The Debacle of the Fake DQ Coupons for Teachers

Okay guys, this one just sounds like it was nothing but trouble from the get go.

Last week was one of those commemorative weeks, where we all decide that we're going to pay more attention to a certain subject or group.  It was National Nurses and Teachers Appreciation Week.  Here's how one Missouri school did it.

Well, something... more chaotic happened here in Sedville.

What's the Tea?

Well, someone, and I have no idea who, sent out a coupon to employees of the Sedalia School District 200, offering them a free small Blizzard if they came into the local Dairy Queen.

Now if it looks legit, it's because it is - it's just not valid here.  It's a Fourteen Foods coupon.  Someone either saw it and thought it DID apply, or saw it and decided to try to cause some chaos. And I can get how a teacher would see the first part of the email and maybe not scroll down to the Fourteen Foods part.  Or maybe they didn't know that our local DQ isn't FF.

Wait, What's Fourteen Foods?

Fourteen Foods is the biggest franchisee of Dairy Queen in the world.  They have like, over 200 locations. In thirteen states However, they're not in Missouri.  They are a legit company, and they are associated with Dairy Queen, but they do not own any stores in Missouri, more specifically, they do not own the store in Sedalia.  Guesa Investments does.

So, What's the Problem?

The problem is, those coupons are only good in Fourteen Foods locations.  But since people got the coupon directly from their work email, they assumed it was legit.  And they... did not react well when they were told by the employees that it wasn't valid.

I mean, I understand it from both sides.  These two professions are definitely high stress.  And they're both professions that people like to give gifts to - how many times have you heard about someone sending donuts to a teacher's lounge?  They're both very much needed jobs, and people like to show their appreciation.  So it wasn't out of the norm for the employees to get a coupon like that. Heck, the head of the local Sedalia Guesa, Jorge, has done so many things LIKE this (remember when he bought a ton of veterans free concert tickets?)..... it certainly didn't seem out of character.

And the employees themselves, they WANTED to give the discount.  But it's not that simple.  I'm sure there's all sorts of things a franchise has to do before, during, and after a promotion like that.  There's probably logistical, monetary, legal, and other concerns.  Especially with a huge name like Dairy Queen -  even if a local entity owns the store, they have to keep in line with with the Head Office will allow.  And to do all that at the drop of a hat?  I get why they weren't able to honor it.  I'm sure they can't honor other store's coupons any more than Baskin Robbins can accept coupons from TCBY.

So What Now?

The thing is, if someone had asked and arranged this with Jorge beforehand, and followed the right procedure.... he probably would have said yes.  You've been to events here in town.   Guesa is always involved, either by donating or sponsoring and helping out.  Jorge loves Sedalia. But you get how he couldn't just accept another franchisee's coupons out of nowhere.

Part of me wonders if it was a big joke.  Like someone sent out the email thinking, "Well, Jorge won't say no", and just went with it.  Part of me thinks, though, it was an oversight.  Like, someone saw the coupon, assumed it was nationwide, and sent it out.

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Either way, it was unfortunate that tempers had to be raised about this.  I'm glad that it's all sorted out now, but... dang.   If someone really is out there being malicious about this.... like, why mess with these three groups?  Teachers are here to help.  Nurses are here to help.  Guesa helps all the time, too.   I just don't know why you'd want to make their days worse.  They're already stressed out enough, aren't they?  Teachers and Nurses work hard.  And so do the workers at Dairy Queen!  They're just trying to do a job, they're not plotting ways to stop teachers from getting a freebie.

So if you see the coupon, trash it.  Tell your people to trash it, too.

And maybe be extra nice to the dude at the drive thru at DQ.  Just sayin.

Scammily yours,
Behka