SOYO Rebate Problem

[pxc]

"SoyoRep" at FW had this to say officially about the rebates:

I have heard your requests and read your posts concerning SOYO Rebates. We here at SOYO Group take this matter very seriously. Some customers did not receive their rebates, because of expiration, not filling out the required documents, or simply moving to a new address before the rebates had arrived...etc. As for others, I can assure you that we have been working tirelessly to send out Rebates to ALL qualified customers.

NOW - If you have gone to www.VerifyRebate.com and it states that your rebate has been approved, please send an e-mail with all of your information, to soyo@verifyrebate.com and one of our customer service representatives will verify the status and send you a note with information to satisfy the request.
If you have any other inquiry please also email to soyo@verifyrebate.com. Please make sure to include your information such as first name, last name, mailing address, store name, product model number, and purchase date as registered on the rebate form in the email. To expedite service, please email us if it has been 16 weeks of the rebate program postmark date, as shown on your rebate

Again, I deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to our loyal customers, and look forward to resolving any issues / concerns in the future and are always listening to what you have to say.

There's a thread on FW's rebate tracking forum.

 

[Jmman]

Originally posted by: rm430
I wonder about the legality of disputing the charges on my credit card. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel as thought the vendor has some responsibility to us. I bought the SOYO product because I got an e-mail from Newegg with an ad for it and it said free after rebate. I realize that the rebate is from SOYO but I would not have bought it if Newegg had not sent me that e-mail. Any thoughts?

You could probably sue the vendor(Newegg) to get your money if all else fails, but I am sure that Newegg knows this as well. I sent an email yesterday afternoon to Newegg and within 2 hours I had a response that they would forward the information through their contacts at Soyo in order to get the rebate fulfilled. I would email Newegg, since they seem to be helping and are obviously aware of the problem....

 

[the Juice]

File with the IFCC maybe and contact state's attorney but dont wait. I hope you have everything copied from your submission if not dont bother.

 

[handoverfist]

I had probs with a soyo rebate also. After calling and calling their rebate dept, I finally received my rebate. Just gotta hound them. Their number is 909-937-0778.

 

[brucekatz]

Originally posted by: rm430
I wonder about the legality of disputing the charges on my credit card. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel as thought the vendor has some responsibility to us. I bought the SOYO product because I got an e-mail from Newegg with an ad for it and it said free after rebate. I realize that the rebate is from SOYO but I would not have bought it if Newegg had not sent me that e-mail. Any thoughts?

It is over six months, I doubt you can dispute it. Your credit card companies might have different policies.

 

[abracadabra1]

just make sure you file your complaints with the BBB.

BBB Complaint Application for SOYO Rebate Center

BBB Complaint Application for SOYO Group

 

[Zim]

What you really need to do is to fight the WHOLE rebate system. It's one big instance of legalized fraud and involves collusion between the retail stores (to make their prices looks cheaper), the manufacturers (to make more money from their products), the rebate companies (who exist to defraud consumers), and the states (who get more sales tax thru higher cash prices).

If every product that was sold had been allocated its full rebate amount, that would be one thing, but it's not. There's only ever enough money for a portion of the rebates, and when that money runs out it gets nasty. Some companies (like SOYO) seem to allocate NO money to pay their rebates (at least not within the contractual timespan).

I suggest you do several things:

- Give preference to products without rebates.

- Abuse the rebates system by double dipping as much as you can. Make the promotions that do pay money pay for the promotions that don't. The worst that can happen is that they stop putting rebates on stuff.

- When you don't get your rebates, complain complain complain. Not here where nowhere is listening, but to the BBB, your state governor, the retail stores, etc.

Other suggestions welcome.

 

[v4pc]

ditto that, I will no longer buy rebate junk.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Zim
What you really need to do is to fight the WHOLE rebate system. It's one big instance of legalized fraud and involves collusion between the retail stores (to make their prices looks cheaper), the manufacturers (to make more money from their products), the rebate companies (who exist to defraud consumers), and the states (who get more sales tax thru higher cash prices).

