Hundreds of Unopened Rebate Slips Found in the Trash

Thu Sep 6, 2007 6:54PM EDT

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Wondering why you didn't get the $3.50 rebate for your Vastech USB hub you bought in May? Well, it's because Vastech took all the rebate slips and threw them in the garbage, unopened.

As Dean Takahashi writes, "In all of my years of reporting, I have never encountered such outrageous behavior against consumers," and while the amount of money at stake here is small, the principle is a large one. 1,300 people went to the trouble of sending in their mail-in rebate forms to this small Silicon Valley firm, and in response Vastech simply chose to ignore them. Possibly worse, all of those rebates contained at least some personal information: Names, addresses, and probably portions of credit card numbers on any receipts included in the envelope.

Takahashi tracked down the CEO of the company and he offered both excuses and an apology. If you've been waiting for your rebate, feel free to send a complaint to support@vastechinc.com and demand your money directly.

Vastech isn't the first company to completely blow it when it comes to rebates. In fact, many consumers have been burned so often by not getting the money they've been promised that they simply ignore any offered rebates or refuse to buy from companies that offer them. A few retailers have listened. Two years ago, Best Buy announced it would phase out its internal rebate system, though it still seems to offer them in some capacity and via third-party sellers. Still, rebates show no sign of slowing down. They're just too profitable for the vendors who use them to sell their gear.

Got a gripe about the rebate process? Feel free to air your dirty laundry here. 

LINK: Unopened rebate requests found in San Jose dumpster 

Comments on Hundreds of Unopened Rebate Slips Found in the Trash

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  • 6 Posted by daretobelost on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Rebates are a pain but sometimes they are so big you just have to send them off. I have always gotten the money in the end but occasionally it required follow up. The only time I was surprised was on the Apple rebate for my daughter's laptop. There was a rebate on a printer and an Ipod. Both were initially refused and I had to fax them the documents and eventually call them. I had a vision that Apple did a better job than that. I got the checks finally. It may be uncharitable but I sometimes wonder if they automatically refuse once in the hopes you will just go away.

  • 8 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I purchased a desktop from circut city about 2 years ago and it had 3 rebates after you paid full retail. one was for 150.00 the second was for 100.00 and the third was for 25.00. I sent them all out, made copies, and sent via ups priority w/tracking because 275.00 was a lot to get back. I got one back almost 3 months later. Surprise, the only one i get back is the 25.00 rebate for the printer. I called and said that i had tracking confirmation, and copies of all the rebates and UPC tags that i sent out. They told me that i didnt send out all the required material, even though i had copies of everything. Then when i told them that i had copies that i could give them, they said that they dont take copies and that i wasnt going to get the 2 other rebates that totaled 250.00. Since then, i will not buy anything that has any type of rebate except for an instant rebate that is taken off at the store.

  • 9 Posted by toons4hire on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I too have made my copies, sent original receipts with rebate paperwork and waited weeks only to be told I was missing paperwork or sent copies... what a scam Creative Labs! If the price before rebate is not the deal required to make the sale, then buyer beware!

  • 10 Posted by toons4hire on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I too have made my copies, sent original receipts with rebate paperwork and waited weeks only to be told I was missing paperwork or sent copies... what a scam Creative Labs! If the price before rebate is not the deal required to make the sale, then buyer beware!

  • 11 Posted by robeko1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Got burned twice, although last time the retailer compensated. Initially, simply stopped buying items with rebates… Passed up lately purchasing a monitor that looked like a great deal with rebate; then later I found one without rebate for less. Now, I will only shop products made by companies that do not offer any rebates. If it hurts their bottom line, they’ll listen.

  • 12 Posted by shrageralan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I never buy any product that has a mail in rebate. I would rather be given a lower price when i buy the item at the store or have a coupon for an instant rebate. I will even go so far as to buy a item made by a nother company then buy one with a mail in rebate.

  • 13 Posted by earl_n_chris on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just purchased a new laptop from Office Depot and I got an instant rebate. I hate mailing in rebates, I seem to forget to send in all the required info and it takes forever to get the rebate check back.

  • 14 Posted by susanonline2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    I too think mail-in rebates are mostly a scam. My experience was with Dell and the $100 I never saw. From now on I won't buy anything with a rebate, it is not worth the frustration and the feeling of being "done"! Let them keep their precious money AND their products, we don't need them.

  • 15 Posted by shellyejo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I did get cheated out of an $80 rebate one time on a monitor I purchased at Best Buy. They insisted we didn't include the UPC, which we had. Somehow though we had failed to make a copy of it, so we were out of luck. That taught us to be sure we have copies of everything on our future rebates. Fry's and Verizon have both been great with their rebates. On my last two cell phone rebates from Verizon, I had them within two weeks.

