Free gas, grocery incentives draw consumer complaints

Furniture stores, other retailers offered them

Heath Combs -- Furniture Today, June 29, 2009

HIGH POINT — Consumers are complaining about a free gas and grocery voucher incentive program - tied to purchases of furniture and other products - that is not delivering as promised, according to news reports.

The vouchers are offered as promotions by retailers including furniture stores, electronics chains and car dealers, among others.

According to reports, the vouchers are sold to retailers via brokers by BBZ Resource Management of Mesa, Ariz. Consumers send BBZ receipts from gas and grocery purchases, and BBZ is supposed to issue gift card rebates adding up to the total offer of the promotion.

Stories in the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch say that hundreds of consumers have complained that they haven't received the rebates as promised. Some Ashley Furniture HomeStores and Chicago electronics chain Grant's Appliances were listed as among stores that use the vouchers.

BBZ claimed to have issued 160,000 certificates in March, the St. Petersburg story said.

Customers said inquiries to BBZ went unanswered or rebates went undelivered.

The St. Louis story reported that an owner of several Missouri Ashley stores was "deluged" by complains from customers whose vouchers have not been redeemed. It said Ashley has filed a complaint about BBZ with law enforcement authorities in Arizona.

A Better Business Bureau office reported more than 225 complaints from customers who did not receive gift cards, the St. Louis story said.

A story in the Phoenix Business Journal reported that the company has recently changed its name to Incentive International.  

Ashley Furniture officials were not available at press time. Furniture/Today was unable to reach BBZ.