"DO NOT BUY FORM COMPUSA WITH EXPECTATIONS OF RECEIVING REBATES!

I purchased on 12/28/04, an APC BE500U UPS, which has a $20.00 mail-in rebate. I filled out the corresponding rebate form and mailed it on 12/28/04 to the address indicated. The rebate form states that the rebate is valid from 12/26/04 to 1/1/05, and was issued to me at time of sale. The rebate information was received by the rebate handler (www.rebateshq.com) on 1/6/05. On February 5, 2005, the rebate handler indicated that the rebate was valid and in final stages of processing. I called on or around 3/1/05 to check on the status. I was told, at that time, that my check was being mailed and to expect it by 3/5/05. They also had me give them my mailing information again.

The check did not arrive on 3/5/05. I called in on 3/10/05. they now tell me that my rebate was INVALID. After MUCH convincing, they revalidated the rebate and now tell me it will take an ADDITIONAL 4-6 weeks to get a check. Again, they ask for my complete mailing information after having given it two times previously, in addition to my mailed-in rebate form.

This is utterly RIDICULOUS! COMPUSA obfuscates the rebate process and hopes that through the various means they have at their disposal, to deter the majority of rebate submitters from ever receiving a rebate. I find it highly objectionable that COMPUSA (by way of the representative company, www.rebateshq.com, practices deception and fraud in attempting to deny valid claims.

If this experience is any gauge, COMPUSA rebates are elaborate hoaxes, and COMPUSA relies on dirty tricks to invalidate and "forget" to ship my rebate within the time period of submission.

Tell me this, how does a rebate submission go from being valid for over 4 weeks to suddenly becoming invalid for NO GOOD REASON? I have met the terms of the rebate. I was promised to have a check sent to me. COMPUSA then decides to screw up the rebate and invalidate it. If I never called in again on this, I would have never known what COMPUSA had done. I am sure COMPUSA counts on this as a common business practice.

Oh, and I complained to COMPUSA via their webpage. They merely responded that my rebate is now procesing and to contact www.rebateshq.com for the status. Gahh, ABSOLUTELY LAST TIME I ever buy with COMPUSA rebates in mind.

"

"DO NOT BUY REPLACEMENT WARRANTEE - YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER WITH THEIR WARANTEE ON YOUR OWN, WASTE OF $250! THEY CLAIM FINE PRINT SAYS THEY ONLY REPLACE UNDER VERY NARROW CONDITIONS, SUCH AS HAVING SENT COMPUTER IN FOR REPAIR MORE THAN THREE TIMES IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME - NOT HOW I READ IT. WILL BE WTIHOUT RECALLED COMPUTER FOR WEEKS, HAD TO CALL MANUFACTURER AND DEAL WITH THEM, COMPUSA DID NOT HELP."

"I purchased a cellular phone from Compusa, the phone had problems, and they replaced the phone, the second phone also had problems, they wanted to replace the phone again, but I wanted a refund, they said I can get a refund, but would have to pay a restocking fee of 15%, this is against the policy of not charging for a defective item. But they would not wave the fee. "Would never shop with compusa again""

"Ordered Hyundai Imagequest L90d+ 19" LCD - never received email notification of ship date, had to call to verify, shipment arrived and it was a L70S 17" LCD monitor... RMA took over a day to be emailed to me. PLUS - they do not plan on getting the model I ordered back in stock so I have to wait 14 days after they receive the monitor to get a refund. CRAP!"

"I purchased 2 identical items (in one single order) from CompUSA online on 1/30/2005. I received my first notification from them later that evening stated that they received my order and that they would begin processing it as soon as possible after they verified my information and such. I selected ground shipping, and according to their web page, this meant that it would ship in 1-2 days, 3 days tops.

I didn’t hear from them regarding the order for a day or so, so I submitted a request for information via the web to try to determine if they were having difficulty with the alternate shipping address I use with my credit card. I received a reply stating: "The merchandise that you have ordered has a processing time of 24 to 48 hours. This is based on the product's availability and the processing time needed for verification. Once credit approval has been obtained your order will ship within the processing time listed via the shipping method you selected." So I figured it was all fine and that they had no problems with the credit card or anything...

