Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Sub standard
As you might recall, I was a little miffed last week when I learned that my local Subway had discontinued its Sub Club stamp program. Not taking this lying down, I wrote the company an e-mail that appears on the May 9 post linked above. Three days later, I received an official reply. It follows:
Dear Mr Mcgibboney:
The SUBWAY® restaurant chain's Sub Club® Card customer appreciation program has been around for many years and customers have enjoyed collecting stamps on the back of the card and redeeming them for a free submarine sandwich. The program’s parameters have remained relatively the same for nearly a decade.
Currently, the chain is seeking ways to make our customers’ experiences in our restaurants even more rewarding. To do this, we have made slight changes to the program in some markets, made major changes in other markets and have eliminated it in a small number of markets. In areas where the card has been eliminated, we have encouraged our franchisees to increase the amount of specials and promotions they offer as a way to show appreciation for customers who choose to visit SUBWAY® restaurants.
We frequently review all of our products and programs. In the case of the Sub Club® Card, we want to insure we have a program that is beneficial for the franchisees while still generating excitement among customers.
We appreciate customer input on this and all issues. More than anything else, it is the customers who determine what products and programs are featured in SUBWAY® restaurants.
Sincerely,
Toni Ann Savoca x8201
Customer Care Representative
Fair enough. Her name kinda freaks me out, though. Does that make her a corporate drone or a science-fiction Jetson from the future?
In any case, Subway is still on my good side. Because they are nothing like Wal-Mart.
¶ 12:24 AM Dear Mr Mcgibboney:
The SUBWAY® restaurant chain's Sub Club® Card customer appreciation program has been around for many years and customers have enjoyed collecting stamps on the back of the card and redeeming them for a free submarine sandwich. The program’s parameters have remained relatively the same for nearly a decade.
Currently, the chain is seeking ways to make our customers’ experiences in our restaurants even more rewarding. To do this, we have made slight changes to the program in some markets, made major changes in other markets and have eliminated it in a small number of markets. In areas where the card has been eliminated, we have encouraged our franchisees to increase the amount of specials and promotions they offer as a way to show appreciation for customers who choose to visit SUBWAY® restaurants.
We frequently review all of our products and programs. In the case of the Sub Club® Card, we want to insure we have a program that is beneficial for the franchisees while still generating excitement among customers.
We appreciate customer input on this and all issues. More than anything else, it is the customers who determine what products and programs are featured in SUBWAY® restaurants.
Sincerely,
Toni Ann Savoca x8201
Customer Care Representative
Fair enough. Her name kinda freaks me out, though. Does that make her a corporate drone or a science-fiction Jetson from the future?
In any case, Subway is still on my good side. Because they are nothing like Wal-Mart.
Comments:
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I believe that string at the back is just her phone extension number. You know, in case you decide to call Headquarters.
Except, are they listed in the phonebook?
Plus, the response looks boring. She could have just sent you a one-worder "Read." and be done just as quickly.
Except, are they listed in the phonebook?
Plus, the response looks boring. She could have just sent you a one-worder "Read." and be done just as quickly.
Oh, thank you, Jesus! I'm sorry that yours was one of the markets where the promotion was eliminated, Ian, but I'm glad that mine wasn't! Just two more stamps and I've got a free foot-long lunch coming my way :-)
Oddly enough, it's been eliminated in L.A. too.
I find it funny how she talks about how they review their offers every year and evaluate them, etc. That being said, that means that for 10 years they've thought the Sub Club has been pretty damn good. Something drastic must have happened this year ... or they just realized it was too good of a deal for the customer and not for the "franchisee."
I find it funny how she talks about how they review their offers every year and evaluate them, etc. That being said, that means that for 10 years they've thought the Sub Club has been pretty damn good. Something drastic must have happened this year ... or they just realized it was too good of a deal for the customer and not for the "franchisee."
When I last visited my local Subway, about 6 weeks ago, they told me that the cards were going to be replaced with a plastic, credit card style card with a magnetic strip.
Is this just happening here in the UK?
Is this just happening here in the UK?
ugh...subway sandwiches taste like ass... but i feel your pain that they discontinued the program...i wouldn't want to lose something similar for something i liked.
# posted by 
: 10:00 AM
: 10:00 AM
They're eliminating this program because of fraud. Too many people making up fake cards to get free sandwiches. They're even being sold on eBay.
# posted by : 12:56 PM
: 12:56 PM
It would be pretty easy should you want to duplicate the simple stamps and cards, but if the customers are really faithful, they'd be willing to pay like 50¢ for a plastic card with a barcode or something that got credited each time they made a purchase. I does piss me off that some people ruined free sandwiches for everyone! I don't go to Subway as much anymore.
Hi there,
First, your blog is linked to by a article :)
wired
If you go to the same article, Subway is quoted as saying that they have discontinued the program due to fraud. I cannot imagine why they would discontinue in some areas and not others.I suppose they are testing to see if eliminating the program affects sales.
First, your blog is linked to by a article :)
wired
If you go to the same article, Subway is quoted as saying that they have discontinued the program due to fraud. I cannot imagine why they would discontinue in some areas and not others.I suppose they are testing to see if eliminating the program affects sales.
I had heard they were ending the program back over the summer and so some friends joined my wife and I at Subway for a "goodbye to our Sub-Club cards" dining festival. The lady behind the register said something to the effect that they were going to keep honoring them until September. Something gave me the impression it was up to the franchise what to do, but that corporate wouldn't be helping them out anymore until the swipe cards were available.
I'm sorry to see it go, though, as I lived for years on a mostly Subway diet in college.
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I'm sorry to see it go, though, as I lived for years on a mostly Subway diet in college.
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