Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 3

I know ill get flamed but here it goes. You definitely will have a strong chance for rebate but deep inside you already know its a mistake (despite what compusa managers and employees say). I was gonna cash in on this but its too risky. The ad even shows that the 200 dollar rebate is part of a bundle with getting omniskys modem and the fine print says that the $200 rebate is applied to the credit card that omnisky service is charged to.

But as i said, go ahead and buy and sue if you dont get an easy $200 out of it. (i think suing people for everything is for @$$holes but its easy to play dumb and justify it to yourselves) If you only look at the rebate and ignore any other ads in the store by playing stupid stupid stupid then you have a a fair chance in court.

Hopefully it wont go that far, but i did call the company that you send rebate info in to and they dont have it in their systems and know nothing about it. They also question its validity since the rebate address is to mindspring rebate even though mindspring has nothing to do with it. Typos do happen! FLAME ON!

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 58

When I purchased my Prism, I did NOT think it was a mistake. I did not see a COMPUSA ad advertising it. This looked like an unadvertised, great deal that was very limited in time and scope (1/13-1/20). I bought mine on Tuesday morning 1/16.

Certainly, I have since seen and heard all about this issue. My rebate form was clear and concise. I made sure the SKU on the form matched the SKU on the Prism and I asked the store about it when I bought it. "Yep", they said "looks good. The Mindspring name must have been a typo, but they'll recognize it when it gets to the rebate center."

So, I don't feel bad... not one bit. If out of the blue I get an extra $200 check from the rebate center, I will promptly return it to CompUSA. I am not looking to scam anyone or anything.

Also- my local COMPUSA, in the end, has won my esteem for the way the manager handled this issue. I will be a faithful shopper there.... I will also continue to regularly check the rebate coupon table for more great deals!

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 4

I just spoke with my local store in Nashville. I spoke with the Operations Manager. I told her I had bought the Handspring Prism yesterday 1/19/2001 and had been directed to it by one of the sales associates. I was going in to buy the Platinum � he said I could get the Prism for cheaper with a $200 rebate that was running 1/13/2001 � 1/20/2001. I asked him �what�s the catch�? What other thing did I have to purchase. He said nothing. I also asked the cashier about it � this is all I need to buy �nothing else and she said that�s it, just mail in the rebate form. While searching the Net last night for software, I ran across this thread discussing whether or not CompUSA was going to honor these rebates. I told the associate some people had called the rebate center and they said they had nothing about this $200 rebate. Many had called HQ and they referred these customers back to the store where they had bought their unit. Some got emails sent from HQ to the store manager saying this would not be honored. Many people are taking their units back in to get an instant $200 credit. Many said their store had pulled these rebate cards. This operations manager said she had not heard anything about this rebate not being legit. She said they still had their rebate forms out for this unit. She said again � all there is to buy is the Prism. She said she had not heard anything about getting an instant $200 credit either. She said if I got a letter of denial on the rebate to bring it in to the store and I would get a $200 check. She also said if I had not received the rebate in some 16 weeks to come in and get the rebate.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

TNhunter, which Nashville store did you buy yours from? The Cool Springs or 100 Oaks one? I bought a Prism from the 100 Oaks one and am currently trying to figure out what to do (my email to CompUSA customer service remains unanswered). I know I personally would not be very comfortable waiting for 16 weeks to get a rebate that most evidence seems to suggest is not being honored by the rebate center, and then hoping that the same manager is around after so much time in order to remember that she promised a $200 credit from the store. I'm wondering if I'll get the same response when I have to deal with the store, assuming we bought it from the same Nashville one. . . .

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 4

I got it from the 100 Oaks store. A friend of mine got one from Cool Springs. A second friend was going after work yesterday to get one, but I don't know which store he went to. If they aren't going to honor the rebate via mail-in, I'd like for them to go ahead and take care of it right now. I tried to call HQ last night and follow the menus to the "overdue" rebate option, but they were closed - will open back up Monday morn. Keep me posted on this. There are three of us. BTW - when I got mine yesterday, there were about 10 more prisms available. And like i said in my note above. I only found this thread about possible snafu of CompUSA last night. This was bought and the rebate request sent in without even thinking this was not legit. It sounded like the woman I spoke with would do all she could to make it right.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

Well, not to flame, but I don't think it in fact WAS a mistake. As I have said elsewhere, I think that next month, when the Vc or whatever and the color Sony Clie (I know, it has a lousy screen on the Japanese version - but maybe they've since fixed it!) both come out, the brick-like Prism is going to look AWFULLY expense at $449 (especially since the Palm IIIc is available for $329). (please, no flames - I bought one, right?) When I called CompUSA HQ, the person there told me that they had indeed planned to offer this deal, but "changed our minds at the last minute." So for both those reasons, I don't think anyone can say that this deal was clearly too good to be true.

