Things to Avoid at All Cost: Circuit City Rebate Offers

By Timothy Sexton, published Feb 15, 2007
Published Content: 2,460  Total Views: 2,098,934  Favorited By: 182 CPs
Contact  Subscribe   Add to Favorites
Rating: 3.8 of 5
 
Font
 
Font
Are you in the market for a new computer? Your Sunday newspaper typically will carry inserts from such stores as Office Depot, Best Buy and Circuit City, each offering surprisingly affordable prices for just the computer you were looking for. And then you look a little more closely and see just how that computer can be so affordable. The dreaded word REBATE!

I can't speak for the rebate offers from Office Depot or Best Buy or any other store, but I must issue a warning: Do not buy a computer from Circuit City thinking you are going to be getting it for the price advertised as a result of the rebate offer. Because chances are you will never receive at least one of those rebates; probably the biggest one. I speak not only from personal experience, but from the personal research of others who have been in the same boat I find myself in.

In October of 2006 I decided it was finally time to give up on my old laptop and buy a new one. After some comparison shopping, there was an HP Pavilion on sale at Circuit City that caught my eye. It featured a much wider screen and promised to allow me to burn DVDs without fear of the computer shutting off before the burn was complete. Let me state right off the bat I have very little complaints about the HP Pavilion computer itself. But remember how I said I bought it in October of 2006? Well, here we are in February and I have only received one of the rebate checks promised me; naturally, it is the lesser of the two rebates offered. As to the other rebate that enticed me to purchase my laptop at Circuit City? In January I received a letter informing me that the serial number indicated it was a computer for which a rebate had already been sent in. A duplicate, in other words. I was requested to send in a letter confirming the serial number. Which I did. That was a month ago and, hey, still no rebate! Here we are over three months after my initial purchase and I seriously doubt I'll ever actually see my rebate check that was promised me by Circuit City.

 
Share
 
Save For Later
 
Publish Yours
 
Print
More by Timothy Sexton
View all »

Don't be enticed by Circuit City rebates. Try to find what you're looking for elsewhere.

Credit: Timothy Sexton

Copyright: Timothy Sexton

You may also like...
Other topics: 
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 15 of 25
Next >>
 
INQUIRY REGARDING OTHER POTENTIAL CLASS MEMBERS In May 2007 I bought a laptop through Circuit City. The service staff pressured me to buy a printer, spyware system and router, all of which were being offered as rebate items, since, after the rebate, these items would be free. I bought all these things under Circuit City's no interest for 6 months program. Part of the sales pitch was I'd get the rebate before the 6 months were up, so I could pay with my rebate money before interest started to run. I applied for the rebates but I never received them. The staff at Circuit City just ignores my requests for help, and I am now being hassled by the bank with the threat that my credit will be ruined. The bank wants interest back to the date of the original purchase. Has anyone else had the same or similar experience with Circuit City? If so, please contact me . My e-mail address is pabloduran101@hotmail.com.

Add a Comment

Posted on 05/07/2008 at 7:05:36 PM

 
INQUIRY REGARDING OTHER POTENTIAL CLASS MEMBERS In May 2007 I bought a laptop through Circuit City. The service staff pressured me to buy a printer, spyware system and router, all of which were being offered as rebate items, since, after the rebate, these items would be free. I bought all these things under Circuit City's no interest for 6 months program. Part of the sales pitch was I'd get the rebate before the 6 months were up, so I could pay with my rebate money before interest started to run. I applied for the rebates but I never received them. The staff at Circuit City just ignores my requests for help, and I am now being hassled by the bank with the threat that my credit will be ruined. The bank wants interest back to the date of the original purchase. Has anyone else had the same or similar experience with Circuit City? If so, please contact me . My e-mail address is pabloduran101@hotmail.com.

Add a Comment

Posted on 05/07/2008 at 7:05:30 PM

 
if you follow the directions and read what the receipt tells you, it'll happen, i shop at both circuit city and best buy i do the rebate thing all the time, they will tell you when you get your money, whether it be 2-3 days or 6-8 weeks, i got my money on time every time

Add a Comment

Posted on 04/20/2008 at 1:04:48 AM

 
if you follow the directions and read what the receipt tells you, it'll happen, i shop at both circuit city and best buy i do the rebate thing all the time, they will tell you when you get your money, whether it be 2-3 days or 6-8 weeks, i got my money on time every time

Add a Comment

Posted on 04/20/2008 at 1:04:48 AM

 
The CC scam goes on - I am in a struggle with CC which will probably end in their favour . They denied a rebate on an HP laptop because the purchase was ' ouside the rebate period' even though the store assistant and the in-store notice both clearly stated that the period was fine. Go figure .... Large email thread later I am still getting the run-around from the s0-called customer service group. The CC store is Van Ness in SF.

