Am I just SOL?

Last night, I took the plunge and bought a dv5t from HP. I got the 30% discount since the configuration was over $999 (the discount was $335 in total), and I also bought it using the live.com link which promised a 20% cashback reward. Now I've come to find out HP won't honor the cashback. Am I just screwed? I know HP will come up with a better discount between now and Christmas, or after Christmas. Can I just return the laptop and get my money back, then try later? I'm tempted to contact HP's sales department and see what they can do.
Anyone been in this situation before?

 

You can't use live cashback with a coupon.

 

Just tell them that if they don't honor the 20% cash back on top of the 30% off, then you will just cancel your order or return your laptop for a FULL refund. They will most likely give me the 20% off or something very close to it. But don't settle for anything less than the 20% cash back since they didn't say anything about it not being stackable.

 

Looks like Chango99 beat me to ya, I guess you can't use it. Might as well give them a call still to find out what they can give you back.

 

Thanks, trying that with HP Customer Service right now. BTW several other users mentioned that they WERE able to stack the coupons, so it ought to be possible, in theory.

 

Not true.

It isn't their fault you didn't read the fine print. I am guessing you won't get near 20% back since Microsoft is paying (probably more than half) of the cashback. You might get a small discount, but you could always just return it for a full refund within 21 days.

 

jrm5100, forgive my arrogance. I did not bother to read the discount rules. I forgot, it was Microsoft that put up the rules and not HP.

Oh well, there goes the discount. Not a big deal, anyway, since 30% is more than enough.

DCGuy64, did you contact HP?

 

SOL, I'd say big time!

 

Not if you paid with the credit card.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I did pay w/ credit card, and yes, I did contact HP (twice). The first operator said best she could do was 10% add'l discount, but then she said I had to contact the Rebate Center, who never answers the phone. The 2nd operator wasn't as helpful and basically said I would just have to return the computer for a refund. I'll probably do that, since I gotta believe HP'll have something better by Christmas (or just after).

 

Thanks for the posting the fine print (which, I confess, I didn't see in all of Microsoft's lengthy "Terms and Conditions," tho' I looked). Will HP burn me in the future for cancelling an order? (FYI I'm partly doing the return/refund to satisfy my wife, who thinks a 30% discount is inadequate. Maybe I can convince her that it's still a good deal and I can keep the lappy.

 

They put that fine print in the SEVENTEENTH paragraph, for Christ's sake!
I work in a bank; can you imagine if we hid the stuff you didn't want to read in the 17th paragraph. IMHO that kind of disclaimer should be at the top and should automatically appear when you're about to shop for something where you might be entitled to an additional discount. In my case, why would I take Live.com's 20% cashback (for which I'd have to wait up to 60 days) when HP is offering me 30% right off the bat? Does this make any sense?

 

That isn't the only place it appears.

Bottom of the log-in page when you click on the link to go to the store (although not when you are already logged in- they should fix that):

You should always read the fine print on these things (rebates, cashback, etc) anyway.

 

Thanks for your reply. My retort:
1. I'm aware that the fine print is there; I'm not disputing that. I wasn't aware of the disclaimer appearing before I clicked on the link to the store- I'll be more careful in future. Thanks.
2. It still doesn't answer my question about why Live.com COULDN'T EVEN LOCATE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. That has NOTHING to do with whether I would be entitled to additional discounts.
3. IMHO if I go to a merchant's website and then attempt to use an additional coupon, Live.com ought to inform me "warning: you will lose any cash back rewards as a result of using additional coupons." I'm not saying they have to: they just should. Ex: if I attempt to use both an instant rebate from HP on a laptop AND a coupon, a little RED message comes up and says that HP has recalculated my discount based on the best available one, i.e. they INFORM me that using the coupon will replace the instant savings. Fine, at least I'm aware.
4. Like I said: why should I wait for 20% cash back in 2 months' time when HP gives me 30% immediately? In other words, if I can't stack, I'm not coming back!
5. Lastly, LOTS of companies put lots of disclaimers on things that are still questionable from a "reasonable person" standard, and are ultimately challenged in court. The fact that they've covered their a**es doesn't make it right. I stand by my opinion that if the merchant offers me a better deal, then screw MS.

It's my money, and if I don't like Live.com's practices (even though they might technically be in the right), I take my money elsewhere and THEY lose, not me.
I'm going to use fatwallet from now on. They seem to be more honest, fairer, and upfront about their policies. They don't make you read 1,000 of words of legalese.

 

If it's too good to be true, it is. Did you honestly expect 20% cashback to stack with a 30% off coupon? Don't get upset over not reading the fine print. I would take the extra 10% off they offered, that was pretty generous considering they aren't even responsible for that 20% cashback offer.

 

Hi, Aleman.
#1 Yes, given the obscene markup on computers, the state of the economy, etc. I WAS expecting 30% and 20%, as a matter of fact. Microsoft can afford it, the bloodsuckers. HP told me that Microsoft would cancel the guarantee on Windows Vista if I tried to downgrade to XP, so yeah, they can fork over almost $200 to keep me happy.
#2 They couldn't find my email addresses; how convenient. No excuse for not being able to locate my email address, period.
#3 I have read about other users on this VERY forum who WERE able to double stack coupons, so it CAN be done.
#4 Fatwallet's website is far clearer in terms of how they operate, and you don't have to scroll down frickin' 17 paragraphs to find out about this kind of stuff.
#5 As a matter of fact, HP is going to give me an additional $80 off, which I was able to get by talking to a supervisor. HP 1, Microsoft 0.
#6 As I mentioned before, I work in a bank. We also have lots of legalese when people apply for loans. If we make things difficult for our customers, they walk. We might TECHNICALLY be in the right in terms of spelling out conditions, etc. but if our customers are upset, we lose. Well, Microsoft might technically be in the right, and I've learned my lesson. But I'm taking my money elsewhere, they can keep their stupid fine print and shove it.