Where is my free ticket Mr. FlightRaja?. Review on Via

I understand my prospects of becoming a star writer will dwindle with this review and I may even risk penalty action of writing negative review about Mouthshut’s official partner.

Earlier this year I won a video review contest at Mouthshut for my video review on Olympus FE170 dig cam.(Watch that award winning review here:https://mouthshut.com/review/Olympus_FE_170-116943-1.html, related pictures and details here: https://enidhispeaks.blogspot.com/2007/01/enidhi-wins-air-ticket.html ) I was supposed to get a return flight tickets from sponsor Flightraja.com but 7 months since the first communication in this regard; I’m yet to get my prize. In this review I’m presenting the chain of communication that happened between me and Mouthshut executive, Jasmine Ahuja.

Before I proceed, let me make this clear: I’m not here in Mouthshut for the temptation of a prize. I write on Mouthshut because I get quality readers for what I write and can instantly know what others think about what I wrote(Same content if put on my blog takes much longer time to evoke similar response and number of comments)

Air travel is damn cheap these days and there’s nothing much exciting about it. If I’ve to spend months of time and effort in follow up of a domestic air ticket, it is not worth for me. But when a promise was made, I was expecting Mouthshut will stand up to its reputation and MS and its partners will fulfill their commitment. In Mouthshut we complain about several other products and services, I regret to write a negative review on MS and its partner.

Here’s a quick extract from email communication related to this

Jan 15 2007, I got first communication from Mouthshut

Dear Shrinidhi:

Congratulations! Your review on Olympus FE 170 has been selected as a prize winning Video Review. A representative from Flightraja.com would get in touch with you soon to discuss the modalities of your Free Air Ticket.

You are requested to send us your: .list of documents

Jasmine Ahuja

18 Jan 2007: I replied with copy of my passport(Identity and Address proof), contact details and other sought info/docs

22 Jan 2007Jasmine Ahuja replies stating “Thanks for the email. Flightraja representatives should be contacting you soon.”

Mar 30  2007: I send a follow up mail stating there’s been no communication from flight raja and asked if there’s anything missing from my side or should I abandon pursuit?

Same day(Mar 30) Jasmine replies

“I am really surprised that Flightraja executives have not touched base with you as yet. Anyway, no more waiting now. Please let me know your travel plans and we shall book a to and fro flight for you, latest by Tuesday. Do mention all the details.”

March 31 2007: I thanked Jasmine for quick response and gave all details of my travel plan(Stating I wish to travel between Hyd-Delhi and back starting 21st April and return 23rd April)

April 9 2007: As there was no communication I mailed Jasmine asking is there any updates.

11 April 2007: Jasmine replies “I would need another date from you as it is difficult to get tickets for major airlines on those dates.” I immediately replied stating I’m surprised to see that in spite of 3 weeks advance intimation there’re no availability and offered to come up with an alternate date.

12 April: I mailed Jasmine an extract from flightraja.com website which showed lots of available flights for the travel plan I’d sent earlier.

12 April: Jasmine replies “We do not get tickets as per the Flight Raja intinery but on a schedule exclusive for MouthShut. We are going to honour our commitment to you and that's our promise. Please bear with us. We really regret the inconvenience caused.”

5th May 2007: I sent another travel plan(Hyd-Mangalore and back, travel date 25th May)

5Th May 2007: Jasmine replies “Let me get this organized”

9th May: I asked by mail: “Any updates” . No response

15th May: I sent another mail as below: “

Hi.

Assume this time also the reply is negative. I suspect you're facing a problem which you're neither able to resolve nor able to admit. You're hereby relieved of your obligation of providing me with a return ticket. Air tickets are pretty cheap these days and I dont think it is worth all these time and effort spent in waiting and follow up.

I'm proceeding with my own travel plans.Thanks for your time and efforts.”

Jasmine replies same day:

"Thanks for the email.

For us, it is not a matter of one ticket, we are coordinating with Flightraja on a whole lot of issues and this is taking time. Please bear with us and we shall resolve the entire issue successfully, with your support of course."

I don’t know what that means. I never bothered to follow up. 2 more months since then, I doubt if their “whole lot of issues” with flight raja are resolved yet.

Recently we got another mail saying watching a particular video and answering questions may win us a holiday to Goa. I mailed back asking why I should take your contests seriously if I’m never going to get anything anyway. No reply till date.

May be mine was a special case. Though Jasmine couldn't provide me with any materialistic solution, timely response is appreciated.I invite other mouthshut members to drop a comment: Did you get your prizes in time?

*Update: i've attached a video for my previous review on Hyderabad Traffic police

*As I said earlier, ticket or no ticket I'll continue writing on mouthshut because I'm not here for the prizes. But it is very essential for MS to deliver whatever promised, because Trust is the key factor, if lost can't be recovered easily.

Update: July 21 07: I publish this review and both MS and Flightraja CEOs read and comment it stating they will rectify it and ensure that I get my tickets. NO communication from anyone till date.