Toshiba: Free Laptops and TVs? We Were only Kidding!

[Michael Knutson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/toshiba-reneges-on-promise-of-free-laptops-and-tvs-if-spain-win/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/...s-if-spain-win/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Buy a Core i5 laptop or a Toshiba TV, and if your country wins the World Cup Final, we'll refund your money. Simple and to the point, don't you think? Toshiba ran this advertising campaign in Germany, England, Portugal, Italy and Spain in the run-up to the global football tournament, but now that one of those nations has actually gone and scooped the silverware, refunds seem remarkably hard to come by."</em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/lpt/auto/1279171821.usr17748.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>As any soccer fan could have told you, chances were good that out of the five countries in the ad campaign, there were three countries with a very real chance of winning: Spain, Germany, and the winners in 2006, Italy. With Spain winning its first title, was Toshiba prepared to actually issue refunds for purchases? Apparently not - some small print within the ad stated that anyone claiming a refund must go to Toshiba's web site for further information on the rebate, and must have registered their product(s) by June 17, 2010. Sorry Spaniards!</p><p>Arguing for the purchasers and for the rebates, Spanish consumer group Facua believes that the entire set of conditions should have been more clear and easily accessible to purchasers, and that refunds should be honored for purchasers. This could cost Toshiba a lot of Euros!</p>

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

This reminds me of how back when I was working for a big MNC we wanted to limit the money spent on giveaways so the registration thing was one way to limit that. It's funny how some of those meetings went.

That said I suppose some kind of cut-off was needed; I can imagine all the Spaniards going to the buy a notebook or a TV after the semi-final win over Germany. :D Way better odds than most bookmakers!

[Michael Knutson]

This reminds me of how back when I was working for a big MNC we wanted to limit the money spent on giveaways so the registration thing was one way to limit that. It's funny how some of those meetings went.

That said I suppose some kind of cut-off was needed; I can imagine all the Spaniards going to the buy a notebook or a TV after the semi-final win over Germany. :D Way better odds than most bookmakers!

I agree, some type of limitation needs to be in effect. But, to bury it deep within small print is a bit deceptive. I can't believe that Toshiba let their advertising group (or outsourcer) actually do this, they obviously didn't understand soccer, or the world cup. With 32 teams participating, anyone buying an eligible Toshiba product in one of the "strong" soccer countries had an x/32 chance of winning. You're right, those are great odds!

[Chris Gohlke]

Especially if you bought it somewhere that had a return policy that extended past the end date of the world cup. This promo just seemed ripe for abuse and a pretty stupid idea.

[Jason Dunn]

This promo just seemed ripe for abuse and a pretty stupid idea.

Yeah, exactly - someone should have re-thought it before launching the promo... :rolleyes: