shame on canon rebates

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Archive 2006 · shame on canon rebates

ml2005
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p.7 #1 · shame on canon rebates

I know that Nikon also has rebates for purchases. Anyone know if Nikon rebates cause similar problems?

Jan 03, 2007 at 09:32 AM

walter23
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p.7 #2 · shame on canon rebates

simon_says wrote:
I never really trust rebates - regardless of what company is behind them. I've been screwed over before, and now I no longer fall for this scheme.

Although many people have had success, there's also a significant number of people who have rebate problems. In general, I do not like the whole rebate idea - it's often used to promote sales, yet the companies realize that a certain % of rebates will either be "erroneous" or unsent, and it's their gain.

I had a problem like that once with a rebate for something unrelated to photography. The rebate was handled through a third-party rebate company and I figured they were pocketing the money that people didn't bother putting the effort into retrieving.

Jan 03, 2007 at 09:35 AM

Gleichman
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p.7 #3 · shame on canon rebates

I just looked at my rebate status and it shows that one of two UPCs that were taped to the same piece of paper is missing. Yes, I have copies of everything and I will be calling in the morning.

Jan 08, 2007 at 05:35 AM

maniaxe2000
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p.7 #4 · shame on canon rebates

Wow Gleichman, how interesting. Just an update I finally got my $640 for my 5D and my 85mm.

Now I'm waiting for my other double rebate. I got a 50mm 1.4 and a 430EX. It has been around 3 weeks since I mailed it in. I have seen no updates on their website

. At least this one is only 60 bucks I believe. I'll eat it, but I will NEVER do any Canon rebates again. Better to wait for a super duper Dell deal.

Maniaxe.

Jan 08, 2007 at 09:27 AM

timnosenzo
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p.7 #5 · shame on canon rebates

maniaxe2000 wrote:Better to wait for a super duper Dell deal.

Unless something goes wrong with your order... Dell customer service defined the word nightmare.

I have a Canon rebate story of my own...

I had to call the Canon rebate people on Friday about my rebate. I sent mine in via Priority Mail on 10/20, they got it a couple days after, but their site said they didn't receive it until 11/13. Fine, I know they like to drag their feet.

So up until Friday the site had simply said Processing. On Friday I noticed that it now said a check for $45.00 was being processed (but still in the processing phase), no errors reported. Now, I sent in a double rebate for a 5D and 17-40L, so I should have $690.00 coming to me. So I call Friday night, get a guy on the phone who sounds like he's worked there for a few minutes. He says they only received the rebate for the 17-40 and asks me if I have copies of everything. I say I do, but I ask how they could only have record of the one rebate, when I pre-qualified for both at the same time, and sent everything in at the same time. I also remind him that I've waited almost 8 weeks since they claim they received my rebate info, but I've actually been waiting about 11 weeks since USPS says they received my rebate info. I tell him that I'm happy to send in copies, but this needs to be expedited at this point. He tells me that there is nothing he can do to expedite it, but he can transfer me to a supervisor. I say OK.... get put on hold... get hung up on... great.

So I call right back, and a very competent sounding woman answers the phone. She not knowing I just got off the phone with someone asks me for my info again. I tell her that I was being transfered to a supervisor and I got disconnected. She says OK but asks for my info anyway to see if she can help. I give it to her... she looks up my info... asks me what I sent in rebates for... I tell her... she says "OK, I can go ahead and put this in for $690." Now I'm thinking... "huh? what happened to not seeing my rebate for the 5D?" Reluctant to complain, I say great, she tells me I should see a check in a week or two, I give her a dubious "OK" but thank her for her help and hang up the phone.

So I check the website a few minutes after, and the dollar amount had already changed... I check it about an hour later, and the status had already moved to "Check Approved" in the full amount. Wow. So I guess the moral of my story is that your experience REALLY depends on who you get on the phone! FWIW, I've participated in a few Canon rebate offers in the past and have never had to call before. I guess my luck ran out this time though! Oh well, I'll just hope the check comes through now.

Jan 08, 2007 at 12:27 PM

Manuel10
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p.7 #6 · shame on canon rebates

Here in Europe Canon rebates work pretty well. It does not take longer than 2/3 weeks to get the money transferred into your bank account.

sorry to hear that is not the case in the US

Jan 08, 2007 at 01:32 PM

kaishaku
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p.7 #7 · shame on canon rebates

Rebates are often more problematic than they should be.

Many consumers may be surprised to learn the how and why:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebate_%28marketing%29

Jan 08, 2007 at 03:23 PM

smoon
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p.7 #8 · shame on canon rebates

Chalk up another lost or "invalid" 5D UPC. I won't bother re-telling my story as it is the same as all the other invalid 5D UPC stories.

What I can add is that it is not only Canon using this company and having problems. I had the very same problem with this company and a Sandisk rebate last fall. The only difference was that the postcard I received was marked with missing UPC code. Same rebate company, same problem, same experience with the phone call. I called up gave my info, told the person on the phone what was wrong and that I was looking at the copies I had made of everything that was submitted. Both times, I was then asked to wait for a minute. Both times the person came back on the phone and said that everything was OK and that a check would be sent out. I had to do a little explaining on the Canon rebate because the whole double rebate concept was beyond the breain power of the minimum wage moron I was talking too, but in the end, he too confirmed that a check for $620 would soon be on its way - no further questions, no request for proof of the items in question.

