Best Buy Ending Rebates!

[ProUser]

Originally posted by: Lorax

Originally posted by: Password
The article says>>>...as Best Buy shifts its promotional spending to programs like its "Reward Zone," where customers pay an up-front fee but earn points toward future discounts.<<<

Who is going to do this???

quite a few people already do this, myself included.

I signed up for the RewardZone as well mainly because I had to make a few large purchases for work. It's been almost 3 months, and I have yet to receive a single reward point yet - although when you buy the rewardzone card they say "Oh you'll have your rewards back in 30 days"

After about 5 calls to them, I've heard every excuse in the book from "We did a server upgrade" to "We lost some of them." And yesterday I was told "Your points are in, and we are emailing them to you now. You should have them in the next 7 days - yes, I said DAYS"

/end rant

 

[thedealmaker]

well, I will miss it. I got every single BB rebates, may need a call or 2, don't remember, but I still got them. Well, I can never get stuff for free again in BB.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: thedealmaker
well, I will miss it. I got every single BB rebates, may need a call or 2, don't remember, but I still got them. Well, I can never get stuff for free again in BB.

Same here, although I do belong to the rewards program and every time I spend about $100,000 they email me a coupon for $5 off of a $10 purchase. Whoopie. Somehow it's not the same thing as the 80GB hard drive I got for $16 AR or the FAR CD-Rs.

 

[imported_IronPlasma]

Okay so Best Buy makes it's sale prices without rebates somewhere between current before rebate and after rebate prices to stay competitive. Good... time to head elsewhere to pricematch to Best Buy and still get my rebates. Thanks Best Buy. :thumbsup:

 

[Noobody]

if i were BB, i would give out 70% rebate value as gift card, on the spot. People usually spend more than GC face value, so it's win-win

 

[MisterMe]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: thedealmaker
well, I will miss it. I got every single BB rebates, may need a call or 2, don't remember, but I still got them. Well, I can never get stuff for free again in BB.

Same here, although I do belong to the rewards program and every time I spend about $100,000 they email me a coupon for $5 off of a $10 purchase. Whoopie. Somehow it's not the same thing as the 80GB hard drive I got for $16 AR or the FAR CD-Rs.

I'm always amazed at the people who whine that they don't get their rebates and blame it on the "machine". Did they really fill out out the information to the tee? Or violate one of the clearly written conditions in liu of their better way to do it? I'm a rebate freak and can't say that I have EVER missed one of my rebates due. If the system was as horrible as the whiners are saying, then wouldn't you think I myself would have gotten stung at least once or twice out of the seemingly hundreds of rebates I've submitted? I think all the rebate flack is another case of "the squeaky wheel gets the oil"...

 

[mithrandir2001]

I've stopped shopping at BB. Their Hot Deal days are over (if there were any). BB is now Wall Street-oriented: high margins, high profits. They don't want us bottom feeders shopping in their stores (and I don't mean just peeps who buy, return and then rebuy open stock at a discount). In fact I've read a few press articles that claim Best Buy invites managers to show certain customers the exit if they purchase too many low-margin products. Sounds controversial to me, if not illegal.

 

[mithrandir2001]

Speaking of rebates, why the heck does Dell do MIRs? I mean, you are buying direct from the "manufacturer" not a retailer. Why should I have to resubmit UPC, receipt and address info when they already have it?! This is the kind of stuff that warrants legislative solutions.

 

[Stoerm]

It seems like BB wishes to specifically target underinformed consumers who will pay more for products because they don't realize that they could get it cheaper elsewhere. If they coupled this no-rebate thing with more knowledgeable and friendly sales people and/or reduced their prices a bit, it may actually work out for them.

I haven't been in Best Buy looking for something for a long time and I've seen others around here who have said the same. Perhaps they've already alienated hot deal seekers and are just wishing to change their focus. As far as I'm concerned, the store couldn't get much worse than it already is, so maybe this is a step in the right direction.

 

[nguyendot1]

If everyone were actually 'informed' then there would be no need for any technology positions/degrees anywhere. Everyone is uninformed in some way, and in every business there is a high paying high margin job ready to take their money. Thats the way the world works.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Lorax

Originally posted by: Password
The article says>>>...as Best Buy shifts its promotional spending to programs like its "Reward Zone," where customers pay an up-front fee but earn points toward future discounts.<<<

Who is going to do this???

quite a few people already do this, myself included.

same. It paid for itself several times over when we got our laptop.

 

[spanky]

(mail in) rebates must die

 

[Dragonbate]

Kinda sux here in NY. Best Buy is the only "decent" electronics store in my area. The only other is circuit city which usually has even worse deals. If anyone works at Fry's corporate WE NEED ONE IN NY!

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: MisterMe
I'm always amazed at the people who whine that they don't get their rebates and blame it on the "machine". Did they really fill out out the information to the tee? Or violate one of the clearly written conditions in liu of their better way to do it? I'm a rebate freak and can't say that I have EVER missed one of my rebates due. If the system was as horrible as the whiners are saying, then wouldn't you think I myself would have gotten stung at least once or twice out of the seemingly hundreds of rebates I've submitted? I think all the rebate flack is another case of "the squeaky wheel gets the oil"...

Well then you'd be wrong. I've done plenty of rebates myself over the years and found it not so uncommon for the rebate to be denied for myriad reasons even when I could consult the scanned copies of what I'd submitted and see that it was the rebate fulfillment house's, errrrr, "mistake", and theirs alone.

