What is Digg?200 Comments
- detrate, on 10/12/2007, -8/+33I'm sorry this happened to you and the poster, but I have a simple solution --> don't shop there.
- shattadeya, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19Retail stores and Manufacturers know that 50% of consumers (if not more) don't not get money back via rebates. They use this as a modified version of bait and switch where they switch the price on you 6 - 8 weeks later.
Rebates are bad for the majority of consumers and a better solution would be to give the consumer the discounted price up front then the Retail store take up the responsibility of filing the rebate for you.
DIGG. We as consumers can make a point so digg this to the front page!!! - gamabunta, on 10/27/2007, -6/+22"plus modems are usaully free especially through comcast"
if you paid the comcast bill each month you'd realize theres a $3-4 dollar a month fee to rent, not own the modem provided by comcast. - JTMON, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Stephanie Nightlinger
Public Relations Representative
Circuit City Stores
(804) 527-4000 ext. 4817
who will be the first to call?! - PathDaemon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17brainScan-
@"This copy can be used as verification of a purchase for rebates, or as a receipt for your transaction."
Did you quote this to the supervisor? It would seem from this line that the email could be argued as a sales receipt. His statement that by looking at other forms you can see which apply to online purchases is invalid — the consumer is not expected to.
You had a sales receipt. Maybe one more phone call is in order? And if it's still denied, maybe a legal threat should be made. I'm for avoiding these most of the time, but a rep stating that an email marked as "a receipt for your transaction" is not a sales receipt is clearly not legal. - mrivorey, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17Rebates suck! I never use them when considering price.
- cidkato, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13People, such as myself, thought it was a good story and pressed that little "digg" button to the left of the story. This, as farfetched as it sounds, is how digg works. If you don't like it, report it or just don't digg it--it doesn't help anyone to ask a rhetorical question and make yourself look like an ass. No one is forcing you to read this story, press "digg", or being here in general.
Don't hate the player, hate the game, if you will. - tonicboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Rebate's are the retail industry's dirty little secret. The one place where they can pull out all of their dirty little tricks to scam you out of money. It's easy for them to offer a 10-20% rebate on an item because they know you have to go through so many damn hoops to get your rebate, and there are so many loopholes they can use against you, that so few people actually get their rebate money. Rebates should be illegal - if a company honestly wants to offer a discount on an item to increase its sales, then just discount the damn price!!
- snoble, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11If this story actually convinced you to stop shopping at circuit city then let them know. Voting with your dollars makes a small difference but each complaint gets counted as 100-1000 customers by the company. If even just 20-30 different people complained the higher ups would be made aware of the story.
In the states you can send them a message from
http://www.circuitcity.com/cs_customer_email.jsp
or call them at 1-800-843-2489 or mail them at
Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Attn: Customer Support
9954 Mayland Dr.
Richmond, VA 23233 .
In Canada you can send a message through http://swcp.intertan.com/swcp-ci/answers/custservice.html,
or fax them at 1-866-384-3418 or write them at
InterTAN Canada Ltd.
Attn: Customer Service
279 Bayview Drive
Barrie Ontario
L4M 4W5 . - hottcarl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Agreed. Most of the Black Friday items were for in-store purchase only. Most of the time, Circuit City rebates apply to online or in-store purchases, with the exception of a few "web only specials." The question I have is: on the page for the product, did it list the rebate with the purchase price?
- tonicboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Rebates should be illegal because the entire point of a rebate (at least from the busines side) is to offer a discount which they are hoping many people will not ever receive. They rely on a mix of consumer laziness, deceptive rebate terms (as in the article) and yes, even cosnumer stupidity to reduce the amount of money they need to pay out. They even have a term for this - "breakage". The higher the breakage, the more entitled consumers that will never receive their money, the more successful the rebate. Just because some consumers are stupid does not mean they should be taken advantage of.
