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Author Topic: $100 gas rebate  (Read 11523 times)

LM1689

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$100 gas rebate
« on: October 14, 2008, 09:00:47 AM »
I recently visited my local pro shop to purchase the first of a few balls for the new season.  I was considering the Cell or a Dimension.  The pro shop operator suggested those were great balls and said they have a great deal on the Twisted Fury Solid.  I was told of a $100 gas card rebate that Brunswick was offering.  

I have used many Brunswick balls with success in the past, but I have heard of problems with some of the equipment since the factory move to Mexico.  I was assured that those problems were worked out and decided to purchase the ball solely on the $100 rebate offer.  I was told the rebate card would be mailed out very soon after the purchase, I bought the ball.

I filled out the rebate form and submitted the pro shop receipt and the label from the box and within a week received my gas card.  However, when I opened the envelope there was no gas card good for the $100, but a registration form from a rebate company.  Much to my surprise there were 19 rules and regulations regarding the use of the rebate "vouchers."  Long story short, I have to send in the rebate to the company and in return they send me 10 vouchers in return.  When I purchase gas I have seven days from the purchase to send a voucher to the rebate company.  After that they will send me a $10 check in the mail within 8 to 10 weeks.  Futhermore, I can only use one voucher in a thirty day period.  I expect to recieve my $100 gas rebate in $10 increments within the next 80 to 100 weeks.

In my opinion this is an abomination by Brunswick to try to sell bowling equipment in hopes that the hoops the consumer has to jump through will stop them from obtaining the rebate.  This deal sounded too good to be true from the start and my first instinct should have taken over.  Instead I was duped by the ball company into thinking a rebate card was what I thought it was.  This won't happen again!  There are plenty of quality ball manufacturers out there with great equipment.  I will not be back regardless of how great the equipment may be.

 

laufaye

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2008, 05:12:13 PM »
I hope you buy the ball base on performance, the rebate is just perks, its legit.  Your dis-appointment are totally base on your expectation on the $$$ Rebate.  The pro shop never sell you the ball for extra money.  Hats off to Brunswick for putting up this great deal for bowlers, especially at this kind of economy, after all is a SOLID $100.
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Laufaye

BrunsNick

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2008, 05:44:30 PM »
The terms and conditions are plain as day, found easily on the Brunswick website. Your pro shop operator should have those flyers handy, along with the TOC. It's not jumping through hoops, it is actually pretty simple. Doing what you normally do (buying gas and saving the receipt) then spending $4.20 in stamps to get $100 back. The nerve of them!
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. BrunsNick
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
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Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Nick Smith
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302efi

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2008, 06:05:40 PM »
..but Nick I think you would agree its mis-leading.

When someone says "$100 gas card" what does that sound like?

Receive a $100 gas rebate card with the purchase of:

Sure sounds a SINGLE card to me as well...


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quote:
I will head to my local pro shop. Right after I buy it online.

Sport Bowling is a F**king joke

BrunsNick

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2008, 06:15:18 PM »
I agree it sounds misleading...

Just like saying a bowling ball creates 20% more energy. However, with the latter, there is no fine print.

I didn't come up with the program, but it is what it is.
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Nick Smith ... A.K.A. BrunsNick
Brunswick -=- PBA 03-08
http://www.BrunsNick.com
http://www.AskTheBowler.com
http://www.BigBapparel.com
Friends don't let friends drink the Kool-Aid!
Nick Smith
Digital Media Manager - Brunswick Bowling
http://www.brunswickbowling.com
http://www.youtube.com/c/brunsnick

rockerbowler18

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2008, 06:16:44 PM »
quote:
The terms and conditions are plain as day, found easily on the Brunswick website.It's not jumping through hoops, it is actually pretty simple. Doing what you normally do (buying gas and saving the receipt) then spending $4.20 in stamps to get $100 back.



Amen. I'm not willing to do all that, plus, there's really nothing out by the big B at this time that's super appealing to me, but that's why I used the website. It really is pretty plain to see. Advertisements are often misleading, this isn't the first and won't be the last time something is promised but it's not promised exactly as most people think it is. That is the purpose of advertising.

Buy the ball based on performance, then use the 100 as an extra incentive. Don't buy a ball to get 100 back. That's pointless.
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Righty
High rev rate (400-450 rpm)
Semi-high speed (16-17 mph)
Current Average: 236

For a game based on the principles of science and math, bowling sure does have a bad habit of being illogical.

