Circuit City - WD 120GB for $10 AR ?!

[Serpent]

Thanks for replying Skorpio.

I woke up at 9AM PST and all the stores in Northern California, in Columbus, OH (where my cousin lives) were sold out.

Combined with the sneaky stuff that CC pulled with the rebate (have done it before too), I find it hard to believe the regional warehouses and the local stores all got sold out within 3 hours of the deal being posted on Fatw*llet.

 

[ai42]

Well they out right refused to give me 60 dollar credit. They even went online to tell me its not there anymore. Even though I just told them its not on the website anymore. Its that kind of stupidity that I hate. I for one am not returning to that particular circuit city for any sales, period. I'm willing to drive extra 10 minutes to get someone who's isn't gonna state the obvious.

So what? You can't honestly expect every CC employee to know whats going on with this deal. Maybe you were the first guy to go into the store about this deal. As far as they know your making it up. And in the end you are not screwed CC was not obligated to give you that store credit, you just send in the MIRs. That how the original deal was and thats how it will end. Your expectation changed by reading that some people got store credits and you didn't thats BS, because when you purchased the drive (online not necessarily when you picked up the drive) that was not in your expectation. Your original expectation was to send in $150 worth of MIR, and that will still be true. Complaining about MIRs is not going to change anything and 80% of the hot deals out there involve MIRs. If you don't like them don't do them!

 

[poppagene]

Originally posted by: Chuck2
For anyone that is toying with the idea of submitting the $60 rebate after receiving his discount from the store. The receipt has a transaction number which can be brought up if the rebate center wanted to check to see if a credit had been applied to the original sale. Besides being morally wrong, what is being risked is worth more than $60. (actually, any amount of money)

The $60 credit on my receipt is listed as a prce adjustment. This is not an instant rebate. This is not a mail in rebate. This is a price adjustment. And why would someone cry fraud if I submitted a $60 rebate claim that young america told me I am entitled to before I bought the drive? Does price matching and receiving a price adjustment invalidate some or all rebates? I think not.

 

[buzzcheeze]

Thats funny My $60 rebate CLEARLY states 4/01/03 to 4/30/03
Maybe the $80 rebate was supposed to be for $180 ? who knows ????

Originally posted by: SKORPI0

Originally posted by: Serpent
If I were to manage to find the drive today and buy it, is there a chance I would get a $60 IR?

No chance. $60 MIR rebate was supposed to end 4/24. $80 & $10 MIR ends today.

I'm opting for the OMax sale tomorrow. Missed this deal because I was at work. :frown:

 

[leonc]

Originally posted by: DUKAT1

Originally posted by: Mallow

Originally posted by: clouser

Originally posted by: ai42
Got another call from the rebate center. Apparently CC made a deal with Western Digital and you can submit the $60 rebate as is, with all the same info. She did mention that it had to have been purchased the 24th, and photocopies of UPCs etc will be accepted.

Exactly... so if your CC manager gave you a credit on your card already... whats to stop you from submitting your rebate?

good point... but I'm sure they have ways of tracking that.

I agree. I think that is really risking fraud charges. Considering I got $63.60 back on mine, I'll be satisfied with that. $16.72 after rebates and including postage is smokin'.

Let me put it another way:

All of us who got the $60 credit without having to send in the rebate form should be satisfied. Any who try to milk it for the $60 rebate also deserves to be caught and prosecuted.

Getting the drive for under $20 is a steal. Trying to get the extra $60 is just plain stealing, as in theft!

What if you submitted the $60 rebate on the 24th, then heard they weren't going to honor it, then got the credit from the manager? That is not fraud, since you did everything by the book as the situation changed. In reality, you should not cash the check if it arrives, but even if you cash it, it could be that you just forgot why it was coming and cashed it in ignorance -- not fraud. I'm not saying that is right, but it would be tough to prosecute. People who bought multiples and use different addresses are committing fraud, but people who mailed all of the rebates, then heard of the problems and got them fixed did nothing wrong (yet).

 

[devilish]

poppagene when they did the price adjustment they had to enter a code which gives the reason for the adjustment to wit: rebate issue. You won't see it anywhere on your receipt but they can bring it up by transaction number

 

[trinitroDynamics]

Everyone here is confused. I recommend everyone read the previous posts. Let me clear up the confusion.

First read my first post here: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=1033077&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=&STARTPAGE=8



Western Digital will only honor one rebate! Although both of the rebates are good, check the dates.

Circuit City will have to cover the rebate price <this means Circuit City (store manager) will have to cover the rebate, either the $60 or the $80. Most of the stores will cover the $60 bogus rebate; this is for obvious price reasons. The store managers will simply deduct the $60 from the original price of the Hard-Drive, and you will walk out of the store paying only $106.

Then you merely fill out your Western Digital Rebate ($80) and your Circuit City Rebate ($10) and send them in!

Remember the original mix up on Circuit Citys website was on 4/24/03, but if you go into a store and talk to the managers they will most probably deduct the $60 from the price of the Hard-Drive. This is the way to get the drive for $16. Have the paperwork ready.

