Rejected! Rebates Get Harder to Collect: ARTICLE

[LumMoose]

Most ATI rebates are through ATi themselves, not the store. Depends on where you had to send the rebate.

 

[alyosha]

FWIW - Staples rebates are the best- the turnaround for most rebates in the last half a year- about 3 weeks from submission - insanely fast.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Beware Altec Lansing Rebates!!!

I had to b*tch, whine, complain, threaten, cajole and call call call call call (did I mention I had to call) best buy, the rebate company, etc etc etc. I got some speakers in November 2001 and wasnt paid until May 2002!! They even had a website (wheresmyrebate.com) that swore up and down I was paid in February. I wasnt paid dog doodoo! That got me so mad. And almost everytime I called that rotten rebate outsourcing company they wouldnt answer the phone because the computers were down for weeks at a time. Please!!!!

 

[greg]

Certain fulfillment houses have particularly abysmal records. TCA in New Rochelle, N.Y.,

I live about 500 feet from the New Rochelle PO, but never lost a rebate to these guys.

 

[Omagh]

I have no problem doing rebates. I am glad of them, otherwise I would not make some of my purchases. I guess that having a 100% collection record will do that.

Keep the rebates coming.

Mind you just like other callers I often have to spend time on the phone tracking my rebate. I also keep photocopies of all that I send out. I write the date that I send them on the copies. I then periodically go through my rebates to look for anything outstanding and start making my calls.
Usually writing to the "office of the president" will get some action from any decent size company.

Attraction of rebates to sellers: Just read the article it tells all succinctly. Only about 5% are claimed. BTW when they send the checks out (tax time) will not factor into their paying the rebates (for large companies anyway). Usually its the marketing dept that is charged for the rebates. If there is not enough money in one period budget they might delay payments until a new period kicks in so they have enough money to send the rebates. Don't forget the time value of money also.

Keep the rebates coming.

 

[JRez]

Originally posted by: LumMoose
Most ATI rebates are through ATi themselves, not the store. Depends on where you had to send the rebate.

It went to the TCA center. Last time I did an ATi rebate, it was through Young America. Night and day difference!

 

[kensplace]

I found that the best way to makes sure you get your rebate if: (A)Untimely [no or delayed check] (B) Reject submission (C) and you have met all the requirements of rebate submission:

1. Write/email the Attorney General c/o Consumer Affairs/Fraud Department of the State from the vender you purchased the item from; and secondly, write/email from the Attorney General c/o Consumer Affairs/Fraud Department of the State from the rebate submissions House.

2. Forward a copy of the letters/emails to the vendor and the Rebate Submission House

3. You will be amazed how quickly you receive your rebates, for these folks to not want the Attorney General to start looking their way......!

 

[BullishDad]

Although I've generally received my rebates, sometimes with extra work, I find them a royal pain. I try to avoid buying something I don't need just because it's a hot deal after rebate. If it's something I'm looking to buy anyway, then I more willing to consider the rebate as part of the deal.

My biggest gripe is that a very high percentage of offers today include a rebate as inducement to make the deal attractive. Just open up a Sunday circular from an electronics or computer store and you know what I mean.

My idea is to find a congressman or senator who is consumer friendly and ask for his or her support on the rebate issue. Two years ago this may have seemed like a silly issue to tackle, but with the increasing use of rebates, more consumers are feeling the hassle.

Many of my fellow Hot Deals seekers may disagree with me, but I feel the best solution is to outlaw mail-in rebates. Only rebates that are given instantly at the register or online checkout should be offered. The bottom line would be that manufacturers would lower their prices in order to make their goods more attractive. While we would have fewer super hot "after rebate" deals, we would have more good/hot deals without the nusiance.

 

[Greatwolf]

Originally posted by: BullishDad

Many of my fellow Hot Deals seekers may disagree with me, but I feel the best solution is to outlaw mail-in rebates. Only rebates that are given instantly at the register or online checkout should be offered. The bottom line would be that manufacturers would lower their prices in order to make their goods more attractive. While we would have fewer super hot "after rebate" deals, we would have more good/hot deals without the nusiance.

Well outlawing mail-in rebates is a little extreme. The main problem here is not fulfilling our rebate request despite of their validity and not sending the checks out in a timely fashion even if their approved (Staples is one exception). One example I recall is one that I sent in all the way back in march on that VisionTek GF3Ti200 card from gateway. I'm still waiting for the god damn rebate! When I last called they said that my rebate was approved and it'll be sent out sometime in early July. That reminds me, the people that got in on this deal did you guys get your rebates from them yet?