This is exactly the same as if a sale had a message on the bottom stating "Please send a form within 3-4 weeks stating that you would like the lowest price possible, otherwise the credit card company will charge you an extra 20% automatically." WOULD YOU STAND TO LET A COMPANY DO THAT?! - brainScan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9In response to the comment by "intoflatlines", I decided to do more digging (no pun intended). I found some damning evidence!!! I put links to circuitcity.com (and pdf files in case they decide to pull these links last minute). But, this page is worth looking at again!
First, I admit that it appears that Circuit City is no longer duping customers in the same way that they duped me. By checking the ads in this week's paper, I was able to find items that were listed as having in-store rebates only, and the rebate forms on circuitcity.com indeed said "in-store purchases only".
However, during this search I found more evidence that Circuit City was duping their customers during the Black Friday sales. I found two rebate forms from 11/24 - 11/26 that were still linked to circuitcity.com. They only differed in that one required a "sales receipt" while the other required a "sales receipt or order confirmation". Look at my order confirmation, which says that it is a receipt. (Unfortunately I could not find a link to my specific item anymore.) But anyone who purchased the portable TV on circuitcity.com during the Black Friday weekend would have been denied their rebate despite the fact that the forms do not specify where it can or cannot be purchased.
I think that this change by Circuit City proves my point!!! Circuit City realizes that they were deceiving customers, and that they faced future liability if they didn't change their policy. - gamabunta, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14has happened to me before.
- Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8In other news: the sky is blue, water is wet.
Seriously, why buy ***** with rebates? You've got to spend time filling all of that crap out, you wait months to hear anything, and if they deny your claim (pretty common) you get to spend hours and hours on the phone, often with nothing to show for it. How much is your *time* worth to you? - SaintStryfe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I work for one of the major office retailers, as a technology sales associate. Here's the skinny:
Rebates are not a tax or something. It is a sale, but it's a hedged bet. On average, 40% of rebates are either never sent or sent massively incorrect (no UPC, form not filled out). Another 5 or so percent are disputed, but the person never responds. And a further 5-8% are fully successful, but the checks are never cashed.
So, on average, 50% will not pay. The store gets to keep that money. The store is betting people will not send it, or will be incompetent. And even if you do send it in proper, and we pay, we've been collecting interest, investing that money and doing stuff with it, so we're gaining on it.
When a regular sale happens, we're losing a guaranteed amount. This is why ya almost never see regular computers on "Sale" - always rebates. Computers have razor thin profit to start (3-5%). Pretty much any direct money off our profit.
Other items, like Routers, printers, and PDAs are higher profit, so you'll see straight sales, but rebates often are larger.
Now, my company has recently taken some steps to simply the process - we've moved to make any non-manufacturer rebate go to ONE address, to one company. Not 4 addresses (an older trick was to have three rebates sent to three addresses. One slip and you've lost two-of-three or worse). Also, we've moved to publishing the large number being the out-the-door price, and then in text next to it saying "and save 300$ in rebates" or what ever. They also made the rebate amounts in larger text, on average, the out-the-door price is 3/4ths the final price, with the rebates 1/2 size (this is much more readable then the older styles). Also, we've moved to accept, for store rebates, photocopies of the UPC codes and rebate receipts (so there are fewer errors with manufacture rebates).
As for keeping from rebate mistakes: The number 1 thing you should do is differentiate between a Store rebate, one offered by the reseller, and Manufacturer's rebates, offered by the product's maker. Store rebates are usually easier to get fixed (because the store has procedure for it) if there is an error, and usually are simpler. Manufactures rebates are often more complicated - require original UPCs and receipts. Be more careful with them. Also, most important thing: PHOTOCOPY EVERYTHING. I do mean everything. If it goes into an envelope, it should be photocopied: circled receipt, UPC and the filled out rebate form. The second thing is to ask the sales person what the rebate tracking options are. My store has a link to rebate tracking on the front page of it's website, for example. Other companies use telephone services. What ever it is, you need to know before you buy (Or at least before you mail your rebate). Knowing and checking on a rebate track will let you know and can turn a rejected rebate into cash in your pocket.
