I will say at the outset that I've been pleased so far with Tiger Directs' customer service and with the products I've received, including the memory which is the source of the rebate issue. However, having now read the reports about Tiger Direct's rebates, I feel a little foolish for not having done my homework sooner.
I just received an e-mail from onrebate today stating that my rebate had been denied because of conflicting information. This being the most asinine reason for refusal that I've ever heard, I requested that they elaborate. The response was that there was no return address on the invoice.
As this was the only invoice that Tiger Direct had to offer and there was no place for this information on it and I also enclosed other info with this on it, I realized pretty quickly that their reason was manufactured. Furious, I wrote them back and informed them of this and also stated that I would take my complaint to Tiger Direct (yes, now I know onrebate belongs to Tiger Direct). Since I also make extra money doing computer repairs and upgrades, I stated that I would take my dozen or so customers with me. The responding e-mail was apologetic and they asked me to call them.
My question now is: Do I bother? Is it worth the hours of being on hold and sending information back and forth? Or do I put it down to a lesson learned? I am still waffling on this.
It's really a shame that we, the customers of these businesses, can't trust merchants these days to do what they say they are going to do. That entering today's market place online or otherwise means having to be "savvy" and "street smart" in order to avoid being taken.
I'm disturbed that being trusting is seen as foolish and naive and that sites like this must exist to provide an outlet for the hundreds of sadder but wiser population. I suppose it's gone the way of the handshake and door to door salesmen. Sad, very sad.
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