Mail in Rebates

[jslater25]

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this, as it discusses an online retailer.

Recently I purchased two monitors (along with other equipment), both were BenQ 19" LCD FP91G+ (great monitors). I purchased them with the expectation that I would receive two $60 mail in rebates offered through the well known online retailer. I waited my 8 weeks, then today I get two different emails (since I submitted the rebates using two seperate addresses, one for work and one for home, since I would be using the monitors respectively). Both emails said the same thing: My UPC was not valid for the rebate. Since I printed the rebate off the retailer's link, I had assumed everything would match. Therefore I called the retailer to find out what went wrong.

According to the supervisor (I had to escalate my call, since the first rep wouldn't tell me anything other then Sorry), it was a mistake on their part. Apparently the valid UPC started with 0197, but mine was scanned as 01974. According to the supervisor, this looked like a miskey by the operator. He then went on to tell me that he would resubmit ONE rebate, but not both unless I faxed the original rebate forms back to his office.

When a MiR takes 8 weeks to process, how does a buyer keep track?

And more to my point, is there a site I could visit to reprint the blank form if I cannot find my originals? I checked www.archive.org, but they haven't updated this site since April of 2005.

[lgbpop]

That's typical from my experience. That's why I hate rebates and won't buy anything with one anymore. I still have over $200 worth of rebates the issuers never honored. I've been known to tell retailers to give me the money and they could apply for the rebate; the look on their faces is priceless.

[ProfessorU]

File a complaint with the FTC.
I quit buying for rebates, too. Obviously I'm not the only one, because retailers like Best Buy and Officemax are offering them less and less.
When I have problems with a rebate, I let the company know that I'm also contacting a publication like MaximumPC (the Watchdog column) or something similar. Bad press isn't worth the $60. We should start a thread where we can post the names of all the companies that have shafted us on rebates.

[Steve R Jones]

Steve’s Guide to REBATES

1. Follow their rules to the letter – Beware of Deadlines

2. Type a formal letter requesting the rebate
a) Outline the items they requested as enclosed
b) Include your full address in the letter
c) Use the “Watermark” function and use ORIGINAL on their copy of the letter
d) Use the COPY watermark and send them a copy of everything. This lets them know you’ve stood in front of a copy machine.

3. Use a full letter size envelope with Correct Postage.

4. Optional but worth the effort – send via Certified/Registered Mail. Include the Certified number on the formal letter. Or send via Fed-x.

If they say please allow 6 to 8 weeks, send them a second request on week seven and send them a copy of everything. Hand write SECOND REQUEST and the DATE on the formal letter….

Retailers are counting on people to forget about rebates once they get home…But, if done right, you can get your money…

[jslater25]

Sad to say, this company has been fairly reputable in the past according to many reviews. I have used the site for hardware purchases frequently, and this just really put a bad taste in my mouth.

I typically won't do MiR because of this very reason. I no longer purchase from Staples due to the frequency of denied rebates even after I jumped through all the hoops.

[jslater25]

I think Steve's step 4 is a very brilliant idea. From now on, all rebates I mail in for personal purchases will follow that step. I always make sure to read all rules, mail well within the time specified by the rebate, and I make copies of everything I send.

Unfortunately in this case, I have moved between the purchase date and today, which means the paperwork could be anywhere in the 40 boxes still unpacked.

[ProfessorU]

Sony told me I still needed to send a UPC on my last $40 rebate. Which would be impossible to do, since I already sent it. What recourse do I have? I guess I could take them to small claims, pay the $60 to open a case, and probably win. They know they've got your money, and that's why they don't care.

This begs the question.... how much is your time worth? Sure, if it's just five minutes, it's worth $40. But what about 10 minutes? What about the trip to the post office for registered mail? And the extra few $ for registered mail? And the cost in $ and time for copies? And the headache when you look at the calendar and see it's been 7 weeks and you send everything again. The time spent at the 'convienient' online website where you can check the status of your rebate (and they give you six pop-unders, too). Enough is enough.

[Welshjim]

jslater25--I am not trying to defend whoever is supposed to deliver that rebate.
But it does sound like a mistake was made, and the person to whom you spoke was willing to correct that.
However, the fine print on most rebates will say something like "Limit one rebate per person" or "Limit one rebate per person, per address". I suppose the latter is tighter so the same person or the same address cannot get multiple rebates. (Can cause problems for apartment dwellers.)
So I am underlining point 1 made by Steve R Jones. You have to read the fine print on the rebate form and abide by it. And copying everything (including the UPC) is essential if you ever have to prove what you sent.
Of course, a rebate promised in X weeks usually takes several weeks longer, since they will claim they did not receive it the day you sent it and the check often is sent by third class mail.
And adding to what Steve R Jones has said, see if the rebate offer has a telephone number and/or website to contact and use them. The latter, especially, will let you check the status of your clain and see if anything has gone astray hopefully before the expiration date.

[jslater25]

Welshjim -- I know the fine print, as I have been caught by it in the past (once a Dell rep told me I would receive $50 off of each of 5 laptops purchased, even though the fine print said otherwise...obviously I only received one $50 check). I made sure the fine print did not say one per person, it was simply one per address. Since I was using two different addresses, this should not be an issue. In fact, to be completely honest, I used two different names (Jim and James, although most would know that is the same person).

My ire is not due to the fine print in this case, its the fact that they have rejected <i>all</i> my rebates because they screwed up. Had I not been a jerk and demanded to speak with the supervisor, I wouldn't have even been allowed the one rebate. If they scan the UPC incorrectly, that is not an error on my part nor is it an error I am able to correct. But penalizing the consumer because of errors made by the seller is what makes me upset.

[steve_83]

Here's my $.02 on Canon rebates, although I have plenty of experience getting burned, and getting them fast (rare).

I bought an S2-IS camera ,and a Pixma printer (as a gift) for Xmas 05.
A $50 rebate documented to the max.

I received that $50 yesterday: almost 1/2 a YEAR, and when I was stuffing the file away I totalled up:
15) emails to them regarding explanations on rejected submissions (my faxes were too dark to read, right?)
5) 4 page Long Distance (no: they don't have an 800 fax number) faxes to resubmit.
3) Return receipt requested snail mails to resubmit the same dam thing.

1) Lot of untold frustration & mental misery.

I can state with 100% accuracy: I broke even, if you discount the toll on my temper.
Counting that: I'm in the minus column.
This was NOT handled by Young something America in the hinterlands.
It was thru Canon direct.

From experience:
Canon's rebates are scams, dozens of people on dpreview agree (and)
I have yet to receive ONE single rebate from CompUSA.

Yep: Rebates suck!