As of this morning (2/7/05), I had heard *nothing* from CompUSA whatsoever. No updates via email or phone and no change to my online order status. So, I decided to submit another web status request. I then contacted my credit card company to see if they had attempted to charged my account or contact them at all. They said "no." So, I then cancelled my order via their web order cancellation page and then did so by phone to try to be sure that the cancellation went through. The phone rep was very stern and curt with me, but she confirmed that the cancellation should go through without problems. She told me if it did not, to just send it back to them and they'd cover the charges.

If this is all that happened, I would not be here typing this out right now!!!! Here's where it gets weird!!

Hours later, I received notification from CompUSA via email that my order was put on backorder and that the items would not be shipped for 2 to 4 weeks, as that was the ETA from the manufacturer.

Next, I received an email from CompUSA stating that my order could not be cancelled and that my account was charged, because the order had shipped. How can this be, when, according to their previous email, the items supposedly could not be shipped because they are on backorder and not available for shipping, not to mention that I cancelled the order online and via web hours before they contacted me to tell me the items were on backorder??!!

I would suggest folks steer clear of CompUSA online. I do a heck of a lot of online purchasing for work, hobbies, home, and my band and I have never dealt with such a mass of confusion..."

"Purchased 2x ATT Wireless G Routers for $19.99 each and 2x ATT Wireless G PCI Cards $11.99 each. Took some time to get them, but hey, not everybody is a newegg. There were no rebates on these items. I even put an extra digit in my address, emailed them about the error, they told me that the address was correct, and I recieved the package, with the extra digit on the label mind you...but I think it was fedex that got this one right.

Good price, decent product, arrived, satisfied customer right here."

"I am surprised at all the negative feedback - except those aimed at failed rebate returns. My business, my family, and I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of products from Compusa both in their stores and online and for the most part we have been very satisfied. I once emailed them on a question about a product on their website. The next day I received two emails and a phone call in response to my question! Later on, my sister dropped and damaged her new mp3 player; she had purchased the extra warranty and it was replaced with no hassle. My only real complaint is with the rebates - they DON'T give them! We have never EVER received any rebates they have advertised. But, for me I'd rather have hassle-free product replacement than a five or ten dollar rebate."

"Belkin rebate from Comp Usa, yeah right.
I purchased the Belkin wireless router and wireless notebook card from Comp USA durring the day before thanksgiving(2004) day sale. The idea was to send in 2 rebates for each product for the rebates. I asked the cashier before purchasing how 2 rebates would be accepted for the same device. She said the rebates allow for a UPC photocopy. I made the purchase and sure enough, all rebate forms stated send in a photocopy of the upc. I sent in the rebate forms on the same day, in seperate envelopes, and I received a response for only 2. Belkin denied due to the photocopy of the upc. Belkin email below. So I contacted Comp usa and they replied to contact the mfr.(email below) Belkin still does not reply to my emails.
So this is what I feared from the beginning. Now Comp Usa produced the rebate form. Comp Usa verbally stated a UPC photocopy would be accepted. Belkin denied the rebates they responded to.

*from Belkin*
Promotion Belkin Rebates @ CUSA
Rebate Number 055006
Promotion Type Rebate
Submission ID 47607666
Status We are currently unable to approve your rebate for the reason listed below.

We did not receive an original UPC symbol or proof-of-purchase tab with your request. (You submitted a copy of the UPC symbol or proof-of-purchase tab. An original UPC symbol or proof-of-purchase tab is required.)

You will receive a letter or postcard describing this problem. The letter or postcard may have instructions on how to correct this error.
*Postcard never arrived. They do not respond to emails.*


*Comp USA*
Dear Customer,

Please be advised that your rebate is through the manufacturer. Since we do not have access to their database, we do not have any information on that rebate. For further assistance please use the contact information provided below.... Please let us know if you have any questions...Thank You.


