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Sears employs a classic bait and switch with its purported "rebate" enticement for large appliances, which it runs several times per year. It offers 10% off one appliance, 20% off two appliances, and 30% off three or more appliances over $399 in value. But the incentive is nowhere near as good as it sounds because soon after you sign on the dotted line, the friendly folks at Sears disclaim any knowledge of, or connection to, your rebate. Instead, you are directed to the Sears Rebate Center, which either intentionally or incompetently mismanages the rebate process, taking no action on the rebate for at least eight weeks while Sears holds your money and earns interest on your savings.
The Sears Rebate Center employees will cheerfully inform you that "it takes 6 to 8 weeks to process your rebate application" as if that is a perfectly reasonable amount of time to log something into a computer. Then after six weeks of "processing" the application (which any mechanized system with a handful of staffers could do in a single day), Sears then takes "up to 30 days" to mail the check to you because the company inexplicably chooses to send the check via third class mail.
Nothing makes a customer feel so appreciated as when a Fortune 100 company sends rebate checks via third class mail. Rest assured, the billing statement for the full price of your appliances will be "processed" in less than two weeks and mailed via first class mail so that you will have to bear the entire brunt of the cost of these appliances for weeks before your money is returned to you. Sears should be ashamed of itself. Rebates are a ridiculous way to credit consumers for sale prices on appliances and the money should be taken off at the cash register as it is at Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowes.
T. Manganello.
Been waiting for $100.00 rebate on generator. Had to resubmit for a third time several weeks ago, with the paperwork correct all three times. Rebate center says something is missing. Excuses...I won't buy from Sears again with a rebate.
I purchase a washing machine Friday September 19, 2008. So far I have been unable to get the rebate form processed on-line. I can't get the processing center to take my information. I wish I had read the rebate comments before I made my purchase. I would not have made my purchase there.
Sure wish I'd checked this website before we made our purchase! Here's a letter I sent to a senior executive six weeks ago; no response.
Mr. Mike McCarthy
Senior Vice President, Retail Operations
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
3333 Beverly Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Dear Mr. McCarthy:
I write to you because the people in your rebate program are either terminally incompetent or guilty of outright fraud.
My wife and I made an online purchase of a Sears washer/dryer combination on January 31, paying careful attention to the parameters of the rebate program then in effect and following the instructions and advice of several of your employees with whom we spoke by telephone regarding the rebate process. Now we are informed that our application is "invalid" for reasons that are untrue and ludicrous on their face (see enclosed copy of rejection notice).
Calling your rebate center is pointless, since your employees there seem to be under instructions to say "no" to every request and dismiss every appeal for rationality. To add insult to injury, when we asked to speak to a manager, we were put on hold for ten minutes or so, only to be cut off; that has happened twice, so it's no accident.
There was an exception, however: On March 4, I spoke with someone who identified herself as "Angelica." She said your rebate online system was down and we would need to mail the application form. When I expressed concern regarding the "postmark date" requirement, she said the promotion was good till June 30 and advised me to mail it in anyway. If the application should be denied, she said, we should call the rebate center and they'll "put it through themselves." I took careful notes of that conversation, but now we are unable to reach "Angelica, " much less get satisfaction from any other rebate center employee.
We are not trying to bilk Sears & Roebuck out of 300 dollars, Mr. McCarthy; we simply want what was promised to us when we made our purchase.
We will be happy to answer any questions you might have about this matter, but we expect you to take appropriate steps to ensure our satisfaction and uphold the integrity of your company."
I am still waiting for my rebate check for 882 dollars as well. The rebate center received my information at the beginning of June and it is now October. I was told if I didn't receive my check after 30 days to call so a stop could be placed and a check reissued. 2 days later the check came but could not be deposited. WEEKS passed by and no change on the rebate status online. I called and raised a stink and finally an update showed on the computer. The check was mailed out on September 18th... we are now at day 36 with no check. When I spoke with Delores, one of the supervisors she told me my address could be incorrect, there could have been a storm, or the mail truck could've been in an accident. They didn't know. I laughed at her and told her that her excuses were utterly ridiculous. A check being sent from Minnesota does not take over thirty days to get to North Carolina! I can send a package overseas to a person in a war zone and they can get it in less time. I do think there are some suspicious practices going on... holding the money to gain more interest and unusual reasons for denying people their rebates. I would encourage you all to do the same thing I am...I am writing the Chicago newspapers in hopes that someone in authority will see the letter and respond. I am so livid I am ready to purchase a ban sears t-shirt and sit outside their store at the mall! I am writing to any venue I possibly can to warn fellow consumers. Don't waste your time with the rebate center or customer service... they are a waste of time.
I am absolutely livid at the Sears Rebate Center. In late August, 2007, we purchased a microwave, dishwasher and range from Sears, with the promise of a rebate that should have come to about $500. Just yesterday, we received a letter from Sears saying that our rebate was DENIED because their "records show that we returned or exchanged the merchandise", which, by the way, never happened. When I called to explain that they had apparently received some misinformation, I was told that we had probably changed our minds on the color or something like that and I had just forgotten. Excuse me? I think I would know if I exchanged the merchandise! I informed them that no return or exchange had ever taken place and asked that they call the Sears store to clear it up. I was told that they can't make outbound calls, so I asked for a Supervisor.
"Sylvia" was the worst "supervisor" I have ever dealt with. She was condescending, rude, and refused to help. She even, yet again, suggested that maybe I exchanged them and didn't remember. When I said I would like her to call the Sears store and clear the matter up on my behalf, she informed me that she is in Rebates - NOT Customer Service. When I asked who her supervisor was, she informed me that his name is Anthony and he is a Manager, but that I would not be allowed to speak with him. When I tried to ask why, she promptly hung up on me.
Sears should be ashamed of themselves for employing such ignorant, unhelpful employees. They should also add something to their training program to make sure that all of their employees know that if they deal with the customer in ANY way, they ARE in customer service, even if they don't want to acknowledge it. Right now, I am sitting here wondering if I'll ever see my money at all. They obviously have some kind of scam going where they try to falsely deny rebates and then pocket the money. I am now in the market for a new refrigerator to match the new appliances I bought (and didn't return) from Sears. Guess where I won't be buying it from?
On 05/10/07, I purchased four Appliances that was over $399 each, for a total of almost $7000, where I was supposed to get 20% back on Rebate which totals to almost $1500. I sent the rebate forms in on 5/11/07. When I went to check with the rebate center in June, they stated that they show no record of receiving it and that I need to re-send it to the Special handling dept in America, MN. I sent it certified mail return receipt. When I call the rebate center they still indicate no record. I have also emailed America Rebates with no response back. The Salesman at sears has even faxed the necessary papers and we still get negative results. I think Sears needs to investigate this Rebate Company as it appears to me that they are pocketing the big money rather than sending it to the Consumer. It is now August 2007 and still nothing positive. This is quite aggravating to say the least. If I had known that we were not going to get this 20% discount, I would have never spent so much at Sears.
Can someone give some advice on what else I can do to get my Rebate?
We have been waiting for a rebate since our purchase of a $597 gas grill from Sears on [protected]. I looked up the rebate online and the tracking said it was mailed on July 17. They told me it was mailed to the wrong address and they couldn't send another check until at least August 2. They said to call back if I hadn't received it by then. I still haven't received the check so I am making a complaint since they said it was sent on the 17th of July. I am loosing faith in Sears due to their very very poor rebate processing. I had to have all sorts of info to mail in to them and prove who I was with MY CORRECT ADDRESS. So then they screw it up anyway? Who is running the show there? Get rid of incompetent help or else there will be no people shopping with you Sears...