- Report: #86719
Complaint Review: Symantec - Cupertino California
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Symantec
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd Cupertino, 95014 California, U.S.A.
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Symantec falsley stated my correctly submitted rebate as INVALID Cupertino California
I purchased Norton SystemWorks for Macintosh on March 15, 2004. I mailed the rebate info the very next day. For a $50 rebate, the requirements listed on the rebate form were to enclose:
- the rebate form (check)
- a store receipt with purchase price circled (check)
- proof of purchase OR
- original UPC code from bottom of the box (I sent BOTH)
- proof of previous ownership of a Symantec product, of which "furnishing the previous product's original CD" was listed as acceptable proof (check)
I attached the rebate form, receipt, proof of purchase AND the original UPC all together with tape and placed in a padded envelope, just in case the CD snapping would be considered grounds for invalidating the rebate.
Can you tell I've had experience with Symantec before?
I was impressed when I received an email only 9 days later, providing me a link to the status of my rebate. The site had nothing to report other than "processing" and since the rebate form had said up to 10 weeks for delivery of a rebate, I let it sit for a couple of weeks before I checked again. Good thing I made photocopies of everything I sent because the status now said:
Rebate: No Reward Will Be Issued
Promotion: 03~68678 $50 Mail in Rebate with Purchase of - Norton SystemWorks for Macintosh 3.0 (NSWM)
Submission Type: MAIL-IN
Date Received: 03-24-2004
Status Detail: Invalid.
Invalid Reason: Missing Proof of Purchase or Original UPC
You have GOT to be kidding me. I taped everything together carefully to avoid exactly this problem. I have no choice but to believe that Symantec baits the consumer with a rebate, intentionally making it difficult, if not impossible to redeem. In my case they have even gone so far as to FALSIFY AS INVALID my correctly submitted rebate to avoid paying.
This experience has renewed my resolve to never again purchase another Symantec product. I will also copy this letter to Symantec corporate, the store I purchased from, as well as all other local stores in my area carrying Symantec products that advertise rebates.
I will make sure to let all friends and associates know about this site so they can read and decide for themselves whether Symantec is the type of company they want to do business with. Symantec is not the "only caterer in town", apparently, they need the lure of these rebates to keep us buying.
SJI
Northern, New Jersey
U.S.A.
- the rebate form (check)
- a store receipt with purchase price circled (check)
- proof of purchase OR
- original UPC code from bottom of the box (I sent BOTH)
- proof of previous ownership of a Symantec product, of which "furnishing the previous product's original CD" was listed as acceptable proof (check)
I attached the rebate form, receipt, proof of purchase AND the original UPC all together with tape and placed in a padded envelope, just in case the CD snapping would be considered grounds for invalidating the rebate.
Can you tell I've had experience with Symantec before?
I was impressed when I received an email only 9 days later, providing me a link to the status of my rebate. The site had nothing to report other than "processing" and since the rebate form had said up to 10 weeks for delivery of a rebate, I let it sit for a couple of weeks before I checked again. Good thing I made photocopies of everything I sent because the status now said:
Rebate: No Reward Will Be Issued
Promotion: 03~68678 $50 Mail in Rebate with Purchase of - Norton SystemWorks for Macintosh 3.0 (NSWM)
Submission Type: MAIL-IN
Date Received: 03-24-2004
Status Detail: Invalid.
Invalid Reason: Missing Proof of Purchase or Original UPC
You have GOT to be kidding me. I taped everything together carefully to avoid exactly this problem. I have no choice but to believe that Symantec baits the consumer with a rebate, intentionally making it difficult, if not impossible to redeem. In my case they have even gone so far as to FALSIFY AS INVALID my correctly submitted rebate to avoid paying.
This experience has renewed my resolve to never again purchase another Symantec product. I will also copy this letter to Symantec corporate, the store I purchased from, as well as all other local stores in my area carrying Symantec products that advertise rebates.
I will make sure to let all friends and associates know about this site so they can read and decide for themselves whether Symantec is the type of company they want to do business with. Symantec is not the "only caterer in town", apparently, they need the lure of these rebates to keep us buying.