Amazingly enough, just a couple hours ago I was at my local CompUSA, and was looking at their Prism display (it caught my eye because it was running the web site slide show - smart adverstising trick!) The salesman pulled his own Prism out - so he's no ignoramus - and then told me, "By the way, there's a $200 rebate on this, and it expires today." He then led me up to the coupon area, and pulled out a pad of rebate forms. (No, I didn't buy another.) So obviously not everyone at CompUSA has been brought up to speed on the problem (or perhaps more accurately, "change of heart"), and it is NOT just "dumb salesmen" that are messing up.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 3

but isnt anyone concerned that the ad clearly states the $200 will be credit to the card omnisky's service is being billed to? I know the rebate itself says nothing but the ad tells the whole story. Buy the bundle, get $200 for your prism, $50 for your omnisky modem. Im sure whoever buys will win this (easily or through court) but its just weird how people ignore the obvious.

(id cash in if i thought color was worth it but my .02 is that if youre gonna get color youre already at the next level which is getting a PPC. i definitely prefer greyscale and a lightweight palm like a palm vx or clie)

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 7

Am I the only one not having luck with this? The GM at my store completely refuses to give me a credit, but is willing to refund my money, even though I told him that I cut up the box already.

Not sure what to do now..maybe just enjoy my Prism for a few days?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 58

Get this... the same store that credited me the money to my CC and said that the front-end manager was to have pulled the coupons but hadn't STILL HAD 3 PADS OF THE COUPONS ON DISPLAY TODAY!!!! Unbelievable.

I met another person in there who had gotten the Prism a few days ago and had sent his rebate stuff in. He is going to talk to the manager now too.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 58

Monkemon- this coupon is un-related to the ad. I don't see an ad. If you buy the Omnisky you get the 200 credit after 6 mos. service anyway. The outside of the Omnisky box has a coupon for $50 off with purchase of Prism or Platinum.

These are unrelated!!

If they were related, you would get 200 off after 6 mos. from Omnisky, then 200 off Prism (from COMPUSA rebate), then another 50 off Prism (from Omnisky box coupon). That's not what any ad I've read says.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 10

I too am having a lot of stone-walling from GMs at local Comp USAs. I called the Manchester, CT store, and he told me that he would allow for a full refund, but nothing else. The Springfield MA store said he would refund it now or after six weeks when the rebate period waiting is over. He said that the word he has heard is that they are honoring the rebate. But when i mentioned the fact that other GMs are crediting hte $200, he said that policy is not official and is not being done at this store.

Could someone post the phone number of the GMs who are crediting the accounts over the phone? I don;t think that there are that many of us on this thread so I don't think it will be a problem calling in and getting a refund over the phone.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 7

Hmm..you think calling the GM at a store far from where you actually bought the Prism would work?

Worth a last ditch effort, I suppose.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

I also tried to get results at the CUSA here in Plano. The GM was quick to say no,no,no.

Please email me and tell me how you others were able to get results.

__________________
Jeff Schaffer
[email protected]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

When I talked to CompUSA HQ's Overdue Rebates desk yesterday, at the (800) number that somebody posted here earlier, I was told that an email regarding the situation would be sent to the store manager, and that if I got no satisfaction from him I should call them back. Please note that the HQ guy did NOT say that I would be getting a $200 credit. I think they're telling each store that it's up to them to decide what to do, and then maybe the HQ will overrule them and act on its own. But the fact that there's no uniform policy is truly bizarre.

Monkemon - I agree with Prismenvy. I was totally unaware of any possible tie-in to Omnisky until somebody mentioned it here, and it certainly says nothing about that on the rebate coupon (which is not attached to an Omnisky box, like somebody asserted, but is simply at the front of the store i n the rebates area). Remember that TODAY a highly knowledgeable salesperson (he owned a Prism himself) showed me the rebate in an effort to convince me to buy the Prism. There sure wasn't any mention of buying a modem and subscribing to Omnisky!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
Posts: 32

success!

Successfully received a $200 credit from CompUSA today (actually, they refunded the 449+ tax, then recharged 249 + tax, which works out better!)

For those of you who are not getting any satisfaction from your GMs, here's what I would suggest: talk to the GM again, raise a stink about how you purchased the Prism in good faith, expecting a $200 rebate, and that's the ONLY reason you bought it from their store. If you spend a lot of money at their store, certainly mention that. If they still refuse to help, tell them that you will be contacting the corporate headquarters. Also mention that, if you don't receive the $200 rebate, you will take them to small claims court.

