Experts Decry Bogus Promos, Bonanzas

A brand promotion spe
cialist, Mr Adeyemi Cole, on Tuesday expressed concern over the over-rated and bogus promos and bonanzas by some business organisations.
Cole, while speaking at a seminar on “Promos and Bonanzas: Customer Appreciation or Bogus Profit-making’’, said that many promos were exploiting the unsuspecting members of the public.
The seminar was organised by the Crystal Business Consult.
According to him, many business organisations are ripping customers of their hard-earned monies by making promises they are not ready to fulfill.
“Customers in Nigeria have been fooled over the years with the promise of better standard of living.
“Business organisations promise them gifts like cars, houses, household items and even aero planes in return for their money.
“The telecommunication sector is the guiltiest with customers being asked to send costly text messages ceaselessly to be able to win gifts.’’ he said.
Miss Ajiro Phillips, a Business Consultant, said that winners of promos and bonanzas were often doctored, adding that there was no transparency in their selection of winners.
‘’Business organisations often make noise on radio and television about how many of their products you need to buy in order to win gifts. “They bombard our phone lines with text messages endearing us to participate in their promos.
“Winners of such promos are often invisible people, we don’t see them in our neighbourhood and they are nobody’s family members.
“They seem arranged to take photographs and pretend to have won one gift item or another,’’ she said.
Mrs Adeola Goriola, a Customer Service Executive with Je-gorj Oil and Gas Ltd., said that there should be proper regulation of promos and bonanzas.
She said that some organisations should be discouraged from deceiving and luring customers into promos, adding that “it is unprofessional and immoral”.
Mr  Ade Ayofe, the Managing Director, Femplast Industry Ltd., however, said that customers were not compelled to participate in the promos.
He said that customers should endeavour to read through the terms and conditions of every promo before participating.