What really needs to be done, in my opinion, is have stricter laws so that they fulfill their end of the bargain in a timely manner.

 

[wasamicron]

Download Rebate!Rebate! to help track and organize all those rebates. Short survey to fill out.

 

[KrayzyAzn]

ftc.gov, not ftc.com

 

[alyosha]

Greatwolf: got the Visisontek GF3 Ti200 rebate yesterday - 50$, using COmpUSA form as I remember, not the one from the visiontek site, the deal was from Gateway with 50 off coupon. What was the total? Sold my old GF2 GTS for 70 bucks.

 

[SuperPickle]

OK folks. Lets just say that I'm close to the rebate business so I have an idea how things work. Firstly, rebate houses are not there to screw anyone over. If you get your rebate, or you get disqualified for any reason, the houses still get paid. Second, the people that work the rebates take the same amount of time (usually) giving the thumbs-up, or thumbs-down and they get paid the same either way so it matters little to them if you get your rebate or not. Lastly, to coordinate a rebate, there is much commication that needs to take place between the people that think up the promotion, the people that offer the rebate, the companies that sell the products, the people that print the order forms, the salesmen, the people that actually touch the mail, etc. There are plenty of holes that can make things a mess.

I don't dig rebates any more than the next fella. I look at my computer desk right now and see 3 different piles of UPCs, receipts, and orderforms that I never sent in and have probably since expired. Companies that offer rebates count on the fact that I, as well as many Americans, are lazy. For those that say "why don't they just give me the money off at the counter?": if companies can give a great deal to only 10% of the people (the article said 5% which I think is low) and the other 90% pay normal prices, that just makes good business sense. --there ends my defense.

I now offer you some tips:
Read everything on the order form(OF). If it uses the word 'and,' that does not mean 'or' or 'if then' or 'not'...it means 'and.' Don't miss the fine-print.
The 16 year old at BB or CC or anywhere else, knows just as much as you do at first about the rebates--very little. It's your job to buy the right thing at the right time...don't believe what he's trying to sell you.
fill out the order form!--ALL OF IT!
If the OF says 'no copies will be accepted,' don't send in a copy with note explaining yourself. It's still a copy and may not be accepted.
If the OF says 'one original UPC cut from the box,' don't send in some other goofy seal or anything else.
Things can fall out of envelopes when they are opened. Use some tape or staples. Post-it notes can be helpful too.
Keep copies of everything!!!!!
Sometimes things are messed up with the promotion. Be persistant if you think you're right, but make sure you have all the facts...not based on what 'the dude at the store said...' and have the documentation to back it up.

Just be wary. Rebates can really be a good deal, albeit, a royal pain in the arse.

 

[Rhodent]

I did the Belkin USB hub deal at CompUSA. I bought 2 hubs on one receipt and sent them to 2 different addresses. Both got denied saying "ame receipt used by two diff customers. Thats retarded ause it clearly shows two hubs on there. I am pissed. To make it even more weird. I got one email saying the rebate was approved but the website says denied. I dunno whether to call and complain or to wait and hope it slips through.

 

[Garet Jax]

Rhodent,

I would call. If you wait, you will probably be disappointed.

 

[Rhodent]

I just called. She said because both were on the same receipt they were denied because it says one per receipt. Of the most recent 40 rebates I an recall sending off I don't remember any with such stipulations or any that were denied due to that buy guess I learned something new. She agreed to approve one of them but not both. So instead of 10 each for hubs It'll be 15. Still could have beena worse situation to learn that lesson. TCA does suck and I try to avoid compUSA rebates when possible. Just that noone else ever seems to have that good a deal on he belkin hubs

 

[cyberashe]

Great!
Got me concerned since I have to file Sprint rebate!
Thanks anyway

 

[WebDude]

Be persistant if you think you're right

Good words. While it may not always work, often it will.

I just got done talking to Intel today. I had bought 3 of the Intel Pocket PC cameras back when there was a $30 rebate on them. When I finally heard back after several weeks I was denied the rebate because I had bought them at Sam's Club, and I was told that they were not a valid retailer for the rebate. That was news to me. I went back and read the terms of the rebate offer. There was no mention at all of where you had to buy the camera. Talking to the company handling the rebate was a waste of time. They said they had instructions not to honor any submissions with a Sam's Club receipt. So before I penned a really nasty letter to the FTC, calling for a full congressional investigation, I decided to call Intel. The manager I talked to said, no problem, we'll get you fixed up right away. He immediately called the rebate clearing house and authorized my rebates. Even though I had to go through the trouble of making the calls, and getting worked up, I was impressed with the way Intel handled the situation.

So be persistent. It can pay off.

WebDude