Do these things, and in two years, since I started my job at this store, I've only had one, 5$ rebate go bad out of about 20 items. It's possible to do this well, you just need to be careful and use common sense. - sfcaptainrob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Don't expect better treatment from Best Buy. They're much worse than Circuit City.
- diggerphelps, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5It's all rebates that are a problem, not just Circuit City.
I have been back and forth with Sirius over a rebate debate, because their processor claimed that my 'UPC was not for eligible product,' when it clearly was. (Sirius agrees, but I am still waiting on a check.)
The rebate processors bank on a certain percentage of 'breakage,' and when they don't achieve it, I believe they start arbitrarily rejecting claims in the hopes that consumers won't follow up or that they'll give up after a while. - markie1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Instant rebates; the only way to go, even those have sales tax hang ups. mrivorey is right, rebates suck!
- tweak50, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I've worked for Circuit City for the last 2 years and as long as I have been there, rebate details have been posted. Circuit City did not change there rebate policy recently, "online only" and "in-store only" have been posted next to every item that they apply to. Also, it is posted in black Friday fliers that these are "in-store" deals. The whole point of having a black Friday sale is to get customers into the store, what would be the point of letting people get these ridiculous sales online.
- kevinkitching, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Try the Postal Inspector. As I understand it. this sort of thing is in their domain as the rebate form has to be mailed, and running any kind of a con or bait and switch in which the US Mail is used is a Federal offense. The Postal Inspector may or may not want to deal with it other than to take a report.
Then fax a copy of the report to Circuit City, the rebate processor, and well, anyone else you can think of.
Also, most local TV news stations have a consumer watchdog type of thing - mostly it's little old ladies that get ripped off by some or another scam, but occasionally, you'll see stuff like this. Rather than worry about it, they may write you a check just to keep off the news.
Just don't give up, bro! If it's an honest mistake, which may be the case, then hounding them about it is the only way to get the process fixed. If it's them trying to beat you, then they need to be exposed for the con artists that they are. - RobotCitizen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Rebates suck ass. We should not even support the practice with our money.
- BasouKazuma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Stores always try to trick people into buying more than they should. There's no news here. It's just a fact of life.
Stores will screw you many times throughout your life. All you can do, is research before you buy something. - sqrlproductions, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4no returns without UPC -- so a catch-22 :(
- falcyn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Sorry, but this is a case of simple customer stupidity. Have you ever gone shopping on Black Friday before? All the sales are in the store on the stock that's in. An online BF sale would completely defeat the purpose, which is simply to get people to come into the store. Additionally, online and brick-and-mortar retailers, while subsidiaries of the same company, are entirely separate companies as far as the government's concerned, they're just operating under the same name. I don't exactly know how CC does it, but Best Buy, for example, has Best Buy Stores, LP running retail physical operations while Best Buy Co. Inc., the parent company, directly runs BestBuy.com. In short, there is no connection between the two other than name unless you go through half the company.
But it all comes down to Black Friday sales, which everyone knows are retailers excuses to get people into the store. If you could get the same sales online, what would be the point? Nobody would come into the store. You should know that unless you were just born. - magstheaxe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I can't speak to the retailer rebates, but I work for a manufacturer that does offer rebates, and can tell you why we do.
Per US law, a manufacturer CANNOT tell a retail dealer how much to sell their product for. We can suggest pricing (hence the term "manufacturer's suggested retail price"), but ultimately the retail dealer can sell the product for whatever he feels like.
If the manufacturer decides to have a sale on something, then, the only place we can change price is on the wholesale end. Believe me when I tell you, if I call a dealer and tell him that our product is on sale for $50 off wholesale, that dealer is going to do everything he can to pocket the difference. I can encourage him to pass on the savings to the customer, but if market forces in his area will allow him to keep selling our product at the regular price, the dealer's going to do so and keep that extra $50-per-product-sold.
