Rebate Fail...recourse?

[wheresmybacon]

Last March I bought an MSI video card from Newegg. Included in the deal was a $20 rebate. Per usual, the process for obtaining your rebate is tedious, involving the clipping of specific UPC and serial numbers from boxes, filling out online forms, sacrificing goats ritualistically during specific lunar phases, etc. I did everything required; slowly, methodically, scanning and documenting all I did to make sure I wasn't leaving anything out.

Fast forward nearly 9 months and still I don't have my rebate. I know it's only $20, but it's the principal of the thing. Do I have any recourse? If so, with whom? My documentation and scans are at home, and I'm at work, so I'll check when I get back, but I was just wondering if anyone's been stiffed a rebate and done something to either eventually get it, or at least find out where you went wrong in the process.

 

[kinev]

Yep, just got stiffed by MSI last month. They "mysteriously" didn't receive my rebate in the mail. First time that that's ever happened to me in ~$2,000 in rebates. Called and they're making me resubmit the copies of my stuff...but never buying an MSI product again, I can tell you that!

 

[Oil]

Sue them for all they are worth

 

[saratoga172]

How about just calling them? They'll probably claim they never received it. Go from there.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[lxskllr]

I assume I'll never get any rebate I apply for. If I'm not happy with the purchase price excluding the rebate, or don't feel like gambling, I don't buy it. That way if a rebate fails, I'm even money. If I get it back, it's like a gift I wasn't expecting.

 

[Capt Caveman]

How about just calling them? They'll probably claim they never received it. Go from there.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

This. They will more than likely tell you that they never received it and ask that you resend them.

 

[qliveur]

LOL@ Op's user name.

Where'smyrebate?

Shit. Sorry.

 

[olds]

I have gotten every rebate I have ever submitted.
I keep copies and I send the forms in through USPS, "Signature Required".

One time I bought something with a rebate off thenerds.net. The manufacturer was giving me the run around. I contacted thenerds.net for assistance with the manufacturer and the nerds paid the rebate.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I normally call a rebate place if I don't get it within the time frame, and then once a week after that until I got it.

 

[911paramedic]

That's why I don't play the rebate game. If you are going to give me money off, just do it.

I know it's set up that way because many people never send in for them, but ffs, if they go through the trouble send them the rebate cash already.

 

[blinblue]

As others have said, call the rebate company (there should be a phone number somewhere on the rebate form). If they don't do anything helpful, contact Newegg and they might help you out.

Good job keeping records of the rebate, I've never personally had any issues with rebates, but I keep scans of everything just in case.


Out of curiosity, was this one of the rebates where you fill out stuff online and then it gives you a print out to send in? Because if so, the instructions say to cut out the mailing address, and I've always followed that direction. I wonder if they reject rebates because the address is hand written (or otherwise not from the printout).

 

[lord_emperor]

Class action lawsuit.

 

[BoomerD]

Class action lawsuit.

Hell yes. Give the rebate money to the fucking lawyers instead of the consumers...

 

[lord_emperor]

Hell yes. Give the rebate money to the fucking lawyers instead of nobody.

FTFY.

 

[Golgatha]

Step 1 - Contact the manufacturer about the rebate. Even if they use a processing company, they are ultimately responsible for fulfillment of the rebate.

Step 2 - If they are still denying your rebate and you have sufficient proof that you sent it with the proper documentations, warn them you will be filling with the BBB, your state's attorney general, and the FTC. It will cost them far more than $20 in man hours to respond and this should get the ball rolling.

Step 3 - If you're really concerned about the principle of the thing, file in small claims court. You'll most likely only get the $20 as a judgement, but you can feel good about wasting more of their time and money on your $20 rebate.

P.S. As someone else said, contact Newegg.com. The retailer will often contact the manufacturer on your behalf to get the ball rolling.

 

[qliveur]

It's my money and I want it NOW!

 

[Golgatha]

BTW, here is a forum thread detailing my recent experience with an eVGA rebate.

