Anyone had rebate issues?

[SuitCase5]

My Clie was purchased on eBay in the US, while I live in Australia. Anyway, since I figured any rebate would be subject to a lot of scrutiny (I don't trust any company anymore) I arranged for it to be done in the name of a friend in the US. I filled out all the details they wanted using my friend's name in the forms. I sent the barcode, eBay receipt, emails from a Sony support person confirming that an eBay invoice is sufficient as a "receipt", all before the 30 day deadline and yet the http://www.web-rebates.com/sony site says Your submission did not qualify as sent. A non-compliance explanation was mailed on January 10, 2004. Please refer to the mailing for further instructions.Neither of us have got any letters from Sony.

I'm unsure as to what the issue is there. Have any of you guys had rejected rebate applications or other interesting problems? What am I supposed to do now, send them another letter?

[Suitcase5]

Nobody's had issues with this?

[msgreenf]

i haven't recieved my check yet, but according to the website, it has been accepted

[sebring]

Welcome to the world of rip-off bates.

[sebring]

Originally posted by SuitCase5
My Clie was purchased on eBay in the US, while I live in Australia. Anyway, since I figured any rebate would be subject to a lot of scrutiny (I don't trust any company anymore) I arranged for it to be done in the name of a friend in the US. I filled out all the details they wanted using my friend's name in the forms. I sent the barcode, eBay receipt, emails from a Sony support person confirming that an eBay invoice is sufficient as a "receipt", all before the 30 day deadline and yet the http://www.web-rebates.com/sony site says Neither of us have got any letters from Sony.

I'm unsure as to what the issue is there. Have any of you guys had rejected rebate applications or other interesting problems? What am I supposed to do now, send them another letter?

What was the shipping address on your eBay receipt and did it match the address on the rebate certificate?

[Suitcase5]

Nope, so I quietly modified the eBay page to match my friend's address. It looked fine, and the only way for Sony to see the invoice online would be via logging in to my account, and I'm pretty sure I didn't send my password :P

One thing that might have upset them is that I sent the letter from Australia. I included a little piece of paper "explaining" that "I" was a US resident and just on a trip right now, not wanting to miss the 30 day deadline for the rebate, however.. So I'm not really sure what they're unhappy with.

How did you guys send the barcode? It said "include a copy" so I just took a picture with my digital camera and printed it out. It was a big picture, the barcode taking up the entire sheet of paper but it should have been fine, no? Maybe it'd be inconvenient to scan or whatever, but that's not my problem, I would have thought.

Welcome to the world of rip-off bates.
Yep =\ But hey, it was an added bonus for me. I read about the rebates _after_ I bought the UX50, so it was more a "yay, that pays for my shipping" sorta thing. It's a shame, because even though $50 isn't too much to lose, Christmas made me quite poor. I'd like to save up for other things..

[msgreenf]

i photocopied my barcode

[scarbouc]

Most rebates (Sony's in this case) require you to cut out the barcode and mail the actual barcode. This prevents people from either a) getting the rebate and returning it or b) trying to get the rebate more than once. I however am still awaiting my $50 check - not 30 days for a few more days

[scarbouc]

I checked the form again and it DOES say copy. Unusual.
Anyways...I checked the status and:
Your check for $50.00 was printed on December 22, 2003. Please allow 7 to 10 days for it to arrive.

[MarvinMaldonado]

The only issue i had was being too lazy to mail the rebate.

:)

[Suitcase5]

Originally posted by msgreenf
i photocopied my barcode That's interesting.. so yours was definitely accepted, not just "Received and awaiting processing" or whatever? Mine was at that for a while before being rejected..

I don't really wanna cannibalise my UX50 box. I want to sell it on eBay soon and it'd pretty much look stolen if I did that. :P

[yOyOYoo]

I photocopied the barcode also, as per the instructions on the rebate form.

This is what it says now, don't know what this means though

We have processed your mailed submission.
Please allow three to four weeks for final processing.

[winexprt]

No issue whatsoever. I bought my NX80 on the first day they started offering the $50 rebate (didn't know it at the time) and followed instructions to the letter. Took my sweet time (don't know why-just lazy I guess) and didn't mail it in until end of Oct or early Nov, not sure. Anyway, the check came a few days before Xmas.

[Suitcase5]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

I've now found myself in a pretty interesting situation.. the letter was received and it stated that the rebate could not be issued to me because it had already been claimed. The only person who could have seen the barcode was the seller on eBay, so I asked him about it. He told me that his "supplier" had claimed the rebate after the item was sold to me.

Is that legal? Do I have a way to complain about this, or am I screwed? I wouldn't have thought it'd be permitted for someone to claim the rebate on an item that they don't own, or don't intend to be the end-user of.

I guess I can either pursue Sony and plead my case (weeks of waiting no doubt) or should I demand this "supplier" guy gives me back my $50 rebate?

[ClieKun]

Originally posted by Suitcase5
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

I've now found myself in a pretty interesting situation.. the letter was received and it stated that the rebate could not be issued to me because it had already been claimed. The only person who could have seen the barcode was the seller on eBay, so I asked him about it. He told me that his "supplier" had claimed the rebate after the item was sold to me.

Is that legal? Do I have a way to complain about this, or am I screwed? I wouldn't have thought it'd be permitted for someone to claim the rebate on an item that they don't own, or don't intend to be the end-user of.

I guess I can either pursue Sony and plead my case (weeks of waiting no doubt) or should I demand this "supplier" guy gives me back my $50 rebate?


Hell its Illegal!!!!!!!!! What I would do is report this to sony give the persons name and address and report him. Even if he says his supplyer did it. Sony looks down at people who buys Mess mounts and claims rebates on them. :mad: :mad: SCUM BAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[msgreenf]

yea, i agree, they had to lie to get the rebate because there is a limit to certain addresses and names

[yOyOYoo]

that ebay seller sounds like a real dirtbag.

HOWEVER, did he advertise the clie as coming with a rebate? I know some sellers specifically say the UPC has been removed for rebate purchases. I say this because if the ebay seller did not advertise the rebate, then you my friend weren't promised it, and you shouldn't have assumed you were intitled to the rebate.

[Suitcase5]

He didn't mention it came with a stylus, either. I just assumed it as I was told by his description I was buying a new UX50 and I was told by Sony that I'd get a $50 rebate when I bought a new UX50.

The interesting twist is that the rebate was applied for after I purchased the Clie and I don't think he was allowed to do that. By Sony's rules, anyway.

[mdlsimpson]

I received my rebate last week... (took exactly 6 weeks) Sony's rebates typically take the full measure of time for them to process and mail. I'm not so sure an ebay purchase would qualify in Sony's eyes.... they could interpret it to an auction/garage sale where the item was not purchased from an authorized Sony retailer, nullifying the validity of a rebate... Good luck though! I hope it works for you!!

[richpit]

I photocopied the barcode.

I just checked the status web site, and it says my check was printed yesterday, 1/27.  Cool. 

Thanks to whoever posted the URL for the web site!

[ClieKun]

"With Rebate" it should be! Otherwise he lied!