Screwed by Canon Rebate

[John]

I know that the institution of rebates is meant to rip you off so I'm quite anal about paying attention to the details and ALWAYS sending in the rebate with delivery confirmation. The delivery confirmation at least minimizes the "Sorry, we never received your rebate" or "Sorry, we didn't receive your rebate in time" excuses.

I read the rebate forms several times looking for the "gotcha's". I know I go through way more trouble than I should for $20-$50 but it's the principle. They make it as annoying as possible to claim a rebate so that most people won't bother. I'm the one that bothers.

I send in my rebate to Canon along with all the rebate form, purchase receipt and I cut out the UPC code from the box and put that in the envelope. My new tactic is to use wide tape and tape the UPC code to the rebate form.

I checked on my rebate status just now.

Error(s): An original qualifying UPC was not included

Yep. No matter how hard I tried, Canon still managed to screw me over.

Since they want "an original" qualifying UPC", my copy won't suffice.

Canon, the next time I'm in the market for a product I'll remember this incident.

[Cheri]

I guess I must be lucky, because the only one I've never received is the rebate on paint from Lowe's, and I've turned in a lot of rebates. One thing for sure, they all say that it must be the original sales receipt, UPC, etc. If a copy would suffice, everyone would just make copies of their friends receipts. Dunno why you thought a copy was going to work, or am I misunderstanding what you posted?

Cheri

[Gary KW4Z]

PS -- I think Tax Program Rebates are the worst about shafting you. If there is some enterprising Attorney that ever files a suit on behalf on everyone that gets shafted (Class action that is ) Count me in!

[Gary KW4Z]

Sorry to hear about your troubles John. You may take that "failure" notice from Canon back to the store you purchased it at and see if they can either intervene with Canon on your behalf or honor the rebate themselves. I actually had some luck with Staples in that area. As for Rebates I think everyone has that same problem. I'm also very anal about documentation by scanning in everything to save so I can have it later. I actually think this practice goes on so much I can't believe some Attorney hasn't come up with a class action suit like they do against the drug companies. You might also think about sending a letter to the Better Business Bureau against Canon but make sure you have your documentation and ducks in a row.

But then again as many newsgroups as you sent this to I doubt you will find my answer on this one.

[Steve B]

I have used this tactic three times, and it has worked all three times:

I went to the store and asked what they would do to make it right. When they wouldn't, I asked for the manager, and they wouldn't make it right. I told them that I would picket their store.

Picketing is easy, but you have to do it by the book. First, you send a registered letter TO THAT MANAGER stating the purpose of your picketing. Tell them the hours you are going to picket and the dates. Tell them that you will invite the local news channel that covers consumer complaints to come and film your protest.

If you do make it to the picket stage, make up sign(s) with your message in a few words.

Like CANON WON'T HONOR REBATES

Avoid words like fraud or anything that they can say is slander. Make them simple and to the point so anyone passing by can read in two seconds.

You must observe public laws such as:

Not blocking vehicles from entering or exiting, not blocking the sidewalk traffic, not stepping into the street, not waving your sign past the edge of the sidewalk on either side, not speaking to people to plead your case unless they ask first why you are protesting, not passing onto the private property, staying at all times on public sidewalks and driveways, really easy stuff, but lines you need to know.

Give them two weeks to resolve the issue before you picket.

All three were taken care of before I picketed. If you don't get satisfaction, the worth of picketing must be balanced against how much time you want to spend to get your pound of flesh.

HTH

Steve

[Steve B]

NOT universally true. I have a residence in Toquerville, Utah, pop. 925. There is NO mail delivery to any residence. All mail goes to the post office boxes. Even UPS is delivered to the post office, and you pick it up there.

One size does not fit all, and always isn't always true.

Steve

[komobu]

Hi Cheri...

I think a copy should suffice...What if the original gets lost in the mail or vendor claims never recieved? Then said vendor can cliam Sory, no original reciept...no rebate.

With the amount of people using credit cards these days, I think the vendor should be able to check your purchase from the credit card statement, and then place the rebate as credit to account of the card.

Pat

[Steve B]

"Malcolm Hoar" wrote

I heard on the news that 10% of gift certificates were never redeemed.