The only way, then, that manufacturer's can get pass savings on to the consumer is via a manufacturer's rebate. Rebate help the dealer sell the product while the manufacturer eats the cost, which is why dealers like them. And manufacturer's like them because the rebates go right to the consumer. - RobGamble, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Yup, there is nothing worse than buying something and having to go chase down your rebate and keep a good enough paper trail to get your money back. Ok, maybe getting eaten by ducks is worse, but I don't see that happening.
Seriously, I bought three items from CompUSA before and had to submit the rebates for each item twice. In all three incidents CompUSA claimed they never received my ORIGINAL receipt and paperwork. How convenient for them. Good thing they took re-filings from photo-copied receipts.
If a retail store can't give you a good price right there on the spot, buy from somewhere else. newegg.com and zipzoomfly.com have great prices on tech stuff. - anubisgamer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Let me make this one of the easiest answers... Look at a circuit city ad.. Every week... You'll notice THEY'RE ALWAYS ON SALE SO IT'S YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT FOR BEING IMPATIENT
- intoflatlines, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8it might have said "in-store only" or something on the circular. if i remember correctly, i believe that black friday deals are not available to be ordered online and picked up in the store anyway (for the black friday price). but i could be wrong. anyway, i'm sure there was some indication that the rebate was in-store only, as is the case with every web only/in-store only rebate. if not, then the rebate wouldn't have been denied or the escalation center would have reimbursed it. i think that the person that wrote this article simply missed the statement "in-store only". as for the statement that "[I]t appears that this practice of rejecting otherwise valid rebate submissions continues to date, and that Circuit City is fulling aware and complacent in the practice.", all i can say is that rebates are not given to people that don't follow the rules or instructions. if "rejecting otherwise valid rebate submissions" refers to rebate submissions that are completely valid other than the fact that the item was purchased in-store when the rebate is for an internet transaction (or vice-versa), then there is no reason for circuit city to bend the rules if a customer fails to follow them. also, rebate forms that are available online aren't necessarily valid for all online purchases. many people lose their store-printed rebate forms and then print them off of the website.
but hey, if there was honestly no notice on the circular, website, or rebate form of this rebate being in-store only, then circuit city should and probably would honor the rebate. unfortunately for this individual, i don't think that this is the case. - intangible, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4And that would be perfectly fine with me.
- goob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I bought an LG Flatron computer monitor from Circuit City during the last week of December. They had a deal going on where the price was $320, but it came with a $120 MIB. I bought the monitor, made photocopies of the UPC and receipt, and sent them in along with the rebate form.
Fast forward to last week. After not hearing back from them for a while, I grew worried and called. I was told they had no record of my rebate, but what was even funnier, they had no record of the REBATE OFFER! I called and talked to three different reps and was told each time they couldn't find any offer on an LG Flatron. Even though I had a copy of everything I sent it, I was being told that the rebate never existed. I, for one, won't be messing with rebates in the future. - intoflatlines, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4and plus they're usually manufacturer's rebates anyway so all stores, not just circuit city and best buy do it.
- tryferos, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6This is yet another reason why stores like this suck. Hope things work out for this guy. For those who dont like the rebate process I have been using the site listed below to avoid all that rebate crap.
www.antirebate.com - Archaic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I work at Circuit City just like some of the others above. Every sale prints a rebate form if it has any eligible rebates. If they don't print out, then they can be printed or REprinted at customer service. The rebate forms tell you exactly what to do, and if you give your information to the associate, it prints out with the information filled in. If you don't trust the sales associate, then watch the screen as the information is typed in. If they mess up, get a form reprinted in the afformentioned fashion. It isn't all that hard.
Oh, and most computer products we sell don't have a very high profit margin. - Pile, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You're right. If you're purchasing a product, the amount that product costs is the amount you pay for at the register. If you see some stupid sign that says "*after $20 mail it rebate" you're just a moron. You deserve to lose your money. Rebates are a marketing scam, plain and simple.
