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Sony Rebates

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Collene of Lake Forest Park, WA, writes:
In May 2000, I purchased a Sony digital camcorder. Included in the user's manual was a small folder of various other documents. Stuck to the front of this was a large yellow sticker which read: "Register this product at www.sony.com/productregistration within 30 days of purchase, and get $20 off your next purchase of digital imaging accessories from www.sonydirect.com/xtras"

I went to the web site and registered the camera (within 7 days of purchase I think), and when I got to the end of the registration, I think it bumped me automatically to the web address given at the end of the above quote where there were accessories to order. I chose a 16MB memory stick. When I got to the payment portion of the web page's checkout, I was informed that I would be charged the full amount when the item shipped. However, I would then receive a $20 credit to the same charge card I had purchased it with. I do not remember if there was any sort of timeline indicated about when this credit would be received.

My credit card was charged 5/19/00 for the purchase, and I have received the memory stick. However, I have not received the rebate. I have called at least three, possibly four times to various different numbers listed as being associated with Sony Customer Service. Some of them tell me that they are not at all able to assist me because they are "in another building and in another division" from the one which is responsible for the rebate. Apparently, phone, email, or physical walking are all foreign concepts to them.

Other times, I have apparently connected to the correct building and division. Usually after being on hold for upwards of 40 minutes, I am able to talk to a real person. This person commonly tells me that the response to the rebate was so large that they are having difficulty responding to it, but they are working on it. One time I talked to a Joel, who promised to submit some sort of paperwork saying that I deserved a refund and had not yet received one. I have even talked to people who claim to be the supervisors of those answering the direct lines and they give me a similar treatment. When I ask if they have a name or direct number that I can call back on when I still have not received a rebate, they balk at providing them.

The main consequence is that I probably had to pay more than I would have had to for this memory stick since I could have gotten it locally and not had to pay shipping. In addition, though, I have now spent probably at least 20 hours on phone trying to get my rebate.

The people on the other end have NEVER been sympathetic and are often quite rude. Obviously, at this point, I have spent far more than $20 worth of time & frustration trying to iron this out. I actually hardly even care about the $20. I am more galled by the idea that I am surely one of thousands if not millions who are being swindled out of their rebate. Keeping that sort of money invested correctly means you could make a great profit in four months time.

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