Best Buy Rebate Center Rebate Fraud the old "lost mail" and "secret deadline" tricks Calais Maine
Another "Lost" Rebate Application
I purchased a Maxtor hard drive in December '02 because of a $60 rebate offer. I submitted all required materials timely (early January 03) When I realized in April that they had not sent me a check yet, I contacted the Best Buy Rebate Center. They informed me they had not received my submission. I offered to resubmit the copies of all materials I had made, but they informed me that their policy is that they won't honor such requests more than 60 days past the close of the offer (in this case the offer closed January 28). The employee admitted that this 60 day policy is not made public, but stated I have no recourse.
It's very convenient for Best Buy that they have such poor mail service and arbitrary appeal deadlines. I sent my rebate materials in a computer printed business size envelope with my return address clearly printed. I wonder how many other pieces of mail they've lost, and whether they lose them more as the size of the rebate increases.
If anyone is guilty of "mail fraud" it's Best Buy Rebate Center
Tim
Cooper City, Florida
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Timothy
Cooper City,Florida,
U.S.A.
Calais Maine Best Buy
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, September 24, 2003
Christine,
The "Best Buy Rebate Center" uses a P.O. Box in Calais Maine. Nowhere did we mention that there is a Best Buy Store in Calais, Maine. That's not really relevant to this issue regrdless!
Christine
Gray,Maine,
U.S.A.
Calais Maine Best Buy
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, August 20, 2003
Well Tim, I lived in Calais, Maine for more than 25 years. There has never been a Best Buy in the area. The Calais area isn't big enough to even have a Best Buy. The closet store is 110 miles away. Someone is giving you the run around.
Timothy
Cooper City,Florida,
U.S.A.
Corporate Office seems to be much more willing to resolve complaints than the rebate center
#6Author of original report
Sat, May 24, 2003
Although the Best Buy Rebate Center wouldn't budge from their position, I received a call from Stephanie Johnson in response to a complaint letter I sent to Best Buy Corporate Office in Minneapolis. She stated that because they didn't want to lose me as a customer she would send $60 in Best Buy gift cards. They arrived a week later. The Corporate Office seems to be much more willing to resolve complaints than the rebate center. I am now satisfied but wish Best Buy would make the rebate process more user friendly.
Tim
Cooper City,Florida,
U.S.A.
illogical rebuttal
#6Author of original report
Sat, May 03, 2003
Michelle's rebuttal makes no sense. Why would I call to follow up during the 8 week processing period? I wouldn't know anything was wrong until after the 8 week period ended!
Michelle
Nova Scotia,Nova Scotia,
Canada
these rebates are not a rip-off providing you follow the directions on the form
#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 02, 2003
I am an employee of the Best Buy Rebate Center & these rebates are not a rip-off providing you follow the directions on the form. I'm sorry Tim that you lost out on your rebate, but it does clearly state on the bottom of your form that you should receive your rebate within 8 weeks & just below that is our toll-free phone #, had you called us within that 8 weeks period we could of accepted your copies & certainly gotten your rebate processed. It also states in the Terms & Conditions (which is not in small print) that we are NOT responsible for lost or misdirected mail. As far as us not accepting resubmissions after 60 days past the postmark date, thats a courtisy we offer to the customers. Legally, the postmark date is the expiration of the offer, we have no further obligations to accept resubmission from the customer. As far as HP