Rebate Status Invalid x 2 OMG what a lie

6068 Views 30 Replies 22 Participants Last post by PThor, Jan 12, 2006

ilovedvrs

Discussion Starter · Oct 8, 2005

OK, I got two Humax T800 80-Hour TiVo® Series2 Digital Video Recorder on Sept 6th 2005. Both from buy.com for $133.99 each. Figured they both would be free because of the $150 rebate. see:

9/6/2005 24127xxx $133.99 Complete Track Return
9/6/2005 24127xxx $133.99 Complete Track Return

Ok, i presigned up for the rebates, then when I got the units I filled out the rebate, cut out the UPCs and printed out each online receipt.

I made scans of all the forms I filled out then triple check each envelope (one for each tivo) to make sure they had rebate form/ UPC/ receipt. Everything looked good until today:

Rebate Status

Status: Invalid
Status Detail: Your rebate was declined, a postcard has been sent that provides additional information.
Invalid Reason(s): Missing: Purchase Date
Missing receipt
Missing: Purchase Location

this is for both Tivos!!! No way!!! what a scam. I positive I've done everything correct.

who else has been screwed on this rebate?

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

1283

· #2 · Oct 8, 2005

ilovedvrs said:
who else has been screwed on this rebate?

Your question should be: Who else has been screwed on rebates?

Before people start blaming TiVo, this is a problem with rebate processors, not with TiVo. You may be able to resolve this issue with a phone call. Parago is better than other rebate companies I've dealt with.

dswallow

· #3 · Oct 8, 2005

I had a similar experience with a Vonage rebate. They declined it stating "Item was purchased from a non-participating retailer".

One phone call to complain and they ask me where I purchased it. I said "Staples". They said OK, that's a participating retailer and that I'd receive my rebate in about 2 weeks.

Apparently seeing the Staples logo and text on the receipt that was copied and mailed as part of the rebate just doesn't qualify as identifying the place of purchase.

Idiots.

RoyK

· #4 · Oct 8, 2005

c3 said:
Your question should be: Who else has been screwed on rebates?

Before people start blaming TiVo, this is a problem with rebate processors, not with TiVo. You may be able to resolve this issue with a phone call. Parago is better than other rebate companies I've dealt with.

On the contrary the problem IS SQUARELY with TiVo. The rebate processor is their agent but TiVo bears the responsibility for their action! The rebate issues has been a disgrace for TiVo for a very long time now and it's about time that they did something about it!!!

1283

· #5 · Oct 8, 2005

RoyK said:
On the contrary the problem IS SQUARELY with TiVo. The rebate processor is their agent but TiVo bears the responsibility for their action! The rebate issues has been a disgrace for TiVo for a very long time now and it's about time that they did something about it!!!

Technically, TiVo is responsible for the rebate, but not being able to process rebate submissions correctly is caused by the rebate company, not TiVo.

Blurayfan

· #6 · Oct 8, 2005

AFAIK TiVo is now using the rebate company that members of this forum recommended.

stevel

· #7 · Oct 8, 2005

I see this occasionally with many different rebates. They don't have the most highly trained, paid or motivated workers processing the submissions. It's good that you scanned in all your documents - resubmit them and you SHOULD be ok.

Dan203

· #8 · Oct 9, 2005

Actually I had this happen once. ALl I did was call the 800 number. After about 2 minutes on hold, and a 5 minute conversation, my status was changed to approved. No need to resubmit documents.

Dan

Lee L

· #9 · Oct 10, 2005

I still think the rebate companies just automatically deny a certain percentage, then reinstate those who call in.

It would be interesting to see how the contract is structured to see if there is a benefit to the rebate processor to do this or the originating co.

I have actually started taking a picture of everything laid out on my desk, printing it and placing htat in teh envelope with a note telling them that since I have everything, not to deny my rebate. It has worked the last couple of times I did it, but I am not exactly a rebate maven so whoknows if that is just a coincidence.

davezatz

· #10 · Oct 10, 2005

Lee L said:
I still think the rebate companies just automatically deny a certain percentage, then reinstate those who call in. It would be interesting to see how the contract is structured to see if there is a benefit to the rebate processor to do this or the originating co.

In practice they may deny a certain percentage of valid submissions, but I would be willing to bet it is not documented anywhere. That would be cause for some sort of lawsuit I'm sure! Not that I've ever been a lawyer or even played one on TV.