The fact that I had the same exact experience with two rebates from different manufacturers with this company pretty much wipes out any idea of coincidence or random mistakes by the rebate submission company. It may not be a scam, but I am convinced it was not an accident.

Now it's off to check the status of the Canon rebate. I don't trust the capabilities of the guy I talked to further than I could throw him.

By the way, I love the 5D. It's too bad that Canon has lost much in the way of credibility with me after this experience.

Steve

Jan 08, 2007 at 03:47 PM

smoon
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p.7 #9 · shame on canon rebates

Amazing.

I called on 01/03 to challenge the invalid UPC, and a check was sent on 01/05.

Don't tell me the rebate submission company would give up $620 without more proof from me if they did not already know I was entitled to the rebate.

Let's see if the check ever arrives.

Steve

Jan 08, 2007 at 03:54 PM

smoon
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p.7 #10 · shame on canon rebates

Double post. Can't delete for some reason.

Steve

Jan 08, 2007 at 03:58 PM

bandit
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p.7 #11 · shame on canon rebates

You guys need to submit a complaint the state Attorney General for a fraud investigation. IMHO the rebate problem will be solved by the time the 2nd or 3rd states AG send in an enquiry.

Jan 08, 2007 at 07:54 PM

Sony
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p.7 #12 · shame on canon rebates

Invalid UPC is a joke since all 5D codes are the exact same, both in number and barcode. This is the same for the 85mm f1.8 I dunno about the others, but I checked the boxes and all 5Ds and canon 85s are ident

Jan 09, 2007 at 11:53 AM

kipster
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p.7 #13 · shame on canon rebates

I'm torpedoed also, before I do battle, was wondering if YA tells you which "invalid" UPC you sent or will they tell you when you call? Just wondering before I play their game.

Jan 11, 2007 at 12:53 AM

surly
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p.7 #14 · shame on canon rebates

Yesterday I mailed my resubmission:
ATTENTION: Resubmit Department
Canon USA
PO BOX 7001
Young America, MN, 55558-7001

I also attached the FTC letter found on the consumer site and cc'd:

Federal Trade Commission
6th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

Hon. General Wayne Stenhjem
Attorney General, State of North Dakota
4205 State Street
PO Box 1054
Bismarck ND 58502-1054

Hon. General Lori Swanson
Attorney General, State of Minnesota
1400 Bremer Tower
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Hon. General Andrew M. Cuomo
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341

ConsumerAffairs.Com
11400 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Canon U.S.A., Inc.
One Canon Plaza
Lake Success, NY 11042

Jan 11, 2007 at 01:05 AM

smoon
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p.7 #15 · shame on canon rebates

Those of you who contacted canon, who did you contact to file a complaint? I am in no mood to be transferred 25 times before hitting the right person on accident to complain to.

I now have two separate entries on my rebate status page; one showing the check is processing with one check number and the other showing the check has been mailed with another check number. I want to bring Canon in on this to help get it resovled since, at the very least, the rebate company is completely incompetent. I would not mind getting two checks for my troubles, but somehow I think one would not be valid.

Thanks for your help,

Steve

Jan 11, 2007 at 01:48 PM

Sony
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p.7 #16 · shame on canon rebates

Update on mine. I did the resubmit thing and they say they got it and it's processing for $350 dollars. LMAO that's funny because none of the rebate offers is for $350 The 5D is for 300 X2 and the 85mm for 40X2 so where are they getting this crap? There's noway in hell this isn't a directive. It's just a matter of who all is involved in the scam. Time to spend more time on the phone.

Jan 12, 2007 at 06:48 AM

nma
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p.7 #17 · shame on canon rebates

I have read a several pages of this thread and I think your experiences are outrageous.

In the state of Massachusetts and perhaps other states, there is a useful mechanism for dealing with companies like this. It is called Small Claims Court. By paying a small fee and filing a form, the court institutes a suit and compels the company to appear at the hearing. You can represent yourself and all you can loose is the filing fee. I have used this approach in disputes where the company is abusive or unresponsive. Upon receiving notification of the suit they have contacted me to settle within days. It is too expensive for them to obtain legal council and fight this, so they just cave.

Hope this helps

Jan 12, 2007 at 01:54 PM

vectrex
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p.7 #18 · shame on canon rebates

I can just add on to what everyone else have experienced. I received a postcard through the mail yesterday telling me that my UPC was invalid and that I had to resubmit.

I called them yesterday night telling them that my UPC wasn't invalid. The guy just told me that he could see that I was right and that he would correct it so that a check for $640 (5D + 50 1.4) was issued. Today when I look online, everything is updated and it tells me that a check for $640 has been approved.

I just hope I will recieve it.

Jan 12, 2007 at 04:12 PM

EKN_2005
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p.7 #19 · shame on canon rebates

I think most people who bought a 5D have had trouble getting their rebate. Apparently, they've been having trouble with "invalid UPCs." I had this happen to me, so I sent them an e-mail. They replied and requested that I send my name, address, purchase date, items purchased, etc. I did and my rebate came within 2 weeks. It took a little bit longer than I'd expected, but I'm happy I got my money.

Jan 12, 2007 at 04:36 PM

Doug Otto
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p.7 #20 · shame on canon rebates

I mailed mine on Oct 20th. I just got off the phone with them and, of course, they have no idea where it is and I have to resubmit. I don't remember if I photo-copied the UPC before I sent it. I guess I'll have to check at home tonight. This is really irritating.

Jan 12, 2007 at 04:46 PM

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