OT regarding Rebates

Just received an email from Dlink informing me that they refused my
application for a rebate on a DI-524 wireless router. They say I didn't
include the original UPC code. It's a lie. I'm incredibly detailed about
rebates, because rebates are my profit when I do residential network
installations. I do the rebate, then I assemble everything in an envelope,
lay it on the counter overnight, check the contents against the instructions
a second time the next day, then have my wife do the same. We paper-clip
the original UPC code (or copy, depending on the stipulations of the rebate
form) to the receipt and corresponding rebate form. I'm not saying it's
absolutely impossible for there to be a mistake, but it's very, very
unlikely, especially when I go back to my saved boxes (I've saved every box
for the past 3 years) and see the hole where the UPC code was cut out. The
UPC code was in that envelope. But I can't prove it.

My question is this: Has anyone else experienced something like this, and
what was your course of action and the outcome?

Thank you very much.

jm

JM wrote:
> Just received an email from Dlink informing me that they refused my
> application for a rebate on a DI-524 wireless router. They say I didn't
> include the original UPC code. It's a lie. I'm incredibly detailed about
> rebates, because rebates are my profit when I do residential network
> installations. I do the rebate, then I assemble everything in an envelope,
> lay it on the counter overnight, check the contents against the instructions
> a second time the next day, then have my wife do the same. We paper-clip
> the original UPC code (or copy, depending on the stipulations of the rebate
> form) to the receipt and corresponding rebate form. I'm not saying it's
> absolutely impossible for there to be a mistake, but it's very, very
> unlikely, especially when I go back to my saved boxes (I've saved every box
> for the past 3 years) and see the hole where the UPC code was cut out. The
> UPC code was in that envelope. But I can't prove it.
>
> My question is this: Has anyone else experienced something like this, and
> what was your course of action and the outcome?
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> jm
>

I emailed the scanned image I made of the submittal and they agreed
there must have been an "error"..

JM wrote:

> Just received an email from Dlink informing me that they refused my

Really? D-Link handles their own rebates. One of the big problems with
these is that they tend to be third parties - who make _their_ profit by
trying to deny every claim.

> application for a rebate on a DI-524 wireless router. They say I didn't
> include the original UPC code. It's a lie.
....
> My question is this: Has anyone else experienced something like this, and
> what was your course of action and the outcome?

If you do a quick google about rebates on any kind of computer hardware,
you'll see it's a huge problem.
--
derek

"JM" wrote in message ..
> Just received an email from Dlink informing me that they refused my
> application for a rebate on a DI-524 wireless router. They say I didn't
> include the original UPC code. It's a lie. I'm incredibly detailed about
> rebates, because rebates are my profit when I do residential network
> installations. I do the rebate, then I assemble everything in an
envelope,
> lay it on the counter overnight, check the contents against the
instructions
> a second time the next day, then have my wife do the same. We paper-clip
> the original UPC code (or copy, depending on the stipulations of the
rebate
> form) to the receipt and corresponding rebate form. I'm not saying it's
> absolutely impossible for there to be a mistake, but it's very, very
> unlikely, especially when I go back to my saved boxes (I've saved every
box
> for the past 3 years) and see the hole where the UPC code was cut out.
The
> UPC code was in that envelope. But I can't prove it.
>
> My question is this: Has anyone else experienced something like this, and
> what was your course of action and the outcome?
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> jm

Yeah, I got "burned" a few years back by TurboTax. Bought the federal
program, then bought the state program -- which was supposed to yield a
rebate. Same deal, meticulously put everything together and initially
followed through -- but they still found excuses. I was more curious if the
rebate thing would actually work and wasn't all that unsurprised when it
didn't. If the rebate wasn't for peanuts ($25, if I remember right), I
probably would've kept following through.

I never let rebates influence purchases. In fact, if something has a
rebate, I'm less likely to be interested in that product. As far as I'm
concerned, rebates are (and I'll be blunt) f'n scams. Calculated ploys,
done by third parties, gambling that they'll get the upper hand in the end.

What is really becoming alarming is how retailers are now doing even more
angles. I.e., I've bought many pieces of hardware from MicroCenter over
the years. You can certaintly find products cheaper on the internet, but
just going to the store was much more convienent and (up until recently)
didn't have to swim through the typical "Best Buy" type of BS. The last
couple paper ads from them, however, have freaking three different prices
for practically every product! One is "after mail-in store rebate", another
"after mail-in store and manufacturer rebate", and the third "after mail-in
store and manufacturer rebate plus redeeming 'points'". Not a single number
of what you'll actually be plopping down to walk out with them. Yeah, you
can calculate it, but the principle of it still pisses me off. I throw
their ads away as they are now worthless.

I doubt I'm the only one who doesn't feel like "bartering", like buying rugs
at a Turkish bazaar. Just state the damn actual price, take our money, and
let us leave the store in peace without all the BS! (Another subject, but
they can also shove their "performance protection plans" and Mobster Cables
somewhere...)

