Hi, I got this info from another group, thought you ladies might want to check it out. I personally won't go to Subway anymore, it may be no big deal, but it made me angry. Here 's the link, http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/kids/contest.aspx read the bottom where it says legal citizens only. Blessings, Dianna
Here is a letter that one lady wrote.... Here is what I sent: I see that you are sponsoring a competition for elementary children submitting stories with Subway. "Contest is open only to legal US residents, over the age of 18 with children in either elementary, private or parochial schools that serve grades PreK-6. No home schools will be accepted". For you that are not aware, homeschooling IS a private school, with the same legal rights as a "regular" private school. What you are doing is downright wrong. I'm sure you're aware of the folowing: According to the National Home Education Research Institute. "There were an estimated 1,700,000 to 2,100,000 children (grades K-12) home educated during 2002-2003 in the United States. Homeschooling appears to still be the fastest-growing form of education." This was FIVE years ago, and believe me, it is a MUCH bigger number now. So I'll just let all homeschool sites know that we are not welcome in Scholastics or Subways, as we don't really count, and we'll make sure our families and friends know the same thing. Since we're not good enough for your competition, then you're not good enough for our business. I understand that the Grand Prize would be hard to give to a homeschooler, but you could have made a contention plan. Say, give a year's membership to a gym. Or give a smaller version of althetic equipment for that child in their home. Actually, most homeschoolers I've spoken with said they would have donated the equipment to a private or public school of their choosing. But to completely exclude the homeschooling community was downright wrong. Copies of our letters and the details of your contest are being sent out across the United States to all of the homeschooling groups and boycotts are being called for both Scholastic and Subway. I think this could have been handled a little better.
Dianna thanks wouldn't see me eatting there either, I went ahead and wrote a letter in the story box there and ask why homeschooler couldn't be in the contest. I wonder if I hear anything from them.
....that is 'cause they know that hsers will WIN ALL THE CATEGORIES........and it wont be fair to the "school" kids!! LOL! I mean really, what other legit reason would they have for banning hsers than for that reason???? Ya know what they can do with their {Sing along now....} $5 FOOTLONGS!!!!??? Subway can stick it where the sun dont shine! What if a company had a contest and ONLY hsers were allowed?? The schools would be up in arms!!! I would like to know why they think they can do this to hs kids!!
Who did you send it to? I couldn't find an address. Actually, I'd rather see the KIDS write the letters....
Jackie, I sent the letter write where they ask for a story.. Yes I rather see kids doing it, but my girls are gone for tonight so I thought I would do it.
I Went to subway.com and used the contact us link to send an email to the company informing them of my dissatisfaction with their decision and that I will no longer be a customer of their restaurants.
oh you got me fuming mad now!!!!!! Off to write them a nasty letter!!! Edited: I didnt' really send off a nasty letter but I did send one off pointing out how they should reconsider and how they could go about doing it.
I posted on a comment where it said to type your story as well. Just a few sentences about how I will let everyone I know about the discriminatory treatment we have received from their company. I really can't believe they did that. Why go to the trouble to exclude one specific group? Is there anyone with brains in their marketing group? Maybe if they receive several thousand 'entries' into their contest from angry homeschoolers they will rescind the exclusion? I may have to 'enter' the contest a few more times...
I sent what my dad calls a "nastygram", too. Well, it wasn't really nasty...just a matter-of-fact expression of my opinion. Stuff like that really ticks me off...
If I had older children I might have them write a story that follows the guidelines only one that also expresses the fact that they are excluding homeschoolers and have them enter it in the contest (just to show them that homeschoolers can write stories too...) Unfortunately my boys are just too young for that kind of writing assignment
Hey, that's a funny idea...homeschoolers enter the contest by building off their writing prompts... "When the invitation to the meatball came in the mail, Mr. Meatball opened it with glee. But as he read the fine print, he was crestfallen to discover that homeschooled meatballs were not allowed to attend the party." "There was a loud knock at the door, but when Salami Sam opened it, he slammed it again. For it was the nosey neighbor, Mrs. Pastrami, demanding to know why she saw Sam out skateboarding this morning instead of at school like all the other little cold cuts." "Everyone gathered in the center of town for the start of the race except for the homeschoolers. Because, as everyone knows, homeschoolers never venture out in public." "The smell of fresh baked bread coming from the store was so good that Homeschooled Hilda went inside to purchase a long, overbaked baguette. Then she walked to the corporate headquarters of Subway, Inc. She marched straight into the C.E.O.'s office and bonked him in the head with the rock-solid baguette. 'THAT is from all the homeschoolers of America!' she declared, and marched back out with a smile."
I will probably have tomatoes tossed at me BUT... if you read what the prizes are: $5000 worth of sports equipment for YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL, among a personal prize as well, I can totally see why they would not want homeschoolers to enter the contest. $5000 in sports equipment would overwhelm my garage and yard!!!! I know most school can use this more than I could. NOW if the contest was for say a gift card to Subway ONLY , then I might be a little upset. I always ask the company when they have a contest or giveaways, if homeschoolers/homeschool teachers are eligible for them. They email me back and explain that either yes we are or no we are not. If not then I ask them if they would consider it in the future and most of them are pretty open to that. Maybe Subway should have put a clause in there that said if a homeschooler wins the contest then they get maybe $500 in equipment or the whole $5000 goes to their co-op if they have one. That would be something to suggest to them IMHO.
CrystalCA - I'm sort of with you on this. The contest seems directed at giving equipment to schools and to me, if that's their goal, I'm not bothered that they don't include homeschoolers. I am a little bothered that it's only $5000 worth of equipment though. Pretty cheap of them.
I am writing a letter! Though have all of you just wrote it right their in the box? Or did you send it to corporate subway office? This is the only customer service link I could find. I have not tried these, just found them online. Subway Enterprises-Corporate Office 4800 Jefferson St NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 881-0969 Subway Corporate Office 4613 Manhattan Beach Blvd Lawndale, CA 90260 (310) 536-8880
Crystal, I noticed that when I checked it out more in depth, and I think you're right on. The company wants to give that to a SCHOOL, not to an individual family. I like the idea of us contacting them and asking for a smaller prize for hs'ers. I also think understanding letters would be much more productive than angry ones, which may turn them off to homeschoolers.
Why don't they let the family that wins the 5,000 to choose the school that gets the equipment, a charity, Homeschool orgainzed sports or a children's shelter. Their is still no good reason not to include hs'ers.
