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I was SO happy when I bought my first mac (macbook) last month. I was even happier when I found out I get a free ipod and $100 off a printer! Yay! All I had to do was send in a special rebate form and upc codes and I get a refund.
Not so. Even though I sent in all my forms and UPC codes (and yes, I made copies of all those, which I will now have to send in to apple and hope they accept them because they're not the originals), apple has managed to lose all that along the way. To further my frustration, the promo hotline they have set up to help is, hands down, the WORST phone system ever. It's designed to avoid (with a series of confusing prompts and roundabout number pushing) letting you, the customer, talk to someone who can help, and even when you (finally) accidentally stumble upon someone who is supposed to help, they don't know what to do. When you finally convince them that you need to talk to a manager, they accidentally drop your call, and you have to start the fun phone button pushing all over again, hoping you'll stumble upon another operator.
So I may be out $300 bucks because I fell for their "rebate" crap, and now they can't be bothered to help me get my money back. Thanks, Apple. I wouldn't have bought an extra ipod I don't need if I knew I was going to have to pay for it. But you said it was free. So far, it's not.
Anyone else had issues with rebates? Can anyone offer tips?
Not so. Even though I sent in all my forms and UPC codes (and yes, I made copies of all those, which I will now have to send in to apple and hope they accept them because they're not the originals), apple has managed to lose all that along the way. To further my frustration, the promo hotline they have set up to help is, hands down, the WORST phone system ever. It's designed to avoid (with a series of confusing prompts and roundabout number pushing) letting you, the customer, talk to someone who can help, and even when you (finally) accidentally stumble upon someone who is supposed to help, they don't know what to do. When you finally convince them that you need to talk to a manager, they accidentally drop your call, and you have to start the fun phone button pushing all over again, hoping you'll stumble upon another operator.
So I may be out $300 bucks because I fell for their "rebate" crap, and now they can't be bothered to help me get my money back. Thanks, Apple. I wouldn't have bought an extra ipod I don't need if I knew I was going to have to pay for it. But you said it was free. So far, it's not.
Anyone else had issues with rebates? Can anyone offer tips?
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Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 2:04 PMI am surprised that Apple is pulling this with their rebates. They generally are quite reputable. Now with some other vendors... I have been through Rebate hell before. Once you send that envelope in, just pray that you may actually get anything back.
My best advice is to ignore the rebate. Look at the prices, etc. for what they are. If it is cheap and that is good for you then do it. Think of the rebate as a "bonus" IF you get it. (Most of those companies count on people like me, whom never do the rebates. I often forget or just don't have the time to deal with them. The best rebates I ever dealt with were at Best Buy, when you buy something, they hand you the rebate form pre-printed pretty much, an extra copy of the receipt and all that. All you have to do is take the extra set of "receipts" they give you and cut the UPC (after copying it!) and drop them in an envelope. Too easy!)
Was this at an Apple store? Maybe drop in and ask them to help you?
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Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 2:06 PMThat's some shit.
I bought my MacbookPro about a year ago, and I had no problem with getting the student discount or the rebate. Actually, I had the rebate check within three weeks after sending in the UPC codes and extra receipt from the Apple Store.
I hope you're able to get what's owed.
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Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 2:28 PMCan you pop into a store and speak to someone. They may try and tell you to "use the phone" but I've found being a little loud and stubborn can work wonders.
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Unsu...
Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 5:27 PMI had a similiar run around with Cingular. Phone lines are a way for companies to insulate themselves from having to be accountable.
www.youtube.com/watch
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Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 6:09 PMHunh, that's sad. I can tell ya though, that Apple's phone system has never been the best. I actually frogot my own name once while on hold with tech support.
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Re: Unbelievable.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 8:34 PMMy ex bought her MacBook 4 weeks ago. I'm not sure about the status of her rebate. She bought the iPod but skipped the printer.
