I hate mail in rebates

Well, I finally got my last rebate form back, the $50 CTO one, and guess what, HP claims its not combinable with the $80 printer rebate. So, after screaming something about HP being a bunch of ____(use your imagination), I wrote a nice long email about how the rebate are in fact combinable, since it doesn't say they are not (I just read all the fine print). I haven't gotten a response yet but I hope I don't have to fight to get a lousy $50 dollars back. also the rebate trackers show the rebate as being accepted and that a check was mailed. The only thing that worries me is that the tracker says they didn't receive the rebate until 11/28 which is 60 days after i received the notebook even though I sent both rebates in at the same time and they received the other one 10/04 and HP requires that they receive them within 45 days. Has anyone else had any problems with rebates?

On an unrelated note, what do you recommend to clean a brightview screen? I use this for my HP desktop screen and it works very well, can I use this on a brightview screen as well or do i need something made for glossy screens?

 

I've had enough problems with rebates...enough that I don't even consider them (and their amounts) when looking for the best deal.

1) Get proof of when you sent them.
2) Get proof you fulfilled all the terms.
3) Get proof they said the rebate is fulfilled and the check is in the mail.
4) Get proof you didn't receive the check.
5) Send 1-4 (copies of course) to HP and tell them it is false advertising if you don't get the money.
6) File BBB complaint if they do not send the money to you. This is the least time-consuming way to possibly rectify the problem as long as you post all the documentation.

I've had issues with rebates on just about everything I buy, and I follow the instructions to the letter.

FYI, HP isn't the only ones to do this...sigh...

 

And for cleaning BrightView (aka Glossy) screens, I use a little bit of water on a soft microfiber cloth. I don't have any hand smudges or anything on the screen as a rule... I'm pretty anal about that The cleaning fluid is best applied to the cloth, then wipe the screen, of course. Do NOT spray a liquid directly on your computer, ever. That's just asking for trouble.

 

Exactly, I don't consider them either when looking for a deal.

However, some rebates are not bad.

I always have a good experience with Staples rebates, as your able to do it online. They are pretty quick in sending rebate check too. There is another store I also had good dealings with rebates but forgot which one. I leaning towards BestBuy.

I think store rebates are always better than company rebates

 

Well I plan on sending out my rebates sometime this week. Just got the notebook today and I wanted to send everything out at once. I should qualify for the 50$ notebook, 80$ printer and 5$ hp usb/ethernet cable rebate. I hope I don't have to deal with any hassles, but I probably will. :<

Already I can't find the packing slip for the printer. The printer + cable both came about 10 days ago. I didn't see any packing slip. Now that I have the notebook the only slip that came detailed the notebook parts, it does not detail the printer or the cable.

Sigh, will I have some trouble now getting those rebates in? Should I use the only packing slip (the notebook one) to cover all 3 items? Can someone advise me on how to get all the rebates covered correctly?

Thank you.

 

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To anyone's that's interested...

Before you send in any rebates (or cut any upc's out )it's a good idea to run some of the various benchmarking and burn-in apps (Stress Testing) that are out there in case you need to do a return for at least a week or two....
Give the unit a good workout...

RE:

To dzjepp.... I'd contact whoever you bought it from, as I or someone else here could tell you something, and the rebate people kick it out (void it)....

Call /contact the rebate center directly... that's what I always do.

 

just checked my rebate status, i have to say i hate MIR too!!!
from the submission status, the $50 one for my laptop has been mailed out; however, they unbelievably messed up the $80 printer one, instead it displayed "Holiday 06 Desktop and Monitor MIR - $50" on rebate status. The processing of printer rebate was prevented by such stupid mistake.

I was curiously wondering where "Holiday 06 Desktop and Monitor MIR" came from, since i am pretty much sure that i mailed the correct MIR form to them.

 

I also HATE mail in rebates. I won't shop where they have those anymore. It is just a legal scam most of the time.
I hate seeing the advertise price, then the tiny fine print of the ''real" price you pay because of the rebate. Just a sneaky way to make it look like it is on sale or a special deal. I REFUSE to ever buy anything that has a rebate.

Just venting my displeasure of REBATES!!!

 

The worse company when it comes to rebates is tigerdirect, they never honer the. It's a shame because there prices are usually great after a rebate.

 

I hate MIR's simply because most make you cut out and send in the UPC. Ask any retailer... once you do that, the product is YOURS, no returns. It'll be a breezy day if they even give you an exchange (and only if it's a return-to-manufacturer item).

 

I got the notebook + printer from hp.com, delivered via fedex.

Can you tell me the exact number or options to pick when calling to talk to someone about rebates? I need to know what is up with my packing slip for the printer.

Thanks!

 

Considering that if you keep copies of all paperwork and follow the directions to the utmost precision, you should never have an issue. Once in a while, a rebate company will fight with you over a larger sum (and then you can fight it) or if it's around $3.00 it isn't worth you time.

Rebates are THE only way that companies can give out their products for free. I figure that the money they get from your purchase is invested in the stock market (stable bonds or dividend returns) so that they break even or make a profit by the time 8 weeks comes around....and you get your money back.

 

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I'd suggest you call contact the REBATE center for the rebates that were offered on whatever you ordered..

Contact them DIRECTLY... the REBATE center. The contact info should be on the rebate... should have a e-mail contact, and a direct dial number.

If not you'll just have to call HP.

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Ooops I see it now, there is a number on the rebate form(s). Thanks, I will call them tomorrow and see how it goes!

 

I just got off the phone with HP and the rep told me to just ignore the letter I received telling me that it wasn't combinable and that the check was mailed Dec 5. So the check should be here by Friday or Saturday, I hope. I was pleasantly surprised that the rebate support center is located in the US not India. I was anticipating not understanding one word the rep said.

 

You know, if enough people would REFUSE to buy any product that had rebates, they would quit doing it. Stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, Home Depot etc I don't do ANY buisness with anymore because of REBATES!

There are many things I hate about rebates, but the one that bugs me the most is when they put the sale price in big bode letters and then the true rebate price in tiny print at the bottom... misleading you into thinking your getting a GREAT price.

 

Here is a rough time line for your own reference.
I placed an order on DV2000T CTO & printer on 08/30/2006
DV2000T & printer arrived on 09/15/2006, and I mailed out the rebates the very next day
By end of 10/30/2006, I received the $80 check for the printer
12/05/2006, I received an email notice that my $50 rebate has just been approved and ready to be mailed out..
So far, no $50 rebate check yet. HP is taking its sweet time with that money.

Update: 12/20/2006...nope no rebate check.