SJI
Northern, New Jersey
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Got my rebate!
#2Author of original report
Thu, April 22, 2004
Just received my rebate in the mail today! I'm happier than I would have been had I not received the rebate, but from the amount of complaints on this website, I am convinced that Symantec employs a strategy of frustration so they will not have to honor rebates. As for the folks who didn't read the fine print... there is a reason they call it 'fine print'. They WANT you to miss the important parts. Read everything carefully and make copies of EVERYTHING. I am actively seeking competitive products to Symantec. I would prefer they simply lower their prices rather than employ the tactic of offering rebates they opt not to honor.
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Got my rebate!
#3Author of original report
Thu, April 22, 2004
Just received my rebate in the mail today! I'm happier than I would have been had I not received the rebate, but from the amount of complaints on this website, I am convinced that Symantec employs a strategy of frustration so they will not have to honor rebates. As for the folks who didn't read the fine print... there is a reason they call it 'fine print'. They WANT you to miss the important parts. Read everything carefully and make copies of EVERYTHING. I am actively seeking competitive products to Symantec. I would prefer they simply lower their prices rather than employ the tactic of offering rebates they opt not to honor.
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Got my rebate!
#4Author of original report
Thu, April 22, 2004
Just received my rebate in the mail today! I'm happier than I would have been had I not received the rebate, but from the amount of complaints on this website, I am convinced that Symantec employs a strategy of frustration so they will not have to honor rebates. As for the folks who didn't read the fine print... there is a reason they call it 'fine print'. They WANT you to miss the important parts. Read everything carefully and make copies of EVERYTHING. I am actively seeking competitive products to Symantec. I would prefer they simply lower their prices rather than employ the tactic of offering rebates they opt not to honor.
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Got my rebate!
#5Author of original report
Thu, April 22, 2004
Just received my rebate in the mail today! I'm happier than I would have been had I not received the rebate, but from the amount of complaints on this website, I am convinced that Symantec employs a strategy of frustration so they will not have to honor rebates. As for the folks who didn't read the fine print... there is a reason they call it 'fine print'. They WANT you to miss the important parts. Read everything carefully and make copies of EVERYTHING. I am actively seeking competitive products to Symantec. I would prefer they simply lower their prices rather than employ the tactic of offering rebates they opt not to honor.
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
they will honor my rebate, but
#6Author of original report
Thu, April 15, 2004
Finally received a response that they will honor my rebate, but it will take them 4 to 6 weeks to send it. Also, they mention that it will be in the form of a postcard. I'm not sure a check for $50 in the form of a postcard sounds like the best idea, but we'll see what happens. I'm going to write them one more time and ask if they request address forwarding on their mail, otherwise, when I move at the end of the month, I won't receive my rebate. I'll report back if and when I ever have a check in my hand...
Sakinah
Dumont,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
More BS from Symantec
#7Author of original report
Sun, April 11, 2004
I received 2 responses from Symantec, one via email and one by regular mail.
The email response says "Thank you for your rebate inquiry. We apologize, but if it has been longer than four weeks since you sent in your rebate request, please mail or fax a copy of your UPC barcode, sales receipt, and rebate form to:
Rebate Special Services
PO Box 028516
Miami FL 33102-8516
Fax Number: (800) 886-8370
Please allow 24-48 hours to process your fax.
Please understand that you are resubmitting a copy of your rebate request, so it will take up to 8 weeks to receive your rebate."
The mail response is even MORE interesting. This one asks me to resubmit my "validating information" by 4/19/2004, by mail to exactly the same address as above, albeit a different department, this one : Resubmissions, Dept 03-68678.
I am going to try both routes. My prediction? The fax will not be sufficient because will come across to dark and the resubmit by mail is going to be rejected because it is not an original. Because I already SENT the originals!
I love the newly urgent due date for the resubmission, seeing as the original rebate submission deadline is 12/31/04. Any reason why I have only a week to respond? I mean, they don't plan to process my rebate any faster... the eight week clock starts over again IF they approve the rebate.
I'm also due to move in 3 weeks. How much do you want to bet that "address forwarding service" will NOT be requested on that piece of mail???
