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General discussion

4/12/05 What do you think about rebates?

Apr 11, 2005 8:48AM PDT

What do you think about rebates?

Never, it's not worth the hassle
Only if the rebate is big enough
A pain in the butt, but I still fill them out
Love them, I fill out every rebate form
I think most rebates are scams; companies never pay up
Other (tell us what you think)

Discussion is locked

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REBATES
Apr 12, 2005 8:55AM PDT

There is always something (else) required. Especially with software. Fraudlent MF'S.

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Rebates Don't Work for me
Apr 12, 2005 9:06AM PDT

No matter how easy and convenient they make the rebate process, I usually forget to send them in. I buy a product based on the rebated price, forget to send in the rebate, so the manufacturer wins and I lose. There is now a website for rebates, maybe that will help me. I forgot the name, maybe rebates.com ???

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What do you think about rebates?
Apr 12, 2005 9:33AM PDT

I believe that they are truely a scam by companies to get people to purchase products based on a so called "sale price". They know that a good amount of customers will not bother to send them in, loose them, don't cash the checks, etc.
I have sent in several, and luckily have received the money on most. There have been a few that have never come back though.
I quite buy anything for the sole purpose of getting a rebate in return. I base my purchases on the base cost out of pocket (not including any rebate) and the value of the product. If I do send for and get a rebate, then that's a bonus. I believe that if a company wants to give you a discount, then it should always be at the point of purchase. That's the main thing that I look for.
I quite buying at stores that advertise "sale prices" and then in fine print show rebated values. That's deceptive as far as I'm concerned, and computer/electronics companies are the biggest abusers of the rebate scam.

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Rebates
Apr 12, 2005 9:44AM PDT

I found that the only mail that I send which gets lost is mail sent for a rebate. I call after a while and am told that they never received the letter. Them I'm told I can't resubmit unless I have the original product code cut from the box and that the copy I made of my original submission is not acceptable. I try to avoid buying anything with a rebate unless I feel the company is reliable, and, even then, I am sometimes disappointed.

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Rebates
Apr 12, 2005 9:48AM PDT

They should be included in the original purchase (instant rebate). They are nothing more than a scam to put you on the sucker list, then cost a lot of trees, by filling your Snail Mail box with JUNK MAIL and your E-Mail box with SPAM. There is no need for either. I will buy a product when I need it. I won't buy it based on harrassment. Sites such as C-Net, PC magazine and PC World, publish thourough test reports on products, and based on tests, I buy a product, not because it is the "latest and newest".

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I've been burned a few times with rebates
Apr 12, 2005 10:11AM PDT

I try to stay away from products that have rebates that are not "instant" by the merchant. I've been burned by companies like Circuit City and Redzuco.com...I send the rebates in following the instructions to the "T" AND within the timeframe stated in the guidelines and I have still gotten the kiss-of-death letter stating that I didn't send the rebate in on time (Circuit City) or I never get anything at all (Redzuco.com). And I'm not talking about $2 or $3, I'm talking at least $20 each time.

Companies that I have had good experiences with include Microsoft, Iomega, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

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Redzuco.com
May 17, 2005 9:26AM PDT

I was also ripped off by Redzuco.com. Never received my rebate, and they do not answer emails with questions on the rebate. Do not buy from Redzuco

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Redzuco Rebates
Jun 3, 2005 2:09AM PDT

Yes, rebate processing takes a long time since there is so much fraudulent submission out there. But after following up, redzuco did pay the rebate. Better late than never.

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REDZUCO - Rebate Scam
Jun 12, 2005 7:26AM PDT

Redzuco has burned me as well for over $40.
Other legitimate dealers should be concerned with scams like this.

Most people look for the bargains, and find Redzuco promoting the lowest prices with a mail-in rebates. Legitimate sellers are loosing out to scumbag scam artists like Redzuco.

I highly recommend CNET stop allowing companies like REDZUCO to falsely advertize through them. it puts their reputation at risk.

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Fair judgment
Jun 12, 2005 11:16AM PDT

Yes, rebates take a long time to process, but it is unfir and illegal to post stuff using word like Fraud. If you're not comfortable with rebates, don't do it.

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Redzuco
Jun 21, 2005 9:11AM PDT

No response on my rebate request snadisk 1 GIG compact flash card rebate $30. I have sent 3 or 4 follow up requests with no response. Does anyone have a telephone number for them? or any other thoughts? This item was ordered 12/22/05.