- nunyabizness, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is going to be my last post on this subject, although it is my favorite hobby. If you are going to play the game, play it right and you will come out on top. This is my checklist of important points:
1) Read ALL the paperwork, receipts, rebate forms BEFORE leaving the store. Sometimes the rebate is already expired or even can not be done per the rules dictated by the rebate. It is easier to back out while still there, getting a refund if necessary, than to have to drive back.
2) Make SURE you are getting the right product. You may have to learn to read the store's tags to verify correct UPCs or SKUs involved and the rebate signage may be in front of the wrong item on the shelf.
2) No employee of the store should be trusted to be giving accurate information on a rebate (read it yourself and understand it), nor are they empowered to make changes or allowances to the terms. If the rebate calls for an original UPC, you are playing with fire if you try to submit a copy, etc.
3) Scan EVERYTHING. You will need it sooner or later.
4) Develop a process and stick to it. Completing the rebates will go through your system like a well oiled factory assembly line.
5) Use a spreadsheet to track all pertinent data, including completion date and progress notes if you need to intercede to get it completed.
6) If problems develop, you will have to make calls, bitch and even escalate. You may need to call any or all of the following: the rebate fulfillment company, the manufacturer, the retail store executive officers. Make their lives miserable and if all else fails, and you are in the right, sue them all. Additional defendants are ~$5 more each after the initial $50 filing fee (which you get back when you win).
Do it right and you can save some serious bucks. I know people that say it is too much trouble for them to track all the stuff involved. With that viewpoint it is good that they do not try to play the game. My spreadsheet tells me that I have received $8447.45 in rebates since it was started in 1998. Cha-Ching - mliving, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Duh! I mean who really thinks these rebate programs aren't designed to make more moeny then they rebate.
I purchased two Compaq PCs within two weeks of each other from FutureShop in Canada (eh) and both were ADVERTISED with $150 rebates. But only one rebate submission was accepted. (No household limit either) Their excuse was my purchase was in an unqualifying area!? Yeah right.
Personally I think that we should only PAY the ADVERTISED price. If that price inlcudes any discounts or rebates then the seller should have to redeem them if they are using them for advertising purposes!
There. Take that big guys. Huff! - jeromehorwitz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I've got to side with Circuit City on this one. The rebates are very clear and stipulating about valid or invalid claims.
As a consumer, his idea to try and pull the wool over CC's eyes is just as much his fault as theirs. Yes, the online receipts can be used as verification for rebates - but only ONLINE rebates. The Circuit City stores are not the same front as the website, and even prices can be different from the same products online verses the brick and mortar. This goes for other companies like Best Buy as well.
So wake up, you win STUPID CONSUMER OF THE DAY award, and you'll gain no pity or apathy from me. Next time go to the store and buy it if you want the rebate. - Monoboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5@crs10ec
Not just Circut City, but most mail in rebates in general. I have had so many that don't come because of numerous reasons when even when you read the fine print it should process okay.
I thought most companies were slowly changing over to instant rebates because of this problem. People tend to not buy items with a mail in rebate as often as an instant rebate because of the uncertainty of mail in rebates.
Also instant rebates are easier to track if a customer comes in to return an item as the instant rebate will show up on the sales receipt. - Azlen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Something I have heard is that rebate processors actually use their rebate claim rejections as a selling point. They purposely try to make it as difficult as possible and will reject them for the most ticky tack reasons.
- whalesalad, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4First of all... NEWEGG for life! And also, isn't it kinda obvious that these rebates are intentionally a pain in the ass?
- velocipenguin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I agree completely. Best Buy is a horrible place to shop, unless you enjoy someone talking your ear off about how great their overpriced service plans are.
- zimm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3all that time and effort. was it worth more than $40?
sure was...
If all you sheep would stop going for these scams. they would stop pretty quick..
*****? want to defend rebates? well quit bitching when you dont get your money then. - intoflatlines, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3circuit city's sales have not been sluggish lately. in fact, sales have increased dramatically in the past year or so.
