Anyone else a victim of Canon's rebate RIPOFF?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mephistopheles
  • Start date Start date
M

Mephistopheles

I bought a Canon i850 from BestBuy.com in April 2003 and promptly sent in
the materials to receive my $30 rebate from Canon. So far, Canon has
given me nothing but a runaround and has not sent my rebate check. I
have already resolved never to buy another Canon printer (or Canon
anything), and am considering taking legal action. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED UNREASONABLE DIFFICULTIES GETTING THEIR
CANON REBATE. (You can contact me by e-mail if you prefer).

If you want to know the details of my problems with Canon, read on. They
first stated that I had not sent in the original UPC code from the box.
I called them and told them that I had sent the original UPC code and did
not know what they were talking about. They said I should fax
information, including a photocopy of what I sent in. I did so promptly.
I then called and was told that my rebate was being processed and I
should receive it shortly. I received nothing and called again. I was
told that another department needed to review my request and further
information would be e-mailed to me. I never received any e-mail. I
called again and Canon now claimed that they had never received my
original fax (despite my having confirmation that they had received it).
They asked that I fax the materials again and suggested that I request e-
mail confirmation that my fax had been received. I did as they asked. I
waited a week but received no e-mail confirmation. I called again and
was told that my fax had been received and that an email conformation had
been sent (nothing has ever appeared in my e-mail box). Of course, they
now state that some department has yet to process the information in my
fax, and no decision on my rebate has yet been given.

Obviously, this is the classic bureaucratic rebate runaround. When it
comes to rebates, I generally stick to well-known companies and have had
very good luck until now. I had thought that a reputable company like
Canon would know that maintaining customer loyalty would be more
important than saving a few bucks by ripping people off on rebates. But
I was obviously wrong about that.

Meph
 
I've got my Canon rebate for my 1430 printer I bought at BestBuy. What
you describe is a typical tactic used by many manufacturers in the hope
that most customers eventually give up trying. I suggest you try
contacting Best Buy about it and might have more luck that way.

Rudy
 
Rudy,

Thanks for the response. I may eventually try BestBuy. However, Canon's
response is more than just a "typical tactic". To say you will provide
something without having any intention of providing it is out and out
fraud, and is legally actionable. It should not be regarded as an
acceptable business practice.

Meph
 
I bought a Canon i850 from BestBuy.com in April 2003 and promptly sent in
the materials to receive my $30 rebate from Canon. So far, Canon has
given me nothing but a runaround and has not sent my rebate check. I
have already resolved never to buy another Canon printer (or Canon
anything), and am considering taking legal action. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED UNREASONABLE DIFFICULTIES GETTING THEIR
CANON REBATE. (You can contact me by e-mail if you prefer).

If you want to know the details of my problems with Canon, read on. They
first stated that I had not sent in the original UPC code from the box.
I called them and told them that I had sent the original UPC code and did
not know what they were talking about. They said I should fax
information, including a photocopy of what I sent in. I did so promptly.
I then called and was told that my rebate was being processed and I
should receive it shortly. I received nothing and called again. I was
told that another department needed to review my request and further
information would be e-mailed to me. I never received any e-mail. I
called again and Canon now claimed that they had never received my
original fax (despite my having confirmation that they had received it).
They asked that I fax the materials again and suggested that I request e-
mail confirmation that my fax had been received. I did as they asked. I
waited a week but received no e-mail confirmation. I called again and
was told that my fax had been received and that an email conformation had
been sent (nothing has ever appeared in my e-mail box). Of course, they
now state that some department has yet to process the information in my
fax, and no decision on my rebate has yet been given.

Obviously, this is the classic bureaucratic rebate runaround. When it
comes to rebates, I generally stick to well-known companies and have had
very good luck until now. I had thought that a reputable company like
Canon would know that maintaining customer loyalty would be more
important than saving a few bucks by ripping people off on rebates. But
I was obviously wrong about that.

Meph
Click to expand...

FIle a compliant: www.ftc.gov

They do nothing for individual cases, but once enough complaints
accumulate they pull out the big guns.

--wally.
 
I've got my Canon rebate for my 1430 printer I bought at BestBuy. What
you describe is a typical tactic used by many manufacturers in the hope
that most customers eventually give up trying. I suggest you try
contacting Best Buy about it and might have more luck that way.
Click to expand...