If every product that was sold had been allocated its full rebate amount, that would be one thing, but it's not. There's only ever enough money for a portion of the rebates, and when that money runs out it gets nasty. Some companies (like SOYO) seem to allocate NO money to pay their rebates (at least not within the contractual timespan).

Exactly! That's the most disturbing part about the system, in most cases, on it's face, it's premeditated fraud. This is most evident with higher-dollar/"free after rebate" technology items.

Most low-dollar consumer-goods rebates, like sending in three UPCs from packages of purchased razor-blades and get $1.00 back, that's different, I see that as a legitimate marketing tool because even with the discount, it's clear that they are still making an operating profit. They have no motive to defraud in that case, that I can see.

But you *know* that these companies that appear, on their face, to be nearly giving away their products, you know that a legitimate commercial business cannot survive that way. Either they're screwing their customers, screwing the company's investors and the mfgs, or all of the above. (Research "Okie corp" and "Prime Peripherals", likewise the actions of some of the management behind "Hi-Val". Btw, where are Cendyne and Buslink these days, anyways? Cendyne is gone, is Buslink still around?)

Soyo virtually giving away $70-100 mobos, and forcibly imposing extended-length payback times, should have been a fairly obvious sign of a sinking ship, much like what happened with Prime Peripherals. It's kind of sad, too, Soyo used to be a reasonably decent mobo/tech company with decent engineering. Maybe PCChips will make them part of their global empire too... or perhaps that's what Soyo wants to happen, boosting their apparent sales volume, on paper, due to the rise in sales, and imposing a delay in paying them back, hoping that the company would get bought out in the meantime, and then the responsibility to actually pay the rebates would end up falling upon the acquiring company. Somehow, at this point, I just don't see that happening. Farewell, Soyo. :|

Originally posted by: Zim
- Abuse the rebates system by double dipping as much as you can. Make the promotions that do pay money pay for the promotions that don't. The worst that can happen is that they stop putting rebates on stuff.

Err, hrm, can't say that I advocate fraud by either party. Doesn't that make you just as much of a criminal as they are? But I agree, I think that there should be a "crackdown" on consumer-electronics rebate practices, perhaps some new legal protection for consumers should be enacted, or pyramid-scheme-style rebate offers should be made illegal altogether as a form of "ponzi" scheme.

Originally posted by: Zim
- When you don't get your rebates, complain complain complain. Not here where nowhere is listening, but to the BBB, your state governor, the retail stores, etc.

State's AG office, file a consumer fraud complaint, possibly against both the store and the mfg, because even in the case of mfg rebates, if the store advertised them, they were part of the legal "offer" and implied purchase contract that the store entered into with the customer during the purchase transaction.

Originally posted by: Zim
Other suggestions welcome.

I hesitate to speculate what you might further be considering.

Actually, here's a simple and non-fraudulent solution: boycott purchasing anything with a rebate, and encourage others to do so as well. Eventually, when mfgs/stores start to see their "rebate promotion" sales figures dropping, then they might reconsider offering sales via rebates (because with enough concerned and acting consumers, that will actually *hurt* their sales numbers), and then the rebate houses won't be able to make money off of them either, so they will scale-back and perhaps eventually fold. (Possibly not, due to the legitimate consumer-goods rebates that need processing. Has anyone been scammed from Young America, MN? That rebate house seems to be the most legit out of all of them, which is probably why I almost never see it used by any of the computer part rebate deals. Only the more-shady ones.)

Although, I plead guilty to hypocracy in this matter, after having sworn off buying anything with a rebate for nearly a year, I was contemplating buying that black NEC MadDog floppy drive at OM, $15 OTD with $10 MIR, only because I need a black floppy drive for my new all-black server build, and I don't want to order one online and wait another week for it to arrive. I'm a rebate sinner, please forgive me. Although the sale's over tonight, and it looks like I won't be making it to OM anyways, I guess.

