Giant Eagle Continues Twitter Efforts

CAROL ANGRISANI

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle's Twitter promos have irked some of its Facebook fans.

The retailer has built up its Twitter following by occasionally posting trivia questions about its company and the brands it carries. It awards prizes to the first few people who answer correctly.

Its most recent promotion ran two weeks ago, when it gave away five four-packs of tickets to Idlewild amusement park in Ligonier, Pa.

Tickets were given to the first five people who correctly tweeted an answer to the question, “What is the max # of people that can be included in a carload for the Giant Eagle Carload Coupon at Idlewild?”

The retailer built excitement by posting a message on its Facebook page.

Several Facebook fans responded that they shouldn't be required to create a Twitter account just to win prizes.

“How about the shoppers/followers who don't tweet?” one person wrote. “Why not do a Facebook giveaway?”

Another person said Twitter is “frustrating” to use and not popular among Giant Eagle's target market.

“You may have some college students as fans, but your better advertising base is on Facebook,” another wrote. “We are the ones with cash.”

At least one Facebook fan, however, said she created a Twitter account just so she could partake in contests, and finds the service easy to use.

“Thanks for the great contests,” she said. “Can't wait for the next.”