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I buy lots of things that have partial or total rebates.
I have gotten lotsa free stuff this way. Keyboards, CD-R's,
sound cards, motherboard memory, mouses, and much more.
Here is the results of my experience.
There are several different types of rebates.
- 1) 'Direct' - This type of rebate is direct from the
manufacturer. An example of this is when I bought a HP 48
calculator and the rebate was mailed directly to HP.
- 2) 'Store' - The store rebate. This rebate is sent to
a representative of CompUSA, Circuit City, OfficeMax or
the like.
- 3) 'Manufacturers Representative' - The manufacturers
rebate sent to a representative of the company (usually
in Arizona or Young America MN).
Some products offer a combination of two of the above
rebates, almost always a Store and Manufacturers
Representative. Unfortunately, in the below data, I rarely
differentiate the different types of rebates.
Here is some simple advice about rebates:
- Only buy from reputable stores. This is in case the rebates
don't work. A reputable store such as OfficeMax or CompUSA will
almost always back up the rebate (that means pay out the rebate
amount) if you have documented it properly.
- Always, always make copies of everything you send in. A copy of
the envelope is overkill, but make copies of the rebate form (front
and back if there is writing on the back), the receipt, and the UPC
code at a minimum. I used to use a copy machine, but now with cheap
scanners and big hard drives there is no excuse not to do this. Use
the scanner in black and white mode, as it makes clearer images and
the images are smaller. Once in a while, I use gray scale when the
original is in color, to make it easier to read.
- Only use rebates that have a phone number (preferably a toll
free one) or a web address. The phone numbers don't always work, nor
do the web addresses, but not having contact info means no recourse
if there are problems.
- Write clearly. My handwriting sucks, and even clearly written
stuff can be misread my some of the rebate folk.
Here is a list of all the companies I have dealt with since 1998
(except the fraudulent Cyberrebate scum). In some cases I specify the
product rather than the formal company name as I am more familiar with
the product than the formal manufacturers name. Unless otherwise
noted, rebated were received at the expected time. Don't think that I
am wealthy, since 90% of this stuff was free after rebate.
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Say what you will about their software, but Microsoft has
never screwed around with rebates for me, or hardware warranty
problems. I have bought far too much Microsoft hardware and
software, and I have always gotten my rebates from Microsoft with
no fuss, and quickly to boot. They are the gold standard
to me about how rebates should be handled. They have never 'lost'
a rebate either.
Only Intuit is close to them for quality and speed of
rebates.
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I bought an external hard drive enclosure May-14-2011. It had a
rebate, which I sent in May-18-2011. I waited and did not receive the
rebate check.
- I contacted Bytecc in early Aug. They said I would get the
check within a week.
- I called again Sep-06, and they claimed to have sent the check
Aug-17 and they would contact me. They had my phone number, and
email address. They never contacted me.
- I called again Sep-12, and they said to call back next week.
- I called again and they said they would call me back with news,
but never did.
- I called Sep-12 and they offered to take my number and call me
back. They told me nothing.
- I called again, and they claimed the check was cashed. I asked for
info on the cashed check and they said they would have it in a few
days.
- I called Frys Sep-20 (where I bought it), and told them
everything and gave them copies of all of the paperwork.
- I called Bytecc Sep-30, and they put me on hold for about 10
minutes. They now claim the check was cashed Sep-26th, which
contradicts their earlier statements. I told them that I didn't cash
it, and it was fraud. They said that only I could sign the check. I
asked them what would stop someone else from cashing the check. I
asked for a copy of the check, and they said they would email me
one. Since they have never emailed me before, despite telling me
they would, I am not too hopeful.
- I contacted Frys 3 times in September, 2 times in October,
and 2 times in November. They said the check was issued Oct-14, but
I never got it. On Nov-19-2011 I got a check from Bytecc. No
idea if Frys made them do it, or if I will get a separate check from
Frys one day.
It is clear that Bytecc is not doing a good job at customer
service. They have never gotten back to me. They tell different stories
each time I call. They now claim that someone cashed the check, but I
know it wasn't me. Perhaps they are incompetent, perhaps they are
lying. In any event, they are totally untrustworthy. Therefore, their
support is likewise suspect. Needless to say, I won't be buying anything
from them...
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I bought a Sony DVD drive from them in March 2010. It had a
$10 rebate. I filled it out, and sent it in. When I didn't get my
rebate, I contacted the rebate people. They said I didn't include the
receipt, but didn't bother to contact me by mail, email, or phone. I
sent in the receipt by email, and they said they got it. So where is the
money? It turns out that ZipZoomfly hasn't authorized payment. The
rebate processing people told me this has become a big problem with
ZipZoomfly. I decided to give them a call. I called at least 50
times. Never got a person. I left a few messaged, but never got a
returned phone call. I decided to submit a chargeback on my credit card
for $10. I have never had to do that before. Having a phone number that
is never answered and voicemail that is never returned is pretty
bad. Not authorizing payment for rebates for many people is not a good
business strategy. I won't be buying anything from them...
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I sent in two rebates to them. I didn't get a check. I sent them
email. They ignored it. I called them. Their line is always busy, and
their answering machine is full and doesn't accept messages. How can
you get customer support when they ignore email and phone calls?
This is my first rebate that I have failed to get. It had to happen
eventually. Clearly the company is to be avoided at all costs.
Looks like I am not the only one.
