Yammit. I am really starting to hate rebates.

[MaxDepth]

This thread is the latest grief.

I bought a Western Digital 80 gig, for around $90 and change. Two rebates, one from WD and the other from Office Max. WD is going through, no problem although they are really stretching the limit of 6-8 weeks. Offfice Max couldn't seem to find mine until I emailed them twice and then finally called. Now they have me down as getting $20 dollars back instead of the the proper $30. And this has happened to others as well, including a friend of mine who bought the drive at the same store and the same time. Now they want me to fax in all the paperwork again and then they'll decide whether or not this is valid. Geez, this sucks.

I have had problems with other businesses in dealing with rebates. I think they purposely make it difficult to get a refund so that they can keep the full purchase price. It just plain sucks. Now, the money has no longer become the main issue. It is now the idea that I will not Office Max get away with poor customer relations.

 

[minendo]

Office Max sucks for rebates. I got a post card from them telling me my submission was wrong, but when I called they said the check was on its way.

 

[Orsorum]

Of course they don't want you to have the money! That's the whole idea behind rebate theory (or so I've heard the term coined) - they were created on the idea that the vast majority of people (90%+) will forget or lose their receipts, and the money will be the company's to keep. With the advent of consumer websites and the rise of savvier consumers, the companies are starting to see their profit margins being eaten away, so they resort to these tactics.

Myself? I've stopped buying products with rebates. I realize that I usually forget anyways, so I just cut out the possibility and learn to shop around a bit more. Besides, with as little money as I have nowadays that extra $20 is sadly more useful now than in two months. I have neither the time nor the inclination to play games with another customer service rep who couldn't care less about my situation and just wants to get off his shift.

Cheers!
Nate

 

[n0cmonkey]

I hate rebates. I base all purchases off of the real non-rebate price. If I get a rebate, I celebrate, if not oh well.

 

[PingSpike]

^^^ What he said. They're a scam...they suck you in with the cheap price, then they make you jump through 10,000 hoops to get the money you deserve. They're counting on you giving up.

Plus you still have to pay sales tax on the original price. In the end, you may as well buy it from newegg. It might costs a few more dollars but you'll save boatloads of time and energy.

 

[Tom]

I had the same issue on that rebate, I was able to get them to issue a $10 "appeasement" rebate over the phone, but it took quite a bit of time and effort.

The good part is I got the $10 "appeasement" rebate very quickly, like two weeks total, I still haven't got the $20 or the $30 from Western Digital, but they do both show as valid.


Couple this with a similar screw up on a Officemax/Khpermedia DVD rebate, and inordinately SLOW processing lately, and Officemax is off my list of places that I'll buy rebate products anymore.

The other place is CompUSA if the rebate goes to New Rochelle.

One way or another I've always gotten my rebates, 300 since 1998, but some companies aren't worth the hassle.

 

[Nitemare]

Office Max and rebates...lol

That's got to be the biggest scam of all...

Half of all my valid rebates get rejected. It's getting to the point that I will avoid them like the plague. Last time I sent them a threatening email to contact the San Antonio Better Business Bureau the next time they refuse a valid rebate. Usually after I call them up and complain, they say the check is in the mail and I usually get it in a month or 2

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I hate rebates. I base all purchases off of the real non-rebate price. If I get a rebate, I celebrate, if not oh well.

I with you on this point. Any rebates I do get back are usually a bonus to me. I will still shop around for the best deal according to the before-rebate price and expect nothing more after that. I'm jumping through hoops trying to get a replacement check issued from H&R Block for a state tax software rebate. I want my $14.95!!!

techfuzz

 

[bleeb]

"ALL YOUR REBATES ARE BELONG TO US" -- OfficeMax

 

[arcenite]

SHAKE THAT ASS B!TCH LEMME SEE WHATCHU GOT!!

 

[DurocShark]

Sent back in February for a Western Digital from Staples:

Tracking Results:
Status Details
Rebate: $60 Rebate Check
Rebate Information For: xxxxxxxx
Promotion: $60 Mail in Rebate with Purchase of Maxtor 120GB 7200 RPM Ultra Series Hard Drive at Staples or Staples.com
Submission Type: ON-LINE
Date Received: 03-18-2004
Status: Processing Rebate
Status Detail: Your rebate is valid and is in the final stages of processing and should be sent to you within the next 30 days.

 

[StageLeft]

Rebates suck.

 

[JoeKing]

I've started boycotting anything that has a rebate (excluding instant rebates). To much crap to go through for money that should be mine.

 

[Amused]

I never buy something based on the rebate. If they really wanted to put it on sale, they discount it on the spot.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Sent back in February for a Western Digital from Staples:

Tracking Results:
Status Details
Rebate: $60 Rebate Check
Rebate Information For: xxxxxxxx
Promotion: $60 Mail in Rebate with Purchase of Maxtor 120GB 7200 RPM Ultra Series Hard Drive at Staples or Staples.com
Submission Type: ON-LINE
Date Received: 03-18-2004
Status: Processing Rebate
Status Detail: Your rebate is valid and is in the final stages of processing and should be sent to you within the next 30 days.

Typo?