I also live in Las Vegas. When you want to cash out on a slot machine now, they issue you a paper coupon redeemable at the cage. I wonder what percentage of those never get redeemed. Get taken home. Get lost, etc. They do have an expiration date, IIRC, 30 days. (It seems that the casinos don't want to give out that information.)

Steve

[Steve B]

"Tony Hwang" wrote

It took me a long time, many phone calls, and a threat to give it over to the FTC to get mine from Dell.

Patient, hell. I would not have gotten a dime if I hadn't pressed the issue. They wanted to give me $100 credit on future purchases.

I wouldn't buy another Dell product even though they make decent computers.

Steve

[Tony Hwang]

Hmmm, I never owned Dell anything. I assemble my own desktps, laptops, I am with Thinkpad from day one.

[Bill]

I assume this was after you called the rebate processor and tried to get them to fix it but they refused to? Since they will often fix it over the phone, which is a hell of a lot easier than your whole picketing thing, Registered (did you mean that and not Certified?) letter, etc.

Bill

[Bill]

I assume you didn't notice that as of this past year, tax software rebates are pretty much a thing of the past?? Too bad, since you were often able to get much better deals than you can now. And the sad thing is, the tax rebates were pretty reliable and fast.

Bill

[Gary KW4Z]

Not mine .. Maybe they saw me coming. I do my Taxes now online and total cost for using the service and e-filing is about $15.00 total and I think that was State and Federal.

Now one more point. I think companies that make it easier on the consumer should be rewarded and I know there are plenty that do but I know of one that is BEST and one that is up and coming and at least trying to a degree.

STAPLES has online filing of Rebates and always pays fast when I have filled out them. You can also track them along the way. CompUSA, to a much lesser degree, is processing a few Rebates online now or e-rebates I think they call it. I told Staples manager that due to their majority of online filing most of my shopping, if it can be had there, is at Staples. I also hope others that read this will post and commend other retailers that use and promote e-rebates.

[Stacia]

I'm the same way. I set up reminders for myself to check on rebates, as well, just so I don't forget about them. I sympathize ... but I don't really know why you crossposted this to hell and back.

Stacia headers trimmed

[Steve B]

Sheesh. If you're going to shoot holes in my story, aim for the solid parts.

The issues were with other areas. Shoddy mechanical work, faulty computer repairs, and faulty home service.

Certified/registered ................ does anyone here not comprehend the gist of the two?

Steve

[Steve B]

"Tony Hwang" wrote

My current computer is hand built. The Dell was an easy gift for my college bound son. So much for easy.

Steve

[M Berger]

[Buck Turgidson]

Reading this thread raised my blood pressure. I have always suspected rebates were a scam, and our Federa agencies don't seem to have much interest in protecting us.

Not to start a political discussion, but why is our goverment for business and not the people?

If cloned beef and milk is not harmful, then why NOT label it as such and let us decide if we want to eat it?

This is the time of year that credit card companies send us privacy notifications and give us the opportunity to opt out. I can do just about anything I want on-line with my Citibank credit card, increase my limit, add a second authorized user, etc. Opt out of their privacy policy? No, I have to mail a form at my expense to some freaking PO Box in Des Moines and wait

30 days for it to take effect. I guess something like this is too hard to program on a website. What a crock.

Sorry for the rant. Time for my medication.

[Cheri]

OK, I misunderstood what you said. You were saying that now they won't accept a copy, but you had sent the original. You're right, they did rip you off.

Cheri

[Buck Turgidson]

Reading this thread raised my blood pressure. I have always suspected rebates were a scam, and our Federa agencies don't seem to have much interest in protecting us.

Not to start a political discussion, but why is our goverment for business and not the people?

If cloned beef and milk is not harmful, then why NOT label it as such and let us decide if we want to eat it?

This is the time of year that credit card companies send us privacy notifications and give us the opportunity to opt out. I can do just about anything I want on-line with my Citibank credit card, increase my limit, add a second authorized user, etc. Opt out of their privacy policy? No, I have to mail a form at my expense to some freaking PO Box in Des Moines and wait

30 days for it to take effect. I guess something like this is too hard to program on a website. What a crock. Why was is it opt-out instead of opt-in? Of course the answer is obvious.

Sorry for the rant. Time for my medication.