The Rebate – Motorola Backflip

Rebate Form

I actually purchased my Backflip on March 6, 2010 – the day before they officially went on sale.

When I checked out I didn’t get a copy of the rebate, the salesman told me he would email it to my the next day.

The Email

The salesman had given me his business card, so I had his email address. When I didn’t get the rebate form in my email by early afternoon I sent him a reminder.

I had the form 20 minutes later, no problem.

Actually there was a problem. The rebate form states it is for purchases made between March 7 and April 5. My receipt is dated March 6.

AT&T Rebate Center

There is a phone number provided on the rebate form to call with questions. I called it and after getting to the part of the automated menu where I could press a button to get a real person, I did not have to wait on hold.

I was speaking to Don. I explained in detail that the AT&T store had sold me the phone a day early and the rebate form clearly states that the the rebate begins on March 7. I also explained that It was clearly understood that I was buying the phone with the understanding I qualified for the rebate. Don said that this was an unusual problem and that to make sure he got me the correct answer he was going to put me on hold and talk to a supervisor. Then I was put on hold.

Ten Minutes Later

Hey I’m in my computer room at home and I’ve got a speaker phone, so I check my email, browse a forum and then Don is back.

Don: Sir, I am glad you called about this before sending in that form. My supervisor says that it most likely would not be honored.

Me (interrupting): So what do I do?

Don: Was the rebate for $100?

Me: Yes.

Don: There is another rebate for $100 that you qualify for and we will mail you the form. Complete it and send it in.

Me: I don’t need to go back and exchange the phone so that I have a different date on the receipt?

Don: No, just complete the form we are sending you and return it.

Don got my address, reassured me that he was noting the problem and his discussion with his supervisor on his computer and apologized for the store letting me buy the phone a day early.

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Reaction So Far

OK – I was glad that the store let me have the phone a day early. I know that patience would have been better, as I could have gotten the phone a lot cheaper online (letstalk.com, wirefly.com, Amazon, or others).

The salesman at the store did what he thought was right. I do not think they were trying to get an extra $100 bucks from me on the sly.

Don, the guy I talked to at the rebate center, was courteous and the wait on hold wasn’t unexpected as my problem was a bit different.

So – at this point I will say that AT&T seems to be handling an unusual situation in a businesslike professional manner. But I am going to bet I am not the only person who got the phone a day early.

What’s Next

I am waiting for the form. Updates as they happen.

Received Rebate Form

I got the form in the mail about a week after I spoke to the rebate center. It is very generic, with no list of devices it applies to and no amount on it.

I am going to wait as long as I can to mail it (this form has a 3/23/10 deadline) just in case a problem crops up with the phone.

Returned Rebate Form – March 22, 2010

I mailed the rebate form in today. The waiting begins.

Rebate Processed

Checked the rebate site on 3/29/10 and saw this:

So now I just have to wait for the rebate to show up in my mailbox.

Well, not really

It turns out that the search I did turned up incorrect information. That was nit for the rebate I sent in and I have no idea what it was for. Maybe the search found an old rebate I had sent because I searched by my name, not phone number.

So here is the updated info:

What prompted my call to rebate services was a denial letter related to the original Backflip that I could not redeem because I bought the phone a day early. I made the mistake of including it and a letter of explanation with my rebate submission. It was marked For Reference – See Letter and completely empty. It was processed anyway .

So I called and was told that the other rebate form in my submission had also been processed and approved.

Now I wait three more weeks for them to send it.

Update – 4/26/10 – Rebate Arrives

The rebate arrived in the mail today. A brilliant orange Visa Debit card with the blue AT&T world domination logo on it.

Fifty-one days after the purchase, thirty-five days since I mailed the rebate form in. Five weeks to process a rebate, including the delivery time of my submission, is not really that bad.

But I still hate rebates.

Do over?

If I had it all to do over I would be patient and order the phone online or go to Best Buy and buy it. I did not think that a new phone would be so deeply discounted online or that Best Buy would be carrying it right away. At Best Buy any rebates are instant – no waiting.