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03/14/2008 03:43:12 PM · #1 |
I just wanted to put out a warning to be very cautious with SanDisk rebates. I bought two separate Compact Flash cards from them at Circuit City and Calumet Photo during a recent rebate offering and just received postcards saying that both rebates were invalid because they were not from participating retailers. Both of these stores were advertising the rebates at their stores and on their sites when I bought the cards, so I'm certain that they were participating retailers.
I called the number on the rebate rejection card to ask about this problem and was on hold for over an hour before being disconnected. While I can't say in absolutely certain terms than San Disk is running a scam here, I would just like to note that every single aspect of this experience does seem like an intentional effort on the company's part to avoid paying out rebates.
If you like San Disk products, I would strongly advise you to hold out for a good price that does not include a rebate. More than that, I would strongly advise you to buy from a different company altogether.
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03/14/2008 03:48:50 PM · #2 |
Do you have copies of the rebate forms/ UPCs etc ? Usually it is pretty easy to sort these things out. Most rebates get processed in bulk by stay at home workers who don't really care about losing paperwork or keeping track of stuff.
Make copies of everything. Also call first thing in the morning, before you get longer queues on hold.
Message edited by author 2008-03-14 15:49:25. |
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03/14/2008 03:59:17 PM · #3 |
That's pretty weird. Never had a problem personally. Dumb question, but are you certain you didn't get the receipts switched around (putting the Circuit City one into the Calumet rebate and vice versa) when you sent them in? Seems like that would be easy enough to do if you sent them in at the same time.
Message edited by author 2008-03-14 15:59:40. |
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03/14/2008 04:07:03 PM · #4 |
I once had Kingston reject a rebate because I'd sent the original receipt and they asked for a copy.
Thought that was a bit shoddy. They didn't return the original but said if I provided a copy in 2 weeks
I'd still be eligible. Again, seems shoddy.
I had a scan of the receipt so was able to print it out - they paid up.
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03/14/2008 04:11:28 PM · #5 |
| I rarely do rebates, but the last one I did I was able to enter information from the receipt into an online claim form and never have to mail anything at all. |
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03/14/2008 04:14:25 PM · #6 |
Rebates exist for one reason only: to make more money for the seller/mfg.
A certain percentage will not qualify, send the wrong stuff, etc. I avoid them at all costs. That being said I've used the Nikon ones with complete success. I'd still rather just buy it at the lower price and be done with it. |
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03/14/2008 04:15:13 PM · #7 |
Thanks for your replies. This is actually the second time that San Disk has randomly denied a rebate claim for me, so I made absolutely certain that everything about them was perfect. I can send in the copies of the forms again, but they're exactly the same as the ones they already have, so I can't imagine what good it would do. It certainly seems like a concerted effort to reject a lot of claims without cause and then only pay out the ones that are able to back up their claim and will take the time to follow up on it. I wonder how much money they stand to make if that's actually what their rebate business model is. Perhaps I'm reading a bit much into this, but it does make fiscal sense for them to reject everybody, much in the way that many insurance companies do.
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03/14/2008 04:28:14 PM · #8 |
| Third-party rebate companies sell themselves to clients such as SanDisk by calculating how many returns they expect, so if they get more they have to reject enough to keep their numbers down or eat the loss themselves. Which do you think they're going to do? |
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03/14/2008 04:32:40 PM · #9 |
If you truly believe that they are, as a matter of policy, rejecting some percentage of legitimate claims, then I think you have these choices for reporting your suspicions:
-District Attorney/US Attorney for the jurisdiction to which you mailed the forms
-Investigative reporter (Business or Tech Department) for a major newspaper
-Federal Trade Commission |
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03/14/2008 04:40:13 PM · #10 |
About 3 years back I bought a boatload of Christmas gifts with rebates on them. Was expecting back a total of about $150. Several of the rebates were "never received" or rejected for reasons that I know I complied with. Netgear claims to have never recieved my $50 rebate submission from Compusa.
My policy now is that I will buy it if I like the out the door price, and the rebate is then just gravy, IF it ever arrives.
Some of the large chains (Officemax and Best Buy come to mind) are beginning to offer the rebate as part of the out the door price. They will be more likely to get my business. |
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03/14/2008 04:51:51 PM · #11 |
Some interesting stuff here, especially down in the comments where one guy tells what he had to go through, finally suing over a $15 rebate. It's a little hard to follow though, and I'm still looking for more.
But wait! You too can make thousands a day, working from your own home!
Sign up NOW to be a rebate processor.
eta after seeing Yospiff's post; Officemax was the company he had problems with. I imagine he was part of the reason for their policy change :)
And yes, Bestbuy has changed policy too, which is a good move, IMO.
Message edited by author 2008-03-14 16:54:16. |
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03/14/2008 05:24:34 PM · #12 |
| Costco = instant rebates :) |
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03/14/2008 05:27:39 PM · #13 |
I think Sandisk has two different types of rebates going. One is a regular rebate and another is a gift card from the place where you order.
I've never received any rebates that I had filed for :( so I never buy anything with a mail-in rebate anymore unless I don't mind the no rebate price. |
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03/14/2008 05:35:51 PM · #14 |
I was very dubious about the rebates offered by Canon when I bought my 30D.
Filled out the form and sent to Canon and did actually get the money, straight into my account.
