Following is an email I received the other day from Clayton Su, Klout’s Account Manager. I haven’t had time to properly think about it yet, but in fairness I need to publish it quickly:
Hi Ike,
I read your recent blog post and wanted to reach out and apologize again for the mix-up. Additionally, I’d like to help clarify a few things, especially around the four points you mentioned in your blog:
- Tell me how this happened, and what they’ve done to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Not just the mix-up in the perk, but the subsequent promotion to my friends.
- Tell how many others this has happened to.
- Notify and apologize to those it misled.
- Ensure that they will retain no record of me actually receiving a phone.
As you pointed out in an earlier blog post, the phone promotion was only available to influencers in the New York City area. When we launched our Windows Phone Perk, we experienced a problem with our location system that allowed 200 influencers outside of the eligible cities to claim the Windows Phone Perk. We reached out to notify you of it at the time.
All those influencers, including yourself, received the following email:
Thanks for being part of Klout Perks! We see that you had signed up for the Windows Phone Perk, but upon further review we found that you are not in the New York City area.
The Windows Phone Perk is meant for influencers in the NYC area as the event is in New York City. However, the Windows Phone Perk will be hitting other cities soon, so please stay tuned for something in your area.
-The Klout Perks Team
When we launched a new rating system, we inadvertently pulled the old data, which prompted you and 199 influencers to rate your experience.
We want to assure you that all records of you having opted-in to the Perk are completely removed from our system, and that you are in no legal danger. Feel free to check out our privacy policy here: http://klout.com/corp/privacy.
Finally, we would like to apologize again for the confusion caused by this Perk. We are constantly working to improve Klout Perks and greatly value your feedback. Please accept our apologies for the confusion.
Best regards,
Clayton Su
Account Manager, Klout
t: @claytonsu
www.klout.com
My thoughts on this will follow, after I have the time to properly digest this. If you have any, you’re welcome to leave them in the comments.
Ike, I would be interesting in hearing your thoughts. 🙂
And they’re making sure it doesn’t happen again by how, exactly?
What Danny said.
I’ve never been a fan of Klout’s (that whole influence needs context thing), but this is just disturbing. They are a mess, and it’s borderline tragic that so many people and companies are putting faith into this system.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
First of all, it sounds like this was not an apology for what happened to you and your contacts. Secondly, it looks like those Klout folks don’t have control over tools they use to send out info to their subscribers and targeted audiences.