This man is fighting for his life’s work…
After the WDR magazine “Echt?” published serious allegations against Jochen Schweizer GmbH, experience voucher inventor Jochen Schweizer (66) reported to BILD. His problem: The allegations are directed against a company that still bears his name, even though Schweizer is only a silent partner with around ten percent. In 2017 he sold the company majority and the naming rights to ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE for 108 million euros.
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Annoyed by bad reviews on the Internet: Entrepreneur Jochen Schweizer
Photo: PR
Schweizer to BILD: “Yes, my name is burdened by this, although I can no longer influence business policy. This year, with 700,000 voucher redemptions, we had the most in the company’s history.” On the “Trustpilot” portal, ten percent of the reviewers gave Jochen Schweizer GmbH the worst grade. (For partner and former rival Mydays it is even 24 percent.)
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The main allegations
▶︎ Voucher holders for events (e.g. balloon rides, driving a Ford Mustang) are often put on a waiting list if there are no free dates – in the worst case, the voucher expires during the waiting time. Jochen Schweizer GmbH admits such problems, but the coupons can be extended.
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▶︎ Many hoteliers and event providers are reluctant to redeem vouchers because they receive significantly more money when customers book directly. The hotelier of a four-star hotel reports on WDR: He was only left with 24 euros per night and person from Jochen Schweizer customers. The company says that the hotel and experience partners are obliged to accept customers.
▶︎ Trading in vouchers may not have been legal for many years. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bafin) classifies such coupons as means of payment. A license is required for this. The Munich public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation. Jochen Schweizer GmbH then took experience vouchers worth over 250 euros out of the program as a precaution.
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▶︎ Jochen Schweizer GmbH thrives on the fact that buyers or recipients never redeem their vouchers. The balance sheet recently contained over 100 million euros in proceeds for vouchers that have not yet been exchanged for events. Industry experts say that around one in four customers simply forget their voucher.
Schweizer to BILD: “For me there are two areas. The normal non-redemption rate. I don’t find anything objectionable about that. And the technical no-show rate if customers cannot redeem their voucher for scheduling reasons. I think the current team is doing everything they can to help.”
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The former extreme athlete offers vouchers with his adventure sports center, the Jochen Schweizer Arena, with a wind tunnel, wave pool for indoor surfing and an organic restaurant. The entrepreneur: “After Corona we first had to get back on our feet, half of the staff was gone. The same thing happened to other partners.”
Recently there have been several changes in management at his previous company. Schweizer doesn’t want to comment on the reasons, but: “The new boss Christian Nau will do everything so that everyone can enjoy the experiences they bought.”
Are you having problems with a Jochen Schweizer voucher? The company offers BILD readers: Write to sparfochs@jochen-schweizer.de with proven appointment problems and voucher codes
2023-12-21 03:18:08
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