- Scalper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I saw some great deals at bestbuy for season DVDs that retail about $50 but on black Friday they were $20 but you had to buy them before 12pm I had other things to-do that day so I checked online to see if it said the same price(no rebates). It did and I bought them, no problem the DVDs came at the $20 price. So not all blackfriday deals are in-store only
- Zephyrspecial, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5BrainScan - have you talked to your credit card company? If you used a debit card, you're probably out of luck, but if you used a credit card your credit card company may be able to either reverse that portion of the charge, or else perhaps put pressure on Circuit City for you. I get the impression that you're hitting them from all the angles on this, so that may be one more approach. Also, did the cable modem include service with an ISP? If so you could check with them as well. I definately agree with kevinkitching that you should inform the postal inspector, as rebate scams are something that they have been actively involved with, as has the FTC.
I buy things with rebates to get good deals. It's true that retailers rely on the hassle of sending in the rebate to prevent people from doing so, and therefore only those who really want to save money will go through with the process, while many impulse buyers will forget. I don't see it as unfair - it just limits the savings to those of us who really must keep within limited budgets.
I appreciate those retailers that make good on their rebate promises and will continue to shop with them for other things. I just received a rebate confirmation from another retailer, and will most likely be shopping there again after the check arrives. I was waiting to make sure before shopping there again.
On the other hand, if I put forth the effort to send in the required info, and a company refuses to pay up, they would not only be costing me more money than they had agreed to, they would be costing me time and effort as well, making it an even greater insult than just to overcharge me. Most companies also seem to realize that anyone who is willing to make the effort to send in the rebate is likely to make the effort to follow up on it, and so they honor their rebates if for no other reason than to avoid the bad PR associated with situations like this. Instead of gaining a future customer, I would hope that Circuit City has lost all of your future business, even after they belatedly make good on their offer, which I am sure they will. I will certainly think twice about buying anything there, rebate or no. Any company that mistreats me personally is guaranteed to lose all of my future business. Please keep us posted here as to how it all works out. - dhughes, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4 In the future, at night and around campfires, children will be told scary rebate stories of Circuit City and Best Buy.
- Ma5t3r_Chi3f, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I have always received my rebates from all of the retailers that I shop at. I only had one issues with an Office Max Seagate MIR where they substituted a HD because the lack of the sale drive, but I just faxed them the rebate form and I got the rebate. A lot of people gripe about MIR, but if you do them correctly then there is no problem.
My Process:
--Screw the rebate forms that come on thermal paper, usually you can download the form from their website and print it on a standard sheet of paper
--Copy the receipt and send that instead of the thermal paper copy
--Write in all caps with straight an precise letters
--Write you name, address, and phone number on the back of UPC, copy of receipt (I use a fine tip sharpie)
--Staple the rebate form, rebate receipt, and UPC together
--Keep a physical set of copies of everything you send filed away (I use my scanner and just print it out)
--I also keep the digital copies of the material sent in organized folders in my PC
--I send all of the info in a 8.5"x6.5" yellow envelope. (harder to lose)
--Always make sure the Post Office stamps it with the round date seal
--I use my Outlook Calender to record the date that I should be getting the rebate back as well as the info for contacting the company that is to send me back the rebate.
--Always follow through - foxsynergy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2All the Black Friday stuff is in-store only, at least the stuff for the monster badass discounts and rebates (the good stuff that ends around 10). Has been for the last seven years, anyway. Corporate heavily frowns upon associates who even try to reserve things from other brick n' mortar locations on that day, because there's too much to keep track of and there's no telling if the item in question is already in somebody's hand. In fact, that's likely.
I greging hate Black Friday. - Pile, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Another reason for the rebate that people aren't aware of, is you sell your privacy to the company in return for a few bucks. If you fill out a rebate form, your name and address and other information appears on a bunch of mailing lists these companies sell to whoever will pay. This is another reason why you should *NEVER* purchase anything with a rebate. The "warranty registration card" is another flavor of this scam. When you fill out those cards you're basically entering yourself into a big mailing list that is sold to other companies for marketing purposes.
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