S & W rebate scam

[akodo]

shiftyer1 - huh?

I read your opening post, as well as your responses.

I am confused by them. There seems to be words missing or something.

This makes me suspect you failed to successfully communicate with the customer service people at Smith and Wesson.

I suggest IF you purchased your handgun after october 1 2008, you simply print out this form
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/SW_HH08_coupon.pdf

Decide if you want $50 OR 2 magazines. Check the appropriate box to reflect your choice.

Put the form and your sales receipt in an envelope and mail it away.

Realize that this stuff is a 'freebee' and in an either/or situation no company is bound by law to give you your choice. S&W is well within their rights to give you $50 even if you have checked '2 magazines' if, say, they are out of extra magazines.

It is possible your gun came with an outdated rebate form that offers some other deal. If that is the case, that form has expired, and is no longer relevant.

If you looked at the included rebate form, and failed to see the dates had passed, and yet still allowed it to influence your decision to purchase, that is your own fault.



I am sticking with my original statement. You failed to communicate with the customer service people at S&W. I have 2 guys at work like this I have to deal with. They think they can give a 2 word answer and that everyone will instantly know what they are talking about. We don't.

 

[shiftyer1]

When I first contacted them I was told they were having trouble keeping up with the orders. OK no big deal, I waited a couple months and called again.The reason for the denial is that they have no record of the form I sent in. I then went back to cabelas and asked for proof of purchase as per customer service recommendation. The problem is that this was magically not received either. Ok maybe it's not a customer service issue maybe it's a mailroom issue. Either way I was not satisfied with their service. It seems that most of you have been. So it appears that this may be an isolated incident. I held up my end, they didn't what more can I say? Maybe certified mail is a better way to go.

 

[M&PVolk]

I had no problems receiving my mags and my rebate from S&W, in fact their customer service and the quality of the M&P line has made me an S&W fan for life.

 

[PT140]

rebate

I received my $100 for my M&P 15 within 5 weeks of mailing it in. No complaints from me

 

[akodo]

so this is an issue of paperwork you sent S&W being lost, and then you sent a request to Cabela's and that got lost too? Or Cabela's sent paperwork to S&W for you and that got lost too?

 

[everydog]

For what its worth i bought a Sigma and printed a rebate form that offered $50 and two mags for guns purchased from November 1st 2007 to January
31st 2008. That offer spans 15 months so there must be several forms floating around. I noticed that S&W had a holiday offer that was good for $50 or 2 mags. Why have different offers for the same guns that are valid at the same time? I suppose they have taken the PDF form i used down from their site. It's been about a month since i sent in my form and i haven't got the rebate but the form calls for a 6 to 8 week delivery time. I've got my fingers crossed.

Johnny

 

[akodo]

November 1st 2007 to January
31st 2008. That offer spans 15 months

All of November 2007
All of December 2007
All of January 2008

That is basically a 'christmas add'

Why have different offers for the same guns that are valid at the same time?

They might not, dates aren't clear. However, the reason this happens is it takes a while for something to go from idea to culmination. They probably worked on rebate #1 for a month, put it out, and then waited a month to see how many responses were gotten, talked to sales people, did surveys, etc. Before Rebate #1 was half through, they would be working on Rebate #2 taking what they learned from Rebate #1.

Who knows, just like people here suggested 'take the cash and buy mags' their surveys of respondants might have revealed that a bunch of people said 'I'd rather have $100 than $50 + 2 mags' and a bunch said "I'd rather get 4 mags than 2 mags +$50'

It is quite possible that they got more response from the 2 mags + $50 than they expected. (Manufacturers plan on a lot of people buying because of a rebate, but never getting around to sending it in) Heck, they probably were planning on dailing it down to '1 free mag + $25' but due to feedback decided to go for an 'either-or' approach

 

[IndianaDon]

I bought a used S&W that came with three magazines that were later covered by a recall. They seemed to work fine, but I'd heard that the new ones were more reliable, so I called S&W. They asked if I was the original owner of the gun & I said no, I bought it used online. They checked and said, "Yes, the magazines you have are covered under the recall. Send them in & we'll replace them."

After a few weeks I hadn't seen 'em, so I called up Kelley. She apologized for me not receiving them and said they didn't have any at that time. I thanked her and then an hour later I got a call back from her. She said, "I asked one of the guys upstairs and he located some updated magazines for your gun. How many did you need?" I told her I had just sent in three and didn't expect any more than that back. She said she'd send 'em right out and I got 'em six days later. A month or so after that, I received a package in the mail---it was another three mags from S&W. I called 'em to explain that I'd received twice what I'd sent in, but they said to keep the extra ones & thanked me for giving them the opportunity to make it right.

