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Report: #88778

Complaint Review: CompUSA - Mount Laurel New Jersey

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  • Reported By: Riverside New Jersey
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  • CompUSA Store # 437 1100 Nixon Drive Mount Laurel, New Jersey U.S.A.

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In February of 2004, I bought from CompUSA a refurbished Hewlett Packard Printer, model HP7550, on the basis that it had a $70 rebate. I also purchased the extended warranty plan good for 2 years.

I had a number of rebates/purchases going at the time, and was meticulous with each one as always. I always read the fine print, include the UPC codes, the rebate receipts, and rebate forms/coupons.

Late in March, I rec'd a letter from CompUSA stating that the rebate was rejected because I hadn't sent in my UPC code off the box. The letter said to return the letter with the missing item(s) by April 7th.

Fact is, this is a downright lie, or at the very least, gross incompetence on their end for losing the UPC code.
One only has to use reason to realize that it would be extremely difficult to *not* send in the UPC code, as the heavy cardboard is by far the thickest thing in the envelope. It would be immediately noticable upon mailing that it was missing, more so than any other item.
I regardless, I quite distinctly remember mailing it in, just as I remember cutting the box and preparing everything else.

That's $70, after all, not chump change.
The real rub is, of course, the fact that I cannot send in the UPC code as requested because I already did !! I no longer have it to send in, they do. Not only that, but I kept that huge box around for weeks before I finally decided it was safe to put out, so I no longer have the box, either. I usually do try to hold on to things like that for warranty's sake but I'm running out of space for that kind of thing in my small house.
To dispute this, I called the 888 number and very sternly, but without offensive language, told them that I had in fact mailed the UPC code to them, and they are mistaken. The rep said she would put in a request to have the envelope pulled from the warehouse to double check.

Having no other option but thinking that was unlikely to yield results , I agreed to call back in the 2 weeks they said they needed. (!)(which I thought was a ridiculous amount of time) For reasons I stated above, you can't miss the UPC code, so I doubted that they'd "find" anything.

I ended up giving them 3 weeks, (no call or mail from them), and when I finally called back, the girl I spoke to said nothing was in the computer about a pull, nobody knew anything about it, but she would put it in, but it takes 5 to 10 business days...

Yeahhhh, I see where this is going.
I'm going to call again tomorrow to see how that worked out, (they've had their time) but I'm fairly certain that somehow that order got lost in the wind too.

Naturally, the other point of irony is that I have a receipt, I have proof that I purchased the printer and the date that I did, yet it look likes they have no intention of honoring the rebate.

Don't fall for rebates from COmpUSA !
Why would a store need to use rebates anyway ? Why not just put it on sale ? Mfg rebates are one thing, but store rebates simply don't make sense, unless, of course, the whole point is to get you in the store and find a reason to make you pay the full price.

Paul
Riverside, New Jersey
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/23/2004 11:05 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/compusa/mount-laurel-new-jersey-08054/compusa-rebate-ripoff-claimed-i-didnt-enclose-upc-code-mount-laurel-new-jersey-88778. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#8 Author of original report

Wanted to add ..

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, June 13, 2004

I wanted to clarify that I do not hold the Mount Laurel store responsible in any way for this: this is out of their hands, it's "corporate" that lost the UPC code.

In response to Kevin's response, perhaps "gross" incompetence is legally an overly strong term, but it's gross to me, due to the amount of the rebate, and due to the fact that they not only lost the UPC code but also lost any record of my first call or request to have the envelope pulled. That's bungling.
I have rec'd rebates from CompUSA before, but directly from the manufacturer, not CompUSA themselves.
I don't 'know if there is a statute of limitations on this sort of thing, as I've been too caught up in other things recently to really persue this - exactly what I think some of these rebaters are counting on - so now I'm not sure if I should cut my losses or what.

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#7 Author of original report

Wanted to add ..

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, June 13, 2004

I wanted to clarify that I do not hold the Mount Laurel store responsible in any way for this: this is out of their hands, it's "corporate" that lost the UPC code.

In response to Kevin's response, perhaps "gross" incompetence is legally an overly strong term, but it's gross to me, due to the amount of the rebate, and due to the fact that they not only lost the UPC code but also lost any record of my first call or request to have the envelope pulled. That's bungling.
I have rec'd rebates from CompUSA before, but directly from the manufacturer, not CompUSA themselves.
I don't 'know if there is a statute of limitations on this sort of thing, as I've been too caught up in other things recently to really persue this - exactly what I think some of these rebaters are counting on - so now I'm not sure if I should cut my losses or what.

