Gift Certificates

[ScubaToys Larry]

Hey Gang... You all know we've been doing the rewards for posting for some time, and wouldn't you know it, although we're trying to reward people for becoming part of a diving community, some wanted to simply try to take advantage of it and steal what they could. We had several people sign up under different names, just to run up 10 posts so they could order tiny items, and with the shipping, keep it below their 10 gift certificate.

Obviously, this was not the intent, and tracking down everyone who does this is more time consuming than what the 10 dollars is... I've banned a few, but I'm sure they'll surface with a new IP and a new name...

I didn't want to remove the Gift Certificate incentive for the honest folks, so it seemed the best way was to put in force a new policy that says you can only use the gift certificates for 10% of the purchase.

I spelled it out in the faq area, and here is a copy.

The other rule in using any gift certificates, is you cannot use gift certificates for any more than 10% of the purchase price. Unfortunately, we had had people signing up under different names and using 10 dollar gift certificates to buy items for 2 bucks plus shipping. Obviously, this was not the intent of the incentive.

Instead of dropping the gift certificate program, we realized that anyone who is actually purchasing items, and wanting to post on our forum to learn and communicate with others will not be offended by this change in policy. And those who were just trying to steal from us... actually, we're not that concerned if they don't like the change! :-)

So please post away, earn your gift certificates, and feel free to cash them in when you are looking to purchase items from us.

Thanks... Larry

Hope everyone understands why we had to take these steps.

Thanks for your support!

Larry

[Vlane]

There's always someone who is going to take advantage of something but I'm glad you guys were able to work something out that wouldn't hurt new forum members.

[Foo2]

Sorry people were taking advantage. Thanks for being an uber cool dive shop owner! ;-)

[chilly willy]

With the customer oriented service and killer pricing you already give I see no downside even if you quit giving the certificates. Kudos to Joe & Larry.

[below sea level]

It's pathetic that some people will try to take advantage of something like that.

The new rules certainly won't change my "slow and steady" posting habits.

[din]

"but honey, I had to buy more stuff! I could only use the incentive for 10% of the total, honest!"

[fisheater]

Some people . . . .

[unclepooty]

I would have paid for the information and people I've meet on this forum (well most of'em) I stumbled in here by chance, and became a founding member. I took advantage of the gift certificates, and still enjoy their fruit. I don't post that often, but can't tell you how many times I've learned or laughed in silence. Larry/Joe, thanks for the effort and commitment to customer service. BTW me and the boys on the ranch'll take care of any of those less than honest individuals.

[bigman241]

Fine we me. I was going to wait and use mine to buy a flag or some decals when I got done with my cert. But I guess I will have wade add them to my total. No worry about the 10% of the total. 3500 order.
Atleast you did not drop them. Thanks for that larry

[nrembis]

your always going to have folks trying to take advantage of others, sucks ....I used my 10.00 GC pretty quickly and appreciated it, used it to get a wetsuit and some other stuff......I have been putting off asking for my 50.00 one till I needed a regulator and quit feeling bad for ST having to eat some unintentional CC charges......

I might have been able to swing 300 or so $$$ for a new reg of sorts, but doubtful now that I have to pick one 500.00 and up just to use GC