Quote from email: "Thank you for contacting circuitcity.com. I apologize for any inconvenience you have had with our site. At this time, the $60 rebate link that was posted online at www.circuitcity.com for the WDC WD1200BBRTL was printed in error. Due to our error, Circuit City will be honoring these rebates for customers who made the purchase on April 24th. Please fill out the $10 rebate and the $80 rebate as indicated. Please make copies of all UPC codes and receipts."


But if you have purchased the Drive on 4/24/03 then there is no problem, you probably received the deal in the store at this time. If you have to still pick up the drive they should honor the discount, just have the paperwork ready when you go in to pick up your Hard-Drive.

Some Circuit City's "stores" are saying that they will honor the $60 rebate at a later date, (if you are turned down from the rebate center) however I would be skeptical about this. However if you did purchase your drive on 4/24/03 they should honor the $60 rebate, INCLUDING the $80 and the $10.

For example, if you purchased your Hard-Drive on 4/24/03 you went into the store, and if you had your paperwork on you what probably happened is this. You showed the manager the paperwork and he deducted the $60/$80 from the overall price OR they printed you out the correct 3 rebates right there OR the store said send the rebates in and if you are turned down merely bring back the receipt and they will then reimburse you.
OR if you went into the store at the right time the website was probably still showing the correct 3 rebates and there was no problem at all.




Now it's getting more difficult for the store to deduct the $60 bogus rebate from the overall price because Circuit City issued e-mailes to all the managers of the stores, and news travels fast. Remember only the store managers can deduct the $60/$80, at the store.

I took care of my purchase on 4/25/03 and this is why it was relatively easy for my purchase.

You should still be able to walk into the store with the paperwork and have the manager deduct the $60 from the overall price. However, this is at the manager's discretion.

 

[trinitroDynamics]

Let's also say, you walk into the store and buy the hard-drive after 4/24/03. And the managers tell you to just send in your printed (3) rebate forms. Don't do this! Because you will not get all of them, only 2 of them. You now have to tell the manager that you want them to print all the (3) rebates up for you (at the register). But they cannot print all the rebates up for you (at the register) because of the mix up. They can only print 2 rebates.

Just tell the manager that you insist on having all 3 rebates printed from the register (this is how Circuit City does the rebates, you can also print them online and send them in)

If they cannot print all the 3 rebates on the register (they can't) then they will be coerced into giving you the $60 off the overall price. This is how it is done. Because they cannot print you a receipt with all the 3 rebates (at the register) because of the mix up and they will simply make up the difference because of the mix up on the website.

 

[c627627]

This is all needless speculation that drowns out the fact that CC corporate met and decided that official instructions will not be given before Monday.

On Monday, April 28th, you will need to call Customer Support at (800) 251-2665 for specific instructions on how to receive the $60 rebate.

 

[Salvador]

Combined with the sneaky stuff that CC pulled with the rebate (have done it before too), I find it hard to believe the regional warehouses and the local stores all got sold out within 3 hours of the deal being posted on Fatw*llet.

I find that hard to believe as well. I just think that it was easier to create a false unavailability for in-store pickups than change the terms on the website. I've seen pretty hot deals like this before (not quite this hot) and it took longer than 3 hours to sell out everywhere.

Did Circuit City die yet?

Sal

 

[trinitroDynamics]

Originally posted by: c627627
This is all needless speculation that drowns out the fact that CC corporate met and decided that official instructions will not be given before Monday.

On Monday, April 28th, you will need to call Customer Support at (800) 251-2665 for specific instructions on how to receive the $60 rebate.

that is why it is better to have the store manager deduct the $60 from the standing price when you are in the store ready to purchase. Remember it is not worth it, to them, to loose a sale.

Of course, if you purchase the drive after 4/24/03 you will have to do this anyway.

 

[RadioUdotCom]

I bought this online on the 24th and specified in store pick up. Even though I am not picking this up till Monday, my order will still be considered on the 24th right?

The way I see it I should still get all the rebates.

 

[miyagisan]

Got my $60 credited back to my Visa. I showed her my confirmation e-mail and pointed out that it specified 3 rebates but only 2 printed out. She gave me no hassle. I then went back into the store and bought some memory stick for $64.99 plus a free memory stick reader and a $15 rebate. Not bad
the sales girl was so happy for me when the free reader came on the screen.

 

[winzonly]

Originally posted by: miyagisan
Got my $60 credited back to my Visa. I showed her my confirmation e-mail and pointed out that it specified 3 rebates but only 2 printed out. She gave me no hassle. I then went back into the store and bought some memory stick for $64.99 plus a free memory stick reader and a $15 rebate. Not bad
the sales girl was so happy for me when the free reader came on the screen. Now that i got $60 back anyone think I can still submit all three rebates or would they know that it was already credited.

obviously your receipt will say that you got $60 credited right? so they know

 

[devilish]

Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combined with the sneaky stuff that CC pulled with the rebate (have done it before too), I find it hard to believe the regional warehouses and the local stores all got sold out within 3 hours of the deal being posted on Fatw*llet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I find that hard to believe as well. I just think that it was easier to create a false unavailability for in-store pickups than change the terms on the website. I've seen pretty hot deals like this before (not quite this hot) and it took longer than 3 hours to sell out everywhere.






