Canon has glitch in printer and video rebates

[Arthur Entlich]

Taken from DPReview website:

Canon has asked US customers planning to take advantage of its rebate
program not to cash the checks they have received, following the company
handling the rebates filing for bankruptcy protection. The problems
relate to rebate checks for video and printer products dated prior to
November 14th. Any customer yet to send-in rebate materials should also
delay until further notice.

Canon made the following statement: "The third-party rebate processing
company that implements Canon’s rebate program covering printer and
camcorder products filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy petition on Friday,
November 14. Any customer who has received a rebate check for these
products dated prior to November 14, should not cash the check as it may
bounce. Canon is diligently working on steps to ensure that eligible
consumers receive valid rebate checks as soon as possible. More
information will be available on our Web site by Friday, November 21.

"We understand this is an inconvenience to customers. We are working to
resolve this issue as soon as possible. Consumers who have questions
about our rebate programs should call Canon’s Customer Call Center
1-800-OK- CANON."



Art

 

[Jan Alter]

Now if Canon were handling its own rebates themselves and not sending them
to a "third party rebate program" then the checks would undoubtedly have
cleared. Shame on Canon for using a third party rebate program. They should
know better.
(psych)

 

[Jerry]

Now if Canon were handling its own rebates themselves and not sending them
to a "third party rebate program" then the checks would undoubtedly have
cleared. Shame on Canon for using a third party rebate program. They
should know better.
(psych)

There no shame in it at all, very few, if any companies handle their own
rebate processing. It's typically sold to the highest bidder, a very common
practice.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Jan is absolutely correct on this.

Most large corporations contract out business processes they do not need
to do themselves in their day to day business. Not only can it save
money, but it allows for expertise in an area they may not be well
versed, it allows for easy expansion and contraction (scalability) the
employees are working on numerous accounts, and many other reasons.

The businesses which do rebates for other companies are called
fulfillment houses. They maintains the records, scrutinize the rebate
submissions, cut the checks, and then bill the company they are working
for the costs, plus a nice profit.

I don't usually like fulfillment companies because they are payed to
reduce successful rebates, however, almost all companies hire them.

Art



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