Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 19:12:52 -0400
From: R. W.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax
As far as I'm concerned, you couldn't melt OfficeMax down and pour
them on me!. I'll never buy anything from them. They screwed me
already.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:16:30 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)
From: T. R.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: another reason not to shop office max
I just read your posting about Office Max and their coupons. I have
had such horror stories with them over everything from misrepresenting
products they sell, to not sending the correct items with an order, to
all the rebate hassles I could ever imagine. They consistantly run
weekly ads with almost everything in their ad on rebate. If I ever
wanted to purchase any of those FREE AFTER REBATE items I would have to
rush over there first thing Sunday morning to get one because by Sunday
afternoon and the rest of the 7 days their ads are good for they won't
have the items in stock. This piss poor excuse for a retailer prompted
me to stop shopping Office Max and Office Max.com permanently.
They stopped honoring competitor coupons a few months ago. They never
have any ad items in stock. Now they are harassing you, our HOT DEALS
GUY. I for one will never step into another Office Max.
Keep up the great job on the site.
P.S. I received my Maxtor 160 gig drive from Staples.com yesterday. It
did come with the ata133 controller in the box. I love Staples because I
know my $80 rebate will be here in 4 or 5 weeks. Not the 4 months and a
dozen phone calls Office Max would take.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 09:15:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: T. L.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: comments about Officemax/OfficeDepot
I placed orders with Officemax in April 2003 after
seeing some hot deals on hard drives from your
website. According to Officemax's website, my order
'will ship on April 2x, 2003'. I have called and email
them, but they tell me that the item is on backorder
status and they can not provide me with an estimated
date as to when this item will be shipped. This has
been going on nearly 2 months now! After reading about
how other members are getting ripped off because their
rebates are not being fulfilled, I am kinda happy that
I never received my order because I too, would have
been another one of those that does not get their
rebates fulfilled.
Similar problems with OfficeDepot. Their delivery
drivers "claims" they can't find my address. But UPS
and USPS can and even Staples can! Maybe I'm just
being singled out just like how a while back your
orders where being canceled by Staples. Who knows, but
you live and learn.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:40:42 -0400
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Cc: [officemax]
Subject: Thank you!
Thank you for asking HotDealsClub.com to remove your coupon codes and special
offer information.
There are many times that I have been drawn into your store and bought something
I really didn't need because I read about it there. I then wasted a lot of time
at home attempting to fill out and redeem your rebates, often times just to have
them denied for no apparent reason.
By removing the information for one of my favorite shopping information sites I
will no longer be tempted to shop at your stores.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:50:35 -0500
From: Mark
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Office Max
Office Max can request anything they like. You have no obligation to listen to them.
Personally, I'd keep posting the stuff. Let their lawyers cease and
desist you first. Unless a coupon code is copyright-able, you can
tell the lawyers to screw-off too. They can't deprive you of your
first amendment rights just to prop up their stupid business model.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:52:40 -0500
From: S. C.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Office Max
To me, and I bet to many other users of the site, part of a 'Hot Deal' is
the service I get. A cheap price is great, but if I can get better service
for a small percentage more, I will usually step up.
The email you received from Office Max is just more proof (along with the
problems people have with using coupons in the store, not getting rebated
fulfilled, etc) that they do not place a high value on their customers.
Just today I had to run out and grab an adapter for a client. No big
purchase, only $15.00. OfficeMax is 2 blocks from here. Well, I drove the
extra three blocks to go to Staples. $15.00 might not seem like a lot, but
it adds up...not just with me, but with all the others who like to be
treated with a little respect.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 13:01:37 -0400
From: Sgurdon
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: RE: OfficeMax
they accepted my order along with the coupon code that I entered.
After they processed the order and sent me the confirmation, it did
not include the deduction for the coupon. Emails and phone calls got
me the same answer, that unless the code was personally sent to me by
them, it would not be honored though in the past if a code was accepted
when an order was placed the usually let it go. Quite amazing was that
between the second and third phone call, the content of the URL changed.
