REBATES SUCK

[menace]

[rant]So I bought a d-link router from best buy in december and dutifully filled out the rebate forms and sent them off.  Now 12 weeks later their website shows my order as being received and processed.  So being thoroughly pi$$ed i called them and sent them an email to express my disgust.  Now here it is 24 hrs later, no return calls or retrun emails and low and behold my check has been mailed

I'm willing to bet serious money that those slimy ---daisies--- sit on the checks and only mail the ones where people complain--there should be a law against these jerk-offs. [/rant]

[ChadTower]

And half the time they come up with a bogus reason to deny them, at least to me.  I paid $25 recently for a sound card with a $25 rebate... sent all the things in required... and they sent back a rejection saying "rebate form illegible".  It was perfectly legible when I SENT it.  How exactly did they send me the rejection if they couldn't read my form?   

[whammoed]

How exactly did they send me the rejection if they couldn't read my form?

[missioncontrol]

I never decide to buy something based on the rebate I'm "supposed" to get back.....

I always fill em out, and send them in and every once in a while I'm surprised by getting back what they promised.....

I really wish there was a law that would crack down on rebate offers....

If they promise it then they should stick to it......

[DrewKaree]

The only good rebate is an "instant" rebate.  Take it off right at the register.

I went to buy a 25 pack of DVD-R's because it was a good deal even if I didn't get the rebate.  When I got to the register, the price they had listed was an "instant" rebate.  That was the price - right then, right there.  Thinking I had to mail in the rebate, I only bought one.  Giving me an "instant" rebate enticed me to purchase 2 more packs.

More items should have the rebates in this form, but it doesn't benefit the companies, so piss on us, I guess.

[GGKoul]

[rant]So I bought a d-link router from best buy in december and dutifully filled out the rebate forms and sent them off.  Now 12 weeks later their website shows my order as being received and processed.  So being thoroughly pi$$ed i called them and sent them an email to express my disgust.  Now here it is 24 hrs later, no return calls or retrun emails and low and behold my check has been mailed

I'm willing to bet serious money that those slimy ---daisies--- sit on the checks and only mail the ones where people complain--there should be a law against these jerk-offs. [/rant]

Let me guess... Future Shop?

[JODY]

I usually have to call to get a rebate check and they usually give the same story...it will be mailed in a few days...

Rarely do I buy something due to a rebate without making sure there is a 1-800 number to check on the status.

[cholin]

I sent in a rebate on january 13th...they said 6-8 weeks from the 28th, so Im not worried yet.  Although last time, I do remember I needed the 100 bucks and they said I forgot a UPC code when I friggin made sure it was in there...I think theres trolls at the postal office!

[DrewKaree]

Hey GG, you even quoted the store!

[rant]So I bought a d-link router from best buy in december and dutifully filled out the rebate forms and sent them off.  Now 12 weeks later their website shows my order as being received and processed.  So being thoroughly pi$$ed i called them and sent them an email to express my disgust.  Now here it is 24 hrs later, no return calls or retrun emails and low and behold my check has been mailed

I'm willing to bet serious money that those slimy ---daisies--- sit on the checks and only mail the ones where people complain--there should be a law against these jerk-offs. [/rant]

Let me guess... Future Shop?

[GGKoul]

Hey GG, you even quoted the store!

[rant]So I bought a d-link router from best buy in december and dutifully filled out the rebate forms and sent them off.  Now 12 weeks later their website shows my order as being received and processed.  So being thoroughly pi$$ed i called them and sent them an email to express my disgust.  Now here it is 24 hrs later, no return calls or retrun emails and low and behold my check has been mailed

I'm willing to bet serious money that those slimy ---daisies--- sit on the checks and only mail the ones where people complain--there should be a law against these jerk-offs. [/rant]

Let me guess... Future Shop?

Me bad.. Best Buy owns Future Shop in Canada.  And Future Shop rebates suck.

[DrewKaree]

Another thing.  If I have to send a rebate in the mail, I seal all the crap up in a litte ziplock bag and tape the top shut.  Sam's Club has the jumbo million count ziplock bag box, so it costs me mebbe a couple cents more, but I started doing it after I got my first royal screwing I had to deal with, and haven't had a problem since.

