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Office Max Complaint - Office Max Scam/Bait & Switch
Complaint
EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS -- As a consumer from your state, I felt it was my responsibility to bring to your attention the following incident.
In December, 2003, I purchased computer items from Office Max with rebate offers. Their computers scan the UPC of the items at point of purchase and automatically print the appropriate rebate forms. I promptly filled out the rebate forms, and submitted them with the required UPC, or UPC printouts provided by the Office Max registers, again based on the purchased product's UPC they scanned at the register. Both rebates have been rejected, with 'Invalid UPC' given as the reason. How can the UPC be invalid, since the forms printed based on THAT UPC? The E. Peoria store where I purchased the items cannot provide any information, and the rebate web site provides no further information than what the post cards state. I have not been able to speak to a human at the rebate center, after being on hold between 7 to 10 minutes, their phone system automatically disconnects me. I also went to the store on three different occasions in December in response to a terrific rebate offer on a scanner. On all three occasions, the advertised scanner was not in stock, and they offered to sell me a higher priced unit. The items purchased that the rebate has been denied on are Khypermedia 100pk-CD-R and Khypermedia 52X CD-RW Drive
As a resolution, I would like the following:
I would like my rebates, of course, but more importantly, I would like Office Max investigated, forced to quit the deceptive practices, and penalized for those actions.
Please contact me if you need more details regarding this incident.
In December, 2003, I purchased computer items from Office Max with rebate offers. Their computers scan the UPC of the items at point of purchase and automatically print the appropriate rebate forms. I promptly filled out the rebate forms, and submitted them with the required UPC, or UPC printouts provided by the Office Max registers, again based on the purchased product's UPC they scanned at the register. Both rebates have been rejected, with 'Invalid UPC' given as the reason. How can the UPC be invalid, since the forms printed based on THAT UPC? The E. Peoria store where I purchased the items cannot provide any information, and the rebate web site provides no further information than what the post cards state. I have not been able to speak to a human at the rebate center, after being on hold between 7 to 10 minutes, their phone system automatically disconnects me. I also went to the store on three different occasions in December in response to a terrific rebate offer on a scanner. On all three occasions, the advertised scanner was not in stock, and they offered to sell me a higher priced unit. The items purchased that the rebate has been denied on are Khypermedia 100pk-CD-R and Khypermedia 52X CD-RW Drive
As a resolution, I would like the following:
I would like my rebates, of course, but more importantly, I would like Office Max investigated, forced to quit the deceptive practices, and penalized for those actions.
Please contact me if you need more details regarding this incident.
Comments:
Posted by gordytc on 2004-02-23:
When a rebate is rejected, the stores are obligated and able to take care of the rebate issues in store. You need to speak with a manager. As far as not having an item in stock, that happens often given that stores do not have an unlimited supply of merchandise, and shipments can be tricky. In these cases for ad items, there is always one of three options (no matter what, regardless of any and all complaints) - Order, Raincheck, or substitute. The substitute is *always* under the same pricing as the original item and is 99% of the time a better product. If customers were a little more patient with in-store associates, they would find themselves in much better situations because they are able to help, and like to. But when being yelled at and called liars and accused of the ridiculous "bait and switch", they're not so inclined.
Posted by Zakk on 2004-04-25:
If this site has informed me of one thing (though I had pretty much made up my mind prior to entering) it is that rebate bundle packages are a scam of Amway proportions. Even when people fill them out, and do so in a correct and timely manner, they still seem to be getting the run-around. Some complaints I read seem stupid, but those I have read on rebates "seem" to be of good people, shopping for good deals, and getting screwed.
Posted by compwiz on 2004-05-15:
I have bought many Kyphermedia products in the past and the same thing has happened. No other product has this happend with. When I would buy two Kyphermedia products at the time, one or both of the rebates would always be rejected. When I buy one and wait a few months, they usually don't bounce back.
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