Don't Waste Your Bonus Bucks!

If you've never ordered novels from eHarlequin.com you may not know what I'm talking about when I say Bonus Bucks so here's the short of it. With each order you earn a couple of little slips of paper called Bonus Bucks and when accumulated, these little slips of paper allow you to "buy" some free stuff from a catalog of items listed on the website or that comes in the little magazine Harlequin sends out periodically.

In the past I've gotten some really neat stuff through the bonus bucks program. A gorgeous table runner, a set of blue iced tea glasses, and a lovely little pocket mirror to name a few of the non-book items I've "purchased."
So when I saw that they were offering a tote bag celebrating their 60th anniversary, I was stoked. It looked so cool in the picture, sporting a vintage cover and all. So I saved up 9 Bonus Bucks, sent off my $3.99 to cover shipping and waited. And waited and waited and waited. I waited with great anticipation to receive my sweet tote.

And yesterday I finally got it. It was in a tiny little box the size I normally receive a small order of books in. I raced into the house and eagerly ripped the box open and...and...
Here's the description listed on the catalog:
HARLEQUIN 60TH ANNIVERSARY TOTE BAG
This gorgeous tote will help you celebrate Harlequin’s landmark anniversary in style! Perfect for the beach, the gym, the mall and everywhere in between, this tote makes it easy to stay organized.
Retail Value: $10.00
But...but...It's awful!

I was so disappointed when I unfolded it from the little ball they had it wadded up in. Conceptually, it's totally cool. The vintage book cover could have been gorgeous. But it's made out of some kind of plastic or plastic coated fabric, hence it wanting to stay shaped to the fold it had been in, it's HUGE in depth but not in width and has absolutely no pockets for organizing stuff. It's only fastener of any kind is a flimsy little plastic button at the very top. Very poorly made and just plane awful.

I don't know why, but I had expected it to be canvas...you know, something nice. And maybe have a couple of zippered pockets inside. And maybe not make me want to cry with disappointment.

Total waste of my bonus bucks AND the $3.99 shipping. I wouldn't have bought this at the DOLLAR store, much less paid the alleged $10 retail price. Color me disillusioned. :-(

Comments

Heather said…
Ugh! I hate when companies mislead customers. So sorry for your disappointment, Jana. Me personally, I would send it back and let them know exactly why I was returning it. They should have stated in their description what it was made of. Can you write reviews on bonus bucks items on the website? Wait, nevermind. They have a policy of NOT posting negative reviews. If not returning it, is there any way you could at least frame the vintage cover part?
Fri Sep 11, 09:56:00 AM 2009
Jana said…
Not worth the money of returning it. lol But I did post this same post on my blog over there. And you know, I had actually thought of framing the vintage cover and still might, but in some of the places where it was folded, it looks kinda not great. So we'll see. I might can salvage it yet.
Fri Sep 11, 10:47:00 AM 2009
Heather said…
Good for you posting this to your ehqn blog. I hope someone takes note of it. *WEG*
Wed Sep 16, 04:09:00 PM 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm Lost

Boy.  Last night was the most intense 2.5 hours of my LIFE. Well, the part of my life that I relegate to television viewing, anyway. Last night, as you may have heard, was THE END for LOST. If you haven't been watching it for the past six years, what were you doing with your life? LOL No, I know. It was one of those things you were either fully emersed in or you didn't want to expend the energy it took to follow it. Because it did take a lot of energy to follow it. And as much as I was held captivated by it, I am really too stupid to really full grasp it. No, seriously. I've read the discussion boards. I've followed other blogs about it. And I'd always be like, "Why didn't I catch that?" or "I completly missed that." My brain is merely too simple to comprehend all the little mysteries and tie-ins and connections that were hidden throughout six seasons of this show. It was no different last night. Honestly, the finale was gripping an...
Read more

Me and the boob tube

Ever met someone who is passionate about her TV shows? Well, if not, you have now. Yeah, I'm probably fairly sad with how involved I become with some shows but believe me...I know some folks who are a LOT worse than me. Just trust me on this. I have maybe a handful of shows that I watch without fail whenever they're on and set my VCR to tape if I'm out. (Yeah, I still have a VCR...and I will until they no longer make 'em) Monday night is Medium night. Tuesday night is BB6 in the summer Charmed on TNT in fall. Wednesday is Lost and Alias (in regular season anyway) Thursday night is BB6 in summer and Will and Grace in fall. Friday night sucks since they cancelled Joan of Arcadia. Saturday night is BB6 in summer and Trading Spaces. Sunday night is Desperate Housewives and The 4400 in summer. Everyday things are Gilmore Girls on ABC Family, 30 Minute Meals on Food Network and Bold and the Beautiful. Last night, of course, was BB6. Now, I'm not one to enjoy many reality ...
Read more

Ten Things That Make Me Happy Today

Image
1.) Chuck . Chuck makes me very happy. I'm still flying high from the time I spent with him last night. Seriously, it's like the second Zachary Levi walks on screen and gives that trademark smile my heart goes all gooey in my chest and my lips curve up all dreamy smile-ish and for that one hour each Monday night I'm on cloud nine. Pitiful, no? 2.) Her. 'Nuff said. 3.) My friends. All of 'em. Ms. B who I only get to see once a month and chat on the phone every few weeks. E who talks me into field trips to Starbucks so that we can blame each other for being bad. Trix who hated the way Medium ended, too. (And always sends me the awesomest handmade cards.) BFF who calls once a month to update me on the ever shifting drama of her life. (She's doing much better, by the way. Goes back to work next week.) Jen who  once--in a round about way--compared me to the awesome Pioneer Woman. (And who's love story to her fireman still gives me hope that true love real...
Read more