Rebates can be great incentives, but are they worth the consumer’s effort? Are the companies legitimate in these marketing ploys?
Frankly, I’m not so sure. When we purchased a warranty replacement laptop for my son, they featured a Canon Pixma MP160 for $89.99. The lure of a $50 mail-in rebate and an instant $20 savings was enough of an incentive to take it home. Did we really need the extra printer in the house? No, but we got suckered in by the rebate offer.
After filling out forms, taking photocopies and affixing two proofs of purchase to the paperwork, I mailed in the rebate request with the cash register receipts a few days after the December 18, 2006 purchase date. Today, an e-mail notice from Canon indicates that I sent in the wrong proofs of purchase and my request was refused.
Product rebates, in my opinion, are a big waste of time. I realize that manufacturers count on the fact that a percentage of consumers won’t take the time to send in what’s required. But for those of us who dance through hoops to fulfill all the requirements, it’s a nuisance. I would prefer to have the rebate honored at the cash register. Instant gratification works for me.
Canon’s refusal smacks of dishonesty. I mailed in two proofs of purchase and the cash register receipts. I must have missed the primary proof of purchase, or maybe they hid it so well on the box that I couldn’t locate it. Who can remember — it was over two months ago. The bottom line — I’m not getting the $50 back.
I wonder what these rebates actually cost the manufacturers in human resources and processing costs? I don’t want to see people put out of work, but the whole concept seems ridiculous. This refusal from Canon has left a bad taste with me and frankly, I’m not in a big rush to purchase another Canon product so fast.
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Elaine,
Rebates are a sales/marketing idea that is half-baked. The tactic may (or may not) increase sales but the rebate process is so annoying and unreliable that at the end of the day, we like the brand less than before we purchased the product.
My personal example: The last two times I requested rebates were from Symantic and McAfee. Both told me I was ineligible. (How can a buyer of a product advertising a rebate be ineligible?) I stopped using both company’s products because I no longer believe or trust them.
Lewis, this was my first experience being ineligible for a product rebate. Like you, it left me with a really bad feeling for this brand.
Wouldn’t you love to have 10 minutes with the CEO’s of these companies to clue them in?
The whole rebate circus reminds me of filing insurance claims, which are systematically denied.
Maybe the marketer who dreamed up rebates actually started life as a frustrated claims adjuster? Just a thought…
Scam, much of the time.
Staples has an easy rebate plan. you fill out a form online, you get the rebate.
I recently bought a Mac from MacMall because they offered about $500 in rebates on the computer and software i bought.
When I go to their site to find out why i haven’t gotten the rebates (the purchase was in november 2006) it says they haven’t received the info. But of course I sent it and of course they DID get itl
I will never buy another thing from Mac Mall because of this.
Not only that, they screwed up the installation of the software I bought and I had to re-install the Mac OS and start again.
Goodbye Mac Mall. sigh.
If i have to get a rebate, from now on, I won’t make the purchase. Just tell me what it costs and let me pay you.
That’s so much cleaner.
I had a bad experience with a CoolMax rebate purchased through ZipZoomFly. CoolMax denied my rebate because I didn’t “circle” the product on the invoice, despite it being the ONLY item I bought. They made no offer for me to correct the error and receive my rebate. ZipZoomFly has been unresponsive to my inquiries. So, both have lost a customer. Hopefully, they both have enough business to sustain them despite bad customer experiences.
I purchased an ibook from MacMall in February, 2007. They refused to honor the rebate syaing it arrived after the alloted time. Of course this is not true. I re-sent all the necessary copies and followed up with a phone call to customer service. They promised to send the $100 immediately.
Have you seen it yet?
The new MacBook get a free ipod nano deal is not looking good. Time will tell. I’m on mailing number four and still no rebate check. Cute way for them to push the ipod nano. Just buy the computer and skip the free deal.
Trend Micro: Another of the rebate scammers. I purchased their PCcillin product at Office Depot. There were two rebates. One was a competitive upgrade, the other a simple rebate. They were designed to work together (not valid with any other rebate except xxxx). Both were submitted. Three months pass. Four. Five. I check the rebate site. Both were “never received.” I call the rebate company. Yes they were received, but could not be used together. I pointed out the fact that were wrong and the forms clearly stated they could be used together. “sorry, we’ll process them–”
Two months later the competitive upgrade check arrives. Back to calling. They refuse to honor the retail purchase rebate for the same previously given (false) reason. I like the product, hate the rebate scam. I have to renew the anti-virus subscription in a couple of months. At $49!? Nope. Found the product, new, on eBay for $10 …. for 3 PC’s. Why renew? Screw ‘em.
