CompUSA Manufacturer rebate coupons are not honored Holyoke Massachusetts

In 1999, I bought a 350 Mhz computer from CompUSA in the Holyoke Mall, in Holyoke, MA. They had a total of $400 off in manufacturer's rebates. I know well how that works, so I had copies of all paperwork, and sent in my forms via Certified Mail. Of course they only funded $200 of the total. CompUSA's excuse was that the manufacturers were at fault, not them. I told them I bought the computer based on their representation of $400 off, and I expected to get the $400 off. I did finally get another $100 coupon, after 4 letters. The last coupon they absolutely refused to honor, despite about a year's letters and phone calls, at about 1 month intervals.

I got very nasty service representatives who told me nasty things- hey, they could have just said there was nothing they could do, why be nasty? I sent them a nasty letter, noting that I would take it upon myself as a hobby, to advise people that they had ripped me off, to the CEO. I got a $75 off merchandise rebate. Well, that's interesting, $100 in cash is not the same as that, is it. So I sent an even nastier version of that letter, and got another $75 off merchandise rebate.

At their profit margins, that is still not $100 in cash, is it, and also does not count the hours and postage I had to spend. Well, I tell people exactly what happened, as I am, in this letter. Why do I have to fight, and fight, and fight, just to get what they promised in writing? And I sent them a copy of the original advertisement, and all paperwork, every time I complained.

By comparison, a manufacturer refused to honor a rebate at Staples, last year. I documented it- copies of certified mail, paperwork, copy of ad, etc.- Staples not only sent me a check for $20, and this for the first letter, they also sent me a $20 off on merchandise voucher. Which they honored. I will shop at Staples. I have never stepped foot in a CompUSA again. Why bother? If they don't honor rebates, what else won't they honor?

Michael
Granby, Connecticut
U.S.A.