Mightyape Banana Points

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networkn

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#89247 29-Aug-2011 15:57

Hi There!

/rant on

I have been a MA customer since they were GP Store Bricks and Mortar store in Mt Eden, and in fact before that when they were in Symonds St. I have over the years spent literally tens of thousands of dollars with them and accumulated a considerable number of points.

My issue has long stemmed from the fact they keep promising decent rewards you can spend you points on but in reality since I am older than 12, I don't have any use for posters, caps and t-shirts. I have written to them on multiple occasions and found them initally to promise to do better, and then as time as gone on, minimized the value of the points and carped on about how they aren't supposed to be used as currency. I know I can vote with my feet, but at the end of the day I have about 30,000 points which at one point was valued at a few hundred dollars.

I just want them to send me some vouchers to shut me up, or send me a couple of new release games or something, but they won't budge. They are a privately owned company, so I am not sure what else I can do.

Anyone else had issues with them?

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#513529 29-Aug-2011 16:00

What value of vouchers would shut you up?

networkn

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#513532 29-Aug-2011 16:04

Well I last tried to value these vouchers based on stuff they previously had up there, and I think I worked it out at around $250 (They recently look like they have changed the values), so I had suggested to them 2 new release games and an older game would make me a happy MA Customer again!

I can't find the email with the discussion I had with one of the staff but I think 10,000 rewards was approx $100 value.

I guess at the end of the day people just want to be treated properly.

urban

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#513555 29-Aug-2011 17:14

Take your business elsewhere :)

I have... we're being overcharged for stuff this end of the planet.

dontpanic42

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#513590 29-Aug-2011 18:19

I have about 15000 points as well, and like you, I don't fancy rewards that are aimed at tweens.
I too emailed them a while back and they promised they would have better rewards available in the coming weeks. Still nothing.

I will still shop with them because otherwise they have damn good service.
I guess people are just feeling a bit duped when they have marketed the points as a selling point.

jtbthatsme

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#513598 29-Aug-2011 18:38

nzgameshop.com great prices who cares about points.

networkn

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#513604 29-Aug-2011 18:48

I care about points, especially when I feel they are worth $250 and because I have waited 2 years for them to improve the situation.

xpd

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#513619 29-Aug-2011 19:17

Ive been using Mightyape/Gameplanet/Gamezone/Microworld since my Amiga days (thats a long while back) and their service has always been top notch and pricing competitive - but yeah, the banana points scheme has been a let down, I havent got a huge number of points, but theyve been in my account since the store started offering them and I havent used them once.

If you could exchange them for gift vouchers etc, it would be a bigger draw card for people to buy from them.

XPD^ / DemiseNZ

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Disclaimer - It wasn't me, the dog ate my keyboard, my account was hacked, I was drunk, ALIENS.

dontpanic42

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#513622 29-Aug-2011 19:25

xpd:
If you could exchange them for gift vouchers etc, it would be a bigger draw card for people to buy from them.

I suggested that to them in my email, and they said they would pass the idea along.
Nothing has happened so far though.

Hobchild

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#513653 29-Aug-2011 20:46

It get's worse, I just had a look and all you could possibly get at the moment would be a MA beanie, 2 MA magnets, a MA lanyard and your choice between a pack of Kingdom Hearts art cards or a Tom Clancy themed xbox 360 faceplate. That is just pitiful. I don't think your points are worth what they used to be worth somehow.

n00dy

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#513681 29-Aug-2011 21:35

+1
dont even know why they even bother with a rewards program thats really doesnt reward. Probably costs them more in administration than the programs worth, it appears to be just a way of getting rid of crap they have been landed with

networkn

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#513683 29-Aug-2011 21:36

hobchild: I believe that it's pretty much been like that for as long as I have been monitoring the lists though I don't do this consistently.

I m wondering if there is a case under the fair trading act in terms of acting in good faith. A rewards program needs to provide rewards and I would imagine that fridge magnets would not be considered a reward suitable to the target demographic.

jbthatsme: that store doesn't ship games on release day though correct? They are often weeks behind.

networkn

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#513684 29-Aug-2011 21:37

noody: it's not like whats on offer right now is even considered crap they got landed with.

jtbthatsme

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#513728 29-Aug-2011 23:01

Networkn in all honesty I have not used them yet lol. I see the prices have read online comments stating they are good. I would actually think the answer to your question ould be a bit of both since I believe they're actually not a NZ sotre at all so would be able to ship games according to their countries release dates for some titles this would be before and others after NZ release.

I am not saying MA are not great I have had only good dealings with them. The complaint seems to be about value for money on services rendered (or lack of in the Banana points example/model) I am simply saying if it's $$$ your looking at trying to save here then why not just buy from the cheapest (not saying my suggestion is the cheapest either) but the OP is already aware the model is broken and has been for years so why bother to care. Make it a MA beanie for xmas 10 x over for friends and family.

I am certain they're not just buying from MA because of the BP scheme these things are not for you to get rewarded at all it's about encouraging your continued custom by giving the idea that one may get something for nothing. Ever signed up to a membership reward program on your credit card??? Heard of something called Flybuys some work some don't if your a member of one and don't like it do something about it. Stoip being a customer, change who you get these deals through or simply stop caring and be happy with the product and or service your getting from your supplier in the first place.

networkn

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#513740 30-Aug-2011 00:05

Yah I understand most of your points though I am not in agreeance with some of them. I believe rewards points should be reasonable value or not exist. Point in case, I have not flown economy in the last 7 years since I got a airnz credit card that gives me airnz dollars. The ratio may not be great, but it's real value in exchange for real custom. I am not worried about absolute cheapest, for me I'd rather pay $10 more for a game and have it release day and MA is very good for that. It's more about having earned BP and not being able to redeem them.

They would be better to give me $250 worth of games based on RRP than lose me as a customer given my yearly spend.

Ramjet007

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#513749 30-Aug-2011 06:05

I have 23000 points. I would like to be able to get a 10% discount for x amount of points. They would then appear to be worth something.

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