  • 16 Posted by commorancy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    The manufacturer rebate system is a complete waste of time and should be outlawed federally. There is no point to offering rebates as it takes 6-8 weeks to receive the rebate. In that 6-8 weeks, most people completely forgot they even sent in the rebate form. Worse, that's what many of the scammy rebate vendors hope for. If the consumer forgets and they don't send the rebate, then there's no need to send the rebate. That means, the consumer has to be on the ball in 6-8 weeks to remember to check up on the rebate (and have kept all the paperwork to know how and where to check). I do not purchase items with mail-in rebates. Instant rebates, yes. Mail-in rebates, no. It's not worth my time to wait 6-8 weeks for a $15 check, possibly have to chase it down and then having to run it by the bank. It's simpler to find the item cheaper elsewhere. Many times, you can easily find the same item at a better discounter for a cheaper price than with the rebate. So, why bother with the rebates? Again, rebates are a complete waste of time and a very scammy marketing tactic.

  • 17 Posted by pixmarylee on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have always received my rebates without a problem. I do have to warning about the new AT&T rebate policy, however. I bought a cell phone that had a rebate and was sent a Cingular Reward debit card worth the rebate amount rather than a rebate check. I went to use it the other day and found it had expired. I do have to say it did show an expiration date on the card, but it was a short one. I know that even rebate checks have expiration dates but I have always deposited or cashed them before.

  • 18 Posted by ginamae56@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I, too, have been bitten by his "rebate" deal(?). Sometimes by large amounts as listed above. Pure frustration, especially when you've bought on line. There is most surely SOMETHING that you didn't recieve in the first place - that it is too late to get now - that you didn't include. (And I DO read the offers carefully! I also despise having to cut out and present coupons for a savings. Why can't mfgrs just give you a good price in the first place - or just put their items ON SALE?

  • 19 Posted by angelpie528 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    AFTER PURCHASING TWO PHONES FROM NEXTEL LAST MONTH I WAS TOLD THEY WERE BOTH ELIBIBLE FOR $40.00 MAIL IN REBATES. ALL COMPANIES OFFER U A DEAL WHEN U ACTIVATE A NEW LINE....I THOUGHT. I JUST RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM NEXTEL SAYING MY REQUEST FOR A REFUND WAS DENIED BECAUSE I DIDNT HAVE A NEXTEL LINE THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR AT LEAST TWELVE MONTHS. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR ON THE PHONE WITH THEIR CSR I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SYSTEM ERROR AND ILL RECEIVE A REBATE IN ANOTHER 3-4 WEEKS.

  • 20 Posted by kevinparrotte on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got taken for $20.00 by Staples / Panda. Not worth fighting over but I now assume that mail-in rebates will not be honored and Staples is no longer first site checked when shopping for office tech.

  • 21 Posted by tuliplover101 on Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:21AM EDT Report Abuse

    Kudos to ALLTEL who actually did send us $50.00 rebates on both new phones we purchased on an established account, they have a tracking system online for it and it only took about 4-5 weeks to get back from when I mailed in the info. But for the most part, rebates are such a waste of time that most people ignore them. If it's for a large amount of money, maybe I will take the time but I don't go out of my way to buy rebated items because of the stuff the previous posters have mentioned!

  • 22 Posted by mdarbyshire@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just recieved several rebates from Whirlpool from a purchase at Lowes. Instead of the 4 to 6 weeks expected, I recieved in TWO!!! There are some companies doing things right!

  • 23 Posted by ouso271wi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    The mail in rebates are a waste of time. I go to the stores that offer a instant rebate on the spot, at least youll get them.

  • 24 Posted by larry.reppond@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    don't forget the interest you pay if you put these transactions on a credit card - all rebates should be instant discounts at time of purchase-

  • 25 Posted by venturesabound@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    As an added thought along with this Vastech rebate article about dumped rebate slips...another company that appears to have committed a similar neglect or neglience at replying with sending out a response...with a rebate check to a long time customer who advises other of their product... ZoneAlarm has failed regarding this rebate matter... Two known situations of a $35.00 and $50.00 rebate offers happened where rebate checks were never received which could only be now speculated as NOT processed since Zone Alarm does not provide simple follow up procedure for rebate offers submitted...nor does Zone Alarm make any effort with better customer care...regarding rebate checks which were never ever received after time is spent to submit as required according to the rules and instructions as Zone Alarm outline in its provided rebate forms... If Vastech has discovered at committing such an act as this tech article released...we could only wonder how many other company's might be in position to commit such an unscrupulous act with its business practices... My goal is to stop being a Zone Alarm customer and advise many others to do the same when it decides in the Internet Security applications for personal and home computers needs...

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