I wrote in Good Deal on Sony PlayStation 3 about my purchase of a Sony PlayStation 3 80GB Blu-ray player-cum-games machine. The general idea was that obtaining a new "PlayStation Card" VISA card from Sony brought with it the benefit of a $150 rebate on the purchase of a new PlayStation 3 80GB or 160GB before the end of 2008.One online offer to this effect is available here, and I'd say it's the best place for you to head for if you want to buy a PS3, because in addition to showing an "apply now" link for the credit card, it also has an instant "redeem now" link. You use "redeem now" after filling out the online "apply now" application for the card (which comes from Chase Bank) and getting, hopefully, instant approval. Once that is done, you write down your new card's account number, expiration date, and CVV2 code — or you just print out a copy of your application confirmation. Then you return to the offer page and click the "redeem now" button to order your PS3 system from the Sony Rewards website right away and "save $150 instantly."
Notice that going this route locks you into doing business with Sony Rewards, and not with (say) SonyStyle.com online, or a local store such as Best Buy. Sony Rewards (or any online store) will charge you shipping ... but the local outlet will charge you sales tax. You can buy the PS3 from any authorized dealer, online or local, and take advantage of the $150 rebate ... if you obtain a PlayStation Card and use it to buy the PS3.
But therein lies a tale.
I completely missed the opportunity to "redeem now" from Sony Rewards for some reason — ozone in the know zone I suppose. Upon being accepted for the card, I figured (wrongly) that I had to wait until I got my new card in the mail to redeem the rebate offer. Later on that same day, or possibly the next, I discovered my error and tried to retrace my steps and activate the "redeem now" at that time ... with no success. I had failed to write down the card number, expiration date, and CVV2 code of my PlayStation Card, and I could not retrieve them. Hence I was unable to place an order.
Once I did have the card in hand about a week later, I activated it with a phone call and then went right to the Sony Rewards site to place my PS3 order, using the new card. That went fine, but it ended up charging the card with the full $399.99 MSRP, plus shipping. (OK, I got a tiny reduction because a few "reward points" were awarded to me for opening a Sony Rewards account at that time.) But there was no "save $150 instantly" involved.
Well, I thought, maybe instructions as to how to get the rebate will show up in my e-mail inbox, in the order confirmation from Sony Rewards? No such luck. Maybe wait a day or two for instructions to arrive? No. Maybe they will magically appear in my inbox after the order actually ships? Uh uh.
I then used the "Contact" form at the Sony Rewards site to ask for clarification and was told (after a two-day wait for a response) to call
To claim your $150 rebate:
1. Register your new PlayStation Card at www.sony.com/playstationcard/register
2. Complete the Rebate Form, under Your Account-- Rebate Name must include ‘PS-PS3 $150 Rebate’
3. Submit Rebate Form online
4. Print out and mail the completed Rebate Form with copy of your PS3 sales receipt to the address as indicated within 60 days from date of purchase
- your PS3 purchase date
- the name of the retailer (mine was "Sony Rewards")
- the city and state of the store location (mine was "Park Ridge, NJ")
- the total purchase amount (mine was $399.99)
- the credit card number (mine was already filled in with all XXXX's except the last four digits)
- the model number (I put "PlayStation 3 80GB")
- the product price (I put $399.99 again)
- the UPC (see below)
The UPC???
It's the 12-digit Universal Product Code associated with the scanner bar code shown on the PS3 box.
Only problem was, in my case I threw out the box. I had no idea what the UPC was. So I went to this web page where the UPC for a Sony PlayStation3 80GB is shown as 711719801306. That's what I used to fill in the UPC field on the rebate form.
When I clicked "Continue," the completed form appeared in condensed form in an overlay over the original form on my screen in my web browser. I clicked "Submit and Print" on the overlay and the form was simultaneously submitted online and printed on my computer printer.
But I still wasn't done. I had to mail the printed version of the form (now called a "Mail-in Rebate Document," by the way) along with a printout of my online order confirmation (in lieu of a copy of the hardcopy sales receipt a Best Buy would provide), to:
Sony Rewards Redemption Center
1 Sony Drive MD-2F4
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Now, I've done all that. I just have to wait "8-12 weeks" for the $150 rebate to be credited to my PlayStation Card account.
Notice the gotcha here. Unless you are smarter than I was and use the instant "redeem now" link at the very outset to "save $150 instantly," the rebate (once it is credited) sits in your PlayStation Card account until you use the card again to buy at least $150 worth of stuff. My hope was to use the new card for just this one