The Twitter Tassimo Teaser

Posted by: Touch of Charm on: January 13, 2010

• In: Around the house | Food & Drink | Just for fun! | Parties & Entertaining
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I have a slight addiction to Twitter. I readily admit this. Maybe it’s the voyeur in me, reading all these short excerpts into people’s lives, maybe it’s the simple act of reaching out to another human being. I don’t know exactly, but I’ve come to enjoy my Twitter time.  And on occasion Twitter sends little fun rewards my way.  I’ve won movie passes, concert tickets, coupons for free drinks or 50% off at a local store. My friends love it too – they get to go with me to these free movies and concerts and they just shake their heads in awe when I tell them I won this stuff on Twitter. You win everything, they say. I don’t mind, keep it coming.  Except one “win” has turned into a bit a running joke now with my friends.

Way back in November, I was tweeting away when I saw a message about a giveaway Tassimo was doing and if selected, you could win a free Tassimo coffee machine. I had worked at an office where they had one of these coffee wonders and I thought wow, I’d love that in my kitchen! So I immediately inquired about this giveaway and was thrilled when I got a message saying my name had been picked! I sent all my details as they requested and sure enough, got an email saying”We’ve selected you to get a Tassimo coffee system!” I read the rest of the email excitedly – they were giving away 300 machines to select bloggers and social media folks and i made the cut. YES! My Twitter addiction was paying off! It went on to say that in 7 to 10 days I’d receive my machine as well as some samples. I was sooo psyched and tweeted the world!

That was November 11, 2009.  On November 23, I realized I hadn’t heard anything so sent a quick email asking about the status of the delivery. I was still pretty excited and with the holidays coming and meetings at my place, I was sure to be a hostess hit with my Tassimo wonder machine!  A few days went by and no reply to my email. Well, I thought, they are sending out 300 machines, be patient.  Little did I know just how patient I’d have to be…

December 7, 2009 – I shoot out a tweet or two asking if anyone else has received their Tassimo machines. I get a couple replies saying yes, they have theirs and they are so happy and sorry to hear I haven’t received mine yet but not to worry, they are sure it’s coming soon.  Tassimo Canada sees my tweets and immediately contacts me.  After a few back and forth messages to confirm my shipping address, I’m told they’ll get to the bottom of it.

The next day I receive an email from their promo company apologizing for the delay and am told that in fact FedEx did attempt to deliver my machine, 3 times already and had left notes for me about this.  I’m completely puzzled. I work from home. The buzzer goes to my cell phone. If anyone tries to buzz I get it, whether I’m at home or whether I’m in LA, that door buzzes, my phone rings. So I find it odd that FedEx showed up 3 times, buzzed and I missed the calls everytime? Plus even if I did miss it, the missed call would show up on my phone. Nothing.  That didn’t add up to me. When I check my gate, I see a couple FedEx delivery stickers on neighbours mailboxes, but mine? Nothing.  I figure FedEx is attempting to deliver my Tassimo machine somewhere, but it isn’t my address. I re-confirm with the promo guy and am told the machine will arrive within 24-48 hours.

December 11, 2009 – Still no machine.  It has now been one month. I’m not that excited anymore. my kettle and instant coffee seem to be doing me and my guests just fine. My friends tease me about my mystery Tassimo machine and when they come over, tease me more by making machine sounds as they pour boiled water into mugs for their coffee. I pretty much give up any hope that this machine is really coming and get on with my daily routine.

December 16, 2009 – Phone rings and low and behold, it’s my front door! I answer and it’s FedEx! They are here with a delivery. my excitement level goes back up! I ran out of instant coffee THAT morning and see this as a sign – me and Tassimo were meant to be.  I happily sign for my big box of Tassimo goodness and tear open the box.  I take it all out and put it together, which is really easy.  I read through the instructions and find the little cleverly hidden cleaner disc and follow the step-by-step guide on the machine usage.  Once it’s all set it says to just push the green button and go.  What green button? I look at the instructions and look at my machine. My green button is red. Do I push the red button. I push it and…nothing. Hmmm…I re-read the instructions and make sure I haven’t missed anything. Nope. I flip to the trouble shooting page and it gives me a few options. Try those – nothing. I notice a 1-800 number, it says to call with any trouble. I call and I get a machine saying they aren’t open yet. I look at the time. it is only shortly past 8am. I put on the kettle and make a cup of tea….

I tweet my disappointment and get a few joker replies from friends and followers.  No instant coffee, no Tassimo coffee. Sigh.  I try to get on with my day.  My business partner calls to see if we are still on for our meeting and I tell her the bad news – we can have the meeting but don’t get excited at the Tassimo machine on the counter, it doesn’t work. Oh and can you pick up some coffee.  I check Twitter and I have a direct message.  It’s Tassimo Canada.  They want to arrange a machine swap.  I’m not sure I even want it anymore. My biz partner says “honey, it’s free. They WANT you to have it. I want you to have it.” I relent and send an email, as instructed, to the promo guy again.  He replies FedEx will come take my machine and give me another one.

December 22, 2009 - No FedEx. No machine. One e-mail from promo guy asking if I received my replacement yet. Nope. I do however, have a large box now in my living room taking up space.  He will look into it and get back to me. Here we go again, I think.  I receive another email letting me know that they are trying to get it to me before the holidays but can’t guarantee it due to the hectic delivery schedule. Last time I checked, this is what FedEx does right? Deliver stuff? Having sent out thousands of press kits in my day across Canada I’m pretty sure FedEx has the whole delivery thing down. I try not to get snarky and be patient. Patient. Be patient, Charlene. Breathe in, breathe out. Smile. You are getting this machine for FREE. “I don’t want it!!!!” my inside voice yells.  I drown out my inside voice with some soothing Christmas music.

January 4, 2010 – Happy New Year! That’s pretty much the headline of every e-mail message in my inbox.  I happily type cheerful replies and then open one from promo guy. “Happy New Year Charlene! Just checking to see if you got your replacement machine yet?”  I actually laugh out loud. LOL. I look over at the box that has now become a shelf at the bottom of the stairs. Covered in crap from the holidays, you could almost forget it’s a box under there. A box to constantly remind you of how free isn’t always free. I’m thinking maybe I should start a Twitter contest and take bets on when the replacement machine will arrive. Instead i just reply “nope, nothing yet.”

January 6, 2010 – Email from promo guy telling me the replacment Tassimo is on its way and I should receive it in 24-48 hours. Sure I will.

January 11, 2010 – Email from promo guy asking if I received the machine yet. Fedex has apparently attempted their invisible delivery methods again. Nope, I reply, nothing yet.

January 12, 2010 – Phone call from promo guy apologizing for all this confusion. I’m not confused. I know exactly what’s going on. It’s called being taken for a fool. And learning a valuable lesson. If it seems too good to be true, it’s probably Tassimo. Oh and instant coffee really is instant.

Tags: coffee, FedEx, fool, giveaway, joke, prize, Tassimo, win