Netgear Rebate scam - seeking information

I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
Amazon.
I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
and it said that I never included the UPC code.
I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
" RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
miami, fl 33102-8516"
It has been months and my rebate status hasn't changed.
I heard that many people have had nightmares with Netgear rebates.
Sure its only $20, but its the principle that is important to me.
I called Netgear, got knocked around to different people, but no luck.
Does anyone have a tel# to reach Netgear for the specific department
that can help with resolving rebate issues?
Thanks

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
> Amazon.

Forget Netgear - go back to the seller (Amazon) and complain. They will
issue you a credit for the amount of the rebate.

I make sure my rebate submittal is correct, then make copies of
everything. Then I give the rebate processors one shot at fulfilling
the rebate, if they fail it is the sellers responsibility to make it
right. Works for me every time.

On 24 Dec 2005 02:01:48 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
>Amazon.
>I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
>In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
>and it said that I never included the UPC code.
>I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
>" RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
> miami, fl 33102-8516"
>It has been months and my rebate status hasn't changed.
>I heard that many people have had nightmares with Netgear rebates.
>Sure its only $20, but its the principle that is important to me.
>I called Netgear, got knocked around to different people, but no luck.
>Does anyone have a tel# to reach Netgear for the specific department
>that can help with resolving rebate issues?
>Thanks

There is an art to "rebating". You must have everything just as
specified on the rebate form (if it says "oigional" then a "copy"
won't do). I make photo copies of everything required for the
rebate (UPC code from box, receipt, rebate receipt, rebate form
with the mail in address, etc). I've found that sometimes boxes
have more than one bar code on them, with neither specifically
identified as the UPC one. I send both codes (after making copies
of both) to make sure the requirement is met. For the big
rebates, I always send the rebate as certified or return receipt
mail so I have proof it was delivered. I make a note on the
copies of the date on which the rebate was submitted (the
rebaters wait the max time to send the rebate out). Once I got
serious about getting it right, I don't think I've not gotten my
rebates (including netgear). Just remember they are counting on
you not sending in the rebate, waiting too long to send it in, or
not following the rules in some way to keep that $20. In your
case you probably submitted something that wasn't the UPC code. I
once sent in a UPC bar code instead of a rebate bar code on the
flap of the box and it was disallowed until I sent in the correct
bar code.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
>Amazon.
>I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
>In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
>and it said that I never included the UPC code.
>I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
>" RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
> miami, fl 33102-8516"
>It has been months and my rebate status hasn't changed.
>I heard that many people have had nightmares with Netgear rebates.
>Sure its only $20, but its the principle that is important to me.
>I called Netgear, got knocked around to different people, but no luck.
>Does anyone have a tel# to reach Netgear for the specific department
>that can help with resolving rebate issues?
>Thanks
>
>
>
I've found that to be a common practice with most mail-in rebates.

I now refuse to buy any item that plays this game of "mail-in rebates".
For me, it's "Provide the discount immediately or lose the sale".

shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net (Si Ballenger) writes:

>On 24 Dec 2005 02:01:48 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>of both) to make sure the requirement is met. For the big
>rebates, I always send the rebate as certified or return receipt
>mail so I have proof it was delivered. I make a note on the

I've noticed that some rebates now say they will refuse certified mail.

Brian Elfert

"Si Ballenger" <shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 24 Dec 2005 02:01:48 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
> >I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
> >Amazon.
> >I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
> >In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
> >and it said that I never included the UPC code.
> >I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
> >" RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
> > miami, fl 33102-8516"
> >It has been months and my rebate status hasn't changed.
> >I heard that many people have had nightmares with Netgear rebates.
> >Sure its only $20, but its the principle that is important to me.
> >I called Netgear, got knocked around to different people, but no luck.
> >Does anyone have a tel# to reach Netgear for the specific department
> >that can help with resolving rebate issues?
> >Thanks
>
> There is an art to "rebating". You must have everything just as
> specified on the rebate form (if it says "oigional" then a "copy"
> won't do). I make photo copies of everything required for the
> rebate (UPC code from box, receipt, rebate receipt, rebate form
> with the mail in address, etc). I've found that sometimes boxes
> have more than one bar code on them, with neither specifically
> identified as the UPC one. I send both codes (after making copies
> of both) to make sure the requirement is met. For the big
> rebates, I always send the rebate as certified or return receipt
> mail so I have proof it was delivered. I make a note on the
> copies of the date on which the rebate was submitted (the
> rebaters wait the max time to send the rebate out). Once I got
> serious about getting it right, I don't think I've not gotten my
> rebates (including netgear). Just remember they are counting on
> you not sending in the rebate, waiting too long to send it in, or
> not following the rules in some way to keep that $20. In your
> case you probably submitted something that wasn't the UPC code. I
> once sent in a UPC bar code instead of a rebate bar code on the
> flap of the box and it was disallowed until I sent in the correct
> bar code.

