Rebate Ripoff ?

[playafly187]

Thank you for participating in our rebate promotion.

Your rebate submission has been received.
Unfortunately your rebate is denied for the following reasons:
PO BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE AS ADDRESS
-------

think i should try calling them and giving em a physical address to ship to? or is it too late and have they already discarded my info?

[techniq]

I would call them. If there is some type of reference number on the document they sent you, there is no reason they can't send it elsewhere. Also, if you made copies of your old receipt, rebate form, etc, you can always send them another copy (make sure they agree to the second as well, and write a case number of some sorts on it so you have retaliation measures incase they try to kick it out again).

[CoffeeShark]

classic rebate stuff - just keep at it. once they realize you won't just shut up, they'll send the money.

also, read those rebate instructions carefully. Once you get used to what they are trying to do (refuse for any reason, since that means the money goes to them), you get real careful.

"failure to cash within said period assigns and transfers proceeds to promotion sponsor OR PROCESSOR, as appropriate"

[Kattikawn]

If need be, you can always have it sent to our address, Shawn.

[striker777]

This the router rebate? If you made copies check the fine print on them...that will say if p.o. box is ok or not.

[PlayfulAtHeart03]

Well, of course since Shawn didn't read it .......
"Requests from P.O. Boxes, groups, or organizations, will not be honored or acknowledged."

So what should we do now?

[striker777]

damn it....Call the number on the copies of the stuff we made and see if you can change it to a street address...and don't take no for an answer.

[PlayfulAtHeart03]

Shawn called yesterday and changed the address. They said it was fine. We should be getting our money in a few weeks.

[techniq]

Thats good news. Was this Linksys/Dlink....?

[PlayfulAtHeart03]

netgear

[techniq]

cool. Good to hear they were cool about the PO Box mixup.

[striker777]

Awesome! Good Work.

[playafly187]

on a follow-up, i only received one of the two i sent off for... go figure...

[undergroundtech]

When I had bought my 9800 Pro at Best Buy, it was on a Friday and they were offering a rebate for a free copy of HL2. Well they forgot to give me the rebate so I went back on Monday with my receipt to get the rebate, by then they said they said there rebates had changed on that graphics card that week to a $50 rebate, I thought not much difference so I agreed.

Got home sent the rebate off and about 10 weeks later I get a letter saying they would not send the rebate due to the fact that it didn't match the purchase date.

I called the rebate center to talk about my problem and they said that they only handled the $50 dollar rebates and that I would need to call Best Buys main office to get it straitened out. When I did that they acted like they had no idea of what I was talking about and that I should call the store where I purchases it from. Then calling my local Best Buy they told me that it was to late for the store to do anything and that I should call the main office.
After not getting HL2 or the $50 rebate, I learned to shop online and avoid the rebate run-around.

Damn rebates, they need to drop the rebates and include the difference into the sale price.

[striker777]

Strange, Best Buy rebates print out with your receipt when you buy it plus apparently no one has heard of bestbuy.com where it lists rebates from previous weeks so you can print them out.

[undergroundtech]

Heh, now I find out :roll:

[T-shirt]

The "secret" to rebates
read and understand ALL the requirements BEFORE buying (or at least before opening the package, if bought from a place that accepts return with NO penalty

follow all instructions to the letter


make copies of EVERYTHING ( I scan them to CD using my free after rebate scanner, on free after rebate CD-r's)


keep track of the date you should expect the check


be ready to make calls /letter/revisit the seller if the check is more than 1 week late

avoid rebates from small, hole-in the wall Companies

don't buy based on the rebate price, unless you are willing to do all of the above

I have done $1000's of rebates, and never been burned, but I have had to call and provide copies of my documents to the state attorney generals office twice, and several times call the corporate offices of Comp-USA and Office-MAX to complain (it's amazing how quickly a check arrives after either one)
But you have to follow the instructions, and be willing to fight for YOUR money.

[playafly187]

hehe, that sounds like a great strategy...

i usually end up forgetting about the rebate until it arrives..... if it ever does....

[undergroundtech]

Its good to know I guess, but rebates are such a hassle. After the last go around with BB, I decided to forget em and just shop online where I get good deals with out the rebate headache.

[Bio-Hazard]

I'm like T-shirt, I've always gotten all my rebates, one way or the other.......... :twisted: It's my money and I'm going to get it.............. :shock: But I do most of my buying online these days anyway, cheaper in the long run with the high prices of gas and all.

[T-shirt]

Yup, shipping (free is best) is starting to look pretty cheap for some items. I'm just a hands on guy, so going to look at the same model (for $100-200+ items) and play with the demo models is part of the buying experience for me.
rebates are of different value to different people, if it's not your thing pay the extra $20-30 and don't worry about it.