I bought a Samsung 710MP monitor on 9/14 from www.eBuyer.com. It's suppose to have a $100 rebate. I followed the rebate form direction fully and send in my rebate. After a few months not receiving my rebate, I went on-line to www.wheresmyrebate.com to check. I found out that my rebate was denied!
I then called the 1-800-578-8883 to inquire why my rebate was denied. Waited for good half hour and I finally spoke to a person name Jason on 12/27. Jason told me that Samsung wanted a copy of the packing slip. Mind you, people don't keep the packing slip but I'm a careful guy and made copies of all my documents and receipts and I was able to find my packing slip.
I inquired why if they wanted the packing slip they did not mention it on the rebate form? He said that's because my copy of receipt was not good enough, they need the "original receipt". I said that does not make any sense because on the rebate form it only wanted "a copy" of the receipt. He said the receipt was an e-mail and that was not good enough. He needs a receipt like the one you get from a store that one walk-in to. I said that does not make any sense either. On the rebate form it says the rebate is only good from the "participating e-tailers".
There is no way I could "walk" into an e-tailer store. I bought this monitor on-line for crying out loud. Well, Jason told me that he is not there to argue with me, I can either fax the packing slip (see attached) or mail it. I asked to speak to a manager and he said he IS the manager??? I did not feel like arguing so I faxed it to 1-800-578-8883 as instructed.
The next day, 12/28, I went to the website to check on the status and it still says it's denied. I then called 1-800-578-8883 and waited for another half hour before someone picked up. I spoke to a person name Paul (ID 103). He acknowledged that TCA received my fax but said that it's denied because Samsung wanted to see the original packing slip??!! I got upset. I asked that if they needed the original packing slip why Jason did not just tell me the day before. Paul said he does not make up the rules and original packing slip is what Samsung wanted.
I asked to speak to a manager, and again he told me he IS the manager? Seem like every rep in TCA IS a manager. He said he is the last person I could talk to. I said it's OK to follow the rules, but they're changing the rules and not informing people ahead of time. I said if he can't make decision then there must be someone above him that I can talk to. Then finally he told me that his manager is "Violet" but she can't take my call. I left my number for her to call me back.
I'm reluctant to mail-in my original packing slip because I had already cut from the box of the original UPC code. On the rebate form it specifically says that "Samsung is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail." If somehow my original packing slip is "lost" then where does that leave me? These people are acting as if I stole the monitor and that really infuriate me.
The next day after I did not hear from Violet I decided to take actions.
I filed a complaint to FTC and got a response back that they will investigate. FTC said the rebate terms and condition must be fully disclosed or it's a violation of federal trade act.
I then called up Samsung customer service a few times and keep complaining. I had scanned everything into a PDF so I was able to e-mail Samsung my documents. Samsung then gave me tracking number and promise to do act on.
I then called up eBuyer.com and complained. EBuyer.com was nince and was going to talk to their Samsung rep.
Finally, today, 12/30, I got a call from Violet and she said "upon review" they've "revised" to send me the $100 rebate. Except the check won't come out until 03/03 (full 3 months)!! I asked why so long. She said it's because it has been "denied". The rebate form say 10-12 weeks, so I guess they're picking the 12 weeks term.
Folks, don't buy anything if the rebate is from this TCA fullfillment. They really try to rip me off. If I wasn't persistent then I probably won't get the rebate (we'll see by 03 if I actually get my money. I bought this thing on 09 so that's like good 1/2 year before I see my money. Imageine the interest they make). File compalints to FTC so that they can't get away with this sort of practice. They don't fully disclose what they want. They get really creative and invent new rules as they go along. Delay and delay and making it difficult is the name of the game for them. It's only when I made the noise so loud that they've finally retreated.
Other than that, Happy New Year!
Raymond
Potomac, Maryland
U.S.A.
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