Actually *getting* a manufacturer's rebate from Circuit City requires jumping through SECRET HOOPS
In late January, I bought a Motorola SB5120 cable modem from Circuit City. It had 2 overlapping rebates, each for $20. I called the nearest store, and I was told that the modem had to be ordered on the website. So I ordered it on the website, and it said to pick it up at the nearest store. At the store, they charged my credit card and handed me the modem. Sounds like I bought it at the store, right? Wrong!
I sent in the meticulously filled-out rebate forms with a copy of the purchase receipt, and I waited four weeks. Today, I received 2 letters - one for each form - saying that the rebates wouldn't be issued due to "INVALID PURCHASE LOCATION". The modem hadn't been "purchased" at the store!
I called the number in the letters, and there was a recording so bad that I couldn't even understand it. I called the store, and their recording said to call a different no. about rebates. The people at that no. said they were the old rebate company - only up to last October. They knew all about the scratchy recording at the "new company", and they gave me a series of menu numbers to push on the "new company's" automated telephone system. That got me a live rep in Texas for Circuit City's manufacturer rebates. She told me that the Terms and Conditions of the 2 rebates "clearly say" that the purchase had to have been made in the store. Of course, the form that I had printed off their website made no mention of purchase location. They wouldn't budge, and neither would their supervisor.
I went to the Circuit City store and complained to the Director of Operations. She was soooo sympathetic and without even seeing my refusal letters, she refunded my credit card for $43.
It's obvious to me that the whole series of hoops is standard procedure at Circuit City!! Most people would not be so perseverent and would just give up on getting the rebates. But I knew I had a good case for FRAUD, and I was willing to take the suckers to Small Claims Court.
Consumer Beware at Circuit City!
*TimDaniels*