———-
Symantec: Never honored 5 out of 7 rebates. Their policy – this is the truth – if it’s lost in processing or the mailroom, it’s considered lost in the mail!
———-
eXtreme Memory: Stalled and denied rebates of Compact flash cards to myself, a friend, and my partner. Finally sent the rebates after 13 months of complaining. One check bounced because it was “stale”, and the other two were $15 instead of $35!
———-
Scanport: Received a 19″ LCD as a gift. I processed the $100 rebate personally and sent it overnight mail. They denied receiving it, even though I had a signature and delivery confirmation. I had it insured and filed a claim. They told the post office they received it. Claim denied. Sent that “we received it” notice to Scanport. “sorry, that rebate has expired…”
———-
A note. I am a “rebate expert” …. I photocopy everything, make sure the UPC is clean and clear, keep a followup file and followup faithfully. I follow every rule and regulation, We purchase a lot of PC products and electronics. Sony: eleven rebates, never a problem. Nikon: Three rebates, all perfect. Maxtor: Three rebates, perfect. So not all companies are scammers. But Symantec, eXtreme, Trend Micro and Scanport have well deserved reps as con rebate artists.
I had the same thing happen to me. Sent it all the forms to Apple’s rebate service and months later was told the rebate request was denied.
I have been going through all kinds of nonsense with Apple over their “Buy a Mac and get a free iPod Nano” promotion. The rebate is a complete scam. They keep telling me that the UPC codes I submitted, and then the replacement affadavit I submitted were “lost in the mail.” I have been a loyal Apple customer for 20 years, but at this point I hate them so much, I’ll never buy another Apple product.
I am on the verge of filing a lawsuit against Apple, which will hopefully become class action. The first time they said the sent the check to the wrong address. That’s funny. My house number sure looks legible to me on the photocopy I made. It has now been “30 business days” since the supposed second check was mailed. I’m not holding my breath.
Rebates STINK: Just put it on sale! I love this one – US Modules (PC memory) uses an outside company to process the rebates Worldwide Rebates (smells like $$$ spent here). Well needless to say I was denied my rebate because the postmark was the Monday after the Friday on which I dropped it in the box. Sure it was last minute, but give me a break. That is the whole reason everyone buys the absolute cheapest they can – there is no longer any service or leeway so get the cheapest. Do not even get me going on department stores and fast food joints!
I just received the reponse below from eagletech regarding the status of my 100.00 rebate for the Viper case I purchased from the newegg website.
I was warned from friends that Eagle-Tech has a reputation for not honoring their rebates, and will flat out lie about someone not providing enough information when sending in the rebate form so they would not have to honor it.
On 7/14/2007 I sent in all of the required information (within the specified 14 day period), *exactly* as the rebate form indicated, with my newegg receipt, mail-in rebate form, and original UPC. I also made triplicate copies of everything I sent, *and* sent the letter certified.
True to form, as you can see below, they stated that I’m missing my sales invoice, in hopes that I will simply give up, and wait another 12 weeks for them to not honor the rebate.
> From: rebate@eagle-techusa.com
> To:
> Subject: RE: Status of rebate
> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:51:57 -0800
>
> Dear Customer:
>
> We have received your rebate mail on 07/16/07.
>
> Rebate: Received
>
> Status: Declined
>
> Reason: Missing Sales Invoice
>
> (The mail-in letter is only the “processing page”)
>
> If you would, I could do you a one time favor by re-submit your rebate to
> our rebate process center again.
>
> In order to do that, I need your INVOICE PAGE first. And please understand
> by re-submit your rebate; the process time takes 12 weeks.
>
> Here are the instructions of how to get the invoice # from Newegg:
>
> 7. You have to login to your account, by entering your email address
> and password.
> 8. After login, click “Go To My Account.”
> 9. Then you click the second option, “Order History/Print History.”
> 10. Then you select the invoice number.
> 11. Then click on Printer.
> 12. After following the steps that will take you into the invoice.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Rebate Dept.
Do not do business with this shady company.
I just received the reponse below from eagletech regarding the status of my 100.00 rebate for the Viper case I purchased from the newegg website.
I was warned from friends that Eagle-Tech has a reputation for not honoring their rebates, and will flat out lie about someone not providing enough information when sending in the rebate form so they would not have to honor it.
On 7/14/2007 I sent in all of the required information (within the specified 14 day period), *exactly* as the rebate form indicated, with my newegg receipt, mail-in rebate form, and original UPC. I also made triplicate copies of everything I sent, *and* sent the letter certified.
