LocalFlavor

This is one of those pay-for-discount sites like Groupon - you pay them up front for a "deal" that's worth more than what you paid, which gives you a certificate to present to a participating merchant. You might pay $20 and receive $30 at a local restaurant, for example. The risk is that the merchant might go out of business before you show up to redeem your certificate, in which case you've lost your money.

Except it's not supposed to work that way - the actual money you invested in the certificate is supposed to be refundable in such a case (in the example above, you should get your original $20 back from the company who runs the site). Risk-free, right?

So I took advantage of a LocalFlavor "sale" and purchased a "deal" for a reduced up-front cost. The restaurant, however, went out of business, and I contacted LocalFlavor, who offered me a refund of my out-of-pocket cost in one of two forms: either a credit-card refund or a site credit. The credit-card refund, she explained, would take weeks to process (really? And why is that?), whereas the site credit would be instant. I opted for the latter, so I could use my credit to take advantage of another "sale" that was in progress, and get myself another great deal.

But it was never explained that the so-called "site credit" is not a credit at all - it's a coupon to be redeemed on the LocalFlavor site. A coupon that is Not Combinable With Any Other Offer (such as their sale.). The "credit" is therefore worthless -- it's equal to the value of coupons that LocalFlavor regularly offers subscribers. LocalFlavor pushed me into foregoing the credit-card refund in favor of accepting the worthless "site credit" and now says there's nothing I can do about it.

Well, there's one thing I can do about it - I can warn people not to get ripped off like I did!

I frequently, while traveling purchase Local Flavor certificates. I bought 3 right before the Covid Shutdown. They will expire at the end of this year. Today I reached out to customer service and explained that due to Covid and safety for my families health, I could not use the certificates before expiration. Customer service offered to give me credit for the certificates, HOWEVER after checking my account I found that they didn't credit one of them, saying that they could only "provide one courtesy per account". I reached out to them informing them that a credit is not causing them to lose money however they are causing me to lose money and that this pandemic is nation wide and was unforseen for each of us. I let them know that I am not willing to jeopardize my families health to use these certificates on a small boat that surely will not be using proper safety precautions. The response I got from them was "The Federal Gift Card Act of 2009 is a Federal law in place stating that any gift certificate, voucher, coupon, etc. even once expired will be good for the original price paid with that Merchant for up to five (5) years after the date of purchase." If you look at the current reviews you will see that most ppl are unhappy because of issues with EXPIRATION DATES. They also responded that I could give the certificate as a gift... Are you kidding me? I don't know of anyone who would want to be on that small boat while Covid cases are on the rise! This company should be more sympathetic during this Covid crises. I did not ask for a refund, I asked only for a credit that could be used when Covid exposures are not at such a high level. Poor customer service and I will no longer buy certificates that can't be used on the day of purchase!