This is not the first positive experience I've had with S&W, by any means. I've sent in used guns that I bought online and they have fixed 'em for free---and paid the shipping both ways---even after I told 'em I was not the original owner and I wanted to pay 'em for their work. "Thank-you for giving us the opportunity to serve you." is what they include instead of a bill.

 

[Ruggles]

S&W has a sterling customer service rep, the best in the industry as far as I know. Only had to use it once but was more than satisfied with it.

 

[BHP FAN]

two disgruntled guys,ants,see the post above yours.

 

[TX1911fan]

I got two free range bags from S&W under a rebate program, even though one of the guns I bought was a Walther and S&W just services them. Very upstanding. ALWAYS make a copy of your rebate forms in case they are lost. I had this happen on some Federal ammunition. I didn't copy it so I was out the $10. Can't blame them for not honoring something they didn't receive.

 

[FLA2760]

I bought a 40VE over a year ago and got the 2 mags for the rebate. I bought a 9VE earlier this year and got the 2 magazines and a check a little later.

 

[PX15]

JMOfartO:

You can't please all the people all the time and this situation is proof of that..

I've owned a Smith & Wesson firearm of some description for over 50 years, and I've NEVER had any dealing with other firearm manufacturer's Customer Service/Warranty Repair that surpassed that of S&W.

I had an ongoing ejector problem with a new Walther PPS last year, and after I sent it back the 2nd time (at THEIR expense, both ways) they just sent me a new one...

I had a small problem with a new CS9 earlier this year and sent it back to S&W (at THEIR expense, both ways), and in less than two weeks it was fixed and returned to me.

Last year I bought two Walther P99's and at that time there was an offer of a free range bag to anyone buying a new SMITH & WESSON firearm during that period.. I sent off a copy of my bill of sale for the Walthers and they sent me two free range bags, no sweat.

S&W has no interest in screwing a customer out of a free magazine, or even $50 if that was offered, but the customer has an obligation to fulfill the conditions of that free offer, and betcha a dime to a dough-nut these complainers didn't do that..

Smith & Wesson has one of the, if not THE, best reputation for Customer Service of any firearms manufacturer going, and anytime I hear someone complaining about how poorly they were treated by S&W CS I take that whining with a grain of salt. My experience, and that of the majority of other S&W owners simply does not reflect that, so the only other explanation is that it is not Smith & Wesson Customer Service with the problem, but the firearm owner himself.

Jesse

 

[gglass]

I bought my SW40VE in October and just received my rebate check. I bought the M&P 40 in November and should receive my rebate just after the holidays I suspect.

Rebate experience #1: 100% satisfied
Rebate experience #2: Pending

 

[Merkelman]

Rebates are a marketing scam aimed at naive consumers.First, the rebate is always hidden into the sales price. Secondly, if you make the slightest mistake on the paperwork or timing, NO REBATE!! Thirdly, they know that less than 50% ever bother to apply for a rebate.
I'd rather get the savings up front than play the rebate game.

 

[shiftyer1]

Ok so by all the positive posts I am leaning toward giving them another chance. I still feel they dropped the ball BUT maybe I fell just slipped through the cracks. Maybe the rep had a hangover, whos knows. From all the posts i've seen apparently this is not a common occurence. I wasn't trying to slam the product just the service I received. I am satisfied with the product just not the rebate but it looks like most folks had a positive experience. I do feel as if I bought a low end product and received low end service. Low end meaning the price of the weapon.

 

[Bailey Guns]

After 8 years as a S&W Stocking Dealer, Kimber Master Dealer, Taurus, Ed Brown, etc, etc... In my experience no company beats S&W for service. YMMV. Not only that, their custom shop is the best for repairs and/or custom work on guns in my opinion.

I was so impressed with the way they refinished a Mod 29 I tried to get the guy to do an old Colt New Service. He said he'd love to but couldn't due to liability issues. I'm sure that gun would've been beautiful...wish he could've done the work.

I bought a M&P15R in late July...got my $50 rebate in mid-Nov. A bit of a wait but I got it.

 

[Nozoki]

Rebates are a marketing scam aimed at naive consumers.First, the rebate is always hidden into the sales price. Secondly, if you make the slightest mistake on the paperwork or timing, NO REBATE!! Thirdly, they know that less than 50% ever bother to apply for a rebate.
I'd rather get the savings up front than play the rebate game.

I do agree that a lot of rebates are not sent in, but I'm guessing if you broke the numbers down that you'll find a lot more $1 and $2 rebates being ignored than $50 rebates. I'm not going to waste a stamp and my time to get the ! rebate on a bottle of toilet cleaner, but I'm not passing on a $50 rebate. Maybe the OP is just the unlucky one in a thousand that the system failed on. I have had trouble with rebates before, so I always keep a copy. I have had to resend before but they always come through the second time.