The GrubHub promo problems

[DamianFatale]

Got my emote in my email. I have had no issues. Should be on its way to the mail moogles as we speak.

[Stryfe_Omega]

So that's it? They seriously only gave people a couple of days window to get the pizza emote and now it's gone forever? You know for a company so beloved by so many, they sure do a lot of half assed things.

[Iaito]

The entire promo didn't work for more than half the people who tried to participate in it.

[Minato777]

i dont blame SE for this i think GH did something like this before ( think it was for overwatch or something like that) and it was a total shitshow back then as well....still have not gotten my code yet ether....

[SkyeSunbeam]

I didn't mind the Butterfinger receipt thing being poorly organized, because at least they let you know when it wasn't working, and at least Butterfingers are cheap. Grubhub you gotta shell out like 30-40 bucks minimum between the baseline $15, delivery fee, service fee, tip, and taxes, and they've been ridiculously uncommunicative about the whole promo. I don't mind shelling out extra cash for FFXIV every now and then, but I'd like to actually get what I paid for. It's like 10pm, at this point I'm pretty sure I'm not getting the emote despite the website telling me the code was applied, and I'm honestly really skeptical about any future promotions like this one. Feels like I got conned.

[ConcernedPerson]

My spouse & I both took part in this campaign -- which at this point I think is more appropriately labeled a scam.

First, my order: Totaled $41. Entered Endwalker code multiple times. Each time, it mysteriously vanished shortly after entering. Used the link from Lodestone. Set up the order again. Saw the promo code. Processed the order. Promo code mysteriously vanished after payment. Immediately contacted customer service chat. Spoke with a rep who assured me the code had been applied. Had a transcript of the chat emailed to myself for my records. Looked at the receipt page: Did see Endwalker code.

Fast forward to today: No emote code received from Grubhub. Reached out. Spoke to chat rep. They told me the code had never been applied. They told me this even though I could literally see it on my screen in my recent orders through Grubhub. I insisted they needed to fix the situation. They transferred me to a supervisor. He hung up on me. Seriously. S/he immediately left the chat. Another chat rep came. I reiterated to them the situation. They told me that the code *had* been applied but that, unfortunately, they had run out of the emote codes for game redemption.

They passed me along to a supervisor. The supervisor reiterated that they had run out of the emote codes. I showed him the link to Lodestone's campaign page about the event. He responded by giving me this link: https://www.grubhub.com/promoterms

He said to see the terms & conditions there, the first line of which says, "Limited supply available (expect high demand). FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online “Eat Pizza” emote item codes will be assigned on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. FINAL FANTASY® XIV online pizza emote codes will be sent to eligible recipients via email to the email addresses associated with their Grubhub accounts."

So... On the lodestone campaign page, no where does it mention that Grubhub was given a limited number of the emote redemption codes, nor that these codes would apparently be randomly distributed to random email addresses that used the ENDWALKER code during the campaign. I say random because I have been reading through posts on Reddit & Twitter, and there are folks who used the code on the very first day, within the first hour, who have also been told by Grubhub that there are no codes left.

I honestly feel conned. If I even consider taking part in any future FFXIV crossover promotion for an in-game item, I will be certain to seek out the other company's terms & conditions and read through them with a fine-tooth comb to see if it matches Square Enix's advertising on the Lodestone page.

I did reach out to Square Enix. I got a canned PR response telling me that they will not do anything to fix the situation. They said I have to handle it with Grubhub... notice the closed circle.

[ConcernedPerson]

As previously mentioned, my spouse also took part in the campaign, and also did not receive his emote code. After my experience with chat, we have not yet bothered contacting Grubhub about his order from his account.

What I do want to mention, though, is the following:

1. My husband ordered from what he thought was a real restaurant but which turned out to be a fake storefront. A local deli made up a fancy name and jacked up their prices.

2. All of the menu photos were obviously (well, obvious to this wife, lol) ripped from across the internet. I did actually reverse google image search and find a lot of them just for fun. I did also have a laugh with my husband because he really just wanted a bbq chicken wrap. I wasn't home when all of this transpired, clearly. :3 I was out with a friend.

3. His bbq chicken wrap didn't even come on a wrap. Part of the order was also missing. And the entire order came an hour late.

4. He had the same problems as me with the ENDWALKER code but used the link from lodestone, as I had, successfully, and, like mine, his code vanished just after he paid. Convenient. $50 order. I wish I was kidding. Seriously. $50 for curly fries & a wrap that wasn't even a wrap.

5. He also spoke with a chat rep immediately after that, who assured him the code had been applied. He saved that chat transcript. He looked at the orders in Grubhub and saw the code.

6. He has not received the emote code yet either.

I would strongly urge folks not to use Grubhub. The service overall, and the shadiness of how the "restaurants" weren't even vetted... I can't even. The lack of the emote after all of this is just salt in the wound, really.

I want to reiterate that I'm really disappointed that SE was not transparent about this campaign and is refusing to take any responsibility in helping to resolve the issues so many of us have had with it.

I really would urge other players to avoid participating in future FFXIV crossover campaigns with third-party companies regarding in-game item rewards. I run an FC, and any time any future campaign comes up, I am going to share my Grubhub experience with them and warn them. This all just really left a bad taste in my mouth...

[Princess_Kaylin]

As previously mentioned---

Trust me i know your pain. Grubhub has always been an awful experience for me. From orders constantly being wrong, orders not being delivered, now experiencing the promo code situation where I did it right away when we could, I have decided to boycott them entirely.

We put in the code it claimed it was applied by the system, was told since it was a system error they cant apply the code and we wont get it. I even stated it in the driver notes to cover my butt. Was like look we have had an awful experience multiple times from the drivers you hire in our area, to the food prep, to the customer service...This is not my fault it is yours if its a system error and I will just file for a refund.

They literally sent me a refund for the full order and a coupon to go back for 15 dollars off...I even said why would I want a coupon to be brought back yet again numerous times I will just give my code away to someone who has a decent experience with you in their area that I know. Was told that was fine so now im just literally looking for a way to get the stupid emote and am thinking well this might just not happen....least I got a refund for food I medically couldn't eat that was prepped wrong.

[Wulf]

The best part is that you didn't even need to pay money! Here's how my experience went:

• I live in Canada so the promo wasn't even available for me even though I'm NA.
• I downloaded the Grubhub app from the iStore.
• I used a friend's address to buy him some food from a local pizza shop.
• I tried using my credit card with the ENDWALKER promo code but it got rejected. Maybe because a Canadian card being used for a purchase was flagged as suspicious. Order got cancelled. No food, nor money spent.
• Few days later I get the pizza code in my inbox.

Here's hoping there's another giveaway in the future (that isn't locked behind a region or behind some stupid app)!

[Krokov]

So that's it? They seriously only gave people a couple of days window to get the pizza emote and now it's gone forever? You know for a company so beloved by so many, they sure do a lot of half assed things.

It was from the 9th to the 15th, people had a week. They also said it possible may return in future promos/campaigns.

It's not really SE in this case, GrubHub was the sponser of this campaign. They set the T&C of this, all SE did was provide the Item codes.