 

[Zim]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarryI was contemplating buying that black NEC MadDog floppy drive at OM, $15 OTD with $10 MIR, only because I need a black floppy drive for my new all-black server build, and I don't want to order one online and wait another week for it to arrive. I'm a rebate sinner, please forgive me. Although the sale's over tonight, and it looks like I won't be making it to OM anyways, I guess.

Unlike Soyo, Mad Dog seem to pay their rebates. I received one of their rebates in the mail today (albeit 4 week late!), and I also bought that floppy drive today.

 

[papaschtroumpf]

pestering them over the phone multiple times usually does the trick, but I'm done with Soyo rebates.
The other thing that does the trick is to talk to the original vendor (newegg, zipzoomfly, ...) and threaten to file a chargeback on your credit card or simply complain to the FTC and your state's attorney general (they have a consumer affaird dpt). Usually that does the trick, they wil pay in the end.
Sometimes TV stations havea consumer complaint dept, where they will call the company and tell them they're going to air a story how Soyo rebates suck, etc... Soyo paid within a week for me that time, the TV guy was kind of disppointed because that didn't make a very good story.
BBB is absolutely useless, don't even bother with them.

Of course you're out of luck if you didn't keep copies of everything you sent, etc... Whenever I call aq company for a rebate I get the rep's name or "badge number" then I email myself with name/date/time/summary of the conversation, that way it's easy to go back and tell them "I talked to Bob in April, Rajneesh in June, ..."

 

[Steven the Leech]

I complained to the BBB, and to soyo. BBB complaint filed last week, and I received my rebate today for april of 2004.

 

[statik213]

Someone posted this here a few weeks ago, I saved it 'cos I have $60 pending. Hasn't been quite time yet since when they are supoosed to send the $$$. THe deal was still warm w/o the rebates, ultra-hot with the rebates. So if it comes through I'll be happy, if it doesn't too bad not too much of a loss. The mobo is nice anyway....

I agree, no thread crapping here please. Everytime Soyo is mentioned 2/3 of the posts are about how awful their rebates are. People get the point now and anyone interested in this thread just wants to know how to get their many back. So enuff w/ the 'I told you so'

Hope this helps people.... Also, for the love of god, please post back here if you are succesful.

Date Posted: 10/29/2004 08:45 AM Posted By: blueribb(Senior Member)
Soyo Rebate Tip:

If it has been 16 weeks from the "postmark" date on your rebate form, CALL Soyo at
(909) 292-2504. If you get an answering machine, press 1, wait a second and press 1 again.
This will connect you with either an operator or Rattana herself.

Tell her it's been 16 weeks and you haven't received your rebate. If she starts giving you
an excuse, interrupt her and tell her the rebate is a contract and that you have lived up to
your end and that you expect them to live up to theirs with NO EXCUSES. She may then ask you to
fax all your documents to her attention. You should have your rebate within 1 week.

I have gotten all my Soyo Rebate Checks using this method (on time).

Good Luck

PS - Don't call them if it hasn't been 16 weeks (from the postmark date above your name on your rebate form).
You might p!ss them off and push your rebate back even further.


Date Posted: Dec/07/2004 11:19 PM
Message Rating:

(909) 292-2504 or
(909) 292-2528

If you get an answering machine, press zero - wait a second and press zero again.
This should take you to the operator or Rattana herself (Rebate Dept).

Don't leave a message. Insist on talking to someone. Be nice ! (but firm)

Good Luck

 

[JimKiler]

If you do get around to a lawsuit please include the retailer sold from as they are generally exclusive to the rebates and should be held responsible as such. I am not saying they are guilty but if they realize they could be sued maybe they will think twice on rebates with shady organizations such as Soyo.

Sorry to hear it is coming done to this but get your money, Soyo deserves to be sued at this point.