This is the only rebate I have ever utilised (They are not common in the UK...), but it did seem like they could just reject it if they felt like it on the day as the small print was ALL in their favour. You have to put a lot of trust in them!
The only thing that reassured me was that the postal address was to an actual Canon location in Ireland. |
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03/14/2008 06:15:04 PM · #15 |
Avoid "rebate offer inside" packaging.
Avoid stores that give you the rebate form with your reciept AFTER you pay, unless the store has a no-hassle return policy.
Avoid anything where you can't read all the fine print before you lay out your cash.
Don't consider the rebate as a factor when purchasing, rather consider it a bonus IF you collect it. |
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03/14/2008 06:56:03 PM · #16 |
I will add that I have had no trouble with mail in rebates from T-Mobile on several phone purchases, I got the money in about 3 weeks. Staples own "Easy rebates" program has not given me any grief either.
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03/18/2008 12:38:16 AM · #17 |
| Dpreview thread. Call and complain and they will send out the check. |
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03/29/2008 02:22:39 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by PhilipDyer:
I would just like to note that every single aspect of this experience does seem like an intentional effort on the company's part to avoid paying out rebates.
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I had the same problem with Sandisk rebate. In the reject card, they said "missing the UPC", which is not true. It was 10% rebate for e280 mp3 player. I was carefully attached and stapled all of the requirements. Then I, in fact resent all the copies from the orginal, they NEVER respond!
NEVER TRUST SANDISK REBATE OFFER! IT'S SCAM!!!
I don't have any problem with any other merchants, except SANDISK |
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03/29/2008 06:08:16 PM · #19 |
I have had the same issue with Sandisk, They sent me a card that said I didn't include the UPC code, Which was totally untrue as it was stapled to the rebate slip I got from the store. When tried to resolve they simply told me the time had expired and the rebate offer was no longer valid. So I did what anyone would do. I took the card back to the store for a full refund and told the store manager the real reason I brought it back. At first they didn't want to refund me then I asked them to give me my rebate that was advertised in the store. Thats when they decided I should just get the refund.
Currently I am being screwed out of 5 DVD's I was supposed to receive for buying a HD DVD player. Three weeks after I bought it Toshiba scrapped the HD production and I believe they stopped processing the rebates as well because the 8 - 10 weeks has come and gone and nothing has arrived here. So I have officially made my last Toshiba Purchase. I wont support a company that doesn't honor their own promotions.. |
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03/29/2008 06:13:32 PM · #20 |
I look for a good value site, lowest prices without offer of a rebate. I have always avoided rebates, except when I bought first 30D and got my rebate from Canon within specified time.
I don't think we have the same system as the US for rebates from stores selling CF cards. I have always used Sandisk, and will continue to do so. Much better them than the Lexar fiasco when they had so many reject CF cards.
I guess you pay your money and take your choice. If you buy with the idea of something for nothing, then you will be disappointed. But, if you buy quality at a low price, what's the problem?? |
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04/16/2008 11:10:39 PM · #21 |
Today I finally got my Sandisk rebate ($20) -- for the memory card I bought in November. I thought it would be a rebate check, but it is some sort of prepaid debit card. It looks like a Visa credit card. The insert says it is not a credit card, but it makes me a little nervous, because apparently if you try to pay for something that costs more than $20, then you are responsible for "fees and charges" for going over. It also has an expiration date of 07/2008. All in all, I'm not sure $20 is worth it.
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04/16/2008 11:55:50 PM · #22 |
 philipdyer if you used the Calumet store in San Francisco, it seems to me they would be interested in knowing of this problem. Probably Circuit City too. But the Calumet people, especially, are pretty interested in keeping their customers happy.
It is a frustrating business. Like some of the others, I just won't bother with mail-in rebates. The paperwork isn't worth the bother. I just find a place with a good price. ZipZoomfly comes to mind. |
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04/17/2008 01:14:33 AM · #23 |
Wow, my experience has been very different. I've gotten every rebate I've filed for. Not Sandisk, but others.
I agree that I'd much rather pay less up front, of course.
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04/17/2008 07:03:19 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by citymars:
Today I finally got my Sandisk rebate ($20) -- for the memory card I bought in November. I thought it would be a rebate check, but it is some sort of prepaid debit card. It looks like a Visa credit card. The insert says it is not a credit card, but it makes me a little nervous, because apparently if you try to pay for something that costs more than $20, then you are responsible for "fees and charges" for going over. It also has an expiration date of 07/2008. All in all, I'm not sure $20 is worth it. |
Debit cards for rebates are becoming more common.
If you try to use the card for more than the balance on the card, the transaction will decline authorization. The "fees and charges language" is on the card to allow the card issuer to recover their collection costs if you use the card in a way that avoids the decline. An example might be using it at a restaurant where the bill (and the "hold" is less than $20 but you leave a tip on the card and go over.
Safest thing to do is to use the card at the supermarket or some similar place. Tell the cashier you want to put $20 of the purchase on your credit card BEFORE you slide it. To avoid confusion, tell them it's a credit card (because it processes like a credit card).
~Terry
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04/17/2008 07:47:51 AM · #25 |
I've been denied rebates many times (not Sandisk) and usually after a call they'll send it out. I actually think they reject a certain amount knowing that most won't followup on it.
Edit: These rejects were on rebates that I know were correct and double-checked before put in mail.
Message edited by author 2008-04-17 07:48:39. |
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