Yes on several occasions Best Buy has made good on a rebate where
the manufacturer has stiffed me. Getting to talk to the right
person is a PITA but if you persist.... you'll eventually get
your money at sub minimum wage for your time and effort :-(

--wally.
 
| Rudy,
|
| Thanks for the response. I may eventually try BestBuy. However, Canon's
| response is more than just a "typical tactic". To say you will provide
| something without having any intention of providing it is out and out
| fraud, and is legally actionable. It should not be regarded as an
| acceptable business practice.
|
| Meph


While you're at it, sue the US Gov't on behalf of all the Veterans and Disabled
people who can't get their benefits in a timely manner (like instead of 1 month,
it takes 3 years or more). Thank You. That should run up the taxpayers tab by
several hundred billion in short order.
 
Mephistopheles said:
Thanks for the response. I may eventually try BestBuy. However, Canon's
response is more than just a "typical tactic". To say you will provide
something without having any intention of providing it is out and out
fraud, and is legally actionable. It should not be regarded as an
acceptable business practice.
Click to expand...

It should not, but these manufacturers want to have the cake and eat it,
too, by being able to advertise a lower price for their product (by the
rebate amount) while at the same time trying to make it as difficult as
possible to get that rebate. Statistics prove that only a small percentage
of customers actually bother to follow through such rebates. The companies
make themselves suit-proof by maintaining a plausiblility of denial of fraud
by pointing out the few rebates that they do honor and blaming the rest on
missing paperwork and whatever. What do you think why don't they just
simply have the stores issue the rebate discount right on the spot and have
the store submit them to the manufacturers? Because that would result 100%
rebates and they could not screw around with large retail stores the way
they can with individual end users.

R. P.
 
I bought a Canon i850 from BestBuy.com in April 2003 and promptly sent
in the materials to receive my $30 rebate from Canon. So far, Canon
has given me nothing but a runaround and has not sent my rebate check.
I have already resolved never to buy another Canon printer (or Canon
anything), and am considering taking legal action. I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED UNREASONABLE DIFFICULTIES GETTING
THEIR CANON REBATE. (You can contact me by e-mail if you prefer).
Click to expand...
[Snip]

Meph
Click to expand...

FIle a compliant: www.ftc.gov

They do nothing for individual cases, but once enough complaints
accumulate they pull out the big guns.

--wally.
Click to expand...

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Perhaps I should have made clear in
my original post that in addition to being a victim of this tactic, I am
also a lawyer for a class action law firm. I am trying to determine just
how many people have had similar problems with this particular rebate.
If enough people have such problems, then a class action may be possible
-- or at least worth looking into. So far, I have not seen other
complaints about this particular rebate here -- so things do not look
particularly promising at this point.

Meph
 
(snip)

What was the mailing address for your rebate submission?

Canon, as with many other manufacturers, doesn't handle rebate
processing but instead contracts it out to "rebate fulfillment
company" of one type or another. The problems you have described are
standard delay tactics for 1 or 2 of these companies. Apparently they
play these games so they can claim certain statistics when wooing
potential clients.
Click to expand...

Yes, I would expect that rebates would be handled by independent
contractors. However, the phones are answered with "Canon rebate
center" and the postcard I received has a big Canon logo on it.
Nevertheless, I expect regular Canon employees are not handling these
rebates. If it tells you anything, the address is:

Department 35469
Canon i850 Printer $30 Rebate
P.O. Box 13199
Scottsdale, AZ 85267

The URL for rebate information is www.rebatestatus.com.

Meph
 
Mephistopheles said:
(snip)


Yes, I would expect that rebates would be handled by independent
contractors. However, the phones are answered with "Canon rebate
center" and the postcard I received has a big Canon logo on it.
Nevertheless, I expect regular Canon employees are not handling these
rebates. If it tells you anything, the address is:

Department 35469
Canon i850 Printer $30 Rebate
P.O. Box 13199
Scottsdale, AZ 85267

The URL for rebate information is www.rebatestatus.com.
Click to expand...


That address tells me everything I need to know!


