Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

Finally got another response from echo. They only seem to respond when I put something in my messages asking if anyone is actually reading them. They've also added audio advertisements and doubled the size of the ad window in the echo controller.

Here's what I got today:

quote:

---

Hi Aaron,

You will receive the letter described previously very soon. Thank you for
your continued patience while we work to process rewards during this holiday
season.

Sincerely,

Rachel Henes
Echo Networks, Inc.
http://www.echo.com

---

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Hey Guys,

Just got this in my inbox this morning and thought I would pass it along to those who didn't get it.

quote:

---

I am writing to update you on your rewards status. About 98% of rewards (Amazon gift certificates and Internet Cash) redeemed before November 5th will be fulfilled prior to the end of the year. Remaining rewards (Web Miles and speakers) redeemed before November 5th will be fulfilled prior to January 15th. I realize that these rewards are delayed (even from our eight-week turnaround time). Ironically, this delay is due to unexpected problems that I have run into while trying to make the redemption process run more smoothly. I apologize for this frustrating situation and assure you that my team and I are working hard to expedite the fulfillment of your reward.

If my work pays off, the turnaround time will decrease dramatically in the near future and all rewards redeemed after November 5th will be fulfilled prior to the eight-week turnaround time.

Your continued patience with reward fulfillment will help me focus on the overall fulfillment process. If you have other questions about your Echo account, please let us know by writing to [email protected].

---

__________________
Ryan Clayton
www.girlandgeek.com
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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

I got that mail last night. It was nice to see some progress from them, but I'm not sure I entirely believe them. I'm guessing that money issues had something to do with it since they've just recently switched to a new advertising scheme.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

I assume everyone else got the email about the new program echo is doing? As I understand the email, instead of saving for amazon gift certificates, you will now get entries into a sweepstakes with your points......at least that was how it sounded. I emailed them for clarification. Why would I want to spend all that time earning points, and then gamble it away on something I know I am never going to win?

Sounds like they are taking the idea from AllAdvantage which now does the same thing.......

If I can't get my amazon gift certs....I'm going to be an ex echo user......

__________________
Ryan Clayton
www.girlandgeek.com
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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

Just lost my last response when Explorer crashed.

I think it's pretty lousy that they're making changes like this just three months after they tripled the price of the amazon certificates and capped the maximum time you could spend earning points. It's really bad since they just added the commercials to the service.

Most online companies seem to follow the same pattern. They have great deals or offers early on in an attempt to build up a loyal customer base. Then they start raising prices or reducing the deals they offer to get profitable. That doesn't work like they hoped because the customers were only there for the initial deals and once they're gone, so are the customers. Then the company collapses. It happened with reel.com, and I expect it will happen to echo.

I'm probably going to stay with them, but only until I find a better online radio station where I can still create my own station. If I find something like that, I'll ditch echo in a second.

If you're looking for good amazon deals, check out this link. You can get a $150 amazon gift certificate for switching your long distance if the deal is still going on.

http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/017177.html

http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/017367.html

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

I got a very nice late christmas present from echo on 12/27- they finally delivered all the outstanding gift certificates they owed me. It's too bad, now I can't look forward to getting anything other than "contest entries" from echo for listening to them.

I may pick up an eyemodule with some of the certificates though. I'm intrigued by that new software that lets you store pictures with addresses, although I'd really prefer being able to modify the pictures on my computer before storing them, and I'd also prefer being able to take the pictures with my digital camera instead of the eyemodule.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Roseville, MN, USA
Posts: 161

So, has anyone here actually won one of the contests yet?

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Surfside, FL, USA
Posts: 113

I wouldn't know. I stopped using Echo when they changed their system. I doubt anyone actually wins anything, though I'm ready (and happy) to be proven wrong.