True to form, as you can see below, they stated that I’m missing my sales invoice, in hopes that I will simply give up, and wait another 12 weeks for them to not honor the rebate.
> From: rebate@eagle-techusa.com
> To:
> Subject: RE: Status of rebate
> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:51:57 -0800
>
> Dear Customer:
>
> We have received your rebate mail on 07/16/07.
>
> Rebate: Received
>
> Status: Declined
>
> Reason: Missing Sales Invoice
>
> (The mail-in letter is only the “processing page”)
>
> If you would, I could do you a one time favor by re-submit your rebate to
> our rebate process center again.
>
> In order to do that, I need your INVOICE PAGE first. And please understand
> by re-submit your rebate; the process time takes 12 weeks.
>
> Here are the instructions of how to get the invoice # from Newegg:
>
> 7. You have to login to your account, by entering your email address
> and password.
> 8. After login, click “Go To My Account.”
> 9. Then you click the second option, “Order History/Print History.”
> 10. Then you select the invoice number.
> 11. Then click on Printer.
> 12. After following the steps that will take you into the invoice.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Rebate Dept.
Do not do business with this shady company.
I just received the reponse below from eagletech regarding the status of my 100.00 rebate for the Viper case I purchased from the newegg website.
I was warned from friends that Eagle-Tech has a reputation for not honoring their rebates, and will flat out lie about someone not providing enough information when sending in the rebate form so they would not have to honor it.
On 7/14/2007 I sent in all of the required information (within the specified 14 day period), *exactly* as the rebate form indicated, with my newegg receipt, mail-in rebate form, and original UPC. I also made triplicate copies of everything I sent, *and* sent the letter certified.
True to form, as you can see below, they stated that I’m missing my sales invoice, in hopes that I will simply give up, and wait another 12 weeks for them to not honor the rebate.
> From: rebate@eagle-techusa.com
> To:
> Subject: RE: Status of rebate
> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:51:57 -0800
>
> Dear Customer:
>
> We have received your rebate mail on 07/16/07.
>
> Rebate: Received
>
> Status: Declined
>
> Reason: Missing Sales Invoice
>
> (The mail-in letter is only the “processing page”)
>
> If you would, I could do you a one time favor by re-submit your rebate to
> our rebate process center again.
>
> In order to do that, I need your INVOICE PAGE first. And please understand
> by re-submit your rebate; the process time takes 12 weeks.
>
> Here are the instructions of how to get the invoice # from Newegg:
>
> 7. You have to login to your account, by entering your email address
> and password.
> 8. After login, click “Go To My Account.”
> 9. Then you click the second option, “Order History/Print History.”
> 10. Then you select the invoice number.
> 11. Then click on Printer.
> 12. After following the steps that will take you into the invoice.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Rebate Dept.
Do not do business with this shady company.
I regularly send in product rebates and have developed a list of companies for which you WILL most likely make a “career” out of attempting to actually RECEIVE the rebate you earned.
Symantic. They WILL often reject your rebate by outright lying to you about why it was “REJECTED”. You WILL jump through hoops to get your rebate.
McAffee. DITTO.
US MODULAR (memory products). It’s downright amazing the “song & dance” you’ll get from this small company to avoid paying you. I’ve had one pending for almost a year; I have contacted them eight times, each time with either no response or a (false) promise to send the check. I’m still waiting!
…MOST products purchased from BUY.COM. BUY.COM obviously DOES NOT police their product vendors, do not do followup and do NOT respond to ANY rebate complaints; you’re on your own. Look at the rebate form and ensure that there is a way to contact them IF/WHEN you do not receive your rebate or you are almost guaranteed to lose.
I could name dozens more but why bother? The point is: if you are going to play the rebate game, copy EVERYTHING without fail. Also, know that it is purely a “crap shoot” with apparently no effective laws to govern it. Good luck!
I recently was screwed out of a rebate by World Wide Rebates
I will NEVER buy ANY product that has a rebate
These are nothing but scams and World Wide Rebates is the WORST
I jumped through all their hoops and they still screwed me
The product was marked on the shelf as $45 but when I got to the check stand I was charged $65 and told there was a rebate. The next time I’m going to cancel all my purchases at that point and walk out of the store
Maybe that will get someones attention
Well that and the fact I plan spending an hour a week posting my problem on the internet
Personal satisfaction
My dad and I both bought a canon digital slr camera 1 or 2 years ago with the expectation that we would receive $75 each back in rebates. We both sent in the necessary information (at different times). I was told they never received the information and my dad was told he did not get it there in time (which was a big fat lie). Unfortunately, I had NOT made a copy of the upc code so I was out of luck…it was their word against mine. I will NEVER trust canon with a rebate again.