 

[JohnDoh]

I dread the thought of having to fight with them over a rebate, but its not time for me to bitch yet (hasnt been long enough)

I hope after all this bs that my radeon card works with my soyo board, its listed on the site as incompatible, can you beleive it?!

Anyone have the 875p chipset board they had "free after rebate" at zipzoomfly....

AND....

Using a radeon with it?

 

[oslama]

Atech should ban all threads related to soyo products and stop reviewing/recommending their products.

BOYCOTT

 

[ElGuache]

Well, I got screwed by soyo twice a while back, since I never got my rebates. That is the main reason I don't buy anything that is made by soyo. I learned my lesson, and so should you.
Don't buy SOYO products.

 

[Ckleijne]

I had a problem with a pny rebate from fry's.I bought a stick of memory within the specified rebate dates and mailed off everything to them.I then got a confirmation that my rebate was invalid because of the wrong dates purchase.I contacted pny and faxed over all the copys of the documents including the rebate form from fry's and the still said the date was invalid.I then went to fry's and got them involed with the ordeal.They got their corprate office rep to call pny and straighten the rebate out.Fry's called me and lmk that I should be getting my rebate.I checked myemails and sure enough they change my status of my rebate.I received my check and all is well.But I will try to stay away from buying any pny products because of this problem that I had with them.

 

[junkbit]

in my response to sever email just recived this from soyo:::::

Dear valued Customer:

Thank you for your recent submission of your rebate request.

According to our record, we did not receive your $40 rebate request. If you
believe your mail was lost or misdirected, please contact your mail carrier
directly. According to the rebate program?s terms and
conditions ?manufacturers are not responsible for the lost or misdirected
mail?. If you would like to dispute your rebate, please mail your missing
documents along with this letter to:

Special Care Customer Services Dept
1042 N. Mountain Ave #B 291
Upland CA 91786


We would like to thank you again for your inquiry and patience

Customer Services
XXXXXXXXX
www.verifyrebate.com

here is my reply,

Mr, X,

it is a surprise for me that the only rebate mail i lost in the past few years is the one for Soyo.
Never less you had in my email a full pdf of my original submition, i thought that should be sufficient
for Soyo to enter this into the system in case there was any problem. I am further surprised that
United Postal Service is loosing or delaying so much mail just to the Soyo facilities. judging by the amount of
responses Soyo rebate program generated in various forums on the Internet, the piece of earth were
the Soyo rebates facilities are located is cursed and invited by the mail eating dragon, maybe the one that got loose
from your bios.
So, i am going to submit this to the address you gave to me,
but i am also going to submit my notes to BBB, departments of commerce, and any other place that is mention
in various posts about Soyo rebates. Don't know if this will have any effect on Soyo corp but i can tell you that
due to the handling of your rebate program you lost quite a few customers. Further on i hope that someone will
have enough guts and knowledge to take this to court as a class action low suit against Soyo. I will be very gladly
a part of this.

sincerely
use to be customer....

 

[emeraldsky]

Don't consider this as criticism, just a heads-up for anyone sending in rebates. It's nice to have some proof that the rebate got where you sent it. Otherwise, they can just throw your paperwork in the trash.
As we discussed before, you can insure the letter or use certified mail (which requires a signature at their end). This is especially nice for your own peace-of-mind if you are dealing with a substantial rebate.

 

[Miramonti]

BBB ranks soyo at "F", but also gives newegg a "CC" rating, far from stellar according to them.

 

[squirrel dog]

The board I received fron soyo had a cracked cpu socket.Couldnt get it replaced and never got the rebate either.One more customer lost to a bad mother board company,soyo.So long soyo.

 

[beyoku]

Try emailing this guy.
Mr. Ming Chok, president and CEO of SOYO Group.

Mingchok@soyogroup.com
Ming.chok@soyogroup.com

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Can you send a rebate company to a collections agency?

 

[chaos3088]

Has anyone tried contacting "The Dog" at MaximumPc Magazine?

This is the kinda thing that they tend to jump on in that column...