Last month, I got a $25 rebate on a low-end smartphone I bought last year at Costco….the problem is, I was supposed to get two of them, and only one arrived.
On the rebate company’s website, they tell you that you have to wait SIXTEEN WEEKS before even asking what went wrong!
That was up in January… now they tell me they issued both of them at the same time… so it must be a mail problem. Uh huh.
In order to get them at all, I had to send two separate forms, each in its own business size envelope, each with a copy of every bit of paperwork from the original transaction… including the 10 or so page contract.
Luckily, the phone kiosk staff at Costco know how exasperating that is. They make all the copies, handing you a half-inch stack of paper before you leave.
But now Costco says there’s nothing they can do,… In fairness, if you actually buy a product from Costco, they DO give you the rebate money instantly… taking it off the price at the checkout counter. But the cell phone kiosk operator is an independent contractor.And they say there’s nothing they can do, because the rebates were “issued.” Right.At least the phone was at a good price, and I would have bought it anyway. I also switched to a much cheaper company, and a better plan for half the price.. and I did get half the rebate, too…. so far.
In other news, meanwhile….. Leaky? Don’t disappear!
Bonus…..
Today’s heart plaque reminds me of a fine old Sonoma County wine…(this is a real brand and label, though I haven’t seen it lately….)
I think we should also note that, although Dale and Marlene bought patio furniture so expensive that the rebate was $150, we have never seen them sit on the patio. And Dale didn’t think that rebate was a scam when he bought the set. He came to that conclusion when it was pointed out that he forgot to send it in.
It was also possible for consumers to scam the rebate. I remember when I worked at a deapartment store there was a rebate on floor tiles, one day we got back a dozen boxes of the floor tile that was on rebate and all the UPC’s had been torn off. You know the customer sent in for the rebate before returning the tile for the original price.
Ok, members of Crustwood, listen closely. Cashiers do not make store policy. People that make 10 x what you make do.
I used to work as phone support for a national cable company. I lost count of the idiots who thought I personally scheduled tech visits, I personally made store policy, or that I personally cared if they kept their business with us or went Satellite, or off the grid for that matter. Go! Just get off my phone, I don’t care. The company I worked for that had 14 million subscribers, how much difference would 1 subscriber more or less make?
Ninette almost 9 years ago
They were a scam. I’m glad they are mostly history. Stupid scam!
SusanSunshine Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Last month, I got a $25 rebate on a low-end smartphone I bought last year at Costco….the problem is, I was supposed to get two of them, and only one arrived.
On the rebate company’s website, they tell you that you have to wait SIXTEEN WEEKS before even asking what went wrong!
That was up in January… now they tell me they issued both of them at the same time… so it must be a mail problem. Uh huh.
In order to get them at all, I had to send two separate forms, each in its own business size envelope, each with a copy of every bit of paperwork from the original transaction… including the 10 or so page contract.
Luckily, the phone kiosk staff at Costco know how exasperating that is. They make all the copies, handing you a half-inch stack of paper before you leave.
But now Costco says there’s nothing they can do,… In fairness, if you actually buy a product from Costco, they DO give you the rebate money instantly… taking it off the price at the checkout counter. But the cell phone kiosk operator is an independent contractor.And they say there’s nothing they can do, because the rebates were “issued.” Right.At least the phone was at a good price, and I would have bought it anyway. I also switched to a much cheaper company, and a better plan for half the price.. and I did get half the rebate, too…. so far.
In other news, meanwhile….. Leaky? Don’t disappear!
Bonus…..
Today’s heart plaque reminds me of a fine old Sonoma County wine…(this is a real brand and label, though I haven’t seen it lately….)
MeGoNow Premium Member almost 9 years ago
I think we should also note that, although Dale and Marlene bought patio furniture so expensive that the rebate was $150, we have never seen them sit on the patio. And Dale didn’t think that rebate was a scam when he bought the set. He came to that conclusion when it was pointed out that he forgot to send it in.
patlaborvi almost 9 years ago
It was also possible for consumers to scam the rebate. I remember when I worked at a deapartment store there was a rebate on floor tiles, one day we got back a dozen boxes of the floor tile that was on rebate and all the UPC’s had been torn off. You know the customer sent in for the rebate before returning the tile for the original price.
orbenjawell Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Pesky expiration dates!! What a dirty trick by the powers that be!! I knida-sorta, sorta-kinda, feel your pain, Dale!!
Jeff0811 almost 9 years ago
Ok, members of Crustwood, listen closely. Cashiers do not make store policy. People that make 10 x what you make do.
I used to work as phone support for a national cable company. I lost count of the idiots who thought I personally scheduled tech visits, I personally made store policy, or that I personally cared if they kept their business with us or went Satellite, or off the grid for that matter. Go! Just get off my phone, I don’t care. The company I worked for that had 14 million subscribers, how much difference would 1 subscriber more or less make?