"

"I ordered a monitor on Sat. 1/15/05. It was delivered today, Tue. 1/18/05. It works fine. When I came to this site to rate CompUSA, I saw all the bad reviews they had. I guess ignorance truly is bliss. I've never had a problem in their store so I figured I wouldn't have a problem with ordering online. And with this order, I didn't. And shipping was only a penny."

"I just bought an AT&T Plug & Share wireless notebook adapter on 1/6/05. There was a special internet only instant coupon so it was a great deal. My order was charged tax so with the $5 shipping, it was an ok deal overall.

Item was shipped on 1/6/05, but didn't arrive until 1/13/05. The box was smashed up but the item was ok--except for the driver CD which was so scratched up that I couldn't even install the software successfully.

I just downloaded the driver from AT&T's Web site so I'll see if I can get the card to work."

"I placed my order on 1/3/2005 in the afternoon and was confirmed. I did not receive an email after 48 hours that the products are being shipped. I placed a call and C/S informed me that it's in the warehouse being processed and will ship within the next 24h. Never happened, so I called again and they informed me that one of the items are on backorder ( This took 3 Days to let me know) and will only ship on Monday 1/10/2005, because it needs to be transfer to another warehouse. The representative was not friendly and was in a rush to get off the phone. I will never buy from the again"

"The invoice number is off of my sales recipt. I went into my local Compusa store to purchase a Packet8, local & long distance, cable internet, phone service device, & hoped to get the two free, after rebates, Vtech phones. This was from their 1/2-1/8/05 newspaper ad. All was great, there were about 20 packet8 phone adapters, about 10 Vtech #309644 2.4GHz digital phones but no #309742 single handset phone add-ons there. The deal was a $244.00 free, after rebates, for a years hook-up commitment. The sales clerk printed out all the rebates & without the missing phone, instead of everything being free I'd have to pay an extra $80(+-)to get the packet8 & just one Vtech phone. The manager would not substitute any other phones or find another deal for me either. I told the clerk I was upset that they would not honor their ad & was not upset at him, but at Compusa & left the store. I sat in my car for a bit. I really wanted the cable internet phone service because at 19.95 per month & no long distance fees for any calls made any where in the USA & Canada is a good offer. I went back in the store & talked with the same clerk again, he checked the on-line store & they were sold out, got the rebate forms for the packet8 & purchased the packet8. The check out clerk, after I said I was disappointed about not getting the phone deal, rang up my purchase & kept the rebate forms that the register printed out for my sale. The sale was for 69.99, $10.00 off at purchase for $59.99. The rebates were for a $60 mail in & another for a $25 gift card, all for signing up with the service for a year. Luckily I still had the original rebate forms the sales clerk had printed (see above). The rebate forms say that I'll only get the $25 gift card for the year sign up not as the ad said for both the $60 rebate & $25 gift card. I have a hard time believing that they had only sold out the vtech #309742 phones, the add on phone to the system, & the had so many more of the packet8 & vtech #309664s left for sale & not honoring their ad too. Also I could not find a price item shelf tag for the # 309742 phones at all. The claim is that they have a disclaimer saying product availability may vary in stores & online. Some thing seems not true at this Compusa store to me, what do you think? 1/23/05 CompUSA did honor their ad & gave me free of charge both VTech phones. This did take two days on my part to complete but the manager was very nice & helpful."

"I ordered a floppy drive from CompUSA's Web site for pickup at their Princeton, NJ Superstore. Their Web site indicated it was in stock.

When I got to their store I was told to go to the Customer Service desk to pick up my order. That was the sorriest excuse for Customer Service I have ever encountered.

Unlike the local Circuit City store my merchandise had to be brought to the Customer Service Desk. This involved finding a store clerk who would then go to the shelf and bring the item to the desk. After about ten to 15 minutes the clerk wanders back and I'm told it's not on the shelf. No apology for the inconvenience--NADA.

Why bother ordering on the Web for store pickup if no one gets your merchandise and has it waiting when you arrive! I could have gone to the shelf and, if the item was in stock, have bought it and left the store in half the time.

