Consumer, Huntsville, Alabama. We bought a dishwasher from HHgregg and paid the $119 installation fee with the understanding we would get that moaney back by rebate. They installed the dishwasher, we sent off our info to the rebate company. When we didn't get it, I called the rebate company and had to go thru the automated stuff only to learn the only rebate info they had about us was somehting from earlier in the year we had bought elsewhere, nothing recent. I spoke with someone and he gave me a fax number to send the information to. I sent it, got a transmission verification proving they got it, but two weeks later still no check.
I called again, but couldn't actually speak to anyone, I never could figure out how to speak to a customer service person again. I called Hhgregg, and a "manager" gave me the number to the corporate office to call during business hours the next day. I called, but corporate told me they don't deal with rebate issues, I needed to call the rebate company. I tried again to no avail. I then called Hhgregg back and spoke with another "manager", he told me they could handle it with one phone call and that a manager would call me back within 48 hours when the call was made or something like that. Guess what, nobody called.
I tried Hhgregg again and was told to call the next day, they guy that claimed it would only take one call was off that day. At this point I was given the name of someone at corporate that supposedly could help me. I calle and asked for her, but at this point I can't remember why, but I was not able to speak with her. I then asked to speak with someone that could help with my rebate "problem". I didn't catch it until I hung up, but the girl had given me the number to the rebate place (that I could never get anyone answer).
I called right back and told her I wanted to speak to a person at corporate, she then recognized my voice and asked if I were the perosn that had just called. I told her yes, but that I was not going to call the rebate number again, I wanted to speak with a live person, not an automated machine, I didn't care who it was, just someone alive at the corporate office. She put me thru to a lady. I started telling her my story and she insisted that I tell her how I got her number, so I told her that I insisted on speaking to a live person at corporate anyone the operator could put me thru to, and it ended up being her. I have no idea at what level this woman works at or even what her title is, but she did help me. She said they have a "rebate issue" area at corporate, if I would hold she would get someone to help me.
After 15 minutes she came back and said she would do it herself because obviously she was not going to be able to get in touch with them. She ended up placing a 3 way call to the rebate company and she listened to 3 people tell me that the date was past and there was nothing they could do, I went up 3 levels or they led me to believe I went up 3 levels. All 3 were rude about it and it was obvious it was no skin off their back to keep my money.
I proceeded to tell them I would turn them into the proper authorities and file complaints where neccessary just to get the word out about their practices and that we were on a 3 way call and that Hhgregg was listening in. About that time this lady from Hhgregg broke in and told this guy how rude all 3 of them had been and that she felt they should have done something to help the customer. She told him he could hang up and that she would handle it from there. She took my number and called me back that afternoon informing me that Hhgregg would cover the $119. I am glad they finally came thru, my check came in today, it does however still bother me that I got such a runaround from them and none of them were willing to help me until I got so pushy with the operator i'm sure she was afraid to not put me thru to someone. I can say for sure I won't buy anything with a rebate again. (I have been thru issues with BestBuy as well, I just thought this time I had all of my ducks in a row) I have learned that rebates are a ripoff unless you are really willing to stand your ground and make lots of phone calls.
Even though Hhgregg came thru this time for me, i'm not sure they would the next time after all I have been thru, i'm pretty sure they won't have a next time. There are too many places to buy appliances and the stuff they sell to have to go back to them. I may not be able to get in touch with anyone else at corporate willing to help me as I was this time.
Consumer
Somerville, Alabama
U.S.A.
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