<< I got in on this deal - and what a deal it is!
My thoughts:
Fraud-
Dunno if you can accuse Outpost of fraud on this one - serious incompetence maybe, but not fraud. Way more people have received the retail drives (non-refurbs) than those who received OEM packaged drives. The initial people who got refurbs weren't given any run around - they were told they'd be provided with new retail drives.
The fact that as you say people that received refurbs got them replaced with retail boxes speaks volumes about outpost behaviour to me and to ?others. Yes indeed they told me a mistake had been made and the customer service guy put in the computer (as we spoke) the request for the correct drive to be sent. Apparently the higher level people decided these replacements(corrections) would no longer be fulfilled and perhaps programmed their system to NOT send retail boxes. The second time I spoke to Marc(customer service) to tell him they had sent me the same drive, he sung a different tune, telling me clearly they would not send the correct drive. I don't need to be a genius to figure out the second tier had spoken with the first tier.
A friend purchased this for me and in gratitude I did a bit of computer troubleshooting/reconfiguring. Now as if the initial favor were not enough, that person must spend additional time in correctinve action. I am embarrased and feel like a heel. First their time, then my time on the phone with outpost, western digital, a drive to mail the initial drive back. Perhaps while involved in all this I lost the opportunity to get a comparable deal on a different drive.
I have had the opportunity to consult with parties well versed with business tactics and the "bait and no rebate" is a favorite with some management, sadly enough.
Outpost should have just cancelled the deal publicly via their website.
To add insult to injury, outpost actually e maild me a rebate attachment to go along with the replacement drive received today. Below is copied and pasted. first the email with attachment 3006469.pdf . immediately below it is the copy/paste of rebate. I guess the lower level customer service legitimately thought outpost would honor their word.
I wonder if Western Digital condones these business practices. Perhaps I should share the info with them.
From :
Marc Frasca <MFrasca@outpost.com>
To :
"'steve96822@hotmail.com'" <steve96822@hotmail.com>
Subject :
Western Digital 80GB Rebate
Date :
Tue, 9 Apr 2002 17:29:22 -0400
Attachment : 3006469.pdf (87k) see below
=================================================
Buy a Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM
retail packaged hard drive from Fry?s
Electronics and get $55 cash back from
Western Digital.
Offer valid only at Fry?s Electronics 4/5/02 thru 4/11/02.
Requests must be postmarked within 14 days from the date
of purchase.
See other side for details
Get $55 Cash Back
$5500
Mail-in Rebate
U.S. DOLLARS
WD 80 GB/ FE $55 MIR
P.O. Box 3207
Young America, MN 55558-3207
Western Digital capacity label
as proof of purchase
MAIL TO
To receive your $55.00 rebate:
Purchase a Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM retail packaged hard drive (WD800BBRTL) from Fry?s Electronics
during the promotional period of 4/5/02 to 4/11/02.
Offer valid on the applicable product specified on this rebate form and must be postmarked within
14 days from the date of purchase and received no later than 5/11/02. Any requests postmarked or
received after applicable dates will be returned as ineligible. Receipt must include a date that corresponds
within the promotional period. No reproduction of capacity label accepted. Requests from groups, post office
boxes or organizations will not be honored. Western Digital is not responsible for late, lost, misdirected or
postage due mail. If terms and conditions are not met, rebate will not be sent. Incomplete or illegible
submissions will be returned. Keep copies of the capacity label, receipt and rebate form for your records.
All materials submitted will become Western Digital property and will not be returned. Rebate checks are void
if not cashed within 90 days of issuance and cannot be reissued. Offer is limited to one rebate check per
customer/name/address. Fraudulent submission of multiple requests could result in federal prosecution
under US Mail Fraud Statutes (18 USC, sections 1341 and 1342). Offer good only in USA and Canada. Void
where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Inquiries regarding this offer received later than 90 days after
the expiration date of this promotion will not be acknowledged. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks, after receipt of
rebate request, for processing. If you have not received your rebate after 8 weeks, please call 888.292.0667.
The completed WD rebate request form.
❷ The original WD capacity label from
your Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM
retail packaged hard drive box as proof
of purchase.
❸ A copy of your purchase receipt dated
April 5, 2002 to April 11, 2002.
(Please retain original receipt for your records.)
SUBMIT PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
Name
Address
(P.O. boxes not accepted)
City State
Zip Phone
E-mail
SAMPL
E
Service-
Outpost was never the best at customer service - but ever since Fry's acquisition of them, they've gotten worse. Still - on par with many retailers. They ship fast, and have a fair return policy. Also - I have no doubt that you could fight the charge with your credit card company, and Outpost wouldn't put up too much resistance.
Value-
My drive cost was $44 after PM and rebate - if the rebate comes through. If not - then I'll look into BB claims against Outpost. I'll give them the benefit of a doubt for now, since they've never screwed me before. My opinion would be different if they had.
Risk versus reward-
It's worth the risk - it's a $125 drive (at bare minimum, after shipping) and you're getting it for $40-60. Half price is worth the risk, especially with the protection provided by credit cards.
My $0.02,
-rj >>
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