Canon Canada’s Rebate Program Sucks

I bought my Canon Digital Rebel XT back in June, with the timing of the purchase a direct result of Canon Canada‘s $100 rebate offer. I bought the camera at that time specifically because of the additional rebate. Otherwise, I would have likely held off a month or two, probably waiting for the release of the XTi. (an aside on the timing – I actually jumped the gun, buying the camera 2 weeks too early to be eligible for $400 back from work, so actually lost $500 in rebates and benefits because of the timing – that’s almost half the price of the camera)

5 months later, and Canon still hasn’t made good on the rebate. I’ve been in touch with their support folks, who passed me off to a 1-800 number and website for a separate rebate fulfillment firm “The Rebate Company“. Classy. So, I try calling the number, which only works during normal business hours. Except that’s when I work, too. So, should I be calling them from the company phone? The Rebate Company website is useless. I go through the motions, and they claim to have no record of my claim. My word against theirs. Black’s Photography can’t help me because it’s a Canon program. Canon can’t help me because it’s a Rebate Company program. The Rebate Company is just not helping.

Canon, I love the camera. I’ve taken almost 5000 shots (about 1000 per month). I’ve been recommending Canon cameras to everyone who asks. I’m planning more purchases (lenses, flashes, etc…). But I’ll be staying far, far away from the rebate program. It’s false advertising when they don’t deliver.

I bought my Canon Digital Rebel XT back in June, with the timing of the purchase a direct result of Canon Canada‘s $100 rebate offer. I bought the camera at that time specifically because of the additional rebate. Otherwise, I would have likely held off a month or two, probably waiting for the release of the XTi. (an aside on the timing – I actually jumped the gun, buying the camera 2 weeks too early to be eligible for $400 back from work, so actually lost $500 in rebates and benefits because of the timing – that’s almost half the price of the camera)

5 months later, and Canon still hasn’t made good on the rebate. I’ve been in touch with their support folks, who passed me off to a 1-800 number and website for a separate rebate fulfillment firm “The Rebate Company“. Classy. So, I try calling the number, which only works during normal business hours. Except that’s when I work, too. So, should I be calling them from the company phone? The Rebate Company website is useless. I go through the motions, and they claim to have no record of my claim. My word against theirs. Black’s Photography can’t help me because it’s a Canon program. Canon can’t help me because it’s a Rebate Company program. The Rebate Company is just not helping.

Canon, I love the camera. I’ve taken almost 5000 shots (about 1000 per month). I’ve been recommending Canon cameras to everyone who asks. I’m planning more purchases (lenses, flashes, etc…). But I’ll be staying far, far away from the rebate program. It’s false advertising when they don’t deliver.

27 thoughts on “Canon Canada’s Rebate Program Sucks”

  1. yeah. I was stupid. No photocopies. Last time I trust in The Process. A bit of an expensive lesson, though. For now, it’s just my word against theirs.

  3. Bought Sephia printer sent in rebate form-1 yr later gave up trying.
    Having trouble with my Digital Rebel.Spent $600 on repairs its still not 3 yrs old
    All electronic issues,error messages and pixel/sensor degradation,Canon and my dealer Parsons Foto Shoppe in Owen Sound Suck.
    Been a Canon purchaser for 35 yrs,this dealer for eleven,but I’m done with both.

    CANON I hope your listening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  4. I agree… Canon Rebate Program Sucks!

    I submitted my rebate request and never received my refund. When I contacted the company they told me that I missed the deadline. Actually… I did not; they had lost my initial submission and I needed to send it again. The second time I was “too late”. After many frustrating phone calls and emails, I gave up. I’m sure that was their objective. I guess that is how they make the big bucks… manipulating consumers.

  5. The Rebate Company has given me the runaround since my properly prepared application for two $8 rebate offers made in April ’07. They at first claimed the application was not received but later found it then said it was past the offer date but after I faxed a copy of the rebate coupon they agreed that it was within the allotted time. They have stonewalled me three times after phone conversations in which they promised to send the rebate check. I do not understand how this company continues to operate and why Canon tolerates such incompetence in someone that represents them.

  6. I’m sorry to hear of all the troubles people have ben having with Canon rebates. I am happy to report that I sent my rebate form for a rebate on an “L” series lens and received my rebate about 6 weeks later with no problems. I wish you all luck in the future.