My neighbor just told me today that she was in an arguement with a canon rebate representative on the phone at a Ritz camera store today trying to get a rebate from canon on two canon products purchased over Christmas. When she bought the two items together on the same day at Ritz camera, she received a receipt for each item. She was denied the rebate because the representative told her it had to be on ONE receipt, and that the guidelines said “receipt” NOT “receipts.” Even after the Ritz camera representative told Canon that he could provide her with one recipt for both items, Canon refused to honor the rebate.
If you buy a canon product with the promise of a rebate, DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH. They obviously have no intentions in fufilling their promise. I believe Canon has a scam going on with their rebates.
I received a $50 rebate from Canon. Not knowing date on the rebate check has been passed, so I deposit the check and of course it got rejected with ’stale’ stamp on it. It is a scam from Canon to do this.
I like the fine print on almost all rebates, that states they are not responsible for “lost or incomplete” submissions.
So if they are negligent in handling the submission, it’s your fault, and you won’t get your money. That’s a slippery slope, and soon they’ll use that excuse to deny eligible claims when they feel like it.
Worldwide Rebates screwed me, too. Four weeks into my application, I got a postcard saying my invoice date was after the offer date (it wasn’t). Then I got an email saying the rebate was being processed. I replied to that email, but the address was invalid. I found another email address deep in their website, and got a reply from them. They said the rebate was refused because a) the invoice was not submitted b) there was no proof of delivery c) there was no proof of purchase, d) the purchase date was outside the offer date (how would they know that if they never received anything?), and most laughably e) the reseller was not authorized to offer the rebate!
They did go on to say that JUST THIS ONCE, the reseller has agreed to allow me to resubmit the claim. Is this the same reseller that wasn’t authorized in the first place? (Newegg, BTW).
I’ve told Newegg I’m never buying from them again, no reply yet.
A total scam. All for $10. There ought to be a law.
Worldwide rebates is a processing company. We process the information submitted. As for Mr. Pinkerton, there was no receipt submitted; therefore the reseller, purchase date were invalid because it was missing. We offer our claimants the chance to resubmit information that may have been omitted. Mr. Pinkerton may resubmit a copy of his invoice so his claim can be re-decisioned. Please contact us at 800-286-9146.
On the upside, we purchased a new MacBook Pro Christmas 2008. Of course there were the rebates, one for the printer that came with the deal and one for the computer. We filled all out had double copies of each receipt so we could send an original. We sent them off immediately and did get both checks with a couple of weeks. I was pleasantly surprised.
I purchased a Mitsubishi 60″ television from Shop NBC on 10/1/08, which had a $100.00 rebate from Worldwide Rebates Center. I submitted all the paperwork required by Worldwide. I went online and tracked my rebate which showed a check had been mailed to me on 1/23/09, which I never received and don’t believe was ever mailed! I tried contacting them by phone and received the same problem everyone else has … I was hung up on. So, I emailed them and was told the information had been turned over to their finance department, which was on 3/18/09. To-date, 4/7/09, have not heard a word or received check. People beware of rebates on shopping shows especially if it is related to a rebate from Worldwide Rebates Center!
I am currently experiencing a problem getting a rebate for Trend Micro Security Pro. I purchased the Product from Fry’s Electronics in December of 2009.
I mailed the form from the Rebate submission company which is a required item to get your rebate, along with cutting out UPC code flap from the Security Pro box. I also included a copy of the Rebate Receipt that Fry’s specially printed out for me when I purchased the product. I submitted the paperwork the day after the purchase, so it was within the 30 day time frame from date of purchase.
I went on-line and tracked the receipt of the paperwork at the processing company via their web-site. They had the paperwork posted within 10 days of my mailing it from Dallas Texas. However, a few days later they sent me an e-mail message stating I failed to provide a copy of the receipt showing the purchase price. What? The Rebate Receipt I submitted has the purchase price on it along with my Name, Address, etc. So how were they able to contact me if they didn’t get this “REQUIRED” information?
So I again made a copy of the Receipt and mailed it to the rebate processing company along with a print out of the tracking information, along with a screen capture of the screen saying I didn’t provide the receipt with the price data on it.
Two weeks later I got a card in the mail saying the information I provided didn’t have the purchase price on it, and I would have to resubmit the paper work all over again. Frankly, I have never been one to have problems getting rebates for items I have purchased; I keep meticulous records and track the items through rebate completion. As luck would have it, I met the President of Trend Micro several years ago, and I have his business card. If all this fails, I will contact the President of Trend Micro (If he is still President) and see if there is something he can do to assist me.