• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Did you get your $100 rebate from Sprint?

I've been with Sprint for over 10 years, upgraded the family to EVO's and received postcards stating my three rebates were denied because my contract period did not qualify for the rebate. I called their customer disservice number and was told ALL REBATES are automatically declined but are reinstated post 30 days (reason given as above). Why don't Sprint just serve notice that rebates are pending a 30 day verification period instead of issuing summary denials of all rebates.

I wonder how many of Sprint's automatic rebate denials went uncontested and unpaid. Way to go Sprint.

Verizon and the Droid X for 2012.


6-12 weeks is pretty much the standard for rebates on anything, not just cell phones.. even if ya buy a screw driver at a hardware store.

Or, just go to BB and TheShack and let them deal with it for ya.

Ya know, you can check rebate status on line, right? Probably the best/easiest/acurate option.
 
Upvote 0
Which number do you use if you ported your number after a few weeks of the purchase?

Double check this on your form, since there could be slightly different versions, but in my case there was a little note on the form saying that if you are porting a number, use the number being ported.

My experience so far:
First Evo, new Sprint account: Initially I ordered my Evo online right on release date (just in time) and got it a few days later, I setup the port on that immediately so there was no temporary numbers and no confusion. (And I received that rebate about 2 weeks ago).

Second Evo added to Plan:
On July 31st I finally was able to get my wife's Evo from a local store (along with a Hero for third line, although that one was a new number so no confusion). But I held off on porting my wife's old number to make sure she liked the phone, since she was a bit resistant to bother with anything beyond a basic phone before. (Don't worry, now she's hooked and couldn't go back :D) I held off on sending in that rebate though just in case, and this past Thursday I went ahead and ported her number from AT&T to Sprint. Once the process was finished, I filled out the rebate form using her ported/permanent number and mailed it in the next day.

If there is a delayed port and the rebate is sent in early, I am not sure what could potentially happen, I'm sure part is just a matter of timing, but before being ported the number in question has no ties to the Sprint account for verification. So for anyone waiting to port a number, I recommend not sending in the rebate until after it is done. And to state the obvious but easily forgotten: Keep the rebate form/receipts handy so you don't forget it is there, verify the deadline for mailing, set calendar reminders, etc ... to be certain that once things are ready it gets sent it promptly!
 
Upvote 0
Double check this on your form, since there could be slightly different versions, but in my case there was a little note on the form saying that if you are porting a number, use the number being ported.

My experience so far:
First Evo, new Sprint account: Initially I ordered my Evo online right on release date (just in time) and got it a few days later, I setup the port on that immediately so there was no temporary numbers and no confusion. (And I received that rebate about 2 weeks ago).

Second Evo added to Plan:
On July 31st I finally was able to get my wife's Evo from a local store (along with a Hero for third line, although that one was a new number so no confusion). But I held off on porting my wife's old number to make sure she liked the phone, since she was a bit resistant to bother with anything beyond a basic phone before. (Don't worry, now she's hooked and couldn't go back :D) I held off on sending in that rebate though just in case, and this past Thursday I went ahead and ported her number from AT&T to Sprint. Once the process was finished, I filled out the rebate form using her ported/permanent number and mailed it in the next day.

If there is a delayed port and the rebate is sent in early, I am not sure what could potentially happen, I'm sure part is just a matter of timing, but before being ported the number in question has no ties to the Sprint account for verification. So for anyone waiting to port a number, I recommend not sending in the rebate until after it is done. And to state the obvious but easily forgotten: Keep the rebate form/receipts handy so you don't forget it is there, verify the deadline for mailing, set calendar reminders, etc ... to be certain that once things are ready it gets sent it promptly!

This is why I don't bother with rebates anymore. I have too much to think about daily to worry about deadlines and calendars for a rebate now. I hope Best Buy and The Shack continues to provide instant rebate.
 
Upvote 0
This is why I don't bother with rebates anymore. I have too much to think about daily to worry about deadlines and calendars for a rebate now. I hope Best Buy and The Shack continues to provide instant rebate.

Yeah ... I do a lot of rebates so have a system in place with reminders and photographic documentation, so in the case of "fake" denials, I found several methods that have always worked to get my money within under 2 weeks. But if it wasn't for having an easy way to track I wouldn't bother. In many cases I have free-after-rebate products with cashback and other things stacked, so it has been worth it, but I'm also a bit OCD, so that is a case where paying attention to too many details comes in handy! :D (I'm new to Sprint for rebates although they seem to use Parago, which has improved some, but rebates from Amazon or Fry's or similar stores are also usually not an issue ... when those do have a problem, contacting Amazon/Fry's directly usually gets it resolved very quickly.)

Anyway, sorry for the rambling ... there are also some threads on fatwallet.com and other sites for tips on dealing with problems with rebates. Over the years I have used charge-backs (for store-branded rebates only), BBB/AG complaints, contacting the merchant, and contacting the rebate processor, and have always gotten my money. Persistence is the key, and knowing there are other options beyond just calling a number they provide if you get denied. (My best result was when the processor provided me false information and claimed to work directly for Kingston (they worked for the 3rd party processor) on a $50 rebate on memory. So I filed a BBB complaint with Kingston headquarters, and in 3 days they sent me a check for $100, double the rebate amount.)
 
Upvote 0
Mine got declined. It said something about the phone number provided was invalid. I sent them an e-mail questioning it and gave them my number. They replied back saying my number was incorrectly entered into the system and that they have updated my record with the correct number. After that I checked the status and it was back at 58% and no longer declined. A few days later I check again and what do you know, declined again for the same reason as previously stated. I guess I will be giving them a call tomorrow.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones