Getting boned out of the Ampeg rebate

Lucas G · #1 07-13-2011, 09:02 PM

Earlier this year, I moved to a new town. There is a local music store here, the guys who run it are super nice guys. I saw that they were an Ampeg dealer, I asked about that. They said they were a new dealer, just before Christmas.

I had been planning to buy a SVT Classic/810E rig, and I figured I would rather get it through them than a big corporate store. May rolls around, I use my tax return as a down payment to get one ordered, the guy tells me that if the distribution center has one, it would be less than a week to show up. No big deal, I figure- if they don't have one, a few weeks. I can wait.

Guy calls me after the weekend, his Loud rep says they don't have any, they are on back order but a shipment is expected from wherever they make them now, should have one by mid June and by the way there is this rebate program, I will be getting $300 back since I am buying a whole rig. Awesome! Everyone wins!

Mid June passes, no amp. His rep won't return any calls. The dudes at the store keep leaving voicemails to no avail. Today I stopped in to hear if anyone heard anything, and the one guy left messages with three different folks while I was standing there.

I am pretty patient- I know it's probably not anyone's fault, if something is on a boat or whatever, there isn't much that can be done to expedite it. Even with the wait, I feel better about supporting a small shop, despite the fact that I could have gone to any Guitar Center or Sam Ash within a few hours' drive time and brought one home that day. And when I decided to buy the thing, I didn't know about a rebate, so that was just an added bonus. Regardless, 300 bucks is 300 bucks, and I sure would have liked to have had it.

So here we are, mid July. The purchase deadline for the rebate is July 15th. There is a pretty good chance that I am not going to be eligible for it, despite my nearly two month wait- unless it shows up Friday.

The big bummer here is that NO ONE at Ampeg/Loud has made any effort to even let anyone know what is going on. Have these been shipped? Is there a delay? Did a bigger store somewhere get the amp I should have gotten instead? One would figure that in such a case, perhaps a dealer with a few in stock would have been asked to sell it to the shop I dealt with. No such luck.

So, I am definitely left with a bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing. Offering a sweet rebate that no one can take advantage of unless they buy one someone already has in stock is a cruddy way to play it.

Anyway, just figured I would vent a bit.

murphy · #2 07-13-2011, 09:51 PM

reminds me of the old Eden problems

I feel your pain

**B-string** · #3 07-13-2011, 09:59 PM

If you laid money down, that is when you purchased it. Unless the "rebate" is shady and says you must take possesion by July 15, 2011 they should have to honor it. Or lawsuit I'm thinking?

bassguppy · #4 07-13-2011, 10:02 PM

And the fine print on the rebate form says....

Quote:

Attempts to redeem this rebate more than once will result in disqualification from rebate promotion. Valid for U.S. customers only. B-Stock purchases are NOT eligible for rebate. All checks will be mailed within 10-12 weeks from the time your request is received. LOUD Technologies Inc. will not honor delayed submissions due to dealer's being out of stock. Submissions received incomplete, inaccurate or without proper documentation will not be eligible. All requests and submitted materials become the property of LOUD Technologies Inc. and will not be returned. LOUD Technologies Inc. is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incorrect, incomplete, illegible or postage due requests or requests that are not properly submitted for any reason. Such requests will not be honored. Keep copies of submitted materials for your records.

it may be best to take your business elsewhere. Or, can the music store you are dealing with give you some sort of middle ground discount say knock $150-200 off of their price (mark-up)?

James_E · #5 07-13-2011, 10:06 PM

Get your deposit back. Go to GC and buy one before Friday.

rollcall · #6 07-13-2011, 10:07 PM

loud is notoriously difficult I work in a music store. I know...

**B-string** · #7 07-13-2011, 10:07 PM

So LOUD Tech is STILL LOUD Tech

gt96g · #8 07-13-2011, 10:10 PM

do yourself a favor cancel the order and get a different rig, genz benz head and bergentino cab have never been happier

BillyIVbass · #9 07-13-2011, 10:14 PM

Cancel your order and get one elsewhere so you can get the rebate. I like to support local music shops, but at what cost? Not +$300!

JimmyM · #10 07-13-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

So LOUD Tech is STILL LOUD Tech

Hardly, Jon. Has Ampeg at any time ever even offered rebates before this? No they haven't.

