When rebates go BAD!

[ChiPPyx]

I think there should be a forum for people who get screwed by manufacturers and their so called "rebates."

I for one am never buying anything again that has the word "rebate" attatched to it. Today I received in the mail, a card from LEXAR MEDIA, stating that I did not qualify for a rebate, and the reason was unclear, but they listed a few things it may have been, all of which I fulfilled. Are there others like me, who get screwed by the so called rebates, making what looked like a hot deal, the most hated purchase you ever made?

[fozzey]

I don't think a whole forum for this very spefic item would be useful. It would be a forum solely for people to b!tch in.

[ChiPPyx]

Yes, that's right, people can b!tch, and make others aware of their misfortunes. Maybe even give people a place to meet each other, and organise class law suits against these crooks........ but yeah, a whole forum would probably be overkill, but it doesn't seem to fit in to any of the other catagories.

[CSR]

should photocopy everthing b4 mailing in

[squall458]

sorry to hear that man

[Absolute]

Boxing Day is the worst time; so many stores (FS mainly) have most of their deals as rebates. They count on your not mailing it in, missing the due date, or not caring enough to track them down.

I still have to dredge out my photocopies from last year.

[webdoctors]

Ya I have a staples rebate problem like that, 4 months after the rebate was sent, they said they mailed it, but I never received it. So I call them and they said they will send out another one, I wait 2 months still no rebate.

I reconfirm the address, and they said they will send it out but I never got it. I finally call them back 8-10 months later, and they said they upgraded their computer system and can no longer "track/record" my rebate. They said they have the record, but cannot access the payment dispensing part, and should go to a B&M Staples with the photocopies and try to prove somehow (they not clear on this) that I did not receive my rebate and get the rebate that way. It didn't work, 2 years later no rebate

[lin_simon]

Microsoft Rebates are just as ********...
i sent in 4 around the same time
i received 1 no problem
the 3...i got back today unopened with a "Return to sender, offer expired" stamp on there...
but clearly...how did the know? and the offer expires on dec. 31
i called and asked...gave me an address to mail again with special handling(send $$ right away after receiving the rebate paperwork)
still no answer as to WHY this "offer expired" happened

[e0gdi]

Futureshop actually TRIES to scam you when they do the rebates through the rebates centre, I'm thinking about the mail in rebates in regards to hardrives. They give you an address on the receipt which is conveniently missing the postal code, then if you go the website of the rebate company, there is no contact information! I had to do a reverse look up to find their postal code, I also got their phone number and thought I'd call in to confirm the address, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the phone. Somebody answers it and they say that they are not the rebate centre, but that they will forward you to the company, and then you get put on hold indefinitely. So I asked the person what company they are and she told me some computer store, I looked up the address for this store and it was teh same as the rebate centre. The end of the story is that eventually I did get the rebate, but what do you think happened to all those people who couldn't get the address?

[plisk3n]

It's been about 4 months and I haven't gotten my $15 rebate for my Linksys wireless router. This was through Best Buy.

Down with REBATES!!!!

[Txiasaeia]

It's been about 4 months and I haven't gotten my $15 rebate for my Linksys wireless router. This was through Best Buy.

Down with REBATES!!!!

Heh... bought my Linksys WRT54G with the $15 rebate, and they sent me $30 Maybe I should start a forum about when rebates go GOOD!

[ChiPPyx]

The way I see it is, if Future Shop, and all these other big chains are including these rebates in their prices, then they should be the ones dealing with the manufacturers, not the consumer. You don't have to send off a copy of your receipt to GM when you go buy a new car with a $1000 rebate, so why do we have to mess around with all these manufacturers, when if should be the retailer doing all the work..... after all, it's their sale.

[cil254]

Heh... bought my Linksys WRT54G with the $15 rebate, and they sent me $30 Maybe I should start a forum about when rebates go GOOD!

I submitted a US$10 MIR with TigerDirect and got a check for US$30.

[eliteblaze]

in gm's case its a pos rebate like those costco coupons.. but even expanded they hance of fraud wil lotuweifght any not sent in rebates. near teh 3-4 yfigures mark rebate submission is nearly 80-100% and you'll be damn sure that people will find ways to make fake invoices, recepts etc. etc. or buy and return and send or something to get a $1000 rebate from GM comapred to a $10 rebate where the scheme will be too difficult for hte pay off (knowing someone inside, buy/return, some creative photoshop etc.)

The way I see it is, if Future Shop, and all these other big chains are including these rebates in their prices, then they should be the ones dealing with the manufacturers, not the consumer. You don't have to send off a copy of your receipt to GM when you go buy a new car with a $1000 rebate, so why do we have to mess around with all these manufacturers, when if should be the retailer doing all the work..... after all, it's their sale.

[joo]

Best thing to do is file a complaint (with full documentation) to the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services (in Ontario - it'll be different for each province / territory). I've heard that if they get 5 or more complaints about a retailer they launch an investigation.

http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/2452_3fe.htm