Then, call the corp HQ at the number posted in this thread. Listen to the options and choose "Overdue Rebates." When you get a customer service rep, who certainly will already know the story, tell them as well that you bought the Prism in good faith. Also mention that other CompUSA customers around the country are getting $200 credit towards this Prism...ask them why they allow some customers to receive better treatment than others? If necessary, insist to them that you hold a legal document in the form of the rebate coupon. Tell them that you can meet every requirement on that coupon, the SKU# is an exact match as required, and so they are legally bound to give you $200. Mention small claims court again, as necessary. By then, the rep should certainly have offered to contact your local store manager and intercede on your behalf.

The first time my local manager called me back, he was insistent that they could do nothing other than allow me to return the Prism for a full refund. I threatened legal action, mentioned that I would call corporate, and he backpedaled, saying "Let me see what I can do" and said he would call me back. In the meantime, I called corporate and got them to email the manager for me. When the manager had one of his flunkies call me back, their entire tone had changed, and it was simply "Sure, bring it in, we'll give you the $200 refund."

What really pisses me off is that if I had given up after the first phone call, I would have received NOTHING. It's completely unfair and unethical that CompUSA doesn't have an overriding corporate policy to remedy this issue. Again, why should some customers get better treatment and a better deal than others? Why should we have to raise hell to get the deal that they are legally obligated to give us??? Their ethical responsibility would be to place a correction in this week or next week's advertisement and offer to refund $200 to anyone who bought a Prism between 1/13-1/20.

But of course, they won't do that, because they want to avoid giving refunds. And, for those of you planning to wait 6-8 weeks for the phantom rebate, good luck. By then, I think you will have no chance of getting $200 back from your local store. Your only choices will be to take them to small claims court, or else to band together in a class-action lawsuit.

If anyone reading this board has connections to a tech reporter or journalist, I think it would greatly advance the cause to get some bad press for CompUSA on this one. They screwed up big time, and instead of accepting that responsibilty, they're doing everything they can to shirk it.

OK, that's the end of my rant.

Eric

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

Mistake a good thing for CompUSA?

I was thinking and I came to the conclusion that in the long run this rebate mistake could be a good thing for the consumer AND CompUSA. Many people who have heard about this deal have decided to purchase the Prism even though they had no intention to before. I bet Prism sales are way up for CompUSA. All these new prism owners are going to want accessories and guess where they will go to buy them? Also, CompUSA has received a bad rap before about having bad support etc. If they refund the $200 this will improve their image greatly, and the resulting increase in sales might offset the expense or more, they might make money. Think about it. If the GM gives you $200 won't you recomend CompUSA to all your friends? And won't you recomend your new Visor Prism also? And if your friends ask where they can buy it even for $450, what are you gonna say? CompUSA of course.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
Posts: 32

Recommend CompUSA?

After the way they've tried to wriggle out of this rebate that they are legally obligated to provide?

Not likely. I disliked them before all this, and I dislike them even more now. I consider the fact that they gave me my $200 back a simple fulfillment of their obligation, nothing more. The fact that I had to fight tooth and nail for it makes me hate them even more.

Eric

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 7

No kidding. I used to enjoy a visit to CompUSA when I was in the same strip mall but not after this. The GM hasn't been helpful at all and I don't see how he can simply refuse to make good on the offer.

If I get my rebate, I may still shop there occasionally for convenience but I had been a customer of theirs for about 7 years and I will simply take my business elsewhere.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

Another angle on this....

I found the coupon at my local Comp USA after reading a different thread on the existence of these coupons. I went into the store and there they were -- two store employees told me it was legit until a store manager looked at it and saw the problem. Found out later from a different store that an email went out on the 16th telling them to pull the coupons from the rebate wall. Since I walked in the following day and got my coupon, the store failed to pull the coupons in a timely manner. When notifying the store manager of this later, he agreed that they should have been taken down promptly after they received the email and gave me the $200 off in the store.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

Come on.

Everyone realizes that CompUSA made a mistake. It was by their mistake that some people are getting $200. If I bought a Prism and then got $200 back I would be happy and consider myslef lucky. If I didn't I wouldn't be upset. It's too good of a deal. Why would a company rebate almost half of the price on a new popular product? For those of you who went out and bought the prism and you knew the rebate was a mistake, you had to have taken into account that it was a risky deal. For those of you who were told by someone at CompUSA that the rebate would be honered and then you bought the Prism because of this then you are entitled to be angry.