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Fraud
Jun 21, 2005 11:33AM PDT

While rebates taking long to process may be legitimate, offering rebates that are never paid out in fraud! This is what Redzuco appears to be doing.

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(NT) Redzuco Scam!
Jun 21, 2005 11:18PM PDT

I purchased two items that were due a $50 rebate each. These people are a SCAM! DO NOT BUY FROM THEM! I have tried for several months to get my rebates, they will not reply to any contacts. This is a SCAM business! Beware, there are messages all over the internet about these guys, STAY AWAY!

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Redzuco rebate scam support group
Jun 30, 2005 3:14AM PDT

I suggest that we start our very own support group for those who have been ripped off by Redzuco. It's funny how they've been able to keep overall positive ratings on eBay. They ship their products quickly, but by the time you realize that the rebate check isn't coming (ever), it's too late to leave negative feedback. The scam works. Glad to see there's some other posts out there about this. Hopefully others will see this and other posts and think twice about purchasing anything from Redzuco.

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Rebate hassle Redzuco or Others
Jun 30, 2005 12:37PM PDT

Yes, it is a hassle to get the rebates. But rebates do get paid after length verification often times required by manufacturers. I did receive mine a couple of months after the given 8-10 week period, but before we engage in defamation, we need to look at this with a grain of salt and keep following up on your rebate via email or phone. And remember to keep copies and read the terms carefully. Often times, rebates are no guarantees and the companies may choose to cancel the program any time, which they really don't. And, to apply, you sign and accept the agreement. So it's not a refund by any means, just a marketing promotion which takes a very long time to receive. The choice is ours to buy a rebate related item and wait a long time, or go down to best buy and pick it up there.

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Rebate hassle with Redzuco con't.
Jul 25, 2005 1:34PM PDT

Well, its somewhat encouraging to know I am not the only person that Redzuco is stringing along and making a huge mountain out of such a simple task like handing out a trivial $30 rebate check!
I purchased a 512mb sandisk mp3 player for my son back in February and followed every minor detail in mailing in my $30 rebate form and as of today- July 25, 2005, I have received nothing and only small uninformative email stating they were backed up and behind in the rebate process. I continue to send emails to no avail and wish there was a phone number to reach customer service. Does anyone else have that secret number?
How many others are being ripped off and purchasing items from Redzuco under the idea that they are counting on a rebate!? DON'T DO IT!

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Problems as well, I posted this on resellerratings
Sep 8, 2005 9:49AM PDT

First let me say I am not a competitor to Redzuco, I am an end user just like most of the other people with complaints on here. Redzuco has claimed that some people who leave negative feedback are their competitors. This is concerning Ebay item #3493735173, AMD Athlon XP 2000+, which I purchased in mid July of 2004 (that's 04, not 05). I received the product as described. I have not yet received the $40 rebate that was supposed to come with it, which I submitted immediately after receiving the item. They ignore most emails sent to them concerning the status, and are completely ignoring me as of now. I have not harassed them, spammed them, been rude to them, or anything. I usually waited at least a week or more between requests. On Tue, 2 Nov 2004, I finally got this confirmation that the rebate submission was valid, quote from the email I still have from "Krista Oguz" <krista@redzuco.com> "Looks great and we will get you all set up!". After many more requests and very few responses, on Wed May 25 18:39:43 2005, I received the message "It looks as though your rebate check was not sent out. I'll have them see if they can push your rebate check to go out as soon as possible. thanks Redzuco.com". I have not yet received the rebate, and according to read receipts I sent with some emails, they are deleting my messages without reading them. If this site will let me, I will post a website with copies of some of the emails I have mentioned. I have filed a complaint against their company. Do not buy from them unless you are prepared for a major headache or don't care if you get all that is promised, they apparently only honor rebates or have customer service whenever they feel like it. http://s92469674.onlinehome.us/emails.htm

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Redzuco Rebate Scam...
Aug 23, 2005 12:17AM PDT

Well....I really didn't want to admit it to my self, but after sending email after email about retrieving my $40.00 rebate and getting no reply, I have slowly realized that rebate will never show up. I will gladly participate in any action necessary to honor this rebate or shut down this company [Redzuco].

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Redzuco Rebates
Oct 4, 2005 9:10AM PDT

Yes, it took me a while, but I did get my rebate check. Most companies take a long time for rebates so I think it's just best to avoid these deals. There are rebate complaints about almost every company out there and all of them including redzuco stopped this time consuming marketing method.