1,300 Unopened Rebate Applications Found In Dumpster
And where were the 1300 unopened rebates found? Why in a dumpster near
Vastech. Shocking! I called Frys (where I bought the
items). They said that I had to go to the store to show them
the copies of my paperwork. All other problems I have had
with rebates I have fixed via a phone call, email, or mailing
letters. So I drove down there. I gave them my paperwork. And
about a month or so later, I got my checks from Fry's.
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I bought a 350w power supply made by A+GPB from
Fry's Electronics. Some of my friends did so also. They were
$3 after rebate, and seemed to be reasonably heavy (hopefully
a measure of quality). I haven't tested the power supply yet,
but I do know about the rebate process.
The rebate form is sent directly to the company. There is
no phone number, or internet address on the rebate form. When
I didn't get my rebate in a timely manner, I looked up the
company via the internet. I called them (toll call), and got
their rebate person, who spoke broken english. I gave my
name, and they said they didn't have my rebate form. They
kept on saying things like "Not my fault", over and over
again. I tried to re-submit my rebate, but they wouldn't
accept any rebates mailed after the dates listed. After 3.5
months, I did get my check. They had mis-spelled my name. The
correct spelling is reasonably clear (thought not perfectly
clear) on the rebate form (I kept a copy). It would be nice
if they could look up close name matches. What is far worse,
is if they lose the form, or the post office loses the form,
you are 100% out of luck, as they won't accept a
resubmission. This is the first company that I know of with
this policy.
A friend who bought one and filled in the rebate had a
worse problem. Though the address was clearly filled out, the
company left out the last digit of the address when they
mailed the rebate check. The company eventually got back the
check, but did nothing. There is a phone number on the rebate
form, but it was never called. They simply waited for my
friend to contact them. After being contacted, the company
mailed the check to the correct address. It took 5+
months.
I won't buy anything from this company. They might have
good products. They may not. But it is clear that their
customer support is quite unacceptable.
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After the modem fiasco below you would
have thought I would have learned... but no. There was a deal
at Office Max for 200 Prime Peripherals cdr's free after
rebate. I decided to give them another try. What a fool I
was. First I was sent a postcard denying the rebate. Then I
resubmitted it, and heard nothing from them for awhile. So I
started calling Office Max. I ended up calling them 8 times.
Each time they knew about the problems, and were working on
it. Well, I finally got my money, thanks to Office Max
leaning on Prime Peripherals. It only took 6.5 months.
Needless to say, I have finally learned my lesson, and I
won't be buying any more stuff from this weaseliferous
company.
I bought a modem from Prime Peripherals. I mailed in the
rebate form. I waited the 8-10 weeks. I decided to call them.
They had gotten the form, but claimed they couldn't read my
address. Since I have a copy, I looked, and my address was
easy to read. I asked them why they didn't call me, as I
wrote my phone number, or send me email, as I wrote my email
address. I got the impression that they were clueless or were
really trying hard not to mail me my money. In any event, I
cannot recommend them. Naturally, they said I had to wait
another 8 weeks (since they screwed up).
- Clueless: Yamaha
I mailed in a rebate for some CR-R's and some CD-RW's. The form
said "Products Purchased", I listed both. Seems they forgot
that Products is plural, and ignored the second one I
listed. I had to call them, and they said wait another 8 weeks
(since they screwed up).
- CPVUE They sent me a rebate check after a phone call.
- Recoton
They sent me a rebate check after a phone call.
- Memorex
They sent me a rebate check after a phone call.
- Scum: Hi-val
They are scum. I mailed in my rebate. No check. I called them 4
times, and left messages. They said they would contact me
within 24 hours each time. They never called. I sent them
email. They ignored it. Not only that, but their cd rom drive
broke after less than a week in light use. Twice. I would never
purchase anything from them under any circumstances.
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Their Site
The scum of the earth. I have purchased at least 4 items from
them and I have never gotten a rebate check. I have sent them
e-mail, and it went into their black hole. I have called them
on the phone. Although I have called at least 50 times, the
phone is always in one of the following states:
- They are closed
- The line is busy
- The line isn't busy, but there are so many people
waiting they won't let you leave a message.
I would NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THESE UNETHICAL
SCUMBAGS.
Also one of the keyboards I got from them failed in the first
week of use.
On the advice of a lawyer friend of mine, I contacted the
Federal Trade
Commission
Here is what I told them:
I purchase a variety of goods from a company called Comp-USA. They have
rebates on many of their goods. In almost all cases, I mail in the
rebates along with the documents, and I receive a rebate check.
I have purchased 5 items from Mouse Systems. I have sent them on 5
separate occasions the rebate info. I have received nothing back from
them at all.
I have contacted them electronically, and they have send me
back nothing.
I have tried to contact them via their rebate line, but although I have
tried at least 50 times, their number is always busy, or there is a
message saying to call later.
I even posted a review of rebates in general, and mouse systems
specifically on my web page, Mouse Systems and sent
email to their sales, service, and rebate addresses with no results.
I believe that the 'rebates' are in fact fraud, and they have no
intention of rebating any money. I have received at least 30 rebates
from other companies with minimal problems. When there is a problem it
has always been resolved with a single phone call.
I do not blame Comp-USA for this deception.
I would appreciate any help that I can get.
Thanks,
Turbo
There is some good news after all. I went to Comp-USA and told a manager
about my problems with Mouse Systems. He suggested I call the 1-800
Comp-USA number, and they would take care of it. Well, I called them and
explained the problem to them. They have had lots of complaints about
Mouse Systems. After I faxed all the copies of my receipts and rebate
forms, they sent me a check for all the money that Mouse Systems owed
me.