The coupon disappeared. When in the third call I referred to the URL,
I was talked to really bad as "there is no coupon on that page!.
Needless to say, I cancelled my order with them, (which they accepted
as if we didn't need your business anyway) and "deleted" the existance
of OfficeMax from my "places to spend my money"!
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:09:37 -0500
From: D. Y.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Officemax in denial
This is truly sad. If Officemax can't live up to their end of these
rebates, the worst thing they could do is admit it by sticking their
heads in the sand. This response to your factual reports of failures to
complete rebates is akin to curing the disease by killing the patient.
The response you should have received was one of apology for failing to
live up to the company's offers, and an offer of reconciliation to all of
the customers who have been wronged.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 10:41:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: D. N.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: officemax - good experience so far
Maybe I just was lucky, but I never had any problems with any of my
10 officemax orders since June last year or rebates (most if not all
of my orders). Only once my rebate was refused, and that was
manufacturer's rebate, not officemax's. That was one of those crazy
rebates when you're supposed to mail your request within 7 days and my
order arrived on 8th day because of another item being
backordered. I called officemax and they were kind enough to offer a
gift card for the rebate amount, even though the situation was only
partly their fault.
There was another case when my rebate paperwork was returned to me
with a letter saying I didn't meet rebate requirements, but I didn't
see any problems with the paperwork and 5 minutes phone call resolved
the situation, I got my rebate within couple of weeks.
Just wanted to let you know that there is some positive experience
with shopping at officemax. And no, I don't work for them :)
Thanks for you web site, it's really great.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 10:46:03 -0700
From: George. B.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Office Max & Free Stuff
Yeah, I think you're right that Office Max is kind of misleading people
by using the dubious advertising "free after rebate" and then honoring
rebates using a "lottery" procedure...
Several months ago I've sent probably 7-8 rebate forms completely
following their request not one is listed where they say the status is
showed. This is for the Free After Rebate items, only one item, that
wasn't free was listed that it got into their system and they're working
on it. It also could be due to the fact many people got these products
and sent in their rebates and it takes a long time for them to process
all of them, that's what I hope at least.
On the other hand, about three weeks ago, I bought three items from
Staples that were free after rebate also, about a week ago they showed up
on rebateshq as being processed and I also got an email that they
received them.
Long before I've heard about Office Max's problems with honoring rebates,
when I kind of had respect for them as a retailer, I was really surprised
at how hard their booklet of rebates really is. The rebates listed in
there are not easy to find, they're like a puzzle, you could very easily
send in a rebate for a wrong product thinking it's for the right one.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 13:47:23 -0400
From: S. G.
To: [Office Max]
Cc: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Customer Service
I was extremely upset to find out that http://hot-deals.org/ was told by
OfficeMax to remove their deals from the hot-deals website.
Was this in protest to their informing people about problems in your
rebate fulfillment?
I, as a consumer can also retaliate against you. Not buy any products
from your company. Tell all my clients not to buy from your company.
Tell all my friends not to buy from your company. Encourage both my
clients and friends to tell their clients and friends not to buy from
your company.
I'm going to buy from Staples. How about them apples!
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 13:08:56 -0500
From: A. F.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Office Max Coupons
I read the letter from the Office Max representative. First thing to
note is that there is no title associated with his name; no phone number
or contact information is included in the email. Simply stated, if I
find a deal somewhere and tell someone else about that deal, there is
nothing illegal about it. Whether or not it's posted on a website, in a
newspaper, or if I decide to take a full billboard ad to let people know
about the great deal I found; unless I misuse, copyright, or perform some
other illegal activity against the company, there's nothing anyone can do
about it. I think you should continue to post all great deals on your
site, and continue to post the Office Max deals. While not receiving a
rebate is a horrible thing, it's that persons' responsibility to deal
with that situation. That doesn't mean that someone else shouldn't be
allowed to partake in the discount at their own risk.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:25:09 -0700
From: Will
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax coupons
First of all, great work you are doing here! I love your site!
