Office Depot Deceptive price matching and rebates La Mesa California

I made a typo on the report. Office Depot and not Home Depot.

Rebate offered was through Office Depot subsidiarity and not through outside rebate proscessor.

After a series of emails and such between Corporate Office Depot in FL, the BBB in FL and me, the net result was nothing.

They have the right to change their rules anytime they want.

Office Depot Corporate assigned the following person to hear my complaint;

Vera Barber
Sr. Customer Relations Assistant
Executive Customer Relations
Office Depot, Inc.
2200 Old Germantown Road
Delray Beach, Fl 33445
Office 561-438-4275
Fax 561-438-7667
Customer.relations@officedepot.com
Taking Care of Business

What it boils down to is "Customer Beware." Office Depot will do what is best for the "company." It has applied enough caveats in obscure documentation online and in its Corporate Office in FL to negate anything.

*********** They reserve the right to withdraw rebates, mail in savings and such at any time for any reason. ************

*********** Their price guarantee is selective to other competitors. If the price difference is too large or your net price is less than they want you to have, they change the rules. ***************

The BBB is Florida thinks this process is good for business and good for everyone else also.

The BBB in Flordia assigned the following person;

Bob Colmerauer | VP Director of Operations
Tel: 561-842-9278 ext. 136
Fax: 561-845-7234
bcolmerauer@wpbbb.com
www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org
BBB of Southeast Florida and the Caribbean
4411 Beacon Circle Suite 4
West Palm Beach, FL 33407

He replied in closing the case, that ... "The form states "Office Depot reserves the right to modify or withdraw this promotion at any time.""

"In reading the complaint I feel Office Depot has properly addressed the complaint. ... Your complaint is on record and and being reported to the public as "disputed" This means you are not satisfied with their offer for a resolution. I am sorry you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint. "

Office Depot's offer was nothing than "We are sorry that you are upset ..."

The BBB in FL comment was, "I am sorry you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint. " Note: the BBB in San Diego, CA transfered the case to FL.

Again, "BUYER BEWARE" and go to another store not to be ripped off by Office Depot rebates, mail in savings and price guaratees.

John
La Mesa, CA

Rebates do not exist. Your issue with Office Depot points that out. OD is taking your rebate before you get it. They added it to the price of the item and hope that you won't submit the paperwork for the rebate. So their advertisements are really making a BIG deal out of NOTHING. And yes, the State does get the tax based upon the pre-rebate sales price, buy why pay more taxes than necessary.

I'm sure that this is a closely guarded secret; don't know for sure but the rebate money has to come from somewhere. I suspect that the third party submits some kind of document to OD to identify how much money was rebated, then OD reimburses the third party the amount plus a few extra buck for profit. (That's how grocery store coupons are processed). Those who fail to submit for their rebate, OD gets to keep their money. Why don't they just give you the rebate in the store like Best Buy? As I previously stated, they hope that you don't submit for the rebate or somehow lose the paperwork or whatever that will cause your rebate request to be rejected.

The above is true for ANY rebate or other cost reduction. The retailer will figure some way to keep the price high (or raise it) so that you won't receive the full benefit. Watch what happens to prices (on big ticket items) when the economic stimulus checks start coming in. They'll advertise big sales on hiked up prices. Go to a store and identify an item and it's price. Then check again in May or June.

1) Office Depot and Home Depot are two different companies.

2) Tax is a government charge, and is never considered in any price negotiations anywhere. Just because you pay it, doesn't mean Office Depot has to pay it two, three, or four times so you can save $8.

3) All OD rebates are received and processed by a third party company. If you did ten minutes of research, you would know this (and would get a better customer service number).

4) All taxes are paid to state or federal government, otherwise OD would be audited, and fined.