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Dell Rebates

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We are awash in complaints about unpaid Dell rebates. The complaints below represent just a tiny fraction of the megabytes of complaints we've received over the last few years. There is no sign the situation is improving, so buyer beware!

Anyone with a similar complaint should do the following:

• File a complaint with us; complaints to our site often lead to class action lawsuits which penalize offenders and get at least some recompense for consumers.
• File a copy of the complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, which prosecutes violators;
• File a copy of the complaint with your state's attorney general. You can find the address in our Resource Directory.

Rolanda of Hudson Falls, NY September 21, 2009

I did not recieve my rebate check as promised. I called and tried to contact on line with no results.

Jeff of Setauket, NY August 12, 2009

This is an ongoing saga about Dell's illegal business practices with regard to their offers of gift cards for purchasing their products and/or opening up one of their revolving credit lines (via Dell Financial Services). It also deals with their failure to issue credits for orders that were lost and or damaged in transit. As well as their refund policy with regard to their gift cards.

I purchased a Dell Laptop via telephone with Dell. I was told by the sales rep that if I purchased a more expensive laptop that I would then qualify for a 100 gift card, he also said that if I opened up a Dell Preferred line of credit and pay for the laptop using the Dell Credit Line that I would qualify for an additional 100 gift card. I only received one gift card, well after the laptop was delivered and payed for, thus un-enabling me from returning the laptop.

After more than a dozen calls I was told that they can't/won't help me. I complained about the particular sales rep to his supervisors, and supervisors' supervisors. No one seemed to care as they made the sale and got the commission. So I'm now out a 100 gift card, and was tricked into purchasing additional services that I didn't want, and will never use (Dell's on-line storage for backup service).

So now I try to use the one gift card that did come to purchase an LCD TV. But the LCD TV gets lost by UPS and then discovered broken in transit and then lost again on its way back to Dell. It's been over four weeks since the TV was shipped but Dell won't refund my money until thy receive the TV back (but it's lost!). They won't ship me a replacement because the TV is on back order, but I can go on line and order a new one and get into the queue so when the new TVs come in I'll get one, but I can't use the gift card because, 1: they won't credit the order until they get the damaged/missing one back, 2: my gift card is now expired so they can't credit it back. So now I'm out the second 100 gift card.

The reps, most of them with very heavy Indian accents and thus hard to communicate with, are very nice and say the they are sorry, but can't help me. I ask to speak to supervisors, and an told that they will call me back...they don't.

This has to be against the law, and I can't be the only customer with these issues. Can we start a class action? I have also made sure that all of my business clients know about what happened here. As many of them, like I have purchased corporately from Dell, and our account reps fix most of the problems, but our employees don't get that perk, and wounder how can the firms that they work for purchase from such an irresponsible company.

I'm going to check with the Attorney General's office on my state(MY)to see if the tactics of Dell are legal. DO NOT BUY FROM DELL unless you first understand the pitfalls and your inability to rectify any issues and/or problems.

Valerie of Silver Creek, NY July 30, 2009

I purchased a dell XPS 1 Computer in April. At that time, part of the offer was a 200 dell gift card that had a 90 day expiration time. In May, I called to see if the gift card had been sent. At this point, the person advised that Dell will take up to 8 weeks to send the card but assured that it would be arriving shortly.

In June, I called and stated that the promised gift card was sent on May 22, which I advised I had never received. They would cancel the card sent on May 22 and issue a new card and it would arrive in 8 to 10 days with a 90 day expiration date. I called back after two weeks and was told that the card had not been sent and that it would be sent within the week. I received a gift card that was mail metered for 7/18 with an expiration date of 8/5.

This morning, I chose to utilize the gift card toward the purchase. Imagine my surprise that the card was cancelled and that they would REISSUE a new card. 4 phone calls and 18 transfers later, I am ready to pack up the blessed computer and send back. Now I have to call back and try and cancel the order that I placed this morning.

The next step will be to pay off the balance of my computer immediately to close the dell finance account and then start filing complaints with every possible place I can about this. Also, I intend to let EVERYBODY I KNOW know about the horrendous service that is provided.

This is the first dell purchase and second computer purchase I have ever made (the first being a 1998 GATEWAY). I wish this was the only horrible customer service nightmare that I have encountered, but, unfortunately, it really seems that this is becoming the norm.

devorah of baltimore, MD July 29, 2009

In April we purchased a computer that entitled us to a 50 gift card. As it did not come we called and were told it takes 6-8 weeks to come. after 8 weeks we called again. We wanted to apply it to another computer and were told we could not apply it until it came in the mail. They said they could not apply until it came. We were on the phone for more than an hour or two and the customer service people hung up on us whenever we asked to talk to someone else. Finally, they said they would send out another card.

The card arrived a month or so later and we tried to use it today (July 29th) and they would not accept it because it had been cancelled. they said they would send out a new one. once again they refused to apply this 50 gift card electronically and again they hung up the phone when we asked to speak to someone else. we still have not received the 50 gift card and it has been almost 4 months.

dana of ashtabula, OH June 17, 2009

I had purchased a Dell Insprion and a Dell Red printer, going all out and spending on all the extra's. One of the nice reason to buy the printer was I would receive a 25 Staples coupon/gift card. I purchased this set in October 2008 and it is now June 2009 and have received no gift card. I had been calling since November 2008 and was told to call Staples, Staples of course tells me to call Dell. I was told about three times I would be sent the coupon and obviously that never happened.

