Handspring Deals with Rebate Problems

Posted By: Ed Friday, June 29, 2001 9:48:37 AM

Over the past few months, Handspring has been offering a $50 rebate on the Visor Deluxe and Platinum. Unfortunately, these rebate programs have been causing unexpected headaches for both the company and its customers. Handspring didn't make it clear that some buyers were ineligible for these rebates and others didn't properly submit the paperwork for the refund. In order to keep this from being a black spot on the company's record, Handspring is going to honor all rebate requests.

At the same time that these rebates were going on, some stores had a sale on Handspring's products, offering them at $50 off. What wasn't made clear to the people who took advantage of this was that they could no longer get the additional $50 rebate.

In order to get the rebate, customers needed to mail in the UPC bar code from the box. Apparently, many buyers didn't send in the correct bar code but weren't informed of this until weeks later.

Handspring has apologized for these problems and promised to get all the rebate requests filled as soon as possible.

These rebates were over June 17.

On the Web:

Handspring: Where is my $50 Visor Deluxe rebate?
Cnet: Problems hold up Handspring rebates

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Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 9:57:33 AM #

No, I don't really think so.

But, judging from the recent responses to stories, somebody will find a way to warp Handsprings rebate troubles into 'THE FINAL NAIL' in the coffin for Palm...

RE: Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 10:34:23 AM #

Oh shut up. Nobody thought of it until you mentioned it.

RE: Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 10:55:35 AM #

"Nobody thought of it until you mentioned it."

Do you READ the posts on this site? Apparently not.

At any rate, where are all the "haters" who would jump on this? Oh, wait, half of them USE Handsprings(the other half use Sonys). So we need to excuse Handspring for their mistakes, don't we? Face it, all you Visor users would jump all over this if the story said that PALM was having trouble with their rebates.

RE: Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 12:09:03 PM #

It is Palm's fault. If they didn't ruin the company that the Handspring Execs founded, they wouldn't be suffering from such anxiety about the future of the platform, and they could have made their rebate conditions clearer. Because of Palm's imcompetance, they are dragging Handspring down with them.

Just kidding!

RE: Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 1:54:50 PM #

Actually, you may be right about the designers of the Palm OS being worried that their baby is going down the tubes. If Palm paid paid more attention to the needs of their developers they wouldn't need to be so cautious about churning out new products, and Hanspring wouldn't be in the slump it is. The poor people at Handspring are probably worried that their jobs are going to be cut next due to uncertainty at Palm. Handspring probably isn't hiring new staff, and they could use a couple of proofreaders for things such as rebate offers. Palm is dying. PocketPC is coming out with version 4 and it will be the death knell for Palm and all of its licensees. Thanks alot Palm!!

RE: Pocket PC is Dead

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 2:04:42 PM #

Palm OS is coming out with version 5 and it will be the death knell for Microsoft and all of its licensees.

See? I can make sweeping statements with no facts to back them up, too. It's fun! Everyone should do it. It is a lot easier than a thoughtful, intelligent debate.

And where did you get the idea that Palm doesn't support its developers? That's the most completely incorrect statement I've heard in a while. They are totally aware that their developer base is their strongest asset and cater to them constantly. Palm's support of its developers is some of the best I've ever seen.

RE: Palm and Pocket PC are Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 6:01:28 PM #

Symbian 6 is already out, and the Palm and Pocket PC economies are wilting in front of the mighty new generation of EPOC !!! (maniacal laughter in background)

Oh wait, there's only 2 devices that use it, and neither are available in the US.

Yeah, that was fun!

RE: Palm is Dead!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 6:12:03 PM #

Palm and Handspring need to merge, exploit syneregies, write off redundency, morph their designs, and write some better time management apps, create a better contact management tool, forget the price points, attack the business user problems. What do you guys think?, Thanks...DBM, Jax., FL

Way to go HS!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/29/2001 12:51:54 PM #

It's this kind of customer-centric attitude that made me pick an edge (from a VDX w/no SB) over m500. And I'm the type of geek who does slurge for things like m505 or the new clie. I guess I'll have to see in the 30 days if I have a change of heart and pick an m505...

I Finally Got My Rebate

nXt @ 6/29/2001 7:00:31 PM #

Hey guys calm down.
I Finally Got My Rebate after 5 months. afte 4 months went by, i decided to forget about it, but then on the 5th month, a $ 50 check came in from Handspring. BTW I bought the Visor Deluxe and sold it 3 days later - to get profit from the rebate. :)
- nXt

I got my Visor Deluxe for $110

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/2/2001 11:33:25 AM #

MSRP = $250.
Target stores have it on sale for $200.
But the rebate did not apply to Visors bought at Target. So I got Staples.com to match the price, and used one of their $40 off coupon codes. Then I mailed in the rebate request. Just got my $50 check on Saturday. Total cost: $110. Cool.

Palm is fine!

mike @ 7/3/2001 8:32:46 AM #

This discussion reminds me of small children arguing that their family have a better car, their father are stronger etc. It would be better to argue with same logic behind. Imaging carowners going on like you... Would sound silly wouldn't it?

RE: Palm is fine!

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/3/2001 8:37:53 AM #

> Imaging carowners going on like you... Would sound silly wouldn't it?

I don't know about up North, but down here in the South folks feel pretty strongly about their choice of cars. I see a couple of bumber stickers a week saying stuff like, "I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy."