Canon's Rebate experience

I'm curious what others' experience with Canon's rebate has been. Six weeks after I sent what I thought

was the UPC cutouts in with the rebate form I checked the rebate Website to see a denial but no card in

the mail. After getting the card I sent the correct UPC cutouts and waited. It's been 5-6 weeks and nothing

on the Website has changed, so I called Canon's rebate phone service. After they checked it, the continual

response I got was, "Sir, we allow them the full six weeks for processing any rebate and updates to the

Website. We ask you to check back then and call us again if you don't see any update." After more

questions, all I got was the same line over and over, the same "Please wait the full six weeks..." And that's

only for the Website update, the check could be another six week deadline.

 

What did I gain but a lot of venting at a customer representative? I don't know but maybe a mark in the file

I called and they can expect a call in 1+ week, just past the six week deadline Canon imposes on the

rebate processing company. I have to say this is really stupid of Canon to treat people like this. I've had

other rebates processed through companies who use the same rebate processing company and got a

better tracking system and faster response. Even Cingular sends text messages to you with the cellphone

rebates. Sorry, it's just a rant at Canon. Thanks for the ear.

All rebates suck beyond belief although I haven't had a problem with any Canon rebate except like all rebates they take forever.

Yes, rebates suck. Give yuor money, get the stuff.

I got my Canon rebate on time, but I agree, all rebates STINK.

 

They're counting on 2/3 of people forgetting or giving-up. I've had some companies say they didn't get my coupon, then after I get to the head of customer service - boom - it really did arrive! I'd rather get a freebie coupon thrown into the box, at least I have the choice of using or losing.

 

BTW, I ALWAYS copy all of the UPC & coupon and re-read all instructions 3 times. Some of the required stuff is rediculous. Then, there's companies that will expedite your rebate for a $5. fee. yikes!

 

Doug

I'm glad to hear people think like me. Rebates indeed suck. It is just a way of advertising a lowball price that they are very reluctant to actually give, and they know many people will never claim. I'm sure some slick ad exec must have been rewarded very well for that idea, does burn in hell sound like fair reward. Give an HONEST sale price, no fooling around and be done with it is my feeling. I hope some manufacturers and vendors read sites like these and realize how much they are irritating their supporters.

All rebates seem to be handled by third parties, and they all take forever and a day to get to you, and sometimes it just never comes. Once you send in the cutout from the box, your at their mercy since there is only one. I prefer to avoid rebates when possible, but they certainly do seem popular with some companies.

 

- Randy

Rebates are handled by fulfillment houses, not the companies that sell the goods.

 

This is so the manufacturer can avoid responsibility, and to offload what is essentially seasonal work.

 

Fulfillment houses lowball the bid for the contract, and make money on the margin - those who don't send in the rebate and those who do not follow the instructions. Sometimes they cut very close to the line between legal and illegal behavior, but they usually avoid going too far, because then the company they contracted with won't work with them again. So they deny whatever they legally can. That means if you fail to follow the rules to the letter, you won't get your check.

 

Some might speculate that fulfillment houses also delay refunds as long as possible, because most folks don't remember that long and fail to follow up. More money for them. If a customer DOES follow up, they usually get a check in a couple of days. This keeps the noise level down of complaints going back and forth between the product maker and the fulfillment house.

 

Every now and then, a fulfillment house appears that is so blatantly dishonest, they just don't follow any rules at all, and often these get investigated and/or prosecuted by Attorney Generals of various states. Sometimes, consumers even get their money after a long investigation and litigation, etc.

 

You can blame the fulfillment house, but if one suddenly becomes scrupulously honest, they won't get any more contracts, because they'll be low-balled by all the slightly shady ones.

 

You can blame the product manufacturer, but if they didn't offer rebates, they would lose money - their market research proves that consumers respond to rebates. Yes, I know, not YOU, you're too smart for that. But the average consumer, let's say. THAT numbskull. Not you.

 

Or we can blame ourselves for buying products that were advertised with rebates - even if we tell ourselves we're buying for some other reason, even if we don't take advantage of the rebate, we're getting a tick-mark in the 'rebates work' column of their market research just the same. If all of us - and I mean ALL of us, as in every consumer - refused to buy products that had rebates offered, no matter how enticing - the practice would stop cold. Companies don't do what isn't profitable.

 

Oh, but we never blame ourselves. Nothing is ever the consumer's fault.

 

Nevermind.