One thing that I have been doing and it appears to be successful because I
haven't been skunked out of a rebate since doing it.
Seems many submissions come back with a note saying that you were missing
something they requested. When I submit a rebate claim I put a note in the
envelope "Entire submission copied and kept on file". This seems to
discourage the shady rebate centers from claiming that you didn't submit
something. Works for me, maybe you should try it.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
> Amazon.
> I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
> In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
> and it said that I never included the UPC code.
> I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
> " RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
> miami, fl 33102-8516"

You screwed yourself. By re-submitting, you admitted that you never sent
the UPC code in the first place. Now they have a valid excuse not to pay
the rebate, as you didn't comply with all the terms. You should have
insisted that the rebate was paid on the first and only claim. -Dave

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
> Amazon.
> I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
> In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com
> and it said that I never included the UPC code.
> I then followed the instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
> " RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department P.O. box 028516
> miami, fl 33102-8516"
> It has been months and my rebate status hasn't changed.
> I heard that many people have had nightmares with Netgear rebates.
> Sure its only $20, but its the principle that is important to me.
> I called Netgear, got knocked around to different people, but no luck.
> Does anyone have a tel# to reach Netgear for the specific department
> that can help with resolving rebate issues?
> Thanks

Slightly OT but I'm gonna get my 2 cents in here about Hawking rebates. I have 5
rebates from Hawking products that they received on 9/8/05. Their rebate site
says that all 5 are in "Processing". The next step is "Check Approval". Then
"Check Mailed".
Does anyone know if there are any legal requirements as far as how long a
company can wait to mail out rebate checks? I've noticed that rebates from
stores like Best Buy and CompUSA arrive much faster than rebates from the
product makers.

gamer wrote:

> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>> I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April through
>> Amazon. I sent in my UPC code along with all of the necessary paperwork.
>> In July, I checked the status of the rebate through www.rebateshq.com and
>> it said that I never included the UPC code. I then followed the
>> instructions to resubmit without the UPC code
>> RebatesHQ Processing resubmissions department
>> P.O. box 028516 miami, fl 33102-8516"
>> It has
>> been months and my rebate status hasn't changed. I heard that many people
>> have had nightmares with Netgear rebates. Sure its only $20, but its the
>> principle that is important to me. I called Netgear, got knocked around
>> to different people, but no luck. Does anyone have a tel# to reach
>> Netgear for the specific department that can help with resolving rebate
>> issues? Thanks
>>
> I've found that to be a common practice with most mail-in rebates.
>
> I now refuse to buy any item that plays this game of "mail-in rebates". For
> me, it's "Provide the discount immediately or lose the sale".

Does that work out for you? Can you find the same (or equivalent) item
elsewhere for the rebate price without the rebate?

I once had to phone about a rebate that was disallowed for a strange reason.
The phone guy figured out what the problem was (their data entry person
goofed) and asked me to send in copies of what I had. I told him I already
did everything right, how about if I just read stuff to you so you know that I
actually have what's needed? He said fine, I did, and the check came within
two weeks -- nearly instantaneously for this sort of thing.

--
Cheers, Bev
================================================== ==================
Paranoid schizophrenics outnumber their enemies at least two to one.

The Real Bev wrote:

> gamer wrote:
>
>> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>>
>>> I bought a Netgear router with a $20 mail in rebate last April
>>> through Amazon. I sent in my UPC code along with all of the
>>> necessary paperwork. In July, I checked the status of the rebate
>>> through www.rebateshq.com and
>>> it said that I never included the UPC code. I then followed the
>>> instructions to resubmit without the UPC code RebatesHQ
>>> Processing resubmissions department
>>
> >> P.O. box 028516 miami, fl 33102-8516"
>
>>> It has
>>> been months and my rebate status hasn't changed. I heard that many
>>> people
>>> have had nightmares with Netgear rebates. Sure its only $20, but its
>>> the
>>> principle that is important to me. I called Netgear, got knocked around
>>> to different people, but no luck. Does anyone have a tel# to reach
>>> Netgear for the specific department that can help with resolving rebate
>>> issues? Thanks
>>>
>> I've found that to be a common practice with most mail-in rebates.
>>
>> I now refuse to buy any item that plays this game of "mail-in
>> rebates". For
>> me, it's "Provide the discount immediately or lose the sale".
>
>
> Does that work out for you? Can you find the same (or equivalent) item
> elsewhere for the rebate price without the rebate?
>
If I absolutely HAD to have that exact model, I suppose I'd consider
playing the game. However, there is usually another model /
competitive item either in that store or elsewhere, where I'd just as
soon pay a small premium rather than wasting time / taking risk on the
likeliness of actually getting the rebate. In the former case, I
wouldn't plan on actually getting it, but would take it, if it actually
arrived. Sometimes, it's actually "cheaper" to pay a bit more.

One strong point for Walmart is they don't seem to play the "rebate"
game. I've read they apparently negotiate with suppliers to provide an
upfront discount or just not carry such items.