Re: A Rebate Story and Kudos to Circuit City

Barry Watzman wrote:
What part of this are you calling "BULL"?


Dave wrote:

Barry Watzman wrote:

About a month ago I bought a laptop at Circuit City. It had a rebate ... in fact, the total deal had something like nine rebates, the largest of which was $200. It was a good deal. In fact, it was a ***VERY*** good deal, providing, that is, that I got the rebates. I am meticulous about rebates, and the bottom line on this deal, figuring in all the rebates and "free after rebate products" (3 major items) was a Toshiba Satellite A105-S2712 [Centrino with DVD burner and "TruBrite" premium display] for less than $600 after all of the rebates and freebies.

[Actually, as I think about it, my last 3 laptop purchases have been Toshiba closeout models at Circuit City. CC seems to consistently have the very best deals on Toshiba laptop models that are being discontinued and closed out. All of these deals, while heavily encumbered with rebates and various other free products and promotional tag-alongs, have been "spectacular", as was this deal. But I digress .....]

On Saturday I got a letter from "Circuit City Rebates" in Miami denying the $200 rebate. The reason given was that according to the receipt they said that I had paid an "Invalid Purchase Price" ... !!!

I double checked the rebate form and no, there is no condition or mention in the rebate terms and conditions of the actual price to be paid (valid, invalid or otherwise). And there was not even a restriction that the rebate was not valid in combination with any other offers.

I went absolutely ballistic and composed a very polite, direct, factual letter, with 5 pages of supporting documentation (copies of EVERYTHING). Bottom line, however: a very firm SEE YOU IN COURT (and I was most definitely serious and not bluffing). The letter was mailed Certified mail this morning.

Next I went to the Circuit City store on Whipple Avenue and asked to see the store manager. They asked what it was regarding and I said "a lawsuit". The acting manager (Marsha) appeared promptly. I told her that this was not personal, but I explained the situation and told her that if I did not receive the rebate within a reasonable period of time, that I would be filing a breach of contract action against CC and the store.

Then they did something that made my jaw drop: After reviewing and making copies of my paperwork and having me sign a receipt, they paid me the $200 right on the spot, in cash right out of the cash register, no questions asked.

Circuit City, my hat is off to you. That was more than I could possibly have ever asked for.

Postcript: I called the rebate center (in Miami) to tell them that I had resolved the matter with the local store and that they would be able to ignore my letter, that my case was resolved. When I gave the rebate clerk my case number from the letter, he immediately told me that the rebate denial letter had been sent in error (to many of the people who had applied for that particular rebate, apparently), he acknowledged that there had been no valid grounds for denial of the rebate (my letter from them of March 22nd not withstanding) and that I would have received the rebate check "shortly" had I taken no action.


One word BULL!

The part of it when they went ahead and payed you directly out of the register!
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Ya gotta love it...
    ... And don't you just love it when they issue the rebate on a credit card ... Well, if I drove to a store, parked way out in the boonies to avoid door ... second city block, as what I want is always in the most remote part of the ... care not to be characterized as a sheep, nor as one who must have something ...
    (rec.collecting.coins)
  • Retail Roundup: Find out retailers rules before returning items
    ... Make a list and check it twice before rushing to store with unwanted ... of gift receivers expect they'll be taking at least one gift back to ... Many retailers have tightened up their policies to combat returns ... So check the receipt for rebate terms on that new ...
    (misc.consumers)
  • Re: iPod engraving (trivial post alert)
    ... The more highly discounted university store required you to be ... This makes it rather tight for the rebate - if it doesn't ship by 30 October I'll have to cancel and reorder with 'just' a Nano. ...
    (uk.comp.sys.mac)
  • Re: iPod engraving (trivial post alert)
    ... The more highly discounted university store required you to be ... This makes it rather tight for the rebate - if it doesn't ship by 30 October I'll have to cancel and reorder with 'just' a Nano. ...
    (uk.comp.sys.mac)
  • Re: LG rebate scam
    ... > your local chain store. ... > so I can give you the rebate price and be on my way. ... >> to hear about how Larry shoved that lemon of a Skidoo ...
    (alt.cellular.verizon)