You need to call Ampeg CS yourself tomorrow as soon as they open, and let them know the entire story. Who knows what'll happen, but at least you'll get some sort of answer, and then you can take appropriate action. Got no idea why your rig got snafu'd, but I know some of the newer dudes at Ampeg and they're very dedicated and actually want people to have a good experience buying their stuff.

**B-string** · #11 07-13-2011, 11:07 PM

Rebates are only rebates if you are suppling product for people to collect on is my only point. I would be happy if wrong!!

Fingers crossed Jimmy.

babebambi · #12 07-13-2011, 11:12 PM

... but these rebate programs are design to move stock that are ALREADY in stores, thou not exclusively so; but that's the main reason ...

recreate.me · #13 07-13-2011, 11:48 PM

I would cancel my order from the local shop and make the drive to the nearest store that has them in stock ASAP, get the paper work in and buy something from the local shop at a later date, I'm sure they will still be around to support next month when you need to buy strings

**B-string** · #14 07-13-2011, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babebambi

... but these rebate programs are design to move stock that are ALREADY in stores, thou not exclusively so; but that's the main reason ...

In this case it would, or should imply a large stock of product to move. The chances to collect should be better than a Lotto ticket yes?
Another scenario: Sales of part "A" (say the amp head) are good. Part "B" (say speaker cabs) are not so good. So lets put out a cleaver rebate that few will collect on due to availability of part "A" and we should move some part "B"s.
He was told he would get a rebate (by a rep. from Ampeg/LOUD). He should get it.
Do as JimmyM suggests and CALL them.

Lucas G · #15 07-14-2011, 11:09 AM

I called Ampeg customer service yesterday. The lady I spoke to basically told me I was SOL. Pretty sure I actually HEARD her give me the middle finger. She offered to connect me to sales, where I stayed on hold for 15 minutes before selecting the "leave a message and we will call you back within 24 hours" option.

I am probably not going to get my money back from the local shop. I don't roll like that. I went there to support a local business before I even knew about the rebate, and I am sticking to my guns. The guy who owns that place lives in the same town as I do and is trying to make a living just like anyone else is. It's not his fault, and I am not going to take food out of his mouth.

Thanks for the suggestion of the Genz Benz head and Bergantino cab, next time you are in the market for a new truck I will suggest that you buy a two-seater sports car instead. Where did that even come from? Holy crap, man.

bassgod0dmw · #16 07-14-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas G

I called Ampeg customer service yesterday. The lady I spoke to basically told me I was SOL. Pretty sure I actually HEARD her give me the middle finger. She offered to connect me to sales, where I stayed on hold for 15 minutes before selecting the "leave a message and we will call you back within 24 hours" option.

You should really just contact another store. It's your only option at this point. Every Guitar Center I've ever been to has at least 1 SVT-CL and an 8X10 sitting there.

Quote:

I am probably not going to get my money back from the local shop. I don't roll like that. I went there to support a local business before I even knew about the rebate, and I am sticking to my guns. The guy who owns that place lives in the same town as I do and is trying to make a living just like anyone else is. It's not his fault, and I am not going to take food out of his mouth.

But you're losing out on $300. Money is money my friend, and $300 is a pretty good amount of it. That's a cheap bass, a car payment, a few months worth of food or gas. I admire that you want to support the local shop, but there is no way in hell I would ever pay $300 more for something.

Febs · #17 07-14-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas G

I am probably not going to get my money back from the local shop. I don't roll like that. I went there to support a local business before I even knew about the rebate, and I am sticking to my guns. The guy who owns that place lives in the same town as I do and is trying to make a living just like anyone else is. It's not his fault, and I am not going to take food out of his mouth.

So get the Ampeg somewhere that has it in stock, get your rebate, and then spend the $300 in your local store. Win-win.

Longhair · #18 07-14-2011, 11:28 AM

If I were you, I would ask the local store to cancel your Ampeg order and find a different company that would be greatful to have you as a customer.

baileyboy · #19 07-14-2011, 11:31 AM

Yup, agree with these posts. If nothing else, one-man operations are usually attractive to do business with because they go above and beyond the call of normal service... this hasn't been your experience. My support for local business only goes to the extent that they actually provide a superior service to the big-box stores. Take your deposit back and go elsewhere.

Spinal Tapper · #20 07-14-2011, 11:32 AM

I get trying to support the local guys...they obviously know of your situation and tried their best to do what they could...if they're such a great local place, they should hook you up with some other gear to fill the void...maybe pedals, strings, a small practice amp, a setup on your bass, etc.

not that they OWE you, but if they were good guys...