Some people who are members of Gather, and also Boomertowne, have expressed concern that the site may be going under and are worried they're not going to get the items or gift cards they've redeemed their points for. I'm one of those who was beginning to wonder, as I have yet to received the cards I ordered, so I decided to do a little investigation to find out just what's up with BT. I managed to run across a Boomertowne employee who goes by the screen name of "BT Help' and I came right out and asked what was going on. I, nor does anyone else, want to get cheated out of the rewards we're expecting for participating on that site, especially in the wake of the rip-off that recently occured on yet another site that goes by the name of Netwinner. People on 'Netweiner', as we now refer to it as, were blatantly scammed by the site when they redeemed their points for prizes and gift cards only to be told they wouldn't receive what they were expecting and would instead be refunded twice the amount of points to enter 'raffles' for prizes instead.
In speaking with 'BT Help', I was assured there was nothing wrong in Boomertowne...things are running smooth and there was no possibility of the site folding. Recently, BT changed their point system so that new members who joined after June 1st would have to accumulate twice the amount of points to trade in for rewards than those who had been members before June 1st. It was feared that BT was suspending accounts of members who were on before June 1st to get rid of them so they wouldn't be able to cash in at the lower rates and force everyone to use the new point system. I was told that was hogwash. Boomertowne suspends accounts when the member uses 'bots' (computer programs that do the work for them so they don't have to spend the time accumulating points in the conventional manner) or when a member becomes abusive toward others. BT is not suspending accounts simply to delete those who visit the site under the old point system.
I also asked about the delay in receiving some of the cards members have redeemed for. Recently, Boomertowne increased the size of their staff to make sure cards went out in a timely manner...the 6 - 8 weeks they say it takes for the cards to be sent out. I was told they had to special order some of the cards, namely Visa cards, so the card would include 'Boomertowne.com' on them for advertising purposes. The production of those cards is taking a little longer than they expected, but they should arrive soon and be mailed out by the first week of July at the latest. I hope this is the case, as I am waiting for two $100 Visa cards I've redeemed some of my points for.
Concerns were also brought up as to why, if BT isn't in trouble, haven't any new jokes, quotes, recipes and other features been added in days. It was explained the employees who take care of those departments are all on vacation...vacations they put in for and are able to take when they wanted them scheduled. I did note that it was pretty unprofessional of Boomertowne's management to allow all of their people who oversee these departments to take off at the same time, especially without having others cover those responsibilities. The employees will be back next week and all the features that were missed this week will be added then.
I'm not the only one who has been wondering about things over at old Boomertowne. There are members there who are not here on Gather who have been worried about the same thing. "BT Help' responded that it was just a few bad apples from other site who were jealous of Boomertowne and starting idle rumors to try to drive people away from their site. With recent television advertising, it's reported the membership at BT is growing by leaps and bounds. This I do know for a fact with the amount of 'friend' requests I've been getting there (I have over 2,500 'friends' connected to me on BT now) and by the increased number of members I can request to be added to my 'friends' list.
It should also be noted staff members at Boomertowne monitor what's going on here at Gather to see what is being said about their site. As a matter fo fact, as I was speaking to 'BT Help', that staff member was here on Gather 'copying' a post by one of our members 'bad-mouthing' Boomertowne to show to the BT head honcho. (If that person is also a member of Boomertowne; I'm afraid their account will be suspended as a result of them 'allegedly' spreading 'false' rumors about BT.)
All in all, Boomertowne appears and claims to be in great financial shape with a huge membership and in no way under the threat of shutting down or going off line. So, if you're awaiting gift or Visa cards from BT; please be patient as they'll be on the way soon I've been assured. If you're not a member of Boomrtowne and you're looking for extra gift cards or 'same as cash' money in your pocket in the way of Visa cards; you might want to check that site out to supplement what you're rewarded with here on Gather. There's a wide variety of features to cover all interests; games, news, recipes, jokes, quotations, weather, discussion boards, dating, stocks, health, travel, money saving tips, trivia, music, photos, videos, chat rooms and most of all friends; some of the same friends that are here on Gather. While you're at it, look for me. I go by my real name at both places.
So, now what do you think about all that? How are you doing on Boomertowne...and will you continue to go there and accumulate points for prizes, gift cards and 'same as cash' Visa cards?
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Comments: 152
I do like their new discussion boards format a whole lot more than I liked the old
Great article :)
Thanks for the rumor busting.
there are other sites that pay faster!
I love BT :)
I have had a lot of "friend requests" and usually accept them (I don't know if it makes a difference in the points or not if you accept friends). In fact, I'm not sure what all you need to do on there to accumulate points....so my points aren't very high.
I'm glad to know BT is doing okay and the "rumors" are unfounded. I would like to get some of those gift cards (eventually). Hope you have a great weekend.
*DISCLAIMER - I am not, have never been, nor will ever be a paid employee or volunteer assistant at Boomertowne*
I did not investigate or report my findings here for those reasons. I am simply a member of Boomertowne like many others here on Gather and I wanted to clear up a few concerns I and others had and am sharing the results with my friends on this site...to calm any fears you may have.
Regardless, thanks for the great update!
I cannot believe all the people from Ontario who belong. I have been sending out about 50 friend requests a day and have been just doing it from the Ontario members for over a week now! Amazing!
I agree it might have been not a good decision to let so many people go on vacation at once but those vacations may have been granted before the huge boost in membership the last 2 months.
I still manage to get my points just by going through older recipes, jokes and quotes.