Coldwater Creek sues over gift cards
Coldwater Creek Inc. is suing a Florida company that promises $450 company gift cards to consumers who fill out online surveys.
The Sandpoint retailer has received numerous complaints about Online Reward Center and Apparel Offer, according to the lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court.
The two Web sites use the promise of a Coldwater Creek gift card to entice consumers to participate in their surveys, the suit said. But after collecting personal information, the sites don’t allow consumers to complete the surveys to qualify for the gift card, according to the suit.
Some consumers mistakenly think the two Web sites are affiliated with Coldwater Creek, which sells women’s apparel, the suit said. The association hurts Coldwater Creek’s reputation, according to the suit. The suit accuses Gift Reward LLC, which runs the two Web sites, of infringing on Coldwater Creek’s trademark and engaging in deceptive trade practices.
Officials at Gift Reward and its parent company, NiuPercent of Boca Raton, Fla., could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Neither has a listed phone number. A message left at the firm’s call center was not returned.
Coldwater Creek is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
“The United Auto Workers union is willing to discuss further buyouts and other cost-cutting measures to help ailing Ford Motor Co., a top union official said.
“We understand the crisis at Ford,” said Bob King, a UAW vice president who heads the union’s dealings with Ford. “We have to be far more aggressive in finding a solution.”
King made the comments Monday while speaking at a conference in Dearborn hosted by JP Morgan. The Detroit News reported on the remarks Tuesday.
“We wouldn’t rule out anything,” said King, who was elected to his post at the UAW convention in June. “We’re open to whatever helps the company and protects our members.”
“Airbus said Tuesday that it has made 253 deliveries so far this year and taken 200 orders, boosted by strong interest at the Farnborough air show.
The figures mean the troubled European planemaker is on track to deliver more planes in 2006 than rival Boeing Co. But Airbus is still expected to see its full-year orders lag behind those of the U.S. company — for the first time in six years.
Airbus has targeted 430 plane deliveries over the year, up from 378 in 2005.
Airbus said Tuesday it delivered 34 airplanes in July and took orders for 83 aircraft.