Hi,

I bought an IBM/Tripplite Officepro 500 UPS back on 4/8/2001 from CompUSA, and it had a $60 rebate. I sent the coupon, receipt and UPS in (I have copies) on 4/9/2001, and have been waiting ever since.

I've called the 800 number on the coupon numerous times (plus the store, CompUSA's 800 number, IBM's 800 number, etc.), and left voicemails, and filled the form out on the rebate place website numerous times, and have gotten really puzzling results.

On the calls, I never get called back.

On the website, I got several emails saying that they don't have my rebate. Then I replied to one email, and they said that they had it and were processing it.

Does anyone have any suggestions what to do?

Thanks,
Jim

No I don't sorry!

If any retailers read this, I do not buy things advertised with a rebate for this very reason. I have been in this situation many times and decided to stop letting you rip me off.

Rebates are a rip off!

Perhaps you can return the item or threaten to dispute the charge at the store?

Good luck.

I have been ripped off several times by bogus rebate offers, particularly at CompUSA. Combine that with the fact that if you go there as soon as they open Sunday morning when their ad comes out, the super deals are all gone. I don't go there any more and I'm really reluctant to buy anything with a rebate from anywhere. I'm still waiting for rebates I sent for in February from Prime Peripherals/OfficeMax.

Take the issue to the store manager and explain the situation.
That store manager should then take it directly to the vendor.

What you may not understand is that it's not CompUSA or IBM that is at fault, it's the fulfillment company that handles the rebate redemptions. Typically this is hired out to a 3rd Party that cuts checks and then bills the vendor, in this case IBM.

I do a lot of rebates at Fry's and we hire it out to such a 3rd Party. If a customer has waited a substantial amount of time and does not receive the rebate they will take it to the store or department manager and then I am called by that manager or my buyer with the info. I then forward it on to the 3rd Party fulfillment house and request that the rebate be issued.

Hope this helps...guess it can't hurt at this point.
Good luck.

indiana,

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that. I have called the store and spoken to numerous people, but maybe going in person will help. On the phone, they keep telling me to ask the rebate company for a rejection, then the store will pay, but I can't get ahold of anyone to "ask".

What's really strange is when I try to inquire via the website (http://www.rebatestatus.com), I get really inconsistent results. Sometimes I get an email (days later) saying that they have to record and the rebate has expired, and sometimes they say they have the rebate and are still processing.

Calling them (and leaving a voicemail) is really a waste. I don't know if they've ever called back.

Really frustrating, and the worst part is that I have 2 others, from June, that I'm waiting on. Total of all 3 rebates is about $150 .

I'll report back if I have any success with the store.

Jim

For my local compusa in boston, mass , I have done numerous rebate things with ibm, tdk, and so on. All have arrived as promised. Did you fill out all the forms right and include everything. With rebates if you don't fall one small letter, then they are off their end of the contract and unfortunately you are sol.

Good luck.

I have done so many rebates for the past two years from Compusa and I always get my rebates back, sometimes with extra work. It is important that ALWAYS make a copy of what you sent.
After 8 weeks if I don't get my rebate back, I call them. Sometimes they say they don't have my record in the file and ask me to just send them a copy of what I sent before, and this usually works.

Two years ago, I did not get one computer memory rebate back because the company went out of business. After waiting 6 months, I called the Compusa and told them about the rebate I never received, then they told me that company went out of business and sent me the rebate check right away. I have been very happy with them so far.

Sorry about your problem and good luck.

I keep copies of all my rebate forms and receipts that I sent in. I only had one rebate in 1998 for memory that I bought at CompUSA that I didn't receive. The phone number on the rebate form was always busy. Always. So I took the copies of the forms to customer service at CompUSA. After a few minutes (and trying the busy phone number), they simply gave me the rebate.

I'd suggest going in with your all your forms, and if you don't get helped by the first customer service person, ask to speak to a manager.

I used to work at CompUSA in NJ for a few years.. People used to complain at customer service all the time and mostly the managers gave in. If they don't, consider writing a letter to CompUSA's corporate office in TX. The store I worked in would get faxes or letters from the Corp office about customers who wanted to return something and weren't allowed to, and were told in the letter to take the merchandise back. One Item they had to take back, wasn't even something CompUSA sold! It was something purchased at Computer City (before they went out of business.) The item even had Computer City's sticker on it. But they had to take it back.. hahaha...

Just a few ideas..

Hi,

This is an OLD thread, but just wanted to let you all know that persistence DOES pay off !

As I posted originally, I sent a rebate in for a UPS that I bought at CompUSA in April, and had been waiting for it. Contacted rebate place both via phone and website multiple times, getting different results (no record of rebate, it's expired, it's in progress, etc., etc.). Also talked to the store, IBM, Tripplite, etc., with no success.

I don't if it made a difference, but last weekend, I again replied to one of the emails from the rebate place, asking where's the rebate. The same day, I sent an email to Mr. Hal Compton, the CEO of CompUSA. I figured, 'what do I have to lose?'.

Well, on the following Monday, I got an email from the rebate place, saying that the rebate was being mailed on 8/6/2001!!! Sure enough, I received the postcard/check on Wednesday!!!

Cool!!

So, maybe the moral of the story with CompUSA rebates is:

1) Keep all records

2) Continue to bug them

3) When all else fails, write to the CEO (I noticed that someone else suggested that also ).

4) Don't let them get away with not paying you your rebates!!!

Jim