The machine does break down, because the fulfillment houses profit from these "breaks". If that weren't true then who can account for a rebate being denied but a telephone call (or resubmission of exact same info already submitted), suffices to resolve it? Does it mean everyone always fills out and mails in rebates 100% correctly? Of course not, but I dare think it's not so difficult to adhere to that most people, the majority, get rejected for valid reasons.

 

[Uclagamer_99]

Originally posted by: lnguyen

Originally posted by: Lorax

Originally posted by: Password
The article says>>>...as Best Buy shifts its promotional spending to programs like its "Reward Zone," where customers pay an up-front fee but earn points toward future discounts.<<<

Who is going to do this???

quite a few people already do this, myself included.

same. It paid for itself several times over when we got our laptop.

Definitely worth it for some people. I've earned $200+ in rewards, just in the 3 yrs I've had it.

 

[statik213]

This sux big time....

How else can you bag a 160GB HDD for $29.99 (last black fri)?

 

[JimKiler]

Originally posted by: MisterMe

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: thedealmaker
well, I will miss it. I got every single BB rebates, may need a call or 2, don't remember, but I still got them. Well, I can never get stuff for free again in BB.

Same here, although I do belong to the rewards program and every time I spend about $100,000 they email me a coupon for $5 off of a $10 purchase. Whoopie. Somehow it's not the same thing as the 80GB hard drive I got for $16 AR or the FAR CD-Rs.

I'm always amazed at the people who whine that they don't get their rebates and blame it on the "machine". Did they really fill out out the information to the tee? Or violate one of the clearly written conditions in liu of their better way to do it? I'm a rebate freak and can't say that I have EVER missed one of my rebates due. If the system was as horrible as the whiners are saying, then wouldn't you think I myself would have gotten stung at least once or twice out of the seemingly hundreds of rebates I've submitted? I think all the rebate flack is another case of "the squeaky wheel gets the oil"...

I have gotten maybe $500 in rebates in the last 24 months. The first was a vid card from CompUSA and PNY, I had the choice of a UPC or proof of purchase, it was denied because I sent the proof of purchase, I was dumb didn't save the UPC and no photocopy. I even mailed them the rebate form stating both are accepted. I contacted PNY and got my rebate. I did a bunch for thanksgiving last year, most came back, but Officemax sent one I thought I didn't get until I called them (my fault and I think I cashed it in Feb but can't be sure) and the other stayed in limbo state for 3 months until I called and I got it last week. I bought Win XP Pro from CompUSA with $60 rebate that was denied last month. I even called beforehand to make sure which UPS they needed as the WinXP boxes are confusing. I called and without even fighting it was pushed thru and they sent my rebate 2 weeks ago. I think this one was pushed through since the gov't recently sued CompUSA over rebates.

 

[Mallow]

so everything will be instant rebate or no rebate?

 

[brewzer420]

This is absolutely ridiculous, IMHO. WTF are they going to do on Black Friday?

I am not too disappointed though because I have always been leery of BB and its policies.

 

[AkaJoseonFW]

I do agree that alot of people screw up when they submit their rebates, but I am seeing an increasing trend in my rebates being denied for invalid postmark dates.

The funny/suspicious thing is the majority of my rebates I run thru the postage meter at work so they are postmarked(within the rebate timeline rules) then and there in front of me, I then take a photo copy or scan of the postmarked envelope as well. I got 3 netgear postcards Fri (from Cr*pUSA's, presidents day sale) saying invalid postmark and 1 the week before from Staypulls for an EZ rebate that wasn't required to be mailed in the first place. (Is no postmark an invalid postmark..hmmmm?, that's right up there with " If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to see it, does it make a sound"..

Ok enough philosophy for tonight.

Thanks op!

 

[CyberTron]

ya, doesnt surprise me after that whole "we only want people who want to spent money in our store" BS they pulled some time back. I think thats the most screwed up thing to say. "We only want people stupid enough to pay retail for everything " they can kiss my ass, and I'm sure a lot of other's as well.

 

[CyberTron]

Oh and if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, it does NOT make a sound sound is, by definiton, something heard. Dont shoot the messenger, thats what my music teacher said.

 

[Sandersann]

I do not believe this is true

the date and the business logic are too suspect

 

[TrueWisdom]

I'm more curious of the fact that Best Buy said: "Don't come to our stores looking for deals." That's just asinine business logic. Your store should be a HAVEN to deal-seekers, because that's how you acquire the reputation of having the best prices. Best Buy should treat every consumer as a deal-seeker, because no one wants to pay more than they should for anything. To publicly discourage deal-seeking is to admit that you overcharge for goods. I can't even begin to wrap my head around that one.

 

[wallsfd949]

Originally posted by: dew042
That's definatly not the basis of the "Customer Centricity" model - it aims to customize products and services towards a particular type of shopper based on the local needs and demand. Gone is the day of the cookie cutter, every store is the exact same. Best Buy wants to make itself different, unique in an increasingly competative marketplace. Frankly - I would not want my only local outlet for electronics to be Walmart.

As to alienation - a buck is a buck is a buck. No retailer is ever going spend a significant amount of time profiling customers and purposefully ignoring them on a store level. Beyond that - the average hot dealer I would doubt ever talks to sales people, much less listens to a sales pitch. We "hot dealers" are saavy, informed consumers who make our decisions based on what we learn and research - not what a sales person suggests.

dew.

You sound like a dedicated BB employee. My hat is off to you, I wouldn't take your job for anything..

[edit] I didn't intend for that to sound like a 'best buy employees are loosers', I just couldn't stand to work there after spending a short time at bestbuysux.org