BFG Tech Rebates...

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: nyker96
i did two last year with bfg got both back. not sure about any recent problems though.

Times do change

Part of my decision on whether or not to buy a product with a rebate is do I trust the company to follow through. I never even considered Gigabyte not being able (willing is probably more accurate) to pay $10 on time.

That is exactly it. You have a company that has the finances, manpower, and overall resources to work out the logistics of producing and selling video cards, motherboards, and power supplies, yet seems to be incapable of processing a $30 rebate in a timely manner.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
That is exactly it. You have a company that has the finances, manpower, and overall resources to work out the logistics of producing and selling video cards, motherboards, and power supplies, yet seems to be incapable of processing a $30 rebate in a timely manner.

Yes, that is exactly it. We do have the finances, manpower and overall resources for video cards, motherboards and power supplies. We do not, however, have the manpower for processing rebates. That's why we pay other companies to do the work for us. It worked well for years... until these past few months.

Yes, the whole situation is all jacked up for everyone involved. We're having to do more work. Customers are pissed from the delays. I don't know what else to say.

Anyways, at least you (nitromullet) are going to be getting your rebate money and not getting screwed over. I know how it feels. PNY still owes me $40, EVGA still owes me $30 and Sapphire owes me $10 (all from before I worked for BFG). :|

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: nitromullet
That is exactly it. You have a company that has the finances, manpower, and overall resources to work out the logistics of producing and selling video cards, motherboards, and power supplies, yet seems to be incapable of processing a $30 rebate in a timely manner.

Yes, that is exactly it. We do have the finances, manpower and overall resources for video cards, motherboards and power supplies. We do not, however, have the manpower for processing rebates. That's why we pay other companies to do the work for us. It worked well for years... until these past few months.

Yes, the whole situation is all jacked up for everyone involved. We're having to do more work. Customers are pissed from the delays. I don't know what else to say.

Anyways, at least you (nitromullet) are going to be getting your rebate money and not getting screwed over. I know how it feels. PNY still owes me $40, EVGA still owes me $30 and Sapphire owes me $10 (all from before I worked for BFG). :|

That is actually my point. It's not really just an issue with BFG. I've always felt (and still do) that BFG is a customer centric company. My situation just happened to be with BFG.

How many people do you know that have had some trouble with a rebate? We almost all either have had an issue with one ourselves, or know people that have. Yet, companies continue to push rebates on us, and often the advertised price includes the rebate. Companies aren't stupid, they wouldn't do it if it didn't make them money...

You, however, are out a total of $70 because three companies didn't meet up to their end of a bargain. The only reason I'm getting my money is because I went to the BBB. It's not because I got lucky... It's because I put my foot down.

As a side note, I'm pretty sure that if you try going through similar steps to get in touch with EVGA about your rebate as you suggested with BFG, you WILL get in touch with someone who can handle your rebate issue.... Sapphire and PNY I can't vouch for, but I've dealt with EVGA customer service on several occasions, and they have always been excellent.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Yet, companies continue to push rebates on us, and often the advertised price includes the rebate. Companies aren't stupid, they wouldn't do it if it didn't make them money... [/b]

*SHRUG* I've discussed this with one of the product managers and neither of us like rebates. However, the sales droid does it because the retailer wants it. Rebates are negotiated between the retailer and the manufacturer, usually because the retailer wants a sales boost. Retailer won't re-order stock if the manufacturer doesn't play along, so the manufacturer's sales droid plays along just to get the retailer to re-order. Slap a rebate on a product = instant sales boost that doesn't cost the retailer anything.

Some retailers are so into rebates that rebated sales are all that they advertise. In fact, one place even runs their own rebate house. TD anyone?

Originally posted by: nitromullet
As a side note, I'm pretty sure that if you try going through similar steps to get in touch with EVGA about your rebate as you suggested with BFG, you WILL get in touch with someone who can handle your rebate issue.... Sapphire and PNY I can't vouch for

Nah, most of these are several years old. With PNY I did try to track it down (at the time) but it was futile. I spent several dollars in faxes and certified mail with return receipt. :| Those three aren't the only ones... then again I probably do way too many rebates. I get somewhere around 29/30 rebates back with no problems.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Yet, companies continue to push rebates on us, and often the advertised price includes the rebate. Companies aren't stupid, they wouldn't do it if it didn't make them money...

*SHRUG* I've discussed this with one of the product managers and neither of us like rebates. However, the sales droid does it because the retailer wants it. Rebates are negotiated between the retailer and the manufacturer, usually because the retailer wants a sales boost. Retailer won't re-order stock if the manufacturer doesn't play along, so the manufacturer's sales droid plays along just to get the retailer to re-order. Slap a rebate on a product = instant sales boost that doesn't cost the retailer anything.

Some retailers are so into rebates that rebated sales are all that they advertise. In fact, one place even runs their own rebate house. TD anyone?

Interesting that some retailers actually want to continue to force a practice on us that both consumers and manufacturers really don't like. I was always under the impression that rebates were something the manufacturers liked and retailers just supported.

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: nitromullet
As a side note, I'm pretty sure that if you try going through similar steps to get in touch with EVGA about your rebate as you suggested with BFG, you WILL get in touch with someone who can handle your rebate issue.... Sapphire and PNY I can't vouch for

Nah, most of these are several years old. With PNY I did try to track it down (at the time) but it was futile. I spent several dollars in faxes and certified mail with return receipt. :| Those three aren't the only ones... then again I probably do way too many rebates. I get somewhere around 29/30 rebates back with no problems.

This BFG one is the first time I've really just not gotten my money or a response. I probably have done less rebates than you though as I generally avoid them. It is a getting more difficult though as rebates become more and more prevalent.

This situation was also a little bit different because I had received confirmation from the rebate processor that they had received all of the necessary paperwork. Had I not had some sort of proof, I probably would have let this go as well and kicked myself for not making copies of all the stuff I sent in.