More likely mistakes are due to human error- probably poorly paid employees who don't have a huge incentive to be precise.

I generally make a photocopy using my scanner of a rebate slip, receipt, and UPC as proof... and then forget (literally) about the rebate, so my proof doesn't matter much if I don't remember that I'm waiting for a check. Maybe I need a PDA to track these things.

azitnay

· #11 · Oct 10, 2005

Eh, just paperclip all the stuff together, and stick a post-it on top with the day you sent it in and the day you expect the check. I've been doing that for many, many years, and have yet to lose out on a rebate (though one stubborn one did require a call to my credit card company to partially dispute a charge).

Drew

Stanley Rohner

· #12 · Oct 10, 2005

RoyK said:
On the contrary the problem IS SQUARELY with TiVo. The rebate processor is their agent but TiVo bears the responsibility for their action! The rebate issues has been a disgrace for TiVo for a very long time now and it's about time that they did something about it!!!

The problem IS SQUARELY with the reabte company, not TiVo.

zoma4

· #13 · Oct 10, 2005

I'd suggest sending a PM to TivoLiz or TivoOpsMgr. They will probably be able to help you out.

jimnoblett

· #14 · Oct 10, 2005

Stanley Rohner said:
The problem IS SQUARELY with the reabte company, not TiVo.

I don't think CompUSA would agree with that.

1283

· #15 · Oct 10, 2005

jimnoblett said:
I don't think CompUSA would agree with that.

There is a difference between being responsible for a rebate (TiVo) and causing rebate issues (rebate company).

Crrink

· #16 · Oct 11, 2005

I know that when I failed to get a rebate for a Philips CD/RW drive I bought the FTC brought action against Philips, not against whoever the rebate house was. The check I ended up getting was from Philips as was the apology I received.

That being said, you should generally try contacting the rebate house first. Most of the time they can correct whatever errors they have made and get your rebate processed. In this specific instance as previously mentioned TiVoOpsMgr and TiVoLiz have been extremely helpful on rebate issues in the past, so you might try contacting one of them if you don't get a timely response from the rebate company.

jimest

· #17 · Oct 11, 2005

I have been screwed out of at least 3 rebates over the years, a "zip drive" rebate, a "CD burner" rebate and a "Vonage Linksys router" rebate. What happens to me after sending them in I never hear anything back, no denial, no postcard, nothing and when I check on the rebates they have "no record" of it.

For the most part I probably have received most of the rebates that I submit but I am always a little skeptical when I send them in.

Jim

ExcelGal

· #18 · Oct 11, 2005

I've gotten burned on a couple of rebates also. So now I copy everything and, if it's a large rebate ($50+), I use delivery confirmation or return receipt. It's a couple $$ more, but worth it if I use even one to dispute a rejection.

Dan203

· #19 · Oct 11, 2005

I have never gotten burned on a rebate. <knocks wood> In fact the only one that has even had an issue is the one I mentioned above and it was handled with a quick phone call. One thing I always do is I staple everything, including the UPC, together so that they can't claim they're missing a part of the submission. If they have one part, they've got them all.

Dan

badcrc

· #20 · Oct 11, 2005

I just had a rebate (not tivo related) denied because of invalid purchase date, and after a 2 minute phone call I was magically approved. This has happened to me at least half a dozen times over the last few years. Reasons vary but are mainly missing receipt, missing upc, not original upc, invalid purchase date, etc. I've had them say the UPC was missing when I had stapled/taped it to the receipt.

Probably the most ridiculous incident was a company that claimed I sent in a copy of the UPC code instead of the original. I called them and they wanted me to send in the original UPC code, which of course I didn't have because I sent it to them, so they said I could send a COPY of the UPC that I scanned. Somehow a copy of the UPC made the rebate valid, but the original wasn't good enough.

Since I've been doing these rebates heavily for the last 5 or so years, I'm convinced they purposely fabricate problems so they don't have to pay out so many rebates. I meticulously keep scanned copies of my receipts, rebates, and UPC codes, and a log of when I purchased something with a rebate and sent out the rebate, and I always attach the UPC to the rebate form or the receipt so they can't say I didn't send something, but they still do!

Make copies of everything you send and call them up when there's a problem, that's all you can do, because they are trying to screw you on purpose.

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