Add a Comment

Posted on 02/04/2008 at 11:02:23 AM

 
Circuit city does it again.. they denied me my rebate. Why doesnt someone bring up a class action suit against circuit city ?

Add a Comment

Posted on 01/25/2008 at 7:01:40 PM

 
BTW, Dell also cheated us out of a $50 buck rebate 7 or 8 years ago. They also sent us a promotional ad that offered a very low price on the computer we wanted, and when we called to buy it they told us we needed to have a business credit card or checking account to get the good price. I went to one of the coupon places on the internet and found a coupon there that we used to get an even lower price, and it was not one of those rebate scams, either...the money came right off the top at time of purchase. I wish we had remembered that last spring when we bought the HP at Circuit City.

Add a Comment

Posted on 12/09/2007 at 4:12:45 PM

 
We had the same thing happen to us...we were to get rebates both from HP AND from Circuit City. The HP ones were a little difficult in that it was impossible to tell for some of the boxes what was the proof of purchase they wanted, but they did send us the money that was promised. From Circuit City: NADA. Not even an explanation of why they didn't send the money. Back in the pre-Reagan days before the Republicans deregulated everything, a company would have had a much harder time getting away with these scams. We will NEVER EVER buy anything from any Circuit City again...as far as we are concerned, they are a fraudulent company that is set up to cheat unwary customers.

Add a Comment

Posted on 12/09/2007 at 4:12:00 PM

 
Wow, I'm not the only frustrated one. I will not go back to Circuit City. I went there to buy a lap top, and first of all, they ended up giving me the wrong one (it was a nicer model so I kept it ;) and then they sold me this printer/security software/wireless router combo that was supposedly "free" after rebates. Well I had to fill out SEVEN rebate forms and after several months, still haven't reclaimed half the money that was promised. These rebates are a scam. Don't even bother.

Add a Comment

Posted on 12/07/2007 at 1:12:00 PM

 
Circuit City and Lenovo are playing a not-so-nice game and the rebate-seeking customers are their pawns!! Circuit City offered a Lenovo ThinkPad computer with two concurrent rebates. One rebate was for $100 and the other was ffor $150. Forms were sent in just as requested along with UPC codes, etc. The forms were sent via certified mail with return receipt requested (no chances taken there!). The forms were signed for at the company rebate center. A confirmation e-mail is sent about the $100 rebate but nothing is said about the other rebate sent in the same envelope! Nothing! An inquiry at the Lenovo promotional rebate center is made and a response is sent back as follows: "Our website never offered this $150.00 rebate. We contacted Circuit City informing them of this error on their website. They took it off quickly. I'm sorry they did not inform you. This $150.00 rebate is Circuit City's error and responsibility. Sincerely, Amber Delaney Lenovo Promotio

Add a Comment

Posted on 12/01/2007 at 9:12:00 PM

 
I am in a battle right now as we speak. The store manager threw me out for rasing h*@#$ and hung up the phone one me. I called CC and the y hung up on me numerous times following the usual run around. I will never, I mean never buy another thing from that place again.

Add a Comment

Posted on 11/26/2007 at 8:11:00 PM

 
no more mailin rebates

Add a Comment

Posted on 11/24/2007 at 9:11:00 AM

 
LET US ALL TAKE THEM TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AFTER BESTBUY JUST SETTLED

Add a Comment

Posted on 11/24/2007 at 9:11:00 AM

 
I also fell for Circuit City last Aug and bought the HP computer, monitor and printer package. The 3 rebates totaling $170 had a lot to do with it. I kept copies of everything I sent, paid extra at the post office to prove that I mailed it on time and waited. Today, over 2 months later I have 2 letters from Circuit City (I don't want anyone to misunderstand what CC means). They both say that my writing was unreadable and to send the actual serial numbers from the packages. I mailed them the first time and I can prove it. I mailed the rebates on time and included more than they asked for, I covered these rebates from every angle. However, I forgot Circuit City's ability to be outright dishonest. I have copies of everything and have to send this in all over again and hope for Circuit City's honesty. I didn't buy a Dell because I've heard of poor customer service, Wow, I'm an idiot. Don't trust Circuit City to honor any promise they make. Thanks for letting me vent. If this sa

Add a Comment

Posted on 11/19/2007 at 7:11:00 PM

 
We expected the $50 mail in rebate on our HP Pavillion bought at Circuit City in August, 2007. We mailed in the application and requirements for the rebate on 8/4/2007 and have not yet seen the $50 rebate.

Add a Comment

Posted on 11/08/2007 at 5:11:00 PM

Type in Your Comments Below
Your name:

Submit your own content on this or any topic. Get started »
Showing Comments 1 - 15 of 25
Next >>
Most Commented On
 
Apply Now »