On Memorial Day I purchased a lawn mower and other items at Home Depot totaling over $300. I was to receive a $30 gift card for purchasing the mower and a $20 gift card if my purchases exceeded $300.
I submitted the forms supplied and copies of the register receipt to the Home Depot address provided. The forms offer a phone number or web site to check on rebate status. After 4 weeks, a call generated the reply "Home Depot experiencing computer glitch, please try back in 4 weeks." I wrote to their web site and was advised that they had received the forms, but because of "computer problems" there would be a further delay, and they would write to me to inform me when I would get my rebates.
Then the real trouble started. I received e-mails indicating my cash register receipt was not included and asking me to e-mail them a copy as an "attachment" in JPEG format, which I did. Their response was that JPEG was not satisfactory and asking if I could send it as an attachment in PDF format, which I did. Home Depot responded that because of "security" they could not accept PDF format and asked if I could fax them the receipt.
I picked up my bulging file and took it to the Department of Consumer Affairs for the State of Connecticut. I asked them to get Home Depot to divine which format will facilitate the issuance of the two "gift cards."
With the economy going into a slump, this is not the time to have dissatisfied consumers.
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