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The story
On the 9th, Kura Sushi announced that the “all-items 10% off” discount it had offered as an apology for ending its “Chiikawa” collaboration campaign early had not actually been applied at some stores due to a failure to properly inform staff, and said it would issue refunds. The affected period covers customers who visited on September 6 and 7, with refund application instructions posted on the company’s official website. On 5ch, threads filled up with complaints about the hassle of the refund process and calls for a fix for customers who had already thrown away their receipts, while others pointed to a connection with the previously controversial “Bikkura Pon” prize-draw machine, expanding the discussion from the discount issue to the company’s handling of the whole collaboration.
Kura Sushi announced on the 9th that, regarding the “all-items 10% discount” offered as an “apology” following the cancellation of its “Chiikawa” collaboration campaign, the discount had not been applied in some cases, and that it would respond with refunds.
The company had canceled the campaign and, on its official website, stated that “as an expression of apology for ending the collaboration early,” it would apply a “10% discount on all items at the register” for the two days of September 6 and 7.
On this matter, the company apologized, stating: “This measure was intended to apply a uniform 10% discount to all customers who visited during the target period; however, we have found that at some stores the information was not properly communicated, and the discount was not applied for some customers. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and displeasure this has caused affected customers.”
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
Like that old Saizeriya thing lol (Saizeriya, a budget Italian chain, had a similar mix-up before)
That might be something Chiikawa's side would have to handle
There must be several other brands already lining up collabs with them, so what are they going to do now? If they announce 'Kura Sushi collab starting next month' at this point, people will just say 'the prizes are probably rigged anyway' or 'it'll end up on Mercari again' (Mercari = Japan's biggest resale app), and it'll only hurt their corporate image.
Given the state of things, I bet the staff would do that
A lawyer explained this on some TV show — apparently a refund obligation could arise because:
・No figures were included from the start (even though some people play specifically for them)
・The company advertised that paying extra improves your odds
They overcharge you, and then say 'bring proof if you want it back'? What kind of high-and-mighty business is this.
If the inquiry number is a Navi Dial line, you'll lose money on the call fees alone (Navi Dial is a premium-rate Japanese phone service)
Customers who missed out on the discount because they threw away their receipt say they'll file a complaint with the Consumer Affairs Agency. It won't get them a refund directly, but if enough complaints pile up, the agency sometimes steps in with guidance.
i.imgur.com/TvZl5Wj.png
Well, skimming prizes has been a perk for frontline workers since the old 'boss jacket' prize-machine days
Oh, that's it — making people draw from a lottery with no prizes inside violates the Premiums and Representations Act. That's a double whammy on top of the missing 10% discount.
i.imgur.com/nRNrOSn.jpg
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i.imgur.com/W7gU5SL.jpg
That's bait. But it's pretty much certain that younger folks look down on older Chiikawa fans as embarrassing 'aunties,' though.
These days 'Hama-zushi' is actually more popular than 'Sushiro,' you know
Sushiro's pulled plenty of stunts too. Conveyor-belt sushi chains have basically got no morals left.
Apology plan: give away the Part 3 plates free, first-come first-served → day-one chaos → another apology
I can already picture the part-timers and store managers pocketing those plates for themselves
What about the Navi Dial call charges?
Come on… if it costs you 1,000 yen round-trip just to get back 1,000 yen, that's just dumb
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/daba14df5fb60d97857635a0a98511cb79c91570
Apparently getting a refund for Bikkura Pon is going to be tough
Doesn't matter either way — it's still a violation of the Premiums and Representations Act
Well obviously — no matter how much you were there for the prize draw, there's no obligation to refund money you paid for sushi you actually ate
This lawyer probably doesn't even know they were letting you pay to boost your odds
That's not an apology at all lol
Even if you have your receipt, setting the refund deadline at the end of the month is way too disrespectful of customers for a company that caused this mess unilaterally. It's their fault, yet they're telling people to bring the receipt to the store within less than a month — whoever's running customer service over there must be out of their mind.
Background and Key Points of This Story
This announcement concerns the all-items 10% discount offered as an apology for canceling the “Chiikawa” collaboration, which turned out not to have been applied at some stores due to a failure to properly notify staff. In the thread, practical complaints about the missed discount mixed with renewed criticism of the “Bikkura Pon” prize draw — long a topic of controversy — over how hard it is to win and suspicions that prizes were being skimmed by staff. A report citing a lawyer’s opinion that “since the sushi itself was actually served, it would be legally difficult to recognize an obligation to refund the value of the prize” was also referenced, but this is a separate issue from the “discount not applied” matter, and the two shouldn’t be conflated. Refund applications require presenting a receipt or e-money transaction history, and the fact that customers who didn’t keep their receipts have a harder time getting relief also emerged as a practical challenge in how the company is handling the situation.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Kura Sushi apologizes after “apology” discount for canceled “Chiikawa” campaign goes unapplied at some stores — refund details announced [Eligibility, method, etc.].”
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