Will Rebate Wonders Never Cease?

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.

--
Jan Alter
bearpuf@verizon.net
or
jalter@phila.k12.pa.us

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 17:44:20 GMT, "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.

<snip>

> And I thought it was the companies that had to protect themselves from
>the scam artists.

Sadly it seems fairly routine for *some* rebate houses to
randomly reject a certain %. Even worse, sometimes they
don't even send notice that you've been rejected, you have
to check on it yourself to find out it was denied. I figure
the next wave will be that they simply deny ever receiving
anything that isn't registered mail.

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 <----
************************************************** *****************
----> http://www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
************************************************** *****************

"Jan Alter" <bearpuf@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:UfaEe.243$eg4.64@trndny01...
> 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.
>
> --
> Jan Alter
> bearpuf@verizon.net
> or
> jalter@phila.k12.pa.us
>
I now only buy items with a rebate if I can file the rebate on the Internet.
This means I use Costco and Circuit City for sure and I check with other
stores to see if they have an online filing system.
--
Bearman
If it's got tits, tires, tubes, or transistors, it's trouble.

I have had pretty good luck getting rebates so far, but a couple times it
appeared to be sketchy for awhile. Having complied perfectly with the
requirements and all, then around the eighth week getting a notice that I
would have to re-contact them in some form in order to get it --then it was
another eight week wait.

It's in their interest to hold onto your money as long as possible
interest-wise, then there is always the chance you won't do the second round
of responses for some reason and they get off the hook totally.

The way things are going politically, even some hearings for regulation of
rebates providers would likely be ruled in the favor of the business rather
than the ripped-off consumer.

Phluge



"Jan Alter" <bearpuf@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:UfaEe.243$eg4.64@trndny01...
> 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.
>
> --
> Jan Alter
> bearpuf@verizon.net
> or
> jalter@phila.k12.pa.us
>
>

bearman wrote:
> "Jan Alter" <bearpuf@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:UfaEe.243$eg4.64@trndny01...
>
>> 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"
Same thing happened with me. But I had sent both end flaps, because it
said to
send the flap without the barcode. The said to send a printout of the
serial #.
You cant print out the serial #. I sent the cover page from the owners
manual
and a printout of something, I dont remember. I also sent a scathing
letter
telling them I would notify all newsgroups of which I was a member. I
also said I would never buy another thing from them and neither would
anyone I knew. Inthe same mail a couple weeks later I recieved a
postcard saying my rebate had been rejected. Also on another card was a
rebate check for the correct rebate. Now when I go to a store I tell the
clerk I wont buy anything with a rebate. Sometimes you have to pull
some teeth.

On 22 Jul 2005 21:24:25 GMT, usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com (Andrew)
wrote:

>:"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.

You were the one being scammed. The idea is very simple - deny all
rebate requests and then only a fraction of the people rejected will
take the time to call in. Once they do call in, however, especially if
the scam was perpetrated in Texas, they will accomodate you so you
don't complain to the Attorney General's office.

>Hey, at least you are GETTING your rebate!

He hasn't gotten it yet.

>Like an idiot, I did what these scumbag companies always hope you do:
>give up.

You should never buy anything with a rebate. You don't have to - there
are enough genuine companies around. Try Directron, Newegg, etc.

I got scammed by McAfee rebate many years ago. The bastards finally
paid me 50%. I then discovered a hidden web site for getting free
SuperDat files so I got even with the pricks - 6 years of free engine
upgrades and signature updates. What goes around comes around.

>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 don't know about Florida but I can tell you that the Texas Attorney
General's office is very active when it comes to consumer scams. Be
sure you send your complaint in to them. It's a numbers game - the
more complaints they receive, the more likely they will take action.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual
liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues
of self-reliance and personal independence. It embraces opposition to authority
and to all manner of controls over the individual, especially when exercised by
the state or society. It is thus directly opposed to collectivism.