Edited on 10/14/2008 6:18 PM

LM1689

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2008, 06:28:44 PM »
After reading a couple of posts I will say that the TOC are available on the website under the "download form now" portion of the page.  However they were not offered at the pro shop and they were not offered to the operators at the pro shop by the Brunswick representative.  Based on the information I had what was I to think I was being offered?  All I had was the form for the rebate.  I have been very happy with Brunswick equipment from the eighties rhino line  to the entire inferno line. As to purchasing the ball solely for the rebate.  That was not the case.  The rebate was an incentive to purchase the ball.  The expectation of a timely rebate is the upsetting part.  If I borrowed $100 from you and paid you back in $10 installments every 8 to 10 weeks, you wouldn't be happy.  Once again, I did not have access to the terms and conditions of the rebate at the time of purchase. There was no reason at the time to think this wasn't a gas card just like a gift card from say Best Buy.

BrunsBob

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2008, 10:20:33 PM »
LM, I understand your dissappointment to an extent, but every pro shop that received the promotional material also received a letter explaining how the program worked. We expected that each shop would be able to explain this to the customer. I've spoken to several shops that wanted to make sure they understood the rebate completely so they could guide their customers. Some shops chose not to participate for the very reasons you stated, but other shops have used the rebate program for their customers and it has boosted sales during a tough time for them. I agree, it can be misleading if the information is not shared with you, the end customer, but it is by no means a scam or gimmick.

Like a few have already stated, the rebate is the perk, but should not be the reason for buying the ball. We tossed around numerous ways to try and get cash back into the consumers hands and this was a way to maximize the value. I'm sorry that your shop was not able to inform you of the rebate plan, but short of visiting with or contacting each shop individually, we gave them as much information as we could to help make this a successful program for all involved. I realy hope you will reconsider your opinion of Brunswick and continue to enjoy success with our products. Are intentions were to provide a great product and attach a rebate with it that helped the customer justify the purchase in these difficult economic times. We plan to do more consumer type rebates in the future for this very reason, so we will study the results of this program and determine how we can do it better.

Seriously, we want you as a customer and really don't want you to feel that you've been "dupped". It is a rough time for many consumers these days, so to ask someone to put out $200+ for a bowling ball can be too much for some, so we hoped that this rebate would help some. By no means did we want to disappoint anyone with this offer.

Regards,

Robert Lawrence
(SW Product Specialist - Brunswick Bowling)


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I'm gettin' old, I'm hurtin', but I've got Brunswick balls.......Color me competitive.

Verbs

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2008, 10:22:07 PM »
Okay, it does take some effort to get your $100 ($10 at a time). But, for a little (key word LITTLE) effort, and $4.20 in postage Brunswick will send you $100.

I'm sorry, but I don't see what the problem is. If you don't want to put up the effort to get your $100 that's fine. It's your perogative. But don't come on here complaining that you have to work for $100. I don't see any other manufacturer doing ANYTHING like this to entice consumers
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Larry Verble

born2bowl2

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2008, 10:58:50 PM »
Anyone that want to jump through the all the hoops can PM me with an offer and they can have my $100 gas rebate card.

302efi

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2008, 11:10:55 PM »
quote:
Anyone that want to jump through the all the hoops can PM me with an offer and they can have my $100 gas rebate card.


LOL....See even after Brunswick people explaining it, most peole don't wanna go through the hassle.

Why couldnt you guy just give a cash back rebate or knock $100 off the price of the ball or how about a single $100 gas card ?

Why jump make people jump through all the hoops ?

I'll tell you why, because you know most people won't do and they wont go for the rebate..so you save money and still advertise the offer
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quote:
I will head to my local pro shop. Right after I buy it online.

Sport Bowling is a F**king joke

Edited on 10/14/2008 11:11 PM

302efi

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2008, 11:14:43 PM »
Ok your ad says "receive a $100 gas rebate card"

Whats the process for getting a single card like it says ?

http://brunswick.losasso.com/gas/

Your ad says "card",  tell me how I can get a $100 gas rebate card please. Not $10 vouchers, but a card as stated in the ad ?
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quote:
I will head to my local pro shop. Right after I buy it online.

Sport Bowling is a F**king joke

The Bowlers Edge 2

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2008, 11:49:01 PM »
quote:
I don't see any other manufacturer doing ANYTHING like this to entice consumers
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Larry Verble



Roto Grip- Drawing for a Free Cell Pearl w/review
Lane 1- See Above
Hammer- 20 sauces
900- New Bounty Program....

Not the same, but companies are offering things.
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The Bowler's Edge Pro Shop

CharlieBrown

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2008, 03:23:31 AM »
quote:
Okay, it does take some effort to get your $100 ($10 at a time). But, for a little (key word LITTLE) effort, and $4.20 in postage Brunswick will send you $100.



Everybody wants something for nothing these days. I blame MTV.
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I'm a THS hack and a ball junkie.
Certified ball collector.

sdbowler

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Re: $100 gas rebate
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2008, 04:57:40 AM »
Just like any other program outthere no matter what it is you need to make sure you read the information. The person selling the item should be able to explain it as well. So you don't get a $100 gas card you get it in $10 installments. I would be willing to get that each month totalling $100. Some people just need to stop complaining.
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Kyle