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?&m=1307022&mpage=1

I followed through with everything I mentioned in the thread (reported to the BBB, FTC, and MO state attorney general) short of taking it to small claims court due to them finally approving the rebate.

Be polite in your correspondence with them, but be firm at the same time. Also, don't make idle threats. If you say you're going to do something if your expectations aren't met, then you better follow through.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Out of curiosity, was this one of the rebates where you fill out stuff online and then it gives you a print out to send in? Because if so, the instructions say to cut out the mailing address, and I've always followed that direction. I wonder if they reject rebates because the address is hand written (or otherwise not from the printout).

I wouldn't bet my life on it, but if it said to cut out the address, then I probably cut out the address. I'll contact MSI though and see what's going on.

 

[her209]

$20!!! That's like a lapdance bro.

 

[blinblue]

I wouldn't bet my life on it, but if it said to cut out the address, then I probably cut out the address. I'll contact MSI though and see what's going on.

I recall a few rebates like that where the thing to cut out was split between two pages. I always wondered if that was an intentional trick to get people to slip up and be a reason to deny the rebate. I had to do a "print screen" of the mailing label and then printed that out (and just cut out the portion that was on the actual rebate printout just for completeness). Pretty sneaky and low if it was intentional.

 

[esquared]

Last March I bought an MSI video card from Newegg. Included in the deal was a $20 rebate. Per usual, the process for obtaining your rebate is tedious, involving the clipping of specific UPC and serial numbers from boxes, filling out online forms, sacrificing goats ritualistically during specific lunar phases, etc. I did everything required; slowly, methodically, scanning and documenting all I did to make sure I wasn't leaving anything out.

Fast forward nearly 9 months and still I don't have my rebate. I know it's only $20, but it's the principal of the thing. Do I have any recourse? If so, with whom? My documentation and scans are at home, and I'm at work, so I'll check when I get back, but I was just wondering if anyone's been stiffed a rebate and done something to either eventually get it, or at least find out where you went wrong in the process.

I have done many MSI rebates and I have received them all so based on that I think they are honorable enough to try to get you the money.

There have been occasions where I have has a rebate company deny my rebate (not MSI but others) and all it took was a phone call to the number on the form and they will sometimes approve it right there or ask you to resubmit the rebate forms. This is why you have the copies, which is good.

Now 9 months is a bit of a wait but I would still call the number and explain it to them and tell them you have all the copies if they need to see it. I keep track of my rebates along with the email submission replies (MSI does this IIRC). When the time for receiving the rebate has passed, I will call or send them an email regarding the rebate which is passed due.

I never let it go longer than a week past the date where they are supposed to have paid me.

 

[Old Hippie]

BTW, here is a forum thread detailing my recent experience with an eVGA rebate.

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?&m=1307022&mpage=1

It's always nice to see both sides of the story but sorry, I pretty much think they were correct.

 

[HeXen]

maybe ya gotta send it priority or obtain a mail insurance so if they claim they didnt get it, you may beable to show it was or was not recieved or perhaps get insurance claim? dunno much about the stuff but i never trusted any rebate offer.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Step 2 - If they are still denying your rebate and you have sufficient proof that you sent it with the proper documentations, warn them you will be filling with the BBB, your state's attorney general, and the FTC. It will cost them far more than $20 in man hours to respond and this should get the ball rolling.

Step 2 has always worked for me. Whenever I get that "you'll have to resubmit" I just tell them that the next batch of paperwork I send out will go to the Attorney General of my state and I include his name and phone number. That's the point where they always cave. It's a numbers game to them, they have to only pay out a certain number of rebates and reject enough to not exceed their quota. They will approve X and deny Y right off the bat. Of the people denied only some will follow up. Those people will be told to resubmit and only a small percentage will do it. When they know that you know how to play the game and will take steps to cause them trouble they'll approve quickly and just screw somebody else to make the numbers work out.

 

[pontifex]

never had a problem with rebates - user error.