Buy Refused to honor rebate delaying the product delivery until rebate's expiration ripoff Aliso Viejo, California

On June 4th, 2007 I placed the following order with Buy.com:

SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive
FREE BUDGET SHIPPING
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$21.25 After Rebate
Buy.com price: $51.25

As you see, the price after the rebate was attractive plus free shipping. However, few days ago I got the following email message:

"Just a note to let you know that we are still working hard on filling your order #xx773. We have placed an urgent order with our suppliers and are waiting on the backordered or preordered product(s) below.

You'll receive an email from us once your item is on its way.
Order #xx773
sku - 202557402 : description - SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive"

Not a word about potential rebate problems. There was an option to cancel the order, which I should have choosen, if I knew what would happen. I didn't, and kept on waiting while praising Buy.com for keeping me updated. Eventually, after several more "backordered" emails, the product was shipped on July 11th.

I opened the plastic package, the product worked and I started using it, dumping the rest of the plastic cover. Time comes to check when I'll the rebate. I turned to Buy.com with such a request, and got the following responce:

"July 19th
Unfortunately, the rebate center will not accept any rebate submissions received past the postmark deadline.
Sincerely,
Buy.com Rebates Team"

So, while the item was backordered the rebate had expired, which suddenly turned to be my problem. None of the emails had mentioned the fact that Buy.com wouldn't honor the rebate, while Buy.com was working with the suppliers to deliver the product.

Buy.com's support team "generously" offered me to return the item, which I couldn't benefit from since the plastic cover had been dumped upon opening.

Bottom line. The approach of seducing potential customers with attractive mail-in rebates, then delaying the delivery until the rebate expires, seems to be a creative form of scam.

Vladimir
Newton, Massachusetts
U.S.A.