Sega Dreamcast $129.99!!! $79.99 after rebate????!!!!

[CtrlAltDelete]

Greetings,
PC Liquidators have Dreamcasts for $129.99 plus tax & shipping.The catch? They are "New open box items",meaning original boxes were damaged,repacked in plain boxes w/only FIFTEEN DAY
warranty.I am not sure about the $50.00 rebate.
Here is the link.
http://www.pcliquidator.com/dreamcast.htm
Good Shopping!
Happy Birthday USA!

 

[Recca]

Good price. Are you sure the $50 rebate applies to it? Also, is PC liquidator a trusted vendor? I see more disclaimers and less products....

 

[rebuilder]

Thanks for the heads up.

The following is not a bash but just my opinion based on my experience in freight surplus:

I wouldn't count on getting a rebate because you usually have to send in the upc from the original box.

from their site:
"The boxes were beyond retail sale so they were removed from thier original boxes. We are bound by Sega to remove the warranty from them and offer a DOA only warranty for 15 days from reciept of your shipment. By our arrangement with Sega, we will not deviate from the rule."

Something is a little fishy though!
Anyone know anything about these folks?

Usually a manufacturer(Sega) doesn't have anything to do with damaged boxes once they leave the factories. Freight insurance would usually cover any damaged boxes and nothing would be returned to Sega but to the insurance carrier or the freight line if they are self insured to be sold as freight damage/surplus/auctions etc. As long as the item wasn't physically damaged most manufacturers will honor a warranty because they wouldn't have a clue whether it came from freight damage/surplus.

I guess it's possible that they were damaged in the factory but most factories have the ability to run the products back thru for repackaging.

Could they be factory refurbs and they are not disclosing it? Maybe production runs that were recalled from distributors then repaired and repackaged in plain boxes because legally they would now be factory refurbs?

I'm just skeptical because I have been burned a couple of times on other "new" items that carry a large rebate. Some dishonest sellers (especially crooked E*bay vendors) set up an elaborate network of friends to cash in on the rebates (ie.,remove upc's) then re-sell the items as "brand new, never opened" but don't tell you that the upc was removed. The bottom line is the person buying the item will not be able to get warranty service because the person who obtained the rebate (removed upc) is the registered owner. I know, it happened to me on a monitor and I could not get warranty repair because I was not the registered owner! (And I was unable to complete my Compaq $200 system rebate because I needed the monitor upc!)

And then again, I may be totally off-base!
Good luck!

 

[fr]

Here's the rebate page:

http://www.sega.com/sega/promotions/online_bonus.jhtml

It doesn't say you need the UPC, but how would they verify you have console SKU 50000 or 50011 without it? Do DCs have unique IDs like Pentium IIIs?

 

[rebuilder]

fr,
Maybe they do have an id but more probably you enter your serial number on the sega page.
from that website:

"Purchase a Sega Dreamcast hardware console (SKU 50000 or 50011) between June 4, 2000 and August 31, 2000.
Call 1-800-688-8460 to activate no-cost 30 day SegaNet ISP Trial Membership.
Using a Sega Dreamcast, sign-on to bonus.sega.com. You may only receive your bonus by signing on with your New Dreamcast. This will not work from a PC.
Complete the information on the bonus.sega.com webpage. Bonus request must be posted on bonus.sega.com by September 15, 2000.
Allow 10 weeks of processing and mailing of Online Bonus check. "


Who knows, maybe this could be a great deal if the upc isn't required and it's not marked out of their database during the rebate process.

Maybe a phone call to the sellers might answer the question if rebate would be available or not.

 

[rebuilder]

Someone at fatwallet got an email from their CSR and said the $50 rebate is not available!
Oh well,

 

[cproie]

Just ordered one. Great deal considering that you can download some of the games now.

 

[fr]

I just ordered one too. Would be cool to get in on the rebate. I heard about a site offering a month of free game rentals. Anyone know the site and coupon code (please e-mail it to me)?

