This is going to be a little unpleasant to write – it’s a story that has a heartwarming ending, though.
Usually, bloggers are great people. We’re like a family; we help each other out, enjoy reading each others’ posts, and generally enjoy staying in touch through Facebook, our blogs, what have you.
One of the things that we enjoy doing is getting together to offer and promote giveaways for our readers. It’s really great when the prize is from a fantastic company that we know that our readers will love.
Several weeks ago, a blogger approached me about helping her to promote a giveaway that she was hosting for a company called Stateside Man Goods. It sounded intriguing, so I said, “Count me in!” I loved this company and what they stand for. Founder, Mike Lee, is a former Marine and wanted to focus on providing the very best Military Care Packages available. So he created a line of specialty and gourmet items to fill these care packages that would be sent to the special men and women serving in our Armed Forces. What’s not to love about that???
This blogger informed those of us involved in the giveaway that there would be a blogger prize – whoever promoted the most would win. Who doesn’t love prizes, right? After the giveaway started, I promoted it like crazy. Mostly because I loved the company and the prize my readers could win, but of course, I wanted to win that blogger prize…whatever it was!
At the end of the contest, the blogger hosting the giveaway informed me that I had won the prize! Yay! She said that it would be sent. So I waited, and waited, and waited. I didn’t want to be pushy, so I sent her a polite message inquiring whether or not she needed additional information from me. She replied that she had forgotten all about it, and that she would get the prize right out. So I waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing. I politely messaged her again, “Just checking in.” No response. Nothing. Crickets.
Since I had her email address, I decided to email her. It’s not the prize that was the issue here – but rather the fact that she was now not responding. And that, to me, was incredibly unprofessional. As you may guess, I did not receive a response to my email, either. So I sent one final email to her and received no response.
At this point, I decided to let the sponsor, Stateside Man Goods, know about this blogger’s extremely unprofessional behavior – mostly because I felt that they may want to really consider whether or not they wanted to work with her again.
Within minutes of sending the company a message explaining the situation, I received a reply from company founder, Mike Lee. He felt badly that this blogger had treated me in this manner, and decided to send me a prize himself – a selection of products that they use in their Military Care Packages. Although this issue was in no way their responsibility, they felt that they wanted to make it up to me, and although it was unnecessary, I cannot tell you how much this impressed me, and what it told me about this company and their integrity and ethics.
I received the package today, and I am sold! And I would really encourage you to check out what they have, too. Most all of us know someone in the military who would love to receive a care package, large or small. Or you can make a small donation and they will use this to send an awesome care package to those serving our country: and not just any care package, but an average of 15 high quality specialty food and snack items.
I encourage you to visit Stateside Man Goods Here
Check out (and like!) their Facebook Page Here
And follow them on Twitter Here!
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