rebate problems

Jman02 · 09-11-2007, 05:47 PM

Has anyone had issues with getting their rebates from Pentax? I just recieved an e-mail today stating they are not honoring my $50 rabate for my K10D body.
The message read as follows:

We are currently unable to approve your rebate for the reason listed below.

The UPC symbol or proof-of-purchase tab you submitted is not valid for this promotion or no UPC symbol was submitted.

You will receive a letter or postcard describing this problem. The letter or postcard may have instructions on how to correct this error.

I just went and looked at my box again and I sent the UPC right from the box of the K10D body. What else could they want?

**Ole** · 09-11-2007, 06:30 PM

If the camera was a parallel import ("grey market"), they won't honor the rebate. That's the only thing I can think of besides Pentax losing the UPC code. You need to pursue them and get a more precise response.

Jimsi777 · 09-11-2007, 06:43 PM

I just sent my rebate off , I bought the K100D kit and the form asked for the UPC off the box of the Camera Body, I compared the numbers from the UPC to the one on the form and it matched, sent the original receit and UPC cut off the body box.

If you followed this procedure and still got that message, then someone is keeping the $50 as pentax hires out rebate operators I wonder if they keep more money this way?

The other thing, rebates discourage many form getting anything off, the wording is horrid and a simple mistake will take the promised money out from your pocket back into theirs and they know this.... what can we prove if some moron says something is wrong????....they got all the original paperwork and can say anything, BTW I only get 50% of rebates due to problems and I still fall for promotions involving rebates...LOL

*LeoTaylor* · 09-11-2007, 07:07 PM

I've submitted several Pentax rebates and have had no problems so far.

Jimsi777 · 09-11-2007, 07:14 PM

I never dealt with Pentax's rebate before now, I always had rebate problems with other companies, HP printer combo was the worst!!!(no more HP Printers rebates for me), I am glad to hear someone got their money, maybe the original poster made either a mistake or his was bought at another place that Pentax doesnt honor or is a grey market camera. Thanks for letting me let off steam...Jim

Finn · 09-11-2007, 07:14 PM

I sent my $100 rebate form in for a 31/1.8 last April and never heard anything again. I've tried contacting them several times with no response. If only I had made a photocopy of the forms before I sent them in...

hinckc · 09-11-2007, 08:03 PM

I sent out a couple Pentax rebates and a rebate for my Tamron 90mm at the same time. I have received and spent my Tamron rebate long ago (~1 month...

, but haven't gotten my Pentax rebates back yet. I'll sit and wait awhile longer. I put my Tamron rebate towards a 500mm mirror lens!

I never calculate the rebate into the "price", unless it's an instant rebate. If I have to give money, then that's the price. If it wasn't why did they take my money?

In fact, I generally avoid products with rebates, especially if they're relatively equivalent otherwise, before or after the rebate.
I think that rebates are a scam at some level, and a company that takes part in it, rather than just lowering their price is less trustworthy than one who just offers a lower price. Pentax only got my business because their product (and system in general) was so much less expensive than equivalent products, regardless of rebates.

just my opinion....

-Chris

Jman02 · 09-11-2007, 09:08 PM

No, I didn't buy a gray market camera. I bought it from the most repetable camera dealer in my state, National Camera (only 5 miles from my house). They have been in the biz for 93 years. I followed the directions on the form to a tee. I think I'll call Pentax in Colorado. They told me earlier this summer when I talked to them about camera models, to call if I had any problems with my rebates.

Jimsi777 · 09-11-2007, 09:53 PM

I now am concerned that mine will be rejected, I did factor the rebate in to what camera I would buy, just one thing that made me purchase it.

I only sent one UPC code off the camera body box, but bought a kit and have 2 more UPC codes that I kept that wasnt asked for...Please keep us informed...Jim

**Ole** · 09-11-2007, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by Jman02

No, I didn't buy a gray market camera. I bought it from the most repetable camera dealer in my state, National Camera (only 5 miles from my house). They have been in the biz for 93 years. I followed the directions on the form to a tee. I think I'll call Pentax in Colorado. They told me earlier this summer when I talked to them about camera models, to call if I had any problems with my rebates.

I have used the Pentax rebate offer three times, no problems, just a very long wait. Hopefully you retained a copy of the paperwork and the UPC code. After a bad experience with Western Digital (they claimed a missing UPC, but they lost it as far as I'm concerned) I always make a copy of the paper work. And what I send in I staple together, so that the UPC doesn't "disappear" when they tear the envelope open.

Kguru · 09-12-2007, 12:22 AM

I'd love to, via my US-based brother, get the 10-17 fisheye at $300 after $100 rebate. Brother is happy with doing the claim form & UPC stuff, but any hiccup I think it's not fair to make him chase up for me. For that reason I'm keeping my money, do without the lens, and Pentax loses a little bit of potential revenue

stewart_photo · 09-12-2007, 06:27 AM

A note to those mentioning long delays. To understand the long delay with rebates, one must understand how the rebate system works. Pentax (or any other company offering rebates) is not just giving back the money you've paid. Instead, your money along with that of many others is deposited into a bank or interest-bearing fund. After a given time (depends on various financial factors), you're paid a portion of the interest on the money deposited. In other words, the company doesn't lose a dime beyond the interest they might have collected on that money, sacrificed in the short-term as an incentive for consumers to purchase a product. The even longer delay now might be due to the recent Hoya/Pentax merger, with the two companies merging finances (bank accounts, funds, etc). Once that is fully resolved, the rebates may go back to the normal long delays instead of the extra long delays seen at the moment.

stewart

rdc · 09-12-2007, 07:35 AM

To the people who bought a k10d with the kit lens the rebate is for the body not the kit, you should have two or three boxes, one for the body, one for the lens, and one that they both came in, in order to get the rebateyou must send the UPC from the box that the body came in. If you've sent the UPC from the kit it will probobly be rejected, just try again with the body UPC and you should be fine (other than the time youve had to wait).

Jester_rm · 09-12-2007, 01:21 PM

Same here...I sent off a rebate for my K100D in January and never heard a thing. I did keep copies, but I'm not sure where I put them. Should really try to dig those up, $50 is $50...

Jman02 · 09-12-2007, 02:09 PM

Yes I have copies of the original receipt, the UPC and the rebate form. I sent in the UPC from the box for the camera body being that was what the rebate was for.