After completing 8 different trial offers from 8 different companies (most of which were scams in and of themselves), I was supposed to qualify for a $500 gift card from Brandarama. I usually don't fall for these types of scams, but $500 was hard to pass up. Unfortunately I didn't check the web first as there are hundreds of complaints posted about Brandarama and their various scams.

Anyway, I bought all the trial goods as directed, which cost me ~$150 in shipping and handling fees, not to mention hours (literally tens of hours) of dealing with unscrupulous companies that did not want to end my trial membership. Each of the "sponsors", or companies with which I participated in some sort of trial offer, were supposed to confirm to Brandarama that I completed the offer so that I would qualify for the gift card. It has been over 3 months now, and only 6 of the 8 sponsors have supposedly reported my participation.

As directed, I sent Brandarama the backup confirmation emails that clearly show I completed the offers, but they claim they cannot qualify me for the gift card until the sponsors confirm, and that they cannot force the sponsors to confirm in any specific amount of time. Being in the marketing world myself, I know that Brandarama probably gets paid by those sponsors for every confirmed participant, so why on earth would they leave an open-ended timeline for the sponsors to report participation?

The only logical conclusion I can make after 3 months of waiting, and after reading the other complaints, is that Brandarma is not only scamming me and other consumers like me, but is also likely scamming the sponsors who advertise with them. I have no desire to work with any of the sponsors again after the headaches I've been through to try and complete this process. So if the sponsors are paying for Brandarama's service, they are completely wasting their money as it is counterproductive.

I completed the requirements for a gift in April. 6 months later, I have not received it. My e-mail messages to them result in the same response (see below).

RE: Gift tracking (LTK14307618187X)
From: Brandarama Member Support <[email protected]>

To: Michelle Lofton <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 10:38 am

Reference number: LTK14307618187X Please use this ticket number in any correspondence with us.
Subject: Gift tracking
Dear Michelle Lofton,
Thank you for contacting us.
We are currently experiencing huge delays in shipping, due to high demand of certain gifts and the website growing rapidly. We are exhausting our best efforts to get caught up again. We are currently on the July mailing list for the visa gift cards and the September mailing list for all other gifts.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Anne
Brandarama Member Support
---------------Original Message---------------
From: Michelle Lofton < >
Subject: Gift tracking
Hello, I completed an offer for a Kohl's gift card, which was confirmed on May 2 (8 weeks ago). It is still listed as "to be shipped." Do you have an idea as to when the card will be shipped?


RE: Gift tracking (LTK14309884091X)
From: Brandarama Member Support <[email protected]>

To: Michelle Lofton <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 10:55 am

Reference number: LTK14309884091X Please use this ticket number in any correspondence with us.
Subject: Gift tracking
Dear Michelle Lofton,
Thank you for contacting us.
We are currently experiencing huge delays in shipping, due to high demand of certain gifts and the website growing rapidly. We are exhausting our best efforts to get caught up again. We are currently on the August 07 mailing list for the visa gift cards and the September/October 07 mailing list for all other gifts.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Susan
Brandarama Member Support
---------------Original Message---------------
From: Michelle Lofton < >
Subject: Gift tracking
I was just checking to see if the gift card I earned in April was on its way? Thanks.


RE: Gift tracking (LTK143010838691X)
From: Brandarama Member Support <[email protected]>

To: Michelle Lofton <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 12:19 pm

Reference number: LTK143010838691X Please use this ticket number in any correspondence with us.
Subject: Gift tracking
Dear Michelle Lofton,
Thank you for contacting us.
We are currently experiencing huge delays in shipping, due to high demand of certain gifts and the website growing rapidly. We are exhausting our best efforts to get caught up again. We are currently on the August 07 mailing list for the visa gift cards and the September/October 07 mailing list for all other gifts.
feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Susan
Brandarama Member Support
---------------Original Message---------------
From: Michelle Lofton < >
Subject: Gift tracking
Hello. I am checking on a Kohl's gift card I qualified for 6 months ago. I was wondering when they would be disbursed

I don't even remember taking this survey but was charged $12.95 on my phone bill something about a personal voicemail with an 800#. I have no clue I can't believe they can just charge your account like that good news is I called the 800 #. Provided on the phone bill and they are going to credit my account.