As for OfficeMax, all I can say is that the printer that I just purchased
from them before I knew what they did to hotdealsclub.com will be the
LAST thing I’d ever buy from them, or any of their affiliated
stores. Companies like this should not exist. I think we ought to call a
boycott against OfficeMax (if one isn’t already in effect) among
all of our friends and families. Starting today, nobody in my family will
purchase anything from OfficeMax again.
Keep up the good work!
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 15:42:32 -0500
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax
I was a little surprised to see that OfficeMax have decided against free
advertising and chosen antagonism as a business model. (how many unique
hits does your web-site get a month?). It's their choice of course.
I would offer my solidarity by promising never to purchase anything there
again but I have heard so many horror stories about them (and Fry's btw)
I haven't given them my custom for over a year.
One thing I find even more odd was their explanation. ...."these coupons
were intended for new customers or returning customers....." - I might
one day have been a returning customer, as would many of the people who
wrote in. I doubt that will happen now. Would it not be possible for them
to offer more one-time use codes?
Oh well, maybe there will be some hot deals at OfficeMax's 'going out of
business sale' in 2004?
Keep up the good work
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 16:44:47 -0400
From: A. K.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: rebate non-fulfillment by officemax
i am a regular reader and user of hot-deals. i had also used the
officemax links from hot-deals to buy certain rebate items. and recently
off my purchase, only less than half of the rebates are honored by
officemax. the rest are classified by them as invalid. Though i know that
i have taken great efforts to send the rebates as per their requirements.
i have also resent the copies that i had retained with me. but still no
word from then yet. and a few of my rebates are not listed. Its only by
now that i realize that i was sold something by officemax representative
that does not qualify for rebate. but while buying i was told by the
store manager too that the item does qualify for rebate, because they ran
out of the advertised product. i think its their creepy way of making
sales.
There is one thing for sure, I will not enter any of the office max
stores or websites because of the fear of nonfulfillment or honoring of
the rebate. I find Staples, Best Buy and Circuit City more honest towards
their customers.
Good Luck to Hot Deals Club. I think you dont have to worry about office
max pulling out their coupons from your website. In a way it is good,
because we as customers at hot deals wont feel cheated.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 16:06:30 -0600
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: My email to the CEO of Staples, FYI
I fully support you and the service you provide. Following is the email
I have sent to Michael Feuer, Chariman CEO, OfficeMax. Thanks Maniac!
Hello Michael,
(I doubt you will see this as you are a busy exective, but there is
always hope.)
I am writing regarding the recent request that www.hotdealsclub.com
remove OfficeMax coupon and deal information from their web page. I am
an OfficeMax customer and have bought many products as a result of the
information on this page.
Why wouldn't OfficeMax appreciate the free advertising and increased
business? Your deals certainly keep me coming back, but now I and
thousands more customers are not going to be notified of your great deals
on hotdealsclub.com. Your competitor deals will continue to be posted in
your absence. This site has been the most convenient way for me to learn
about deals at OfficeMax. Now the only deals I will hear about will be
elsewhere (in fact, I just made another purchase for my company
yesterday....from Staples, who I haven't otherwise used for quite some
time).
I request that you reverse this action for the benefit of both OfficeMax
and your customers.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 16:18:23 -0700
From: D. R.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax
You know, it would seem logical to me that if OfficeMax only wanted
certain people to use their online coupons, they they would make the
coupon codes "single use."
If they put a "multi-use" coupon code in an ad or anywhere else, I don't
see why they should be upset if it gets used. And as for their rebates,
I now know that I can not trust OfficeMax to honor what clearly should
be honored, and I seiously doubt that I will do business with them any
time in the near future, not only because of the rebate situation, but
also due to your posting of your email correspondence with them.
Their email to you (and supposedly to everyone else) would have been
quite easily solved by using the above approach, but apparently they
prefer to bully their advertisers and customers instead.
By the way, I really appreciate and admire how you handle these
situations-- it is nice to know when bullies like OfficeMax start to
give their customers the shaft that we'll hear about it (or at least be
warned) by your site.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 20:27:50 -0400
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax
There can be no doubt
That you are singled out
Every other deals site still has OfficeMax coupons.
