor it. And also, from my past experiences, sometimes finding a store that accepts/not accepts the caps can be confusing, especially if it involves stores that are part of a "chain", but in which either all of the stores are individually owned and operated, or if some locations are "corporate" and other locations "independent". One store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Convenient Food Mart on East 71st Street in Cleveland, OH...I have redeemed caps at other Convenient Food Marts without any problem...either the other stores were corporate-operated or in which the store's owner chose to participate. Another store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Bi-Rite supermarket (a chain of independent co-op stores) at East 65th and Fleet Avenue in Cleveland...I assume that there are other Bi-Rites that DO accept the bottle caps. Again, depends on the owner or franchisee. To repeat, posting a sign will avoid confusion for those trying to redeem bottle caps that DID NOT read the "official rules".
#3 Consumer Comment
Suggestion to stores regarding Pepsi cap redemptions
AUTHOR: Toby - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Per previous rebuttals, I have read the "official rules" regarding cap redemptions for various Pepsi (and other soft drink) promotions. From past experience, I have had better luck redeeming "free product" or "buy one get one free" bottle caps via chain stores as opposed to mom and pop's/independents. There are some mom and pop/independent stores that DO accept the bottle caps; either they do adequate enough volume with soft drink sales to make redemption worthwhile, or they are willing to fight with Pepsi/Coke/Dr Pepper-Seven Up to make sure that they get credit for the bottle caps that their customers redeemed. Most retailers, both chain and independent, treat these bottle caps as a "manufacturer's coupon". But then again, there are many mom and pop/independent food stores that refuse to accept manufacturer's store coupons as well, again because either they deal with low volume, that they won't be compensated, or that they don't want to be bothered with them. A suggestion I had, and I've seen stores actually do this, is to post signs, either on the pop coolers or by the registers, that their business will NOT accept the bottle caps, which will read, "Sorry, we do not accept Pepsi bottle caps" or something similar. This will avoid confusion for those customers who DO NOT read the "official rules"; all they see is that "buy one get one free" cap and expect the store to honor it. And also, from my past experiences, sometimes finding a store that accepts/not accepts the caps can be confusing, especially if it involves stores that are part of a "chain", but in which either all of the stores are individually owned and operated, or if some locations are "corporate" and other locations "independent". One store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Convenient Food Mart on East 71st Street in Cleveland, OH...I have redeemed caps at other Convenient Food Marts without any problem...either the other stores were corporate-operated or in which the store's owner chose to participate. Another store that refused to accept my bottle caps was a Bi-Rite supermarket (a chain of independent co-op stores) at East 65th and Fleet Avenue in Cleveland...I assume that there are other Bi-Rites that DO accept the bottle caps. Again, depends on the owner or franchisee. To repeat, posting a sign will avoid confusion for those trying to redeem bottle caps that DID NOT read the "official rules".
#2 Consumer Comment
Stated in the contest rules...
AUTHOR: Ray - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, September 27, 2005
I just visited the Mountain Dew website, and located the rules on their current promotion at http://pepsi.yahoo.com/everyten/official_rules.php . In section C specifically regarding the Buy One, Get One Free caps:
>>C. TO REDEEM OFFERS, present bottle cap with the buy-one-get-one-free message at a participating retailer on next store visit before 11/30/05 when you buy one 20 oz. (or in some areas, a 1 liter bottle) of any Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Sierra Mist product , and get another 20 oz. (or if applicable, another 1 liter bottle) for free. Redeem by 11/30/05. You pay tax and deposit charge if applicable. Limit one redemption per person per store visit. Not all retailers are participating.
It clearly stated to present the cap "at a participating retailer" and then goes on to state "Not all retailers are participating".
It's up to the retailer to decide wether or not to participate. Blame the store, not Pepsi. If I was running a smaller store, I'd still honor the caps because it would give me opportunity to sell more stuff like chips, snack foods, etc.
#1 Consumer Comment
And how again is that a ripoff?
AUTHOR: Denny - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Its not Pepsi's responsibility to see who honors what. If your "mom and pop" store refuses to honor the caps, then that your problem with the store. ITS not PEPSI"s responsibility to MAKE These stores accept them.
its the "mom and pop" stores business pergative. just like they can refuse service to any customer they feel like, they can refuse to participate in a promotion that will cause them to lose money.
AND PEPSI does make it quite cleare the some stores may not redeem the plastic caps. Its written on the bottles.
Read next time.
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