Screwed

I'm so mad I could chew through the steel gate outside the Circuit City store. Those bastards got me again...

I purchased an HP laptop there on 2/16/05 after my Dell exploded in a mushroom cloud earlier that morning. The advertised rebate for the computer I purchased was $200. With the rebate calculated into the price I thought it was reasonable so I decided to buy it.

At the checkout I received four long receipt like printouts. Glancing at the top “Redemption Form” I noticed that it indicated the rebate had to be postmarked by 4/2/05 in order for it to be valid. I had over a month to get it in, no sweat. So I stowed this paper work away in my desk for a few weeks. Everything was cool...

Fast forward to today. This morning I began filling out the “Redemption Form” (I like to call them Rip-Off Forms), which by the way denoted that you must also provide the bar code from the packaging box. How many people throw away the box and realize that now they can’t get their rebate? I’d imagine quite a few. This wasn’t my problem but it very well could have been.

As I filled out the form I noticed that there were actually two rebate forms, not one long one as I had originally assumed. Upon further examination of the second form, I noticed a post mark due date of 3/19/05. If I hadn’t already thrown my box out and lost my UPC code there was this little snafu to keep me from collecting my rebate. After ripping a phone book in half with my teeth and taking several tranquilizers I was able to calm down.

Let me recap here.

I was given the two “Redemption Forms” and as most consumers with little spare time do I glanced at the top sheet and saw a post mark due date of 4/2/05. I think it was reasonable to assume that this was the due date for the entire rebate and I believe a lot of people would assume the same thing. Conveniently the top rebate form was for $50 dollars and the postmark due date was 4/2/05. The second rebate form with the postmark due date of 3/19/05 was for $150 and was on the bottom.

It is my contention that the order in which you are given these two rebate forms is not a coincidence but a strategy to keep the consumer form cashing in on said rebates. Given the nature of the forms I don’t think this is an unreasonable assumption. Is it just coincidence that the top form was for $50 dollars and had a later postmark due date and the second form was for $150 and had an earlier postmark date? Knowing the nature of big business I cannot believe that this is simply a coincidence but I will let you draw your own conclusions on the matter.

It behooves these companies to make it as hard as possible for consumers to cash in on their rebates. Every rebate you don’t turn in is profit for Circuit City or whatever company you may have purchased from. So why then wouldn’t they make it as hard as possible for you to turn in a rebate?

So, what is the lesson here? Never trust the man…well, yeah that’s a given. First of all, as soon as you get your rebate information read over it and find the postmark due date. Second of all, don’t throw any packaging from the product away until you are sure you do not need it in order to cash in on your rebate. Thirdly, if you do feel you were mislead with rebate information write a letter to the store or company and tell them you will no longer shop at their store if they do not honor your rebate. Fourthly...is that a word? Anyway, if you really want to get them send yourself in your computer box and address it to store headquarters and when they go to open it up jump out wearing nothing but a keyboard and give them a scare they will never forget.

I formally challenge the CEO of Circuit City to a no holds barred steel cage wrestling match and no I will not be wearing a Speedo with the American flag depicted on it. I will however kick that fucker's ass for stealing my rebate so he can buy another ski house in Aspen. Better yet why don't we wrestle for that house you bastard? I await your reply.