[xar256]

I've been burned on these things before too.  Now I always scan everything before I send off rebates.  Having these backup copies of the rebate form, UPC code and whatever else they want can help in cases where they complain about forms being illegable or missing upc codes.

Not guarunteed to work, But... <I bought this scanner for some reason, might as well protect my money>

Xar256

[menace]

How can you call shenanigans on these guys though, thats what I want to know--its like the gas comapnies saying they don't price fix--everyone (including them) knows they do but how do you catch them at it?  Waiting for the consumer to call to complain, then complying with the contract and sending you money has got to be illegal or at least shady business practice no?

In my mind they offer the rebate (the offer), I fill it out and mail it back (acceptance with definaeable terms) now I'm not a lawyer but a written contract has just beed completed between myself and the rebate people--would failure to deliver goods in the allotted time (8 weeks) be considered a breach of contract?

[Jabba]

Man, you guys are patient. I bought something once and did all the paperwork. Never received a da@m thing..

[SirPeale]

Should have called to complain.

[missioncontrol]

rebates through Tiger Direct are the worst.....

I have some rebates I never got back even with all my calling and complaining.

Therefore I never order through Tiger Direct..........

[RayB]

Don't blame the store..... they don't mail out the rebates.

FUTURE SHOP (canadian store owned by Best Buy) often has what it calls "in-store rebates". You get the rebate instantly at the cash register. I can't complain about that!

When it's mail-in, that's usually a manufacturer rebate. So it's gonna be different with every manufacturer. Can't blame the store.

I sent in an ATI rebate. Two months later I got a notice saying my graphics card wasn't eligible! But when I checked online, it said they had sent a check! So I called them up and they said that the "problem" had already been corrected even before I called. And sure enough, the very next day my check was in my mailbox.

[daywane]

rebates through Tiger Direct are the worst.....

I have some rebates I never got back even with all my calling and complaining.

Therefore I never order through Tiger Direct..........

I was having this problem also. I got mad  enough about the hard drive.
straw that broke my back.
They told me to call them from now on, and they sent me the check
I will give them one last chance. If they can get my refund for me .well then OK!

[missioncontrol]

Don't blame the store..... they don't mail out the rebates.

The store does adverise it at the rebated price......

[Chris]

Rebates are so bad that I don't even consider rebates that aren't in store.

[GGKoul]

Don't blame the store..... they don't mail out the rebates.

The store does advertise it at the rebated price......

Future Shop/Best Buy is also well known for offering rebates past the manufacture time frame and offering rebates that expire on the Monday of that next week.

[RayB]

When I first put together my cab, I bought a $19 monitor for $199 with a $50 rebate, ...

Wow dude. You paid $149 for a $19 monitor.

[Chris]

When I first put together my cab, I bought a $19 monitor for $199 with a $50 rebate, ...

Wow dude. You paid $149 for a $19 monitor.

 

[fredster]

I have one of those monitors for sale.

I'll take $100 for this $10 one.

[Shape D.]

I've got a 3

[Chris]

I have one of those monitors for sale.

I'll take $100 for this $10 one.

But will you get me the rebate in less than two weeks?  Huh?  HUH? 

[Shape D.]

I've got a 3

[ErikRuud]

rebates through Tiger Direct are the worst.....

I have some rebates I never got back even with all my calling and complaining.

Therefore I never order through Tiger Direct..........

I have received all 9 rebates that I filed for products that I purchased from TigerDirect.

[Chris]

Two of the last four I sent in were direct deposited to my PayPal account exactly six weeks later.

That's an interesting twist... I didn't know anyone was doing this...

[ErikRuud]

They were processed through http://www.OnRebate.com

OnRebate.com seems to work very well.  You fill out the online form, send in the paperwork, and they send you email updates confirming each step along the way.  Direct deposit to paypal is one of the payment options.  You can also turn your rebate into a donation to the Red Cross.

The giggest problem I ever had with a rebate was for the Plextor DVD burner that I bought from TigerDirect.  I had installed the drive before I saw that I had to enter the drives serial number on the rebate form.