Have You Received Your Holiday Rebates?
March 17th, 2007Depending on when you submitted them, now would probably be the time to follow up with the lazy/shady companies that haven’t sent you the check you are owed. I had a bunch of calls to make last week, because several of my rebates have not arrived on schedule.
A repeat offender from my previous holiday rebates is Circuit City. I started the submission for my $26 flash drive rebate online and sent my paperwork Dec. 1. The time range given by Circuit City for check turnaround was 8 weeks, a deadline long passed. so I checked my status through their online rebate center - the record says they never received my paperwork with the UPC, etc. I’m sure they received it, but it’s possible they misplaced it somewhere in the process. Customer service phone call ensues. I explain to him my situation, he confirms that their records show no mail from me.
I’m ready to “go to the mattresses” (a la The Godfather and You’ve Got Mail) because I have all my copies and this is the second time of having problems with Circuit City, but the CSR is helpful. He asks for my order number, my amount paid, etc., and he says the check will be in the mail in 7-10 days.
My second set of missing money is for a Buy.com software purchase. I’m owed a $50 rebate (around 2 weeks late), and a $10 rebate (just approaching late). The fulfillment company is Nova. This CSR doesn’t even offer any excuses for my wayward 50 bucks, but she does apologize, saying “I’m showing that we haven’t sent this out to you yet, and I’m really sorry for that.” She also said they’re missing my documentation for the second rebate ($10), which I mailed properly. Now I have to fax that again, and then I’m expecting $60 in my mailbox within a week or two.
So would I see any of my $86 if I didn’t follow up? I’m doubtful. I guess it’s just the way this game is played. I have yet to have a rebate denied after a follow-up call, but there’s plenty of money I wouldn’t have seen without the hassle. And woe is me if I ever forget to make my paperwork copies.
To be fair to the rebate business, I’ve received $70+ recently from some companies that are on the ball: Walgreens, Logitech, Farberware, and FYE. No harassment required. Thanks y’all!
[...] found my first completely unacceptable rebater. Like I said, a first follow-up phone call seems to be par for the rebate course. But a second? And poor service [...]