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, July 11, 2007 - 3:41 PMI would blame the mail man before them... lol -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, July 11, 2007 - 5:11 PMi had the same thing happen for my printer. plus you can do everything online - and they still have you send the upc symbols in - so it is just an extra step so that you don't get your $100. back. totally sucked.
they have an additional form - you should be fine - i had my upc symbols elsewhere in storage and wasn't able to get the refund.
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, July 18, 2007 - 9:40 AMI once had an issue because I didn't realize the "free printer" was a rebate situation. when I found out, it was 2 months later. I cut out all the upc's off my box and such and then went to the online rebate thing - it wouldn't let me send because it was over 30 days. I phoned up customer service (800-676-2775) explained the problem, they just credited the account.
The total order was over $6k and the rebate was $100 - so that might have played into the service rep's ability to help; maybe also that it was ordered over the phone.. But I have always had fanttastic luck with apple customer support. Sorry to hear you're not having the same experience. -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, July 18, 2007 - 10:38 AMThanks for all your stories, everyone (and thanks for the phone number, Mark). Good to know there is still hope. I'm still waiting for my documents to be received by Apple. Sent in copies of my rebates, UPCs, receipts, etc last week. This will be my THRID attempt at getting them the information they require. If the offer expires and I still don't have my refunds, they're seriously going to hear it from me. It is NOT acceptable to offer a refund and then not deliver it when all the necessary steps have been completed (3 times, no less!).
Other than that, I love my macbook. -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 1:16 PMI asked for receipts sent to my e-mail when I bought them as well as a paper copy, then I made the store do it. I wouldn't leave until they did everything for me online right in front of me. I came back with all the stuff I had to send to have the guys okay the packaging the next day and then I sent the items certified. I also photocopied and wrote down every bit of info and I have my e-mail as documentation. It's because of my shit with Cingular I did all that. Here's to hoping no trouble! -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 6:17 PMWhat I want to know is who are the people that think of all the hoops we all have to jump through to get rebates etc. Do they not realize that as they create those hoops with one company, someone else is doing the same elsewhere, screwing everyone involved? How come people can't see farther than the end of their noses? Do those hoop creators then not get screwed somewhere else, stuck on hold talking to a computer sending in xeroxes of every pissant piece of paper?
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Re: Unbelievable.
Thu, August 16, 2007 - 12:03 AMYou know what? I'm with the guy who said that I'd believe it was anyone but MAc messing with us on these rebares because I deal with Mac for these reasons:
1. it's a superior product that thinks ahead at getting rid of trouble for the end user every way it can
2. I've never been oversold on anything I didn't already come to buy
3. the product never breaks
4. I pay enough that this shit should not be an issue
5. The company builds its rep on not making money as much as giving a product that can't help but sell
I think we are heaving shit on Mac that isn't there. When I balked at the rebate to the salesperson, he was like,"no really, our rebates aren't a hoop, we want you to get them back."
I'm holding on to that. -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Thu, August 16, 2007 - 2:25 PMYou mean Apple. Apple is a company, a Mac is a computer. Just a friendly reminder. -
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Re: Unbelievable.
Thu, August 30, 2007 - 3:57 PMApple so noted, probably I will forget again. They should have continued calling the computer an Apple but what do I know? Anyway, update: Apple sent me confirmation e-mails every step of the way and I already have my refunds. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Unbelievable.
Fri, August 31, 2007 - 9:42 PMlol,
....normally don't post in this ƒorum. .mostly the mac tech tribe here <-. Apple® is merely a software - design studio. .lol. .located at one infinate loop, cupertino CA. .. We have all been caught in Apple's® Infinate loops at one time or another..afraid to say. .
Hardware Overview: Machine Model: PowerBook G4 15" CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (3.3)
Number Of CPUs: 1 CPU Speed: 1 GHz L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
L3 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB Memory: 512 MB Bus Speed: 133 MHz
^^ IBMPowerPC 750 chipset in a computer made by Sony® for Apple® corp. ^^
Alo'ha,
404 Ω ∞
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