Cheers!
-Eric

Eric wrote:
> Yeah, I got "burned" a few years back by TurboTax. Bought the federal
> program, then bought the state program -- which was supposed to yield a
> rebate. Same deal, meticulously put everything together and initially
> followed through -- but they still found excuses. I was more curious if the
> rebate thing would actually work and wasn't all that unsurprised when it
> didn't. If the rebate wasn't for peanuts ($25, if I remember right), I
> probably would've kept following through.
>
> I never let rebates influence purchases. In fact, if something has a
> rebate, I'm less likely to be interested in that product. As far as I'm
> concerned, rebates are (and I'll be blunt) f'n scams. Calculated ploys,
> done by third parties, gambling that they'll get the upper hand in the end.
>
> What is really becoming alarming is how retailers are now doing even more
> angles. I.e., I've bought many pieces of hardware from MicroCenter over
> the years. You can certaintly find products cheaper on the internet, but
> just going to the store was much more convienent and (up until recently)
> didn't have to swim through the typical "Best Buy" type of BS. The last
> couple paper ads from them, however, have freaking three different prices
> for practically every product! One is "after mail-in store rebate", another
> "after mail-in store and manufacturer rebate", and the third "after mail-in
> store and manufacturer rebate plus redeeming 'points'". Not a single number
> of what you'll actually be plopping down to walk out with them. Yeah, you
> can calculate it, but the principle of it still pisses me off. I throw
> their ads away as they are now worthless.
>
> I doubt I'm the only one who doesn't feel like "bartering", like buying rugs
> at a Turkish bazaar. Just state the damn actual price, take our money, and
> let us leave the store in peace without all the BS! (Another subject, but
> they can also shove their "performance protection plans" and Mobster Cables
> somewhere...)

<Rôgêr stands up and applauds> Here! Here!

"Rôgêr" wrote in message ...
>
> <Rôgêr stands up and applauds> Here! Here!

LOL, thanks! :^)

Yeah, it is just getting worse and worse. A few years ago, one of those
"60 Minutes"-type shows did a piece on rebaters. (Wish I saw the whole
thing.) Many so-called "manufacturer rebates" are actually done by third
parties and the funds that they do (eventually) pay out come from their
insurance plans! You know it is setup as a scam when the actual payouts
come from an insurance safety net! There were a couple of ex-employees that
came forward with documents giving hard evidence of how they avoid payouts
even when the end consumer has done all of their requirements. The third
party rebaters responded with legaltese threatening the ex-employees with
revealing "intellectual property" information and would not respond to
specific questioning, stating that they do not disclose internal policies.

I'm not a big fan of government regulations, but would like to see the
government step in and start regulating all this rebate BS.

I put rebaters at the same level of telemarketers, of whom I believe it
should be legal to snipe in the streets.

Cheers!
-Eric

Oh, not to mention that rebaters want so much specific information before
cutting a check because part of the rebate scam is that they are a front for
data mining.

JM <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Just received an email from Dlink informing me that they refused my
> application for a rebate on a DI-524 wireless router. They say I didn't
> include the original UPC code. It's a lie. I'm incredibly detailed about

I got a postcard from SanDisk saying that a rebate was denied because of
lack of UPC. The next problem is that I am a rebate hound, and I didn't
know which SanDisk device I had claimed the rebate on that was being
denied. I called the phone number, and spoke to a nice lady who asked for
the UPC that was printed on the actual USB flash drive. I carry it in my
pocket, and it was worn off. I tried to read what it was, and got enough
across for her to tell me it was the wrong device.

Then I asked for the date on the rebate. When she told me that, I found
the scanned images that I always do of every rebate that I send in. There,
clearly taped to the rebate form, was the image of the UPC code. I read it
to her, and I got my rebate.


> for the past 3 years) and see the hole where the UPC code was cut out. The
> UPC code was in that envelope. But I can't prove it.

Call the number. You should be able to work it out. I've heard that they
sometimes accept a fax of the box, with the UPC code cut out.

I have never lost a rebate. I have had two "challenged", and I do rebates
all the time, with several companies. I did get less than I expected one
time, and when I called, they said the rebate was "up to $20", depending on
the retailer involved.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> I have never lost a rebate. I have had two "challenged", and I do rebates
> all the time, with several companies. I did get less than I expected one
> time, and when I called, they said the rebate was "up to $20", depending on
> the retailer involved.

I spent 7 months trying to pry my $300 rebate out of Dell for a laptop.
I was meticulous in sending in everything required, Dell even responded
with an email saying my papers were all in order and I should receive
the rebate soon.

They use a third party for rebates and the other company started making
wild claims about I didn't qualify, there was never supposed to be a
rebate on that model, I didn't apply properly, on and on and on. After
sending letters to the attorney general of Texas and also my state and
CCing Dell amongst other "squeeky wheel" maneuvers, I finally received
the check in July - for a Christmas present purchase made in November.

RC4gC*r <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I spent 7 months trying to pry my $300 rebate out of Dell for a laptop.

A friend bought a Compaq laptop on a one day sale at Office Depot with over
$300 in various rebates all needing to be mailed with this or that proof of
purchase. I really expected a few of the smaller ones to not come through.

Looking at the array of paperwork and 10 feet of register tape that had to
be read and handled was impressive, in a bad way. What stupidity. The
only reason for this nonsense is the hope that some of it will be bungled,
or just tossed in disgust. All of that rebate money did come in, with no
problems.

Another friend buys lots of stuff because of the rebates, and rarely, if
ever, sends in the rebate stuff.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5