The rebate company is:

Continental Promotion Group, Inc.
United States-Headquarters
7405 E. Monte Cristo Ave.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Telephone: (480) 606-9300
Toll Free: (800) 554-9838
Fax: (480) 606-4329

Website: http://www.cpginc.com/ContactCPG.htm


If you think you've had problems with these characters go check the "Rebate
Tracking" forum at www.fatwallet.com in regards to RKByte ram rebates. You
can also check the "Rebates" forum at www.techbargains.com for further
information.


No matter how the phones are answered you are still talking to Continental
CSRs and not to personnel employed directly by Canon. In the last 5 years I
have only submitted 2 rebates, out of several dozen, that were actually
handled by the rebate sponsor. Those 2 were Creative Labs and Cyberpower.

Good luck.....you will probably need it.
 
Robert said:
Another problem I ran into with Nikon was buying a product with a rebate
and discovering the site where I bought it was selling grey market
products that don't qualify. I don't know how you check that before
placing an order. OTOH, if you get a good price, which is possible with
grey market, maybe it doesn't matter that much. I think in this case I
saved more than if I had bought a domestic unit and got the rebate.
Click to expand...
The way you check that is to read the descriptions on the website or to
ask. Reputable businesses will tell you if they are selling gray market
or American versions of the product (or whatever country you are in).
They may actually offer both versions of the product - at different
prices. They'll advertise the lower priced gray market version.
Differences of course are warranty service, and perhaps options and
accessories packaged with the product. Like in all things, if the price
seems to good to be true - it is.
 
It should not, but these manufacturers want to have the cake and eat it,
too, by being able to advertise a lower price for their product (by the
rebate amount) while at the same time trying to make it as difficult as
possible to get that rebate. Statistics prove that only a small percentage
of customers actually bother to follow through such rebates. The companies
make themselves suit-proof by maintaining a plausiblility of denial of fraud
by pointing out the few rebates that they do honor and blaming the rest on
missing paperwork and whatever. What do you think why don't they just
simply have the stores issue the rebate discount right on the spot and have
the store submit them to the manufacturers? Because that would result 100%
rebates and they could not screw around with large retail stores the way
they can with individual end users.
Click to expand...

Or better yet, they would actually lower the price and not make you pay
the sales tax on the rebated part of the price. Rebates suck to the
consumer no matter what.
 
[Snip]
That address tells me everything I need to know!


The rebate company is:

Continental Promotion Group, Inc.
United States-Headquarters
7405 E. Monte Cristo Ave.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Telephone: (480) 606-9300
Toll Free: (800) 554-9838
Fax: (480) 606-4329

Website: http://www.cpginc.com/ContactCPG.htm


If you think you've had problems with these characters go check the
"Rebate Tracking" forum at www.fatwallet.com in regards to RKByte ram
rebates. You can also check the "Rebates" forum at
www.techbargains.com for further information.


No matter how the phones are answered you are still talking to
Continental CSRs and not to personnel employed directly by Canon. In
the last 5 years I have only submitted 2 rebates, out of several
dozen, that were actually handled by the rebate sponsor. Those 2 were
Creative Labs and Cyberpower.

Good luck.....you will probably need it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that was impressive. If I need a "rebate expert" as an expert
witness, I may be in touch. ;-)

Meph
 
Only one flaw there... Places openly selling Grey-Market products are no
doubt in trouble with the Manufacturer anyway, and that could bring up other
issues.

Most manufacturers don't maintain good relationships with companies selling
thier products grey-market.

-Larry
 
Unfortunately, the whole rebate mess won't go away until consumers OUTRIGHT
REFUSE to purchase products that have them, and let the retailer and company
know why they won't buy the product IN WRITING.

Computer Companies only get away with Rebate Madness because we let them.
The Music Companies only get away with $15 CD's because we let them.
The Auto Makers get away with $15,000 profits on SUV's because we let them.
Ink Jet Printer companies get away with selling us $1 worth of ink for $30
because we let them.

Until we STOP letting them do this to us, it will continue. It's a simple
fact of economics.

Vote with your wallet, and tell them so!

-Larry
 
MAYBE it also is a way to get all you personal info. U know Spam, it seems like
another slick way to get ones name,adress and Phone number on top of it all,
Personally i would say look for rebates around 6mos. its when you forget all
about them they show up...its sucks
 
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