On top of that, the staff at this store has always seemed to lack any signs of professionalism. In my situation today they were too interested in chatting with all their high school buddies who happened to wander into the store. In previous visits the staff has always shown made you feel like it was such a great inconvenience for them to help you.

At first, I thought it was just me but I have found other people I work with who have encountered similar experiences at other CompuUSA stores.

My advice to you: Stay away from all CompUSA stores and save yourself a lot of aggravation. I would rather shell out $10-20 for shipping charges from another vendor that give another red cent to this schlock outfit."

"Time to strike back: Take advantage of TAP warranty program! - This is my method
Get a brand new PC parts every year. It's only $25!

When I search with "COMPUSA TAP" in google, I see so many
abuse stories. BUT this is not one of those stories. Try my method
before you give up!

In my opinion, TAP warranty was made for people who want to buy computer parts.
Because when I talk to the sales person who recommend TAP, she emphasize these
points:
1.You can "replace" with a different model
2.No matter what reason is, you can use this warranty for two years. For instance,
even if the parts is not broken, and it does not work in your new computer,
you can replace it with a different model.

Hmm, it sounds like a magical contract, too sweet for people who want
to buy a new parts every year. I thought that they scam. I've never trust
sales & customer service people in USA however,
I bought my first Video Card ($200) with TAP warranty in 2002.
OK, it's only 25 bucks for TAP plan, I did not expected too much.

In next year, 2003, I start feeling too slow to play PC game with this
video card. It was not broken, but I just remember her magical words,
"You can replace no matter what reason...". I grab my video card and I
went to the same store.

I talked to technical support people, and I just told them like this,
"This video card does not work in my new environment."
That's it. They did not ask anything about detail. I just left my name and phone number
and I went back to my home with a paper. They said that it usually takes
for 2-3 buisness days for the process. They did not call me, but when I
went to the store again after a couple days, I just show the paper and
they let me choose a new video card. I paid the difference, $50, because I choosed
a better video card which costs around $250. So, last year, my video card
was only 64 MB, but I had 128MB video card. Sure, I paid for TAP warranty
program again. Why not? It's only 25 bucks to buy a brand new and cutting-edge video
card.

I just did same thing again in last week. Now my video card has 256MB memory.
Oh, yeah, TAP is much better than paying $250 for every year for new video cards.


OK, here is tips and tricks.

1. Talk to ONLY "Technical Support" people. You can easily identify them since
they have name tag with "Certificated ..." letters on their shirts.
Do not waste your time with other people. There is "return" counter, but
it is wrong place. Go to technical support counter.
The reason I emphasize this point is, not so many employee knows about
TAP program. When you say like, "I wanna replace ...", they ask whether your
product is broken or not. But actually, it does not matter, as long as
the above sales person did not tell me lie.
Even the store manager does not understand well about TAP plan.
In the second time, I talk to him and he said "You can not replace unless
if it is not broken." Kiss my ass! Read the TAP's
contract before you sell them to your customer. That's why I hate customer
service in this country. They are soooooooo rude. A customer is god. This is
a good proverb in Japan.

2. If it seems that you can not make it, come back tomorrow.
The important thing is, it is totally depends
on who take care your TAP plan. If it does not work, just leave the store
and come back again. Don't waste your time.

3. Do not explain too much. Just say, "It does not work in my new environment."
That's it. I prepare for so many reasons but they are useless.

4. Do not buy TAP warranty for dedicated products. For example,
I see so many people have sad TAP sotories with iPods and Laptops on
the website, but as I menthioned above, TAP works better with
computer parts. Just say magical words in #3.

Personally, I stopped to buy stuff in COMPUSA because their
product line up and prices are sucks.
In addition, they hire people who does not have enough knowledge about
computer. Funny. So I just drop by when I use TAP plan.


Enjoy your TAP program!

"

"I bought 4 of the AT&T 802.11g wireless cards that they had for $9.99. They were out of stock, which was understandable because this was such an awesome deal. They promptly shipped it out on the 11th when they had them back in stock. I received everything 2 days later. I must say that they need to work on packaging their items better. They just took all of the cards and stuck them in a box. There was no bubble wrap, packing peaunuts, or anything..."