Jan Alter <bearpuf@verizon.net> wrote:
: Today I just got a postcard from Symantic saying that my submission for
: a $30 rebate upgrading to Systemworks 2005 was rejected. In the corner of
: the card it said my "Proof of Purchase" was missing. I could have sworn I
: had sent everything in that was required: a copy of the receipt, my old
: Systemworks 2002 CD, and the little green flap on the inside of the box that
: said "Proof of Purchase"
: I went to the computer where I'd scanned a picture of everything I'd
: sent in and sure enough the little green flap, the CD and the receipt all
: showed up on a scanned picture of the three items they'd required.
: I called the toll free telephone number and went through a lengthy list
: of options and buttons to push depending on which rejection postcard one had
: received. Finally, the button to get a human.
: Her name was Sofie. I gave her the number assigned over top my name on the
: postcard. Then I quickly added that I had made a scan of all the materials
: that I had sent to Texas and I had a copy of the little green Proof of
: Purchase flap. "Just a moment sir," she said. About ten seconds passed. Then
: she said,.."As a one time courtesy, because you are a valued customer, your
: information has been updated to show you have sent in all the required
: information. You should receive a rebate check in 6 to 8 weeks". "But don't
: you want me to send you a copy of that Proof of Purchase flap?", I said. "No
: sir, that won't be necessary," Sofie nonchalantly added. "Thank you," I
: said.
: And I thought it was the companies that had to protect themselves from
: the scam artists.

Hey, at least you are GETTING your rebate!

Last year I bought two Western Digital hard drives from Fry's with
rebates. Each drive came with two rebates - one $10, one $30 - and
the offer was limited to two rebates per houshold. So I was entitled
to one $10 for each drive and one $30 for each drive.

(Goofy enough that I would be required to send a $10 and a $30 for
each drive to the same post office box, different offer #. Obviously
designed to screw up the customer.)

So I sent everything off as required. Get a postcard back a few weeks
later stating that one of my $10 rebates was not valid. According to
them, I had sent in three $10 and only one $30 rebate. I also soon
got checks, two for $10 and one for $30, but not the 2nd $30 check.

Like you I had copies of everything. I called them and was told I
needed to FAX in a copy. Because I didn't have a FAX machine and
wasn't willing to spend $1.00+ on a fax from my house phone (no long
distance service), I was given a mailing address. So I sent a letter
explaining my situation, including all the offer numbers and ID
numbers, and of course a copy of what I'd originally sent in.

A few weeks later and: nothing.

So I called again. Oh darn, they never received it. Can you send it
again or FAX? NO! I'm not mailing it to a black hole again. And out
of principle, I'm not spending another $1.00 to FAX to get my $30
rebate. So I insist on talking to a supervisor. Oh, one will call
you back this afternoon, sir. Of course, no one ever did.

Like an idiot, I did what these scumbag companies always hope you do:
give up. How much effort is it worth to get a $30 rebate? That's how
they make their money, I take it: keeping unclaimed customer rebates.

I soon got busy and forgot about my grand plans to contact the
attorney generals of Texas and Florida where these jerks are based. I
still kept all the info - I should probably still do something. Later
I learned that Fry's will actually help you with rebate stuff.

I've since done other hard drive rebates with Fry's but they have
all been Seagate rebates, and all have come through without a hitch.
(PNY for RAM has been particularly impressive - I have gotten
amazingly promopt email acknowledgements from them very soon after
sending in my stuff and the checks thusfar have come in less than a
month.) But I doubt I'll ever do another WD hard drive rebate, at
least if it's the same scumbag company that did their earlier
rebates.

Andrew
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
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