Federal Black Pack Rebate woes

[blue2golf]

Bought some Federal Black Pack rebate ammo, took advantage of the Academy Sports free shipping while relaxing in my recliner for Black Friday, congratulated myself on my cleverness. Then karma bit.

Filling out the rebate form online I discovered my Apple .IMG pics had to be converted to PDF or .JPG first before uploading.

My tech-savvy wife looked up the how-to instructions online and after a few tries I was able to convert, then upload my pics of the UPC codes and the sides and tops of the individual ammo boxes.

Hit "Submit"....blank page appears with a little blurb at the top about "file too heavy"

Did I do something wrong? Went back, laboriously filled out the form again..."Submit"...."file too heavy"

Let's call the Federal rebate Help Line.....Robot voice, "Lines closed, call back monday."

Called back Monday morning. Helpful lady said, "Yes we are seeing a lot of difficulty with this rebate. You are uploading too many pics and overloading the submission."

Me, "The rebate form required the photos."

Helpful lady, "Yes but there are still too many photos in your file. Push the ammo boxes together and retake your pics, that way there will be fewer pics to upload."

Me, "You are not at fault ma'am and I appreciate your help but please tell your management I feel like a sucker and won't do this with Federal again."

Retook the pics, converted them to .JPG, uploaded the files and hit "Submit"....success, finally!

Several hours of frustration gives me $25.

Anyone else having problems?

 

[CampingJosh]

Good luck; this thread is going to turn into bashing you.

I messed with Federal's rebate last year, but I won't be doing it again. The prepaid debit cards aren't worth the hassle.

 

[Restroyer]

I didn't fall for their rebate this year. Last year they lost my info and then along with several other excuses and endless calls I finally got my rebate in April - yeah, that's right Black Friday rebate that I mailed in immediately took 5 months to get. Good Luck.

 

[snowwalker]

And life goes on.

 

[Ark]

This crap is why I snooze on their rebates every year. Too much work, takes too damn long. It's current year, there's no reason a rebate should have a waiting period. It goes from a computer, to another computer, where it sits for several weeks until a clock runs out and it goes out instantaneously.

 

[DadSmith]

Forget rebates just lower the ammo to what the rebate would have been and sell it that way.

 

[Route 45]

Good luck; this thread is going to turn into bashing you.

I messed with Federal's rebate last year, but I won't be doing it again. The prepaid debit cards aren't worth the hassle.

Nah. He's not whining because Federal didn't send him "real" money. He's just complaining about the process, which is legit.

Lots of rebates are much easier. Just got a $70 Visa gift card back from Continental Tire with very little fuss. Federal's rebate process is cumbersome, and they don't get in any hurry sending your rebate. Not a fan.

 

[dung]

The last rebate i filed for in October came pretty easy......the other 3 times have been a slow ass train wreck

 

[churchmouse]

No bashing but seriously, was it worth all of that and add in the wait. Seriously.

Never played the rebate game. The spouse used to but found it was a waste of her time. It is a hook.

 

[Areoflyer09]

Forget rebates just lower the ammo to what the rebate would have been and sell it that way.

That would defeat the purpose. Rebates aren’t about giving the consumer a deal. It’s enticing the consumer to make a purchase and hoping they don’t get around to sending in the rebate.

 

[churchmouse]

That would defeat the purpose. Rebates aren’t about giving the consumer a deal. It’s enticing the consumer to make a purchase and hoping they don’t get around to sending in the rebate.

^^^Winner^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Route 45]

That would defeat the purpose. Rebates aren’t about giving the consumer a deal. It’s enticing the consumer to make a purchase and hoping they don’t get around to sending in the rebate.

Yep. Menards' goofy 11% rebate comes to mind. Rather just go to Lowes and get my 10% veteran discount at the cash register.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I took advantage of the same deal you did last year. I didn't have trouble with the photos but the wait...the wait for the rebate is for real. I think it said allow 10-12 weeks for the rebate to arrive and they weren't kidding. It was every bit of the maximum time, maybe longer.

 

[Areoflyer09]

No bashing but seriously, was it worth all of that and add in the wait. Seriously.

Never played the rebate game. The spouse used to but found it was a waste of her time. It is a hook.

I will take advantage of the rebate if it’s an item I’m going to buy anyways, my wife’s Savage comes to mind. I was going to buy it anyways, why not spend the 10 minutes to get $50 back. I won’t buy something because it has a rebate though.

 

[Route 45]

I will take advantage of the rebate if it’s an item I’m going to buy anyways, my wife’s Savage comes to mind. I was going to buy it anyways, why not spend the 10 minutes to get $50 back. I won’t buy something because it has a rebate though.

I might, if the rebate is good enough. Got a pretty good rebate on a new Taurus G2c that I absolutely didn't need that made it so ridiculously cheap (along with the price at Rural King) that I had to buy one.

 

[churchmouse]

I will take advantage of the rebate if it’s an item I’m going to buy anyways, my wife’s Savage comes to mind. I was going to buy it anyways, why not spend the 10 minutes to get $50 back. I won’t buy something because it has a rebate though.

I remember when you did that. Makes good sense if you are so inclined.

 

[blue2golf]

That would defeat the purpose. Rebates aren’t about giving the consumer a deal. It’s enticing the consumer to make a purchase and hoping they don’t get around to sending in the rebate.

Exactly and they were one last submission try away from keeping my rebate money.

 

[blue2golf]

Yep. Menards' goofy 11% rebate comes to mind. Rather just go to Lowes and get my 10% veteran discount at the cash register.

I love Menards but Lowes gets most of my business due to how easy they made the veteran's discount. I've saved a lot of money with them.

 

[Spear Dane]

Bought some Federal Black Pack rebate ammo, took advantage of the Academy Sports free shipping while relaxing in my recliner for Black Friday, congratulated myself on my cleverness. Then karma bit.

Filling out the rebate form online I discovered my Apple .IMG pics had to be converted to PDF or .JPG first before uploading.

My tech-savvy wife looked up the how-to instructions online and after a few tries I was able to convert, then upload my pics of the UPC codes and the sides and tops of the individual ammo boxes.

Hit "Submit"....blank page appears with a little blurb at the top about "file too heavy"

Did I do something wrong? Went back, laboriously filled out the form again..."Submit"...."file too heavy"

Let's call the Federal rebate Help Line.....Robot voice, "Lines closed, call back monday."

Called back Monday morning. Helpful lady said, "Yes we are seeing a lot of difficulty with this rebate. You are uploading too many pics and overloading the submission."

Me, "The rebate form required the photos."

Helpful lady, "Yes but there are still too many photos in your file. Push the ammo boxes together and retake your pics, that way there will be fewer pics to upload."

Me, "You are not at fault ma'am and I appreciate your help but please tell your management I feel like a sucker and won't do this with Federal again."

Retook the pics, converted them to .JPG, uploaded the files and hit "Submit"....success, finally!

Several hours of frustration gives me $25.

Anyone else having problems?

Quit falling for the Federal rebate scam a couple years ago. Don't fall for Menards either. Edit: Having read NONE of the intervening posts it was with great humor and satisfaction that I looked up from my post and the first thing I see is discussion of Mendards.

 

[Route 45]

I love Menards but Lowes gets most of my business due to how easy they made the veteran's discount. I've saved a lot of money with them.

I really like Menards too, but I'm not dicking with their 11% rebate unless it's a big-ticket item that I can't get at Lowes.