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Redzuco's ethics...
Nov 6, 2005 3:48AM PST

I agree that rebates sometimes take a long time and rebates are a ridiculous ploy. Companies should set a fair price instead of using rebates. However, Redzuco still uses rebates. But for them, it is a fraud. Six months after the submission, not only have they not paid the rebate, they have never responded to any of my emails. Clearly, they are not a reputable firm and I would encourage everyone not to purchase anything from this firm.

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Redzuco rebates
Nov 6, 2005 7:50AM PST

I think all of Redzuco's rebate programs have been discontinued and they joined a long list of resellers that don't promote by rebates any more. I couldn't find any items they sell with rebates. As I mentioned before, it takes a while to get any rebate paid these days, but redzuco paid mine after several emails.

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Redzuco Rebates
Nov 6, 2005 9:48AM PST

It has been 10 months, and Redzuco has not sent my rebate, and has not responded to my emails. It is apparent that they are scammers.

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redzuco rebate scam
Mar 10, 2006 12:42AM PST

Same here. It has been over a year for me. I have emailed, and sent letters once a month. at first some one said they would check on it for me, a few times they seemed concerend that I had not received it. Then she also stopped responding.

i hear it is the same for all of their rebates.

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Redzuco Scam!
Feb 16, 2006 11:25PM PST

They are a scam, stay away from them. I bought two MP3 plays and they never paid the $50 each rebate. I have pages of emails to them and they even respond saying that they will process and pay. NEVER DID and it is now 1 year. I will get $100 worth of fun posting how bad they are!!!

SCAM COMPANY!!

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The same gimmick as "money back guarantee"
Apr 12, 2005 10:25AM PDT

I remember in the 70's that some companies offered "money back guarantees" on their products. This seemed like a can't loose proposition and, was a pretty bold marketing strategy. Of course, they made you jump through hoops to get your money back, and most people just chalked it up as a bad decision and didn't bother. I think this was the mother of the rebate.
Rebates really come down to how much you value your time. Some people can afford to ignore a $100 rebate, others want everything they're promised. One thing is for sure, manufacturers who offer rebates hope that you'll trip on one of their hoops and land on your face.

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Gimmic, works for the seller, but not with me!
Apr 12, 2005 10:32AM PDT

I have a simple and satisfying response to rebates. No matter how much I would like the item, I will pass it up if it offers a rebate, and sometimes purchase a competitors item for full price. Rebate signals to me that the item is overpriced to begin with, and the company is counting on us to not fill them out and mail them in. It works..... for them. I do this for items as small as a pack of discs up to as large as an automobile. It's a gimmic and I lose all respect for the company that uses it as a sales pitch, especially the ones that make it hard to collect or impossible to collect. If more would do this it would, might force the companies to revert back to honest dealing with honest pricing. Thank You.

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Rebates suck
Apr 12, 2005 10:46AM PDT

If they say they can't give you an instant rebate,and I know they can, even though they say they can't,you can still get one if you try.You might have to call the manager or owner though.Say you will walk out of the store and go buy what you want somewhere else.I have been told many times that there was no way they could give me an instant rebate and when I flashed 3 grand in front of them and said that if they didn't I would find somewhere that would,you would be surprised how quick they will make an exception.mail in rebates are a ripoff as far as I am concerened.In fact all rebates are a scam.

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Rebates
Apr 12, 2005 11:02AM PDT

Rebates are good only if they exceed the postal costs & ARE NOT FROM US ROBOTICS!!!

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Get your rebate
Apr 12, 2005 11:21AM PDT

The only way to successfully obtain a rebate is:
1 Test the product; make sure it works
2 Immediately remove required bar codes.
3 Place in an envelope and mail as soon as posible
4 Cash the check quikly. Don't let it epire

Sometimes I forget my own advise.

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I fill them in and wait forever...
Apr 12, 2005 11:44AM PDT

I took my mother out and bought her a computer at one of the major office superstores - came to about $400 after rebates - including the printer. A year later, we still have not received three of the four rebates. The only reason we got the one is because the store manager couldn't dig up a rebate form and gave us the money right in the store. If not for that, we'd probably be waiting for that one, too. Of course my mother won't go down and create a fuss like I would do (she's in her 70's), and I can't 'cuz I'm in Maine and she's in Florida. Unfortunately for the superstore, I'm going down for vacation in a few weeks and will be sure to stop in with all of my mom's paperwork (I told her to keep copies of receipts and everything she sends in for rebates). :o)