 

[aggressor]

I REALLY want a Dreamcast and this seems like the perfect deal.
Anyone ever done business with them?
I cant find them on reseller ratings...

 

[rebuilder]

Has anyone else sent in a $50 rebate yet on a retail package?
What was required?

pkchu,
Doesn't sound like the upc is the problem. (UPC is the same for all units of that model). I would guess the serial number is the thing. If these are factory seconds/refurbs they may have already marked off the serials on their database so that warranty repairs and/or rebates won't be available.

I really hope those who bought it will be able to get a rebate but I wouldn't hold my breath!

 

[kimbykimby]

question about the rebate... do you just have to 'try out' seganet for 30days to get the $50 rebate? Can you cancel before the 30 days is up? any charges if you cancel it? I couldnt find many details on the website... only that it was a free 30 day trial..

Thanks
KIM


ps. let us know when you get your dreamcasts from this place...

 

[rebuilder]

That's my understanding that you can cancel. Their is another deal for $200 (I think) for long term commitment to their isp.

 

[aggressor]

I placed my order yesterday
So far nothing...

Are these guys legit? I hope so! =(

 

[Ranger X]

Sounds nice but I have to wait for a rebate? Grr, I hate rebates!

 

[dude]

Hope your credit card company is good with this stuff...

Make sure you have a hard copy such as a printout of that web page where it stated the rebate on the pcliquidator page. Also, if possible, have them put it in writing or make sure it's on the invoice. Maybe have them fax the order to you first and then commit to the purchase.

 

[aggressor]

Ah cool they answered my e-mail.
Seem legit to me =)
They are kinda behind trying to fill the orders placed on the 4th when they were closed.
They said mine should ship either today or tomorrow (Ordered it the 4th)

 

[fr]

I just called them. Seems legit. Yeah, they said it might ship today.

 

[aggressor]

Looks like they pulled the Dreamcast from their site.
Must have sold out pretty fast.

 

[aggressor]

Has anyones shipped yet?

 

[fr]

Mine shipped today. I know whoever had order 4996 got theirs today. Their tracking system has no privacy.

 

[integlspwr]

yea, the link is dead

 

[aggressor]

Mine also shipped =)
Took awhile, sheesh
Cant wait to get it

 

[fr]

I got mine today! All the parts came individually wrapped in bubble wrap. It seems like it has everything that would come in a retail box. There's no Sega warranty and you can't qualify for the $50 bonus. The serial number was scratched off my unit. It works fine though.

I think those who got in the TWEC deal got a better one. Same thing, but retail and you get a $50 bonus rebate for trying out their net service.

 

[Snatcher]

You really don't have to try the service in order to get the rebate. I just used my regular ISP to connect my DC to the 'Net. You do have to call the number given with the rebate in order for them to take down a little of your personal info and give you a login name and password. The biggest pain of the whole process was surfing through sega's site on the DC's 56k modem, but then again, ADSL has spoiled me. ;-)

 

[psxjunky]

I have purchased a Dreamcast system a few weeks back and applied for the rebate. Here are the answers to some of the questions asked ...

1. You don't need the UPC from the box to apply for the rebate.

2. All you need to know about getting the rebate is mentioned here http://www.sega.com/sega/promotions/online_bonus.jhtml;$sessionid$K2MCDFYAAAKHWCRSAMKCM5AKGIBQUMS0 ... basically you call Sega to sign-up for a FREE 30 day trial of SegaNet, then using your dreamcast go to the Sega website and follow the link to the rebate. Fill up the info required in the form and you should get your check in 8-10 weeks

3. To 'sign-up' for their 30 day service, you don't need any credit card. This service is truly free and cancels automatically after 30 days ... you will NOT be charged for next month automatically.

4. The online rebate form asks for your name, address, phone number, the serial number from the Dreamcast unit, purchase date and store where purchased.

5. If the serial number from the unit is scratched off, you should still be able to open up the unit and find the number inside (I think ... haven't tried myself).