Rebates on electronic goods from large computer retail stores are being deliberately designed to confuse customers and reduce the likelihood for manufacturers and retail stores to honor them.
November 24th the Officemax advertisement section of my local newspaper offered A 128 megabyte PC memory for $9.99 after a $10 mail in rebate. As this appeared a good deal and my PC needed a memory upgrade, I purchased the the PC 128 megabyte chip for $19.99 at my local officemax and was given a 32 page rebate directory to sort through in order to find and process the rebate.
The exact memory chip I purchased was a Kingston 128MB PC 100 DIMM, the closest rebate I found in the directory was a Kingston 128MB PC133 DIMM with $10 rebate. I copied the receipt and UPC code and sent this the address on the rebate form.
After 2 months, I received notification that my rebate was rejected. After discussing the rejection letter with the store manager at my local OfficeMax, I was told that it was my mistake, I had filed the wrong rebate form and should have filed under Kingston Assorted Memory, up to $35 rebate.in checking the rebate application form
It reported that submissions must be postmarked within 14 days after purchase.
What would an average consumer file a $10 rebate, from a 32 -page directory for a Kingston 128MB PC 100 DIMM memory chip
(1) Kingston 128 PC 133 DIMM $10 rebate
(2) Kingston Assorted Memory up to $35 rebate
If you answered (1) you are wrong and after two months they will inform you of your mistake and you will have coincidently missed the submission date of 14 days after purchase for the correct Kingston Assorted memory which you should have filed in the first place.
I do not care about the refund, I just do not like the practice of what appears to be a deliberate scam to confuse customers and remove the obligations of paying advertised rebates. I am convinced hundred of thousands of consumers are scammed every year on this and the computer retail and manufactuers are becoming more scheming.
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