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#6 Author of original report

Wanted to add ..

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, June 13, 2004

I wanted to clarify that I do not hold the Mount Laurel store responsible in any way for this: this is out of their hands, it's "corporate" that lost the UPC code.

In response to Kevin's response, perhaps "gross" incompetence is legally an overly strong term, but it's gross to me, due to the amount of the rebate, and due to the fact that they not only lost the UPC code but also lost any record of my first call or request to have the envelope pulled. That's bungling.
I have rec'd rebates from CompUSA before, but directly from the manufacturer, not CompUSA themselves.
I don't 'know if there is a statute of limitations on this sort of thing, as I've been too caught up in other things recently to really persue this - exactly what I think some of these rebaters are counting on - so now I'm not sure if I should cut my losses or what.

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#5 Author of original report

Wanted to add ..

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, June 13, 2004

I wanted to clarify that I do not hold the Mount Laurel store responsible in any way for this: this is out of their hands, it's "corporate" that lost the UPC code.

In response to Kevin's response, perhaps "gross" incompetence is legally an overly strong term, but it's gross to me, due to the amount of the rebate, and due to the fact that they not only lost the UPC code but also lost any record of my first call or request to have the envelope pulled. That's bungling.
I have rec'd rebates from CompUSA before, but directly from the manufacturer, not CompUSA themselves.
I don't 'know if there is a statute of limitations on this sort of thing, as I've been too caught up in other things recently to really persue this - exactly what I think some of these rebaters are counting on - so now I'm not sure if I should cut my losses or what.

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#4 UPDATE Employee

I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, June 12, 2004

I am an employee of the CompUSA in which you purchased your item. I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate, but I can say that I have never had such an experience. In addition to being an employee, I am a frequent customer. In fact, roughly 50% of my paycheck is returned to the store every other week. I have purchased roughly 7 items associated with rebates in the past year: four from the manufacturer and three from CompUSA. The average rebate amount was about $50. I have receieved all but one of these rebates, and I expect the final one to arrive in the coming weeks. I do occasionally hear customers report not having received their rebates-- but far less frequently than I hear customers inform me that they have receieved them.

The explanation I can offer you is that CompUSA deals with an enormous volume of rebate requests. You purchased your printer in February, a month during which the company is in the middle of processing all of the holiday rebates. It is probable that your UPC code was lost because of that circumstance. I wouldn't attribute the possible mix up to "gross incompetence".

Another question you raised asked about the practicality of CompUSA rebates vis-a-vis manufacturer rebates. You mentioned that you understand the manufacturer offering rebates, but not the store. To me, both make good business sense. You offer a rebate when you want to attract customers by a sale price-whether you are a retailer or a manufacturer. Only a percentage of customers actually return the rebates. The company hangs on to more money with mail in rebates than with instant sales. The same principle applies with "money back guarantees". Conceptually, it sounds nice. It is one more feature to guide you to purchase the product. But how likely are you to actually go through the trouble of sending the product back if you aren't fully satisfied? Most people won't.
You have to understand that even though CompUSA, or any other retail store or company for that matter, takes pride in serving customers, the bottom line is all about money. Rebates are a hairy area, but I wanted to contradict the tone of your letter by offering my contention that rebates are generally honored.

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#3 UPDATE Employee

I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, June 12, 2004

I am an employee of the CompUSA in which you purchased your item. I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate, but I can say that I have never had such an experience. In addition to being an employee, I am a frequent customer. In fact, roughly 50% of my paycheck is returned to the store every other week. I have purchased roughly 7 items associated with rebates in the past year: four from the manufacturer and three from CompUSA. The average rebate amount was about $50. I have receieved all but one of these rebates, and I expect the final one to arrive in the coming weeks. I do occasionally hear customers report not having received their rebates-- but far less frequently than I hear customers inform me that they have receieved them.

The explanation I can offer you is that CompUSA deals with an enormous volume of rebate requests. You purchased your printer in February, a month during which the company is in the middle of processing all of the holiday rebates. It is probable that your UPC code was lost because of that circumstance. I wouldn't attribute the possible mix up to "gross incompetence".

