eHelp (formerly Blue Sky) and The $700 Rebate Offer

Following are all the posts made to the WinHlp-L list during the incident regarding the possibility of a $700 rebate from Blue-Sky Corporation. The situation was made somewhat clear over the next few days ...

Subject: RoboHELP 2000 Special Edition offer that seems to want to pay me $201 and give me the software....
Sent: 11/3/1999 11:44:05 PM
From: Windows Help Compiler (WINHELP) Discussion List on behalf of Sharon Burton-Hardin

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I just got in the regular mail today a notice from Blue Sky that as a preferred customer (I own RH Office 7), I am eligible for a $700 discount to upgrade to RoboHELP 2000 Special Edition. So I went to the Buy online place on their website and found that the exact package on which I am being offered a $700 discount is as follows:

[from their website]
RoboHELP Office 2000 Special Edition - Limited Time Only!
RoboHELP Office 2000
PLUS A BONUS -- For a limited time:
Adobe PhotoShop LE 5.0 (a $99 value)
RoboHELP Office 2000 Special Edition - $899
RoboHELP Office 2000 Special Edition upgrade (Serial Number Required) -
$499

This is the exact package I am being offered in the mailing that I am saving $700 on if I buy before Nov 30 1999, using my special code number on the certificate.

So, my question is: Is the special edition full version now $199 for me or is the upgrade (since I already own 7) going to actually pay me $201?

I know in the past, I have asked these questions partly in jest, but this time I am actually serious. I need to upgrade before the end of the year and it seems that I am being offered $201 cash and the software. Minus large shipping costs. If so, I am ordering first thing in the morning. I really am.

sharon

Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com! 

Subject: The $700 rebate offer from Blue Sky - follow up
Sent: 11/4/1999 7:26:33 PM
From: Windows Help Compiler (WINHELP) Discussion List on behalf of Sharon Burton-Hardin

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I have a really bad taste in my mouth. I just got off the phone with BS and it turns out that the special offer I was sent in the mail yesterday that entitles me to $700 is the EXACT offer that is on the web, available to anyone. It smells of bait and switch. Really smells. 

I am (We are) being offered something special that is a good (and stated several times that this offer is only available to selected customers) deal but it is the EXACT deal that anyone who logs on to their website gets! Deceptive, at the least. It just smells really bad. Perhaps actionable but I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. If I wasn't deeply in the middle of more than my share, I would send it all to my attorney and have him take a look at it. 

It seems, well, wrong, if not actually illegal. If I am being offered something special for being a customer, then it shouldn't be the exact offer anyone gets. Then again, this may well be a statement about my value as a customer. sigh. 

All words are my opinion. sigh. 

sharon

Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com!
From: William Swallow <WSWALLOW@COMMSOFT.NET>
To: <WINHLP-L@ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA>
Sent: Friday, 05 November, 1999 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: The $700 rebate offer from Blue Sky - follow up


It sucks but it's not illegal. Sure, it would be great to get special deals as paying customers, but there's nothing stopping them from providing the | same offer to someone else (at least not without signed agreements stating such). It's what justifies and drives the marketing machine.

Welcome..... to... the machine...

(a little Floyd always works on a Friday)

Bill Swallow
Technical Writer
Aptis Inc.
a subsidiary of Billing Concepts
phone: 518.433.7698
fax: 518.433.7680
<mailto:william.swallow@aptissoftware.com>
<http://www.aptissoftware.com>
Subject: Re: The $700 rebate offer from Blue Sky - follow up
Sent: 11/5/1999 2:26:48 PM
From: Windows Help Compiler (WINHELP) Discussion List on behalf of Sharon Burton-Hardin

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Yes, but it is very misleading. We are valued customers and we are being offered this deal that is only available to valued customers. Except it is the same offer that anyone gets, so it is not actually a special offer. It really makes me angry. This particular marketing thing really irritated me.
Much more than others have in the past. This seems to be a deliberate misdirection/perhaps outright falsehood.

I hope the new CEO changes the _really_ sleazy marketing stuff. But the machine can be so compelling...

My opinions.

sharon

Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com!