Rebate DECLINED!

[flynlow]

I work for a carrier other than Sprint, but I stick with Sprint because of the price. I fill out rebate forms for customers all of the time, and on our rebate form it does have a place for the purchase date, as well as name, address, wireless number, IMEI (or ESN, MSID, etc.), as well as needing to check the box next to the phone you purchased, and the check boxes next to what you include in the envelope.

Not in this case. Phone number of the device, name and address. Here is a link to the actual form.

http://shop.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/promotions/mir_071010.pdf

 

[flynlow]

I work for a carrier other than Sprint, but I stick with Sprint because of the price. I fill out rebate forms for customers all of the time, and on our rebate form it does have a place for the purchase date, as well as name, address, wireless number, IMEI (or ESN, MSID, etc.), as well as needing to check the box next to the phone you purchased, and the check boxes next to what you include in the envelope.

Not in this case. Phone number of the device, name and address. Here is a link to the actual form.

http://shop.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/promotions/mir_071010.pdf

don't know why it double posted, got a gateway time out on the first attempt.

 

[McPlot]

Most companies do not do the mail in rebates themselves. They oursource it to companies like Parago. And I think (just me) that they are required to deny a certain % of rebate request. So BS like this happens.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Not in this case. Phone number of the device, name and address. Here is a link to the actual form.

http://shop.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/promotions/mir_071010.pdf

don't know why it double posted, got a gateway time out on the first attempt.

I haven't filled mine out yet so I didn't know what it had on it. I'm wondering now if I should even bother since I bought my EVO outright from Sprint.com and didn't sign a new two year agreement. They put the rebate form in the box so I guess it wouldn't hurt to try, right?

I would do what others have suggested and call Sprint tomorrow and see what they have to say about it. Please post their response here so we all know what to expect should we run in to the same problem.

 

[springsyeti]

Wait

When I bought my pre (on the release date) my rebate status showed declined. I was in a rage also but the CS people took care of it. It did take awhile for the check. That is why I went to RS this time.

 

[PookieEastwood]

I went to Wirefly just because i didn't want to wait 2-3 months for my rebate.

 

[dougeetx]

Not in this case. Phone number of the device, name and address. Here is a link to the actual form.

http://shop.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/promotions/mir_071010.pdf

That's the one that I filled out and mailed in. No where did it say "Purchase Date"...especially since it's on the receipt!

 

[R1_Rydah]

To the OP, dont panic when you call tomorrow they will fix it for you and mail out the rebate instantly. Ive had this happen to me with several of my phones(I upgrade everytime the latest and greatest comes out), which is why I get all my phones through Best Buy now. I really think that this is some shady ploy Sprint uses hoping that some people will simply forget about their rebate and the bogus denial goes unnoticed.(This almost happened to me the first time). But to everyone who got the bogus rebate denial, you'll be good tomorrow. I know how frustrating it is when your account is screwed up and because of the Holiday or weekend you cant call and let anybody have it.

co-sign... I went thru this same BS hassle when I bought my Treo755... A phone call fixed things, but I vowed from then on, to never deal with m.i.r. via sprint ever again...

 

[kschuyler]

Did you start the new line and then fip the Evo to a different number on the account? I was told up front from Sprint that if I did that I would not be eligible for the rebate.

Keith

 

[AldousSnow]

I purchased mine outright, Iamlilysdad. I'm not eligible for the rebate.

 

[meyerweb#CB]

When I replaced my son's phone at a Sprint store last December, I'm pretty sure the form did ask for purchase date, but I'm not going to swear to it.

I recall a few similar problems with rebates when the Pre came out. Based on forum posts at that time, Sprint was very good about solving the problems and getting people their rebates.

 

[bmhanson]

FWIW, I noticed on my bill that I was credited some money towards the phone. Looks like they may have given me an instant rebate? Not sure. But I guess won't be too upset if I get a declined rebate.

If you call customer service instead of the rebate center then they will issue a credit instead of sending a check. CS can't update the rebate system to get the check cut so this is the only option they have.

 

[meyerweb#CB]

Most companies do not do the mail in rebates themselves. They oursource it to companies like Parago. And I think (just me) that they are required to deny a certain % of rebate request. So BS like this happens.

Sigh, nothing like inuendo without fact.

There are very specific federal regulations dealing with rebates. Even though Sprint (and everyone else) hands rebate processing off to 3rd party companies, the company offering the rebate is still responsible, and can face very large fines for not paying out on valid rebate requests. The idea that Sprint would instruct a rebate processor to deliberately commit fraud is ludicrous.

A more likely scenario is that rebate processors hire the cheapest labor possible, and mistakes get made.

 

[Darth Mo]

Sigh, nothing like inuendo without fact.

There are very specific federal regulations dealing with rebates. Even though Sprint (and everyone else) hands rebate processing off to 3rd party companies, the company offering the rebate is still responsible, and can face very large fines for not paying out on valid rebate requests. The idea that Sprint would instruct a rebate processor to deliberately commit fraud is ludicrous.

A more likely scenario is that rebate processors hire the cheapest labor possible, and mistakes get made.

I'd say the most likely scenario is that people have some odd situations with their accounts that result in the rebate eligibility being denied. I imagine the rebate houses have limited access to customer accounts so the ones with discounts and whatnot might make verification difficult.

I'm actually surprised they give the full new customer price/rebate to customers that just add a line to a family plan. Those at what, $10/month, right? So they give you $250 towards a new phone when the 2 year contract on it only gets them $240 back. I suppose they have some other angle...

 

[meyerweb#CB]

$20 per extra line on a family data plan, so $480 over 2 years, plus the $10 fee, so it's really $720 over 2 years. And potentially a lot more. If your family plan was one of the older F&FG plans, and you have to upgrade it to Everything Data, then all your extra lines go from $10 to $20 a month, even if they don't really need data.

 

[Darth Mo]

$20 per extra line on a family data plan, so $480 over 2 years, plus the $10 fee, so it's really $720 over 2 years. And potentially a lot more. If your family plan was one of the older F&FG plans, and you have to upgrade it to Everything Data, then all your extra lines go from $10 to $20 a month, even if they don't really need data.

Ah, i hadn't looked in a while.

Makes sense then.

 

[youngzayiles]

Glad I went to the shack... No rebate for me lol

 

[gigadigit]

A few years back, when I upgraded my phone, I was eligible for the rebate and they declined it. I hope they approve my rebate this time.

 

[stevehsteveh]

this is one of the reasons I bought from Radio shack so I would not have to deal with the rebate. Although I had a good experience with the rebate Sprint was doing for the Instinct I did not like the 8-12 week wait for that check. Rebate programs are setup to rip off as many people as it can legally without making it obvious. Most consumers have wised up to this which is why stores like Best Buy and Radioshack have done away with them. When I worked for Best buy all their best deals included mail in rebates, and the headaches caused by them for their customers just wasn't worth the hassle anymore.

Actually not set up to steal but with the knowledge that many will never fill out the rebates:

Form Wikipedia:

BusinessWeek recently estimated a return rate of 60 percent. Some estimates have been as low as 2%. For example, nearly half of the 100,000 new TiVo subscribers in 2005 did not redeem their $100 rebates, allowing the company to keep $5,000,000 in additional profit. [2]

 

[dougeetx]

Jenny @ rebates is the woman!!! She took care of me in less than a hot second. If you get the run around, ask for Jenny, id #2947. She gave me permission to post this.