Another question you raised asked about the practicality of CompUSA rebates vis-a-vis manufacturer rebates. You mentioned that you understand the manufacturer offering rebates, but not the store. To me, both make good business sense. You offer a rebate when you want to attract customers by a sale price-whether you are a retailer or a manufacturer. Only a percentage of customers actually return the rebates. The company hangs on to more money with mail in rebates than with instant sales. The same principle applies with "money back guarantees". Conceptually, it sounds nice. It is one more feature to guide you to purchase the product. But how likely are you to actually go through the trouble of sending the product back if you aren't fully satisfied? Most people won't.
You have to understand that even though CompUSA, or any other retail store or company for that matter, takes pride in serving customers, the bottom line is all about money. Rebates are a hairy area, but I wanted to contradict the tone of your letter by offering my contention that rebates are generally honored.

Respond to this report!
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#2 UPDATE Employee

I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, June 12, 2004

I am an employee of the CompUSA in which you purchased your item. I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate, but I can say that I have never had such an experience. In addition to being an employee, I am a frequent customer. In fact, roughly 50% of my paycheck is returned to the store every other week. I have purchased roughly 7 items associated with rebates in the past year: four from the manufacturer and three from CompUSA. The average rebate amount was about $50. I have receieved all but one of these rebates, and I expect the final one to arrive in the coming weeks. I do occasionally hear customers report not having received their rebates-- but far less frequently than I hear customers inform me that they have receieved them.

The explanation I can offer you is that CompUSA deals with an enormous volume of rebate requests. You purchased your printer in February, a month during which the company is in the middle of processing all of the holiday rebates. It is probable that your UPC code was lost because of that circumstance. I wouldn't attribute the possible mix up to "gross incompetence".

Another question you raised asked about the practicality of CompUSA rebates vis-a-vis manufacturer rebates. You mentioned that you understand the manufacturer offering rebates, but not the store. To me, both make good business sense. You offer a rebate when you want to attract customers by a sale price-whether you are a retailer or a manufacturer. Only a percentage of customers actually return the rebates. The company hangs on to more money with mail in rebates than with instant sales. The same principle applies with "money back guarantees". Conceptually, it sounds nice. It is one more feature to guide you to purchase the product. But how likely are you to actually go through the trouble of sending the product back if you aren't fully satisfied? Most people won't.
You have to understand that even though CompUSA, or any other retail store or company for that matter, takes pride in serving customers, the bottom line is all about money. Rebates are a hairy area, but I wanted to contradict the tone of your letter by offering my contention that rebates are generally honored.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#1 UPDATE Employee

I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate

AUTHOR: Kevin - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, June 12, 2004

I am an employee of the CompUSA in which you purchased your item. I can't really offer you much of an explanation as to why the company did not honor your rebate, but I can say that I have never had such an experience. In addition to being an employee, I am a frequent customer. In fact, roughly 50% of my paycheck is returned to the store every other week. I have purchased roughly 7 items associated with rebates in the past year: four from the manufacturer and three from CompUSA. The average rebate amount was about $50. I have receieved all but one of these rebates, and I expect the final one to arrive in the coming weeks. I do occasionally hear customers report not having received their rebates-- but far less frequently than I hear customers inform me that they have receieved them.

The explanation I can offer you is that CompUSA deals with an enormous volume of rebate requests. You purchased your printer in February, a month during which the company is in the middle of processing all of the holiday rebates. It is probable that your UPC code was lost because of that circumstance. I wouldn't attribute the possible mix up to "gross incompetence".

Another question you raised asked about the practicality of CompUSA rebates vis-a-vis manufacturer rebates. You mentioned that you understand the manufacturer offering rebates, but not the store. To me, both make good business sense. You offer a rebate when you want to attract customers by a sale price-whether you are a retailer or a manufacturer. Only a percentage of customers actually return the rebates. The company hangs on to more money with mail in rebates than with instant sales. The same principle applies with "money back guarantees". Conceptually, it sounds nice. It is one more feature to guide you to purchase the product. But how likely are you to actually go through the trouble of sending the product back if you aren't fully satisfied? Most people won't.
You have to understand that even though CompUSA, or any other retail store or company for that matter, takes pride in serving customers, the bottom line is all about money. Rebates are a hairy area, but I wanted to contradict the tone of your letter by offering my contention that rebates are generally honored.

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