American Electronics, Des Moines - trouble getting rebates

# 8 for April 8, 2002

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on April 7, 2002:

From: denise guernemoen [Email User]

RE: American Electronics, Des Moines - trouble getting rebates My wife and I bought a computer from American Electronics located in Johnston Iowa-(Des Moines) on 12-31-2000.

Being on a very tight budget and raising four children leaves little funds for things like computers, so we purchased a package deal on a bargain unit. This package included rebates totaling $530.00,, $400.00 for three year contract with Microsoft, $30.00 on digital camera, $50.00 on printer, $50.00 on monitor. We paid via credit card and rebates were to be credited to our card account within 4-6 weeks from date of purchase. 14 months and 25 attempts to collect these rebates have gotten us the following responces,,

#1-Wife and I used incorrect information to obtain rebates---We have Never been notified by anyone for anything.

#2-Rebates are Microsoft's responsibility---M.S.N. credited American $400.00 in 01-2001,,I checked! The remaining $130 is American's responsibility for "In House Rebates".

#3-American wasn't aware of any problems or rebate issues---American uses this one every third attempt.

#4-All rebates are included in final price---this would mean a final price of $572.32 not $1102.32.

#5-"Check's In The Mail"---American uses this one the most, besides they are to credit $530.00 to our card account.

We are located in Des Moines Iowa-The store is 7 miles from our house-American's corporate headquarters are located in Madison Wisconsin,,half of our complaints were directed to store,,other half were directed to corporate.

We don't have alot of money for long distance bills or lawyers and we're running out of options, money and patience chasing this. On 04-05-2002, I complained to the B.B.B. of Des Moines-another complaint went to the Attorney General of Iowa-another complaint went to the Millwaukee B.B.B. and the last went to Wisconsin's Attorney General.

I'm now wondering & contemplating painting up a sandwich board with these words on front and back,,

"AMERICAN SCREWED US OUT OF $530.00 IN REBATES" and standing across the street from there store picketing them,,so if anytime in the near future ya'll hear of a nut with a sandwich board in a white motorcycle helmet doing this in Des Moines--You'll know it's me!

Comment On This

American did the same exact thing to us! My husband and I bought a digital camera, printer, and lots of accessories all together just so that we could get the rebate and they tried telling us that we didn't sign the form! Who doesn't sign a form where it says "signature"??? I know for a fact that we signed it and my parents were sitting right there when we did it too! It pissed me off so bad we will never go back to American for anything!