TigerDirect in trouble

[michaels39]

I've seen more than a few complaints here and in other forums about TigerDirect's dubious practices involving rebates.According to the following article,the authorities have noticed this as well,they're investigating Tiger's parent company,Systemax,for rebate fraud. http://online.barrons.com/article/SB...411519063.html

[frostbitetwice]

Originally Posted by michaels39

I've seen more than a few complaints here and in other forums about TigerDirect's dubious practices involving rebates.According to the following article,the authorities have noticed this as well,they're investigating Tiger's parent company,Systemax,for rebate fraud.

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB...411519063.html

Excellent fine, michaels!!! This company is full of scumbags..

They diss not only the consumers but also their vendors..Rebates are a joke...What is wrong with an instant discount when buying the product!!! Just the cost to process these rebates must be very costly..

I will never support TD with a purchases nor Samsung because of rebate issues..

They also claim over 2 billion in sales, which makes then larger than Egger... I do not believe their accounting either..

[The Merg]

As an additional note of warning... I was looking around today for some good deals on electronics and decided to check out CompUSA as I knew they were going out of business. When looking at the CompUSA.com website, I noticed that they are listed as a subsidiary of Systemax. Apparently, Systemax bought the rights to CompUSA.com so the retail stores, which are all under liquidation right now, are not associated with the website anymore.

Something to be wary of in case you decide to order from CompUSA.com.

- Merg

P.S. Lara, is it possible to have a new store review section created for the "New" CompUSA.com as they are not related to the "Old" CompUSA.com? Maybe an entry like "CompUSA.com - Systemax Subsidiary".

[MegalosSkylaki]

I never understood the logic of Rebates -- except to advertise a price that is not there, and hope the buyer fails to file for the rebate.

I avoid rebates myself, as there as so many places that might go wrong and so long to wait for check that you forget about it.

MegalosSkylaki

[frostbitetwice]

Originally Posted by MegalosSkylaki

I never understood the logic of Rebates -- except to advertise a price that is not there, and hope the buyer fails to file for the rebate.

I avoid rebates myself, as there as so many places that might go wrong and so long to wait for check that you forget about it.

MegalosSkylaki

I am wonder if they were design to move inventory that was slow in selling?? It is a sell without the retailer losing their margins?

[michaels39]

I've always thought of rebates as kind of a "phantom sale",people think they're getting a bargain,but the odds are so bad of you ever getting the rebate.And all that time you're waiting,the companies are collecting interest on your money.They invest a bare minimum into actually processing the rebates,and figure few customers will fight to get back missing refunds.And companies that rely heavily on this tactic usually have the same attitude towards customer service and support in general,just look at BestBuy.

[stonestn]

Just figured Id add in my 2 cents Officemax in store not online offers mail in rebates but if your willings to tack on 2.00 instant processing fee they will give you a instant rebate bought a 500gig internal hd from them and got 60.00 instant credit even though it was a mail in rebate so savings for not having to mail it myself 58.00 60.00 dollar rebate minus 2.00 instant processing

[manuki19]

CompUsa is same as Tigerdirect now, same store with another name.

[zombiwulf]

There's no mystery in rebates.

Some people are extremely cost sensitive, others - not so much.

Offering a rebate allows the vendor to sell at two price points at the same time.
This is especially a bonus when most people don't bother to send the forms in.

I always said I would send the rebate stuff in if it was at least $100.

Then I bought my laptop and let the forms sit in the kitchen drawer until they expired.

[michaels39]

The big mystery is how TigerDirect and it's parent company Systemax has managed to run their rebate scam this long.They've not only allegedly cheated customers,but their vendors as well.Vendors would be billed for multiple rebates from the same customer,but Systemax couldn't,or wouldn't,produce any records proving these claims.One vendor currently suing them has lost $90,000 due to this scam.Whether rebates are worth the effort or not is a seperate argument,but it's a completely different matter when a company engages in unethical and possibly illegal practices involving them.