  7. I participated in the last one for a canon 5d and I followed the instruction to the letter. I even followed the recommendation on using registered mail so if they argue that they haven’t received you claim you can prove that they did. I had no problems, got a rebate in 8 weeks. I say spend the extra 10 bucks on a registered mail and make copies of everything.

  9. i know what this is like, i too have a canon printer.
    it was left on my doorstep in amsterdam, the box had been vandalised and the carts and head stolen from the box.

    after spending 17 euro calling canon they apolagised and then done nothing to correct the problem, i still have the new unused printer in its vandalised box. no one answers email no one cares one bit.

    i didnt even sign for the damn thing.

    then i got a email from canon telling me i could purchase more carts and they will pay 20% of the cost.
    i feel that canon are laughing at us stupid idiots all chasing after this crap digital photography craze, it will end due to tech failure of all this third rate jap leftovers.

    i have sold 2000 euro worth of canon crap and will not ever in my life trust them again. as far as i am concerned canon are dead all we have are a few A series canon film cameras that dont have canons shutter problems of course.

    I HATE CANON WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, AND WILL RUBBISH THERE NAME UNTIL I DIE

  10. I worked for Canon and to be honest with you, their customer service SUCKS! Within the department I worked in, no one gave a F**k about whoever was on the other end of the phone…they just put you on hold or tranfer you to some other department and hope that you don’t fall back into their queue… I used to get calls about rebates and was told by my manager to transfer all rebate calls to customer service… Customer service would then transfer the calls right back to me! My department does NOT deal with consumers, and as much as I wanted to help calm the person on the other end of the line down, I would be repremanded by spending so much time on the phone with the ‘wrong’ type of customer…I have always purchased Canon products (even before I had worked there) and have never been disppointed but, their service truly SUCKS!

  11. man Canada is garbage with everything!! & living here all my life, I know how bad this place is!!
    Canadians make fun of the states, but idiots don’t know if that the states fall, we fall twice harder!!
    whats high here? tax, living cost is twice or 3times more, shopping, food, bills, rent, land, cars, electronics, house hold items, car insurance, School or college funds, & etc..
    OH yah! in Ontario we have free health care, but you wait 20hours for the doctor to see you, & it’s so rushed, that you forget to tell me what your sickness was. Or you get a doctor that doesn’t know shit!!
    & if you wana go to college you’ll come out with a loan that you will have to pay off with interest rest of your life..

    Goooo Canada!!!!! lol

  12. milad, I think you may be a little misinformed. check the cost of a university degree south of the border. you should be happy with the relatively small size of your student loan. And that you can see a doctor without having to get a second mortgage on your house. etc.. etc…

  13. I have also had a very poor experience with Canon rebates. I have just bought a Canon XSi along with two lenses. To say I got a run around would be putting it mildly. Needless to say I never got my rebate because the lenses I bought were not listed. Only lenses over $250 were elegable for any rebate. I will still buy Canon as I have for the past 26 years. My A1 is still working flawlesly but I’m going digital because of developing costs and the speed at which I can see my photos and then decide what I print.

  14. I am just starting the process of trying to get back my full rebate from Canon. I spent almost $7,000 on a 40d and three lens plus a battery pack and should have recieved $340 back in rebates. I got a check for $100. (how exciting!)
    Canon has given me the cold shoulder and so has Henry’s, where I bought the camera. I have been using Canon equipment for 30 years and will still use it because it would be to costly to replace it. However, i will not say anything good about Canon Canada or Henry’s ever again. As far as the rebate company Resolve goes, I am going to phone them every day until I recieve my full refund, even if it takes years. (love those 800 numbers) Would love to get a group of people together to do this until the rebate company gives up trying to screw people out of their money. I think I will phone Canon everyday as well.

  15. It is not only Canada that has a rebate program. The USA has a mail in rebate with several retailers.

    Personally i hate these mail in rebates and its such a hassle to get it.

    The company says anything it can think of in order not to give the rebate.

    1. nope. never saw it. it was almost 5 years ago now, and I sent the original paperwork with the rebate form as requested, so there’s no proof of any of it any more.

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