And if techbargains.com is still posting OfficeMax
coupons, you can be sure they did NOT contact them.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 18:06:18 -0700
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Issues with OfficeMax, posted in your web site today 6/12.
To whom it may concern,
I have read all the emails from you and Officemax.Com regarding the
coupons posted in your website.
I agree that from legal standpoint of view HotDealsClub is not supposed
to post other web site’s coupon. However, it is legal that you post
the “link” to their web site that contains the coupon
“file” (in most case, it is .pdf file format).
I did a lot of rebates with Officemax. Every week I buy their FAR (Free
After Rebate) items. I also keep a very good track record of everything I
submitted. I have talked to various rebate web sites and was able to get
help most of the time. You can track most of your rebate from the
following web site:
www.rebateshq.com
www.easierrebate.com
www.rebatestatus.com
www.rebateservices.com
www.wheresmyrebate.com
I believe Papago is one of the companies handling their rebate business
(Papago also handles Bestbuy, CircuitCity, Fry’s Electronics and
CompUSA). The customer service representative told me that they handle
about 15000 rebate mails a day and it normally takes 4-6 weeks to
manually enter the information into system. Due to such as high volume of
manual transactions, many times they will enter wrong name, address, or
not even enter information into the system at all. If you track your
rebate diligently, then you should call them after 8 weeks if you
don’t see your name in one of the web sites mentioned above.
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 20:56:48 -0700
From: L. V.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax (OMX) Rebate matter
Hi Mr. Hot Deal.
I ‘d like to thank for having the web site that help us to save a
ton of money.
Regarding the OMX rebate problems, I am kind of really surprise to see
a lot of complaints. Myself, I have bought a lot of products from OMX.;
mostly because of the price and the rebate. So far, I have received
whatever I have claimed from the rebates in the reasonable times and not
missing a single one. Including $20 rebate cheque, I just received
around 3 weeks ago. I am not sure whether I am just lucky or just
purely follow exactly in the rebate forms.
I hope that OMX would response to those complaints soon.
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 04:07:17 -0500
From: Mr. Plate
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: OfficeMax Coupons
Wow.. it's strange that OfficeMax put so much effort into saying
"don't promote us", rather than fix their coupon system; no wonder
you feel like the site has been singled out.
Maybe they should take a lesson from Amazon and make specialized
coupon codes, if the market is really that targetted. Right now,
to me (a web developer), they just look like fools.
Keep up the good work (and skepticism)!
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 07:38:42 -0600
From: [anonymous]
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: Officemax
As an intellectual property lawyer, I've been following this issue with interest.
The case law is mixed whether a website owner can prevent you from
linking to their website. I see no reason why you can't post factual
information about deals that have been offered to a "select" group of
people. Moreover, I don't believe that the codes, themselves, are
subject to copyright protection.
However, being legally correct doesn't protect you from being sued.
You only have to look at the recent lawsuits by RIAA against students
who set up search engines on university computers. Clearly, these
search engines have "substantial non-infringing uses," which would
invoke the fair use doctrine under the Sony Betamax case.
Nevertheless, the RIAA bullied these students into paying $15,000
or more each to avoid the costs of defending themselves in court.
Perhaps rather than "linking" to their site, simply post the text of
the URL and allow people to cut and paste. Again, you are simply
posting factual information like the codes.
(This is not offered as "legal advice" but simply my observations and opinions).
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 13:10:53 -0700
From: W. L.
To: Hot Deals Maniac
Subject: RE: Officemax rebates comment
Hello:
Thank you for posting the Officemax rebate problems and the contact
information
I have two rebates of 30 each rejected a month ago.
I contacted omxrebates@officemax.com. They respond to my email the next
day. They ask for my name, address and the purchase date, nothing else.
Then a day later, they inform me that I will get
my rebate within 30 days.
I have to give Officemax credit for trying to resolve the rebate problem and
thank you for your help.