Google Home Mini for Australia

[Camellia78]

Plan

Family

Country

Australia

My Question or Issue

I received my email link for my free Google Home Mini in Australia this morning and after choosing which colour I wanted, I was sent to the verification page. 

I clicked on the checkout for Google and was sent to the main checkout for Google. It asked for my personal address etc that I didn’t fill out yet. There was a Spotify promo code issued for the cost which made the balance $0. 

Unfortunately being a family account I had to do family stuff and put away my phone without completing the order. 

I came back to finish off my details and it had timed out. I went back to the start, back to the checkout and back to my email and each time there was no promo code issued and I was being charged fully for the Google Home Mini. 

Can I have this rectified please as I’d like to avail of the offer. 

Thank you. 

[scammedbyspotif]

I subscribed to Spotify Family. I was given the link to order a Google Home mini. After I ordered, within seconds my order was cancelled by Google (most likely it was machine generated). I contacted Google about it and they weren't ready to reinstate the order. They didn't even give me an explanation for the cancellation. They told me to contact Spotify. When I contacted Spotify they told me to contact Google and that they won't give me a new code to procure the Google Home. This has made me come to the conclusion that the entire promotion was a scam.

[-ha_y4spsrit4]

They can get fked. They obviously only want to help some. Even tho I showed the email of the person in here who got another code. They reply saying they can't help 

[ml080576]

I am in the same boat as everyone else on here i think.

I got the link and clicked on it a couple of days after it was received.  Clicked all the way through to check out and when the end cost still showed $79 at check out i cancelled out and tried again.. same thing so i clicked on the online chat where someone tried to walk me through again, deleting the cache trying icognito etc but no luck so they told me they would have someone from tech contact me.  So the tech people contact me and tell me to do the same thing again, a few more screen shots and nothing.  3 more emails later and i get the same as the previous person.,  We cant help you as your code has already been used.  This is a huge scam and someone needs to get this out into a more public space.  Companies should not be able to get away with this its straight up fraud. 

I wonder what the current affair programs would think of this...hmmm

[DavyW]

I've just complained on their twitter page @spotifycares (oh the irony!!) There's a lot of activity, so if we all start tom complain we might get some reaction. I've also lodged a complaint with the ACCC.

[Philipgem]

Me too! Speaking with Spotify now. Hopefully it gets reimbursed.

[Philipgem]

I had issues when trying to check out as it kept asking to verify my CC which the details were all correct. Changed cards and went through with $79 and -$79 so basically $0. But checked my account and was charged $79! Tweeting @spotifycares and looking into it. Hopefully it gets reimbursed soon.

[-ha_y4spsrit4]

Good luck. They are a bunch of useless pricks

[Belmick]

Same Issue, Attempted to Resolve through Google Support. Went through the motions with Chat, was connected to UK, couldn't assist. Transfered me to an AU Consultant. who then called me in the AM next day. Had a chat, recieved a verbal confirmation that They Would Provide a Code. 

So having stepped through the Circus to where Google have stated that they will supply the Code and to check back in one week. 1 Week later I contacted Google support again and recieved the following.

"I've checked with one of our specialist and they have confirmed saying that, at this point we don't have any additional information to share and are unable to provide a new code. If there is any new information regarding your order, you will receive an email with instructions."

Is there anyway Spotify can assist in resolving this? Is the Deal going to be honoured, and with whom does the fault lie with? Spotify should i be looking at you as the culprit or Google? 

[libraqc]

I am surpriesed to see how many people got their time and money wasted on this stupid offer and there is not even an answer from Spotify. 

I was charged $79 by Google, cancelled my offer, and called google and chatted with Spotify and at the end, they said there is nothing they can do. I asked them to refund my membership fee as I subscribed for that offer, they said they cannot due to my recent usage ( I do not remember using Spotify at all recently). This was a scam from a legit company. look at their final disgusting response below:

 

[frubop]

I received mine in the post today. I don't know why they can't just give you all new codes like they did for me!

[rashadinoz]

Ah frubop, you bring to mind one of those old war movies of my youth where the prisoners of war are trying to escape and getting tortured and worse, and when one or two of them escapes it brings some uplifting joy to the ones left behind. 

And sigh, I am definitely in the "left-behind" camp here.

