Two weeks ago, I wrote the corporate office of Office Depot about the rebate practices common to this company, and have not yet received a response. The internet is riddled with complaints about the rebate policies of Office Depot and the hundreds of problems that customers are experiencing with them on a constant basis.
I have a current rebate request "in process" with Office Depot that was duly mailed August 2 (106 days ago.) Office Depot Rebate Center records are showing documentation was received on my rebate August 14 (94 days ago). Whenever I have called Office Depot Rebate Center customer service, after being placed on long hold times, I was told only that my rebate is "in processing" (mixed in with annoying multiple apologies), but that there is nothing they can do to expedite action.
The Office Depot printed material on my currently pending rebate advises customers to "allow 60-90 days (from date of mailing) to receive rebate." As of the date of this report, Office Depot Rebate Center records are showing status of my rebate as being only in the third stage of a 5-step completion process. Up until just a few days ago, my rebate status was "stuck" for weeks in only the second phase of the 5-step completion process. (Office Depot found no errors whatsoever in my submission.)
It is understood that these ridiculous and inordinate delays are most typical of Office Depot, and customers should hold Mr. Odland (Chairman and CEO of Office Depot) and others at the executive level, accountable.
Office Depot is promoting offers to customers, enticing them to buy their products, under the guise that their rebate terms will be honored. Customers are making purchases from Office Depot, and submitting rebate requests (in accordance with exact prescribed terms), in good faith that Office Depot will honor their part. Office Depot is not fulfilling their obligations within the prescribed time length that they are informing customers to allow, and this constitutes clear fraud. (It does not matter that Office Depot may have "another company" in charge of processing rebate requests — Office Depot is the entity making these promotions and profiting from them, and THEY are responsible for standing behind their offers!
Oh and get this — I just found out that Steve Odland, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot, is listed as a member of the Advisory Council of "Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics." Their website states that they establish "to renew and enhance the link between ethical behavior and business practice." Everyone who has had a problem with this company should think about this.
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