Rebates from PO Box 52900, Phoenix AZ 85072

[serzone]

Anybody have any info on these guys? They seem to be responsible for about 80% of all the rebate submissions that I've participated in. So far, I seem to have a lower than expected return on my rebates sent to this company for processing (I'm sure the 8 to 10 weeks have already passed).

As this forum deals with deals (ho ho!) and many deals deal with rebates, I'd like to get a thread going on a) the PO Box 52900 people and b) if anyone's been dissed a rebate by these guys.

I wonder how the whole rebate process works? Do these companies keep tabs on both the address used on the rebate form AND the address from the invoice? I've sometimes been known to buy 2 products (same invoice) and send in the rebates under 2 different names (one for me, one for sis). I wonder if they check this?

As someone who has more than $1000 in outstanding rebates right now (yeh - I'm addicted), I'd be interested in any responses.

 

[fr]

Yes, please keep this thread open. I'd like to know a bit more about how this works too.

 

[amnesiac]

Those goombas owe me $50 from that Imation 8x CDR thing at Compusa a while back. I can never speak to a human and the computer disavows any knowledge of my request

 

[GarciaFan]

Hey Serzone,

The name of the company handling the rebates is "Continental Promotions".

Regarding my situation, I have been waiting for a rebate for over 17 weeks and I do not submit multiple requests.

Perhaps a call to those folks tomorrow is appropriate. I'll keep you abreast of my findings.

By the way, the phone # to reach them is (800) 554-9838

 

[unclebud]

me too! i think they're behind compusa's lousy record on rebates--i got burned on the imation cdr also--but only 6 bux--still trying to figure out what to do with them.

 

[Vpham97]

I still have many outstanding rebates from them since June & July.

It's hard to keep track of what has been sent & receiced b/c they won't put the full title of the product being rebated when they sent the checks. I had to keep a copy of all the rebates form so that I can research it after I receive my check to determine what product was the check for.

It would make it much better if they would include the product name on the check that they send.

 

[ElectricLegs]

I've sent them loads of rebates and they've been pretty good about getting them back. I've gotten every Imation rebate I ever sent in (more than 10). I've always sent all rebates in one envelope to Imation for the same offer # and got the full rebate (4x5=$20). There is an offer # on the checks if you look for it. I always send what they ask for (to the letter)and 1 of 2 copies I make for my records so they know I have one for myself too. From what I've read they have a company put $ in an account for X# of rebates. If they recieve more than expected they sometimes have trouble getting the additional funds to pay out. I once recieved a check from BestBuy saying BB was paying the rebate because the origional company basically flaked on the offer. GOOD THREAD....LET'S KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!

 

[psu04033odin]

There appears to be a pattern in SOME of these rebate clearing houses.
You mail in your rebate, it claims to appear in 6 to 12 weeks. Dozens
of weeks later you remember this and call them up. A miracle occurs and
they just happened to have shipped your rebate that day. This has happened several times with Belkin rebates this last summer. And this
has happened with other rebate houses. Microsoft rebates don't seem to
be doing this. Now it is just my opinion but I think they throw ALL the
rebates in a dumpster in the back room, and if you never call they NEVER
mail it. This would be a great opportunity for the Missouri AG office,
the one who whacked that contact lens outfit for selling his name. He
might do this half a dozen times, see it happen, and drop a rock on these
clowns. (Hi-Val yanked me, and others around this way for a year and then
said "oops, we're bankrupt, gee, we're sorry." and walked away with the
money that was due for rebates) Rule: CALL the place soon after the rebate is supposed to arrive.

 

[EmperorNero]

hey guys, here's a useful little program for keeping track or rebates:

it's called Rebate! Rebate! (it's a pun, there's a frog)

 

[sirsolo]

Or if you have a calendar application (outlook will do), you can enter it as an appointment on the date you are suppose to receive it. I keep a scanned copy of all my rebates, and link to the tif file from the appointment so that it's real easy to check. Plus, it reminds me when it's overdue.

 

[huh!!]

I've had great luck with these rebates from this company. If you complain about not receiving any rebates at first, I think they remember this and send out all of any later rebates you may submit.

 

[shamu]

I had the exact same problems with my Viewsonic rebate, and I just checked and it's the exact same P.O. Box in Arizona. They are definately a scam, They didn't send my rebate until I called them, and even after that for 2 months they kept telling me they sent it and to be patient they sent it bulk mail. Finally they admitted after 2 months after they supposedly sent it that they didn't send it. It only took me about 30 calls to get the damn thing.

 

[greg]

*A miracle occurs and they just happened to have shipped your rebate that day. This has happened several times with Belkin rebates this last summer.

I have a high school friend who who worked in a rebate house.

Rules:
1. Regular mail is always lost or misdirected.
2. We aren't responsible for misdirected mail.

SO...always certify and RR your rebates.
He laughs and does what he calls a "house sort" --- a lot of non-certified mail gets a sort to the garbage can or shredder. Why? Grab a box of non certified mail and shred it and save the house $1,000. No one can prove a thing without certified mail.

 

[CinderElmo]

I recently called regarding my I/O Magic 40X CD-ROM I bought with rebate from Circuit City in June. I called CC and they directed me straight to the I/O rebate department. Mind you it has been 16+ weeks since I sent it in. They asked my name, zip and they said "oh yes, for $20 sir?" I said yes, and she said "we will send it right out to you tomorrow."

My record has been pretty good overall, but I HIGHLY recommend you develop a system to keep track of your rebates if you do this a lot, as you WILL get ganked if you don't.

 

[UpGrD]

Remember that by law any store the uses a rebate as part of a promotion is ultimately responsible for that rebate. If you cant get what is yours from the manufacturer take it to the store that you originaly bought the item from. It probably wont be easy but in the end it is there responsibility.

