Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I am having an issue with Vanguard, and I just wondered if they have a 'membership presence' on here, or if anyone has a contact there.

Back in the summer, I bought a couple of their ballheads from our friend MT_Shooter's store. They had a mail-in rebate on them. I sent everything in as they requested, and promptly forgot about it.

When I suddenly remembered it, months later, I went back to check the paper, and it said to expect a cheque in about 60 day, and it had been close to double that.

I sent them an email, and received a reply from someone in their customer service department. Apparently, there is no record of them ever receiving my stuff. We went back and forth a bit - I can't just re-submit, since you have to send the actual UPC cut out of the box. I asked if I should send a copy of the actual invoice, and she said I should.

That was 3 weeks ago, and I have heard nothing from them since. I have sent follow-up emails twice, at weekly intervals, asking if they were able to get anywhere, or just what was the position. She has failed to even reply to any of my emails since I sent the invoice. Like most people, I am not a fan of being ignored...

She apparently does not wish to deal with me, but I have no other contact at the company. Hence this message...

Any suggestions?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I'm sure they have more than one person working there so I'd try again.
Vanguard World http://www.vanguardworld.us
- Contact Us http://www.vanguardworld.us/photo_video_us/company/contact-us

Perhaps, MT knows someone there

Or you could call them -
http://www.vanguardworld.us/photo_video_us/company
VANGUARDWORLD.US
9157 East M-36
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
1-800-875-3322

Cheers, S-

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Sorry to hear of your problem. I have to ask if you kept a photocopy of your rebate form as submitted? Keeping a copy is always a very good idea to prove submission of the required items as items are lost in the mail all the time. Almost any company Wil accept that copy as proof of submission should the original have been lost in the mail. Good luck.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I have a copy of the form, and of course the invoice. The issue is probably the UPC cut out of the boxes. I don't have a copy of those, since it specifically says that a photocopy is not acceptable.

I am more annoyed at the way they suddenly started ignoring my messages, to be honest. We had exchanged quite a few emails, working through the issue, and it seemed that they were trying to deal with the situation. Then nothing... When I didn't hear anything for a week, my thought was that they were processing the rebate, but since I had not been told that, I sent another message, just asking what the position was. She didn't respond to that one, nor the next follow-up, which I sent a week later.

My feeling is that, no matter *what* the situation is, the very term 'customer service' implies that a follow-up message was warranted.

I just went onto their site, and used the internal contact form to describe the situation in detail. At least I would imagine that someone else might have a chance to read this, and we will see where that leads.

There have been several discussions on here recently about mail-in rebates, but I have to say that I have never had an issue before. Several times I have completely forgotten about it, only to be surprised by a cheque arriving in the mail. It isn't like the amount is enough to worry about, after all. There may have been others I have failed to get, having forgotten the submission, but I don't remember...

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

If you still have the boxes the pics of them with the UPC codes missing might help. I had a rebate form lost in the mail several years ago for a Dell printer and they wrote my complaint off as a fraud attempt, I am sure they had reason. Luckily I had kept a photocopy of all the documentation an snail mailed it all to their customer service rep, because my photocopy included the UPC's they expedited me my $50 check.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I had to cut the end off the boxes with the codes on, and send them in... I don't think I kept what was left of the boxes, as there seemed little point. They really don't make it easy for anyone to re-send their submission by doing that...

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thats funny seems like 95% of my rebate forms have been lost in the mail. I have given up on rebates I just buy the item and forget about the "rebate". I must be getting old but rebates seem like a come-on to me. P.S. Im not rich I just a realist. Ever been to a carnival? heard the "Barkers" That is a rebate .

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I recently submitted a rebate for Canon printer. I took the added effort and expense of a UPS tracking and copies of all documents and took a photo of UPC on box and after cutting. It's just worth the effort. All docs can be scanned and e-mailed if there is a problem.

Sorry about you issue keep after it.

J. R.

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

We bought some of their tripods.

On two the collar attachment broke so the leg will no longer lock properly. We emailed repeatedly for help, support, even simply an acknowledgement life exists at Vanguard with no effect.

We emailed asking for a quote to buy 20 tripods. Instant response.

We conclude it is a company run by a bunch of salesmen with limited technical competence and no customer support. Our tripod stock now comes form a more competent supplier.

drivered Loc: Capital District, NY

That is just what those companies are hoping for.

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

I don't purchase anything with a 'REBATE' anymore. Sell it to me without all the marketing BS, or I'll purchase somewhere else. An 'instant rebate' is different, but where do you see any instant rebates anymore?

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Where do you se anything with out the "MARKETING BS,"? Even the mom pop store are doing it because the manufactures are the driving force.

J. R.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Where do you se anything with out the "MARKETING BS,"? Even the mom pop store are doing it because the manufactures are the driving force.

J. R.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I doubt they were the one who was running the rebate it was more likely a fulfillment company that they hired. your best bet would be to find out who they did business with. Good luck

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

The good news is that my message finally let to someone contacting me. The un-certain news is that it is the same person as before... "Sorry for the delay" doesn't really seem to cover a gap of 3 *weeks*. She says that she will look into it "this week", so we will see.