Worldwiderebates - Systemax
Worldwiderebates, Wholly Owned Division Of Systemax Rebate scam - routinely rejects valid rebate claims on products purchased from third parties

I bought an external hard drive enclosure from Newegg. Their site said that this product qualified for a rebate if purchased between June 1 and June 9. I purchased the device on June 6th.

I printed the rebate form, which was from Worldwide Rebates. The qualifying date period of June 1 to June 9 was clearly shown. My invoice from Newegg clearly showed the purchase date and invoice date as June 6.

Three weeks after submitting the claim, I received a postcard from Worldwide Rebates saying the claim had been denied because the offer date had expired.

I called the number they provided, but did not get through to a person, everything was automatic. I got nowhere with that.

At the same time I received the postcard denying the claim, I received an email from them saying that the claim had been received and was being processed.

I replied to them, saying I had a postcard denying the claim.

My reply to their customer service email bounced - their own customer service email addresses does not accept replies! The address is customerservice@worldwiderebates.com

After searching deep in their web site, by going almost all the way to the end of their FAQ section, I found the real customer service email address, which is customerservice@help. Worldwiderebates.com.

Why would any right-thinking Internet based company have an intuitive email address which doesn't accept emails, but can send them, and have another, far less intuitive, one, which can receive emails?

The reply from this address said that the rebate claim was invalid for four reasons:

1 - The invoice was not received (it was - and if it wasn't, why did their initial denial say the invoice date was after the qualification date?)

2 - No proof of purchase was received (it was sent)

3 - The reseller was not authorized to offer the rebate in the first place (this really takes the cake)

4 - The invoice date was after the qualification date (need I say more?)

I replied stating this was all junk. They replied back saying the JUST THIS ONCE, the reseller has agreed to allow me to resubmit the rebate claim, and here's the address to send it to. Back to square one, of course. Funny how the reseller who wasn't authorized to offer the rebate in the first place is able to allow a one-time resubmission.

This is a scam. The rebate claim was perfectly valid, and people go through so much trouble to get it, that they give up. Which is exactly the objective.

Company: Worldwiderebates - Systemax
Country: USA
State: New York
City: Port Washington
Address: 11 Harbor Park Drive
Phone: 5166254300

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