 

[feb]

Instead of certified mail + return receipt, normally I use "certificate of mailing" which cost $0.60.
It's a receipt to proof mailing a letter. On the letter itself it looks like regular letter so teh receipient won't know you have a receipt.
certified mail + RR just cost too much and doesn't worth for $10-$20 rebate.

Lately I even only make copies and sent via regular mail, because it just doesn't worth my time to spnd 30 mins to go to the PO and wait in line to andother 30 mins to get a postmark on the "certificate of mailing".

I did have some problems with rebate. Lost $50 to Avatar Shark drive (anybody remember them?) because they went out of business.

However, all other rebatse that I have problem did not require me to show any mailing receipt as proof. They made up all other excuses but were resolved with FAX and phone.

One moron who handle my Samsung monitor rebate even dare to say that I did not enclosed the 2" x 3" UPS code which was glued and staplesd to the receipt. I was prepared to FAX them a copy but the rep on the phon just asked for the UPC and said she overwrote teh system and I'll geta check in 4 weeks.

One thing you may consider is if you use meter stamp or eStamps and alike, may be making a copy of the envelope with the envelope with addresses and the dated meter stampo. Unless you are dealing with an absolute moron or jerk, common sense will tell that no reasons why you won't mail the envelope, provided you also have copies of all your receipt, rebate forms, and UPC codes.

Still have additional $300 rebate outstanding but receipt my $150 Staples Peachtree a couple days ago.

Good Luck to all.

 

[Carnivore99]

Staples doesn't even put your rebate check into an envelope. They send it like a postcard, but it's a check with your name and delivery address on it. I've been lucky so far, but I wonder how many big-buck Staples rebate checks get stolen and forged because anyone can see what they are.

 

[GarciaFan]

Darn, this company's phone has been busy for the last 1-1/2 hrs.

I should have known that with their track record, they probably have (1) person handling these kinds of requests.

 

[CoolTechie]

dam ive been an idiot.. i havent been keeping trak of my rebates.. can anyone tell me if if this company has anything to do with the following

- comp usa free after rebate: kodak cdrs and 40x cdrom from like 4 weeks ago

- quantom rebate on drives
- linksys rebate

damn and thats all i can think of right now.. if anyone can tell me if this is the same company it would be greatly appreciated.. thanks

 

[GarciaFan]

Well here's the dope folks,

I spoke to Amanda at Continental Promotions. According to her computer,
my rebate request that was mailed on July 3rd was entered into their system on 10/25 and is being processed!!

When asked whem I might receive the check, her response (laughing)was
6 - 8 weeks after it is entered into the system.

Well, if I receive it before the new year I'm lucky.
Consequently, 6 months turn-around time for the dam rebate.

As Popeye said "well blow me down"

 

[GarciaFan]

CoolTech,

The CompUSA 50 pack with $19.99 is not those bozos.

In fact, I received e-mail about (1) week after submission saying my
rebate was received and in process.

 

[chrisrafter]

I second everything that's been said. Keep xerox copies of everything you send, even better if you can send a copy and keep the original, do so. Also keep the original offer. If the rebate house is anonymous, bug the crap out of the store. They have more to lose if you're pissed off anyway. Usually they will pass the buck, and give you the # of the rebate house. Sometimes you have to get mean, but that's only after you've made a paper case (back up your claims with copies and documentation).

I live in Phoenix, and I looked Continental Promotions Group up in the Yellow Pages: Here's their addresses & local phone #s. I don't know if it'll do any good to have these, but sometimes the corporate # is better than the 800#. I Those cities are both part of the Phoenix Metro Area. In fact, the lower one is about 5 minutes from my house, I drive by it every morning on my commute in.

Continental Promotions Group 5800 W Glenn Dr Glendale, AZ
(623)847-4055

Continental Promotions Group 7405 E Monte Cristo Ave Scottsdale, AZ
(480)606-9300

 

[serzone]

Great to see so much discussion going on in this thread. Looks like I've touched on something near and dear...

Whatever, despite how good a lot of these forums make out a deal is (if a rebate's involved), it can still be quite a bit of work actually getting that deal. The next time someone says something like 'great deal - only $10 after the $50 mail in rebate' remember that you have actually paid $60 and this won't change for at least 3 months. Even then, you may have to do quite a bit of legwork and be methodical about keeping records to get the rebate back.

There seem to be a lot of sites/forums that are happy to discuss the deals (and get commission on the click-through links) but not many sites (any?) which discuss how the rebates work, rebate success/failure stories, etc., rebates to avoid.

There are two ways to look at this: a) it's fun...live dangerously, or b) that deal may not be a deal after all.

Just my 2 cents.

If anybody knows of any good URLs discussing rebates, please post.

Cheers.

 

[dcdomain]

Just wondering, are the responsible for the 20% rebate off up to $1000 that a lot of people used for Computers4sure.com? If not... did anyone receive their rebates?

 

[longhorn]

Well, I seem to recall that many rebates go to Young America,
Minnesota. I have always pictured this town with one small
office building, and all they do there is process millions
of rebates.

Except for when Hival went bankrupt, I have never failed to
get a rebate. A couple of modem rebates took over a year,
but they showed up. I am just the opposite of what is said
here. I never call and I don't make photocopies. Some of the
freebie CDRs from CompUSA have been about 5 months now, so
maybe I'll never see that money. It isn't worth it for the
$5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 to go through all that, since the
money seems to show up.

I did keep good records on that last 20% back from ECS, however.
I bought a 36" TV, so I am expecting a check for around $180.00.
I will call on that one. I did get the checks from the 1st
20% rebate about 2 weeks ago. I bought the TV during the
2nd round.