In my city the store only stocks 5-7 drives at a time. So it wouldn't be too hard to run out if they are purchased online for pick up.

 

[poppagene]

My CSR asked what code to enter and the other CSR said approved by manager.

Originally posted by: devilish
poppagene when they did the price adjustment they had to enter a code which gives the reason for the adjustment to wit: rebate issue. You won't see it anywhere on your receipt but they can bring it up by transaction number

 

[trinitroDynamics]

Originally posted by: RadioUdotCom
I bought this online on the 24th and specified in store pick up. Even though I am not picking this up till Monday, my order will still be considered on the 24th right?

The way I see it I should still get all the rebates.

I'm not so sure, IF you have your internet reciept saying you purchased (and paid) for the Hard-drive on 4/24/03, then yes you should get the 3 rebates.

But it would be better, if when you go to pick up the hard-drive from the store, if you could have the store manager deduct the $60 from the hard-drive price. This would be much better, and it will save you the rebate hassle. Just bring in the 4/24/03 mirror website paperwork and talk to the manager and see if they will deduct the $60 from the price, right there in the store.

 

[LethalPencil]

So here's a question for you all. I was one of the lucky ones to get the drive on 4/24 and it was an 8mb cache drive. I know that OfficeMax deal only requires you to send in the capacity label as proof of purchase. If I go to OM and buy a drive (so that i have an official OM receipt showing i purchased the drive) and then later return it, will I still be able to send in the rebate using the OM receipt and the capacity label off of my CC drive (since I dont need the capicity label for the CC rebate)? f

When they get the mail-in rebates at the rebate centers or whatever.... do they scan in the receipt to see if you ever returned it? or how does this actually work.

---

Lethal Pencil,

The best you can contribute in your first post on our forums is to inquire about how to commit fraud. It is also your last post.

Good bye.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[KRaZeE]

Originally posted by: LethalPencil
So here's a question for you all. I was one of the lucky ones to get the drive on 4/24 and it was an 8mb cache drive. I know that OfficeMax deal only requires you to send in the capacity label as proof of purchase. If I go to OM and buy a drive (so that i have an official OM receipt showing i purchased the drive) and then later return it, will I still be able to send in the rebate using the OM receipt and the capacity label off of my CC drive (since I dont need the capicity label for the CC rebate)? f

When they get the mail-in rebates at the rebate centers or whatever.... do they scan in the receipt to see if you ever returned it? or how does this actually work.

<sarcasm>
Yea, fraud is always the way to go d00d. Right on...go for it.
</sarcasm>

Dipsh!t.

 

[amnesiac]

Got my refund, no problem. Apparently it's a big fat YMMV, depending on the store manager.
First CC I went to I was turned away by the rather rude manager.. went down the street to another CC the next day and after calmly explaining the situation the manager was more than happy to credit me the $60.

 

[Lanyap]

Got my $60 refund yesterday, no problem. This is great since I really did not want to deal with the $60 rebate since there were so many issues. I will be sending in my $10 and $80 rebates this week.

 

[fantasma62]

This definitely is a YMMV. I went to my CC and spoke to the manager, who said that according to the email they received, WD is not honoring the rebate, unless this was purchased on or before the 24th, so he gave me a discount for half of the rebate ($30.00), to boot, he discounted tax and everything, so in reality the discount ended up being around $32.00 adn a few cents...Not bad...
If I had jumped on this earlier, maybe I woudn't have lost out, but for $50.00 i(including tax) t's still pretty good.....

 

[shenfo]

Originally posted by: muffstah
Could anybody that was able to get 60 dollars IR email me your receipt showing you received a price adjustment?

Thanks

same here PLEASE!!!!

 

[aperry]

Good luck folks. My store managers were being real jerks, and not offering any IR or credit of any type. All they offered was to let me return the drive. This was supposedly at the direction of their district manager (Arkansas and Oklahoma I think).

I plan on dropping by to wave the letter that I am getting the credit. They won't care, but it'll make me feel better...

 

[trinitroDynamics]

Originally posted by: aperry
Good luck folks. My store managers were being real jerks, and not offering any IR or credit of any type. All they offered was to let me return the drive. This was supposedly at the direction of their district manager (Arkansas and Oklahoma I think).

I plan on dropping by to wave the letter that I am getting the credit. They won't care, but it'll make me feel better...

Yes some managers will not budge. I always go to the top, even to the district managers. Let's say to go to a 1st Circuit City and get turned down by the store managers. Merely go to a 2nd store and explain what happened at the 1st store. Be sure to get first/last names (all the co-workers who assisted) And usually the managers at the 2nd store will deduct the price. IF not just speak to the district manager, then his boss.

I recieved alot of hostility at different stores, and I also contacted the district manager and made a report to him about certain employees. If they are hostile to you, That is NOT proper customer service. Sometime people do not like to admit their own mistake. And customers are always right, <well it used to be like this.


(grinning)