Can't get rebate on Wal*Mart Dlink

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

On January 5, 2009, I purchased a D-Link Vonage ATA from Wal*Mart. The packaging said:
===============================================
Get a $70 Wal*Mart Express Payback no forms, no hassles, no worries with Vonage Activation.
3 Ways to sign up and save with Vonage Service:
1. Setup by phone -- Call 1-800-282-6280
2. Activate Online at www.iwantservices.com
3. Set-up in store at the cell phone counter.
===============================================

I talked to the guy at the cell phone counter, and he didn't have a clue. So I took it to the church where I plan to use it, and began to set it up there. First I called the telephone number. I received a message that activation by phone was no longer available, and that I should go to vonage.com/activate to activate it. That was different than the url in option 2, but it seemed like it must be more current information since the phone message was directing me to do so after phone activation had been terminated.

The phone message also said that once the ATA was registered, I would receive a Visa gift card for $70 within 5-10 business days. However, the rebate was never mentioned online during the activation process.

I called and tried to ask Vonage Customer Service about this rebate, and they told me to go to web-rebates.com/vonage and download a rebate form and send it in. This is a problem because:
1. This site does not have a rebate form to download. It is a site that lets you check on the status of rebates that are already in process. When I put in my information it said my rebate was not submitte.
2. According to the packaging my rebate (Wal*Mart Express Payback) was supposed to be NO FORMS, no hassles, no worries. The clear implication of the packaging and phone message is that when the MAC address is registered, Vonage will automatically send the Visa gift card to the address where it was registered.

I have tried several calls and emails to get this resolved, with no success. Has anyone successfully received this rebate after purchasing a device at Wal*Mart?

Posts: 830 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 830

mehardin wrote:

Has anyone successfully received this rebate after purchasing a device at Wal*Mart?

Have not heard of any problems on this forum, so I would guess yes.

I would continue to push this, if I were you. I think the intent is there, but sounds like a bureaucratic mess rather than outright fraud to me.

Posts: 1327 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 1327

I didn't think any stores were selling Vonage stuff anymore.

I hate those rebates, just give me the money off the price.

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

ed56 wrote:

mehardin wrote:

Has anyone successfully received this rebate after purchasing a device at Wal*Mart?

I think the intent is there, but sounds like a bureaucratic mess rather than outright fraud to me.

I think that's true. I emailed again just to ask for a physical address where I could send a letter with copies of the language on the packaging. They wrote me back and asked me to wait 48 to 72 hours, saying my case had been escalated. It just blows my mind with a retailer as big as Wal*Mart selling these things that the kinks weren't worked out long before I came along.

They've already blown the "no hassles, no worries" part of the package labeling, as it's been a hassle and I'm worried I won't get my money. If they want to blow the "no forms" part that's fine with me too. I don't mind filling out a form for $70. Just get me the right form and tell me where to send it.

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

roscopco wrote:

I didn't think any stores were selling Vonage stuff anymore.

I hate those rebates, just give me the money off the price.

Ordinarily I'd agree, but the device was priced at $49.97 with a $70 rebate. If they just gave you the money off the price, they'd be paying people $20 to carry them out of the stores. A $70 rebate on a $50 item only makes sense when you are activating the item and contracting to return the rebate should you cancel service within a year.

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

Just thought I'd give an update, I want to give Vonage credit for staying with me in resolving this issue.

Vonage tried to call me at 3:10pm EST today. Unfortunately, they called my "temporary virtual number" rather than my permanent number, that still hasn't been ported from ATT. Although I do have a phone plugged into the adapter for outbound calls, I have not been answering any calls that come to that phone because I haven't given anyone the temporary number. When it rang I assumed it was a wrong number. I got a lot of wrong numbers during the porting process for my home phone, and assumed the same would happen with the church phone. I do however have the voice mail in my Vonage account.

The voice mail said that since I didn't answer, they would send me an email and offer to set up another phone conference. I wrote back and gave them my mobile number to call to avoid any more confusion.

The email was a little reassuring. It said that if I activated the account at the promotional link, that I would get the $70 Visa gift card no later than January 20. The problem is, I didn't use the promotional link (www.iwantservices.com). I called the promotional number (1-800-282-6280), and was instructed by an automated message to activate the device at www.vonage.com/activate. So I'm still not clear whether I'm already in the system to receive the rebate.

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

mehardin wrote:

The voice mail said that since I didn't answer, they would send me an email and offer to set up another phone conference. I wrote back and gave them my mobile number to call to avoid any more confusion.

Sigh. That was Friday. This is 1:26 Wednesday morning and I've heard nothing else from them. I emailed them my phone number on Friday after receiving their email, and again on Monday of this week. No call. Zip. Nada. I feel as if I've just fallen off the radar screen. I gave them my mobile number, and told them they could reach me 24/7.

My number porting is supposed to be final on Thursday. I suppose I have to cancel the porting and the Vonage account today, since I can't wait any longer to cancel it without losing the church's phone number. I don't know what else will get Vonage's attention.

Posts: 656 · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

What I believe to be the problem here is that this is old store inventory that has an rebate that has long since expired. However, Vonage will make good on this even if the gift card is no longer a possibility.

On a side note, your still waiting on your AT&T port to complete and I know on a previous post you hard for Directory Services, you stated switching to a Cable Provider for internet and to Vonage. Have you already switched your internet over to cable? When speaking with AT&T, were you ever given the option of Dry loop / Naked DSL which is standalone from the actual phone line itself? If not, when you number ports over, you will not have any internet which means no phone service from Vonage.

Please reply to my PM when you get a chance.

Posts: 27 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 27

VonTechMgr wrote:

What I believe to be the problem here is that this is old store inventory that has an rebate that has long since expired. However, Vonage will make good on this even if the gift card is no longer a possibility.

On a side note, your still waiting on your AT&T port to complete and I know on a previous post you hard for Directory Services, you stated switching to a Cable Provider for internet and to Vonage. Have you already switched your internet over to cable? When speaking with AT&T, were you ever given the option of Dry loop / Naked DSL which is standalone from the actual phone line itself? If not, when you number ports over, you will not have any internet which means no phone service from Vonage.

Please reply to my PM when you get a chance.

I do still plan to switch to a cable provider. Unfortunately, Comcast tells me running cable to our church requires some construction, and that it will be at least 6 months. So I'm stuck with 1.5 Mb DSL for $89.95/mo. until I can get Comcast. When I can finally make that switch we'll be getting 5Mb for $59.95/mo. No brainer huh?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 15, 2009 Posts: 1

diddo on the problem here, I used the link and it made me enter a walmart gift card number, i didn't have one so i went and bought one.
I signed up and it said i would have my money within 24 hours. 24 hours went by and i didn't have it. With it being a holiday and weekend i decided to wait. Online it said to go to the electronics if there's a problem with the card. Well, i went and no one had a clue(4 different times) Finally i was told to go to the customer service. They didn't have a clue and told me to call the electronics manager in the AM. We'll see what happens and i'll update everything here.