So I decided one last time to call Dell thinking they would make this right, but I was so wrong. I have never spoken with any company that was so rude and has no problem lying to you. I have seen other postings about this gift card and it is ridiculous how they lie on the website about a promotion and never fulfill it. I understand 25 coupon is nothing, but it's the point, the principal.

This last call I literally felt my face get so red with anger: I was transferred at least 6 times, spoke with everyone, telling me I was sent an email saying there were no more coupons (never received any emails) and I said, logically, well to make this right can you send me or give me a dell.com 25 gift card/credit or even a ink cartridge or two to just make right of this lie you put on your website and everyone refused.

I spoke to a manager named Reeta (funny other people spoke to this manager Reeta, probably the employees are just told to say this name) and he/she could not give me any other answer except the coupon has expired and they were no more ( ? ) so I didnt need it. So I asked what was there reasoning for just not making this right, what was causing them to not rectify the situation. I basically got told all the same thing to the point where I just hung up.

I seen other posting where they were told the same thing about coupon ran out, etc. I actually would like to know if anyone ever got this coupon at all or if it was just all a lie to get people to purchase the printer. Any company that I worked at would have made this more than right. For example, I order some things from Jcrew and they charged my credit card wrong, not only did they fix the problem themselves but they sent me a 50 gift card with no asking. It makes me very upset a large company like Dell continues to lie and treat their customers so horribly with no repercussions.

Jonathan of Flushing, NY June 16, 2009

I was contemplating between a HP branded laptop and a Dell branded laptop. After calling a Dell Sales representative on the phone, she swayed my decision to purchase a Dell laptop by offering a 150 Dell Gift card if I purchased today. She said the 150 gift card will arrive 6 weeks after receiving the laptop first.

2 months later I still have not received the Gift Card I emailed Dell about it.

After numerous email exchanges, they are denying the Gift Card saying they have no records of this. I explained to them it was ordered through their phone sales and it was the reason I bought the laptop. I then asked to return the laptop since they used dishonest sales tactics to make me purchase it. They say I cannot return the laptop after 21 days. Now I know why the original sales rep said the gift card will arrive 6 weeks later since by then I would be unable to return the laptop and have no recourse.

So basically Dell used bait and switch tactics to get me to buy the laptop, and now are not honoring what was promised to me. Hours and Hours of phone calls with Dell, asking what they can do to resolve the situation. I even asked for a 1 discount or coupon and they will not budge showing ultimately that they do not care about the customer

Geraldine of Holbrook, NY June 3, 2009

I placed an order for a Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop computer on November 30, 2008 and a Dell Printer. At the time of ordering, the Sales person - M. LaBrayere advised me if I opened a Dell Account I would get a 100.00 coupon to purchase any Dell items. Upon his advice I did open the account wherein I put those purchases totaling 854.90 on it. The order was processed and I received it in the middle of December. I waited to receive my 100.00 coupon and never did.

I called January 2,2009 and placed an order for items for my laptop totaling 106.42 with Jenny Culbertson. The estimated shipping date for the order was January 9,2009. I waited weeks and checked on line and found the order was cancelled. I called numerous times through the following months. At first I was told my coupon was applied to someone else's purchase by mistake.

I waited and of course, no one called and once again I called and was passed from person to person with no help. I was on the phone with over 9 people for 2 and a half hours in February and after waiting that long, I was disconnected!! I have copies of numerous emails I have sent asking to please look into the matter as to why I have not received my items that I was entitled to upon purchase on November 30, 2008. One email reply was .. "We were unable to authorize the order because you didn't have the coupon code." How could I have the coupon code if I never received the coupon.

This has all been quite frustrating and I do not know what else to do. I have spent hours and hours on the phone with Dell along with numerous emails and have gotten nowhere. No one in this Company seems to care about the relations with their customers. In the meantime, I haven't used the laptop, as I had ordered a cover and backpack to put it in. This situation has been going on for months and I don't know what to do next.

I am a person, all my life, who has abided by agreements and laws and Dell has failed to abide by its agreement as stated above. I am entitled to this merchandise for 100.00 in Dell supplies upon opening a Dell Account on November 30, 2008 when I placed my order #. I would sincerely appreciate your help in this matter.

Arlene of Surprise, AZ May 2, 2009

Purchased a laptop in December of 2007 with a promise of a Dell gift card(I believe it was 200). I never received it. In the beginning, I was told I should receive it soon, but now I am being told it doesn't exist.

Elizabeth of Howell, MI April 11, 2009

Elizabeth of Howell MI (04/11/09)
On 4/8/08, I purchased a Dell laptop computer through their telephone sales line. I spoke with Mr. J. Gonnet. Mr. Gonnet said that if I opened an account with Dell Financial, I would receive a 100 coupon towards my next order. The coupon never came. I telephoned and e-mailed Mr. Gonnet numerous times but he never resonded. I contacted Dell both by phone and via their website. I was given complaint #. I was told there was no 100 rebate/coupon and that a note would be placed in MY file. To date, I have received NOTHING from Dell towards resolving my complaint.

Mr. Gonnet blaintantly lied to me. And Dell did not respond to me adequately. I should have received a 100 coupon so that I could have used it on a subsequent order. I feel Dell should send me a CHECK for 100. Plus I feel they should be penalized for allowing employees to lie to the public!

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