And the path is littered with emails and messages that gave me such hope.. 
From my Google Chat (snipped from the end of a 1.5 hour exchange):
Bembie 2:01 AM
I have already consulted with our Product Specialists and they are currently investigating on the issue for you and they will need more time to dig deeper but no worries, they will reach you out via email as soon as the resolution is already available.
I appreciate your patience towards this issue and thank you so much for being so nice today, Ish
Me (ever the polite **bleep**) 2:02 AM
OK, Bembie. thank you for your help. Much appreciated.:)

And this email followed:
Hi Ish
Thank you for contacting Google!
I've escalated your case to our product specialists, and we'll follow-up with you in the next 1-2 business days.

So... that was about...hmm...10 days ago? I still haven't heard from them. I guess Google's "Business Days" are slightly different, huh?

And Spotify?
(contacted via twitter) - and this was after I sent them Order confirmation, Order cancellation, et al.
"...We understand. Rest assured, out Accounts team will reach out to you soon. Keep an eye on your inbox (including junk/spam) ..."

and today:
Hi there,

This is a follow up email regarding your Google Home Mini issue.
Google Store should have sent an email regarding the order cancellation reason. At this point we’re unable to provide you with a new code.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, we recommend contacting Google Store directly by going to: https://store.google.com/.
All the best,
Ziefhra
-----

SO. At this point while I should be going bat5hit crazy and foaming at the mouth, hurling invective at these tech behemoths, I have decided that this is some Cosmic Karma thing (though I am actually a really nice guy, I think) and just an example of the Universe deciding to be Grossly Unfair to some unfortunates who drew the wrong numbers. It is tempting to say "Screw them all" and cancel my subscription, etc. But that will only mess me up because I actually listen to this darned streaming service one heck of a lot. SO I will just shrug my shoulders, accept defeat and walk away feeling powerless and dejected. That I could not get a freeby (that is funny too, right?) - But you know what's even funnier? There's someone on ebay selling Google Home MInis for $17. You pay and you get a code, which I am pretty sure is somehow scamming the scam. Isn't that priceless?
Cheers all - and my sympathies to my fellow unfortunates and congrats to frubop and co. Good onya!

[rashadinoz]

I'm not sure if anyone will ever see this, lost in the back pages - but I had to post this to give hope to anyone else who paralleled my experience.
Six months on, today I got an email out of the blue from the Google Store saying (effectivel): Sorry, we have realized that your order was messed up through no fault of yours, and we will honour the order now if you want to replace the order.
Which I did, and hey, all the indications are that there should be one arriving in the mail in a few days.
That is crazy! I mean GOOD crazy. I had even forgotten about the whole episode. And all without me lifting a finger or uttering a cyber-word since the above experiences. It's like having a shattered faith in something unexpectedly restored - and I am very pleased and impressed that between them the Big G and the Big S did not lose my little messed up order.
So if you are one of the lost souls with that whole G/Home Mini debacle in April, I wish you the same restoration I've experienced.
It's hard to take the "Hang in there.." advice seriously - but just possibly, around the corner, it may not just be Christmas in name.
Cheers and good luck, all

[frubop]

I got an email too, but it was for a Google nest mini 

"You previously placed an order for a Google Home Mini as part of a promotion marketed by Spotify, which was inadvertently cancelled by our systems due to a technical error. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. You can now reorder this device (this time, the new Google Nest Mini!) with the code: xxxxxxxxx"

So I went through the process and was able to order one, BUT, I actually DID get the Google home mini! lol sorry to everyone who was messed around by them, I hope you all get this new offer but I'm feeling a bit stoked for myself over here haha

[rashadinoz]

Hi frubop,
(This is like meeting friends you haven't seen for a long time - in nice circumstances, ha ha)

The Home->Nest thing was because Google have rebranded their whole Google Home line as Google Nest. Originally Nest was their video camera (I think) and they seem to have thought that was the name to go with for everything. (I prefer "Home" myself, but hey, it's theirs to name, right?)
So good to hear that you got another one - and I do hope that everyone who struck out at that time gets the same deal now.
I'd love to have seen the correspondence between Spotify and Google to get this sorted out. I'd think Spotify got upset by the bad publicity because of a Google Store issue and probably put the heat on the big G! 🙂
All good now. Amazing.

Well, enjoy your new.... Nest? (I could not resist the Coral)
and have a great Christmas season.

Cheers

R

[frubop]

Oh, you're right, I'd been looking at a different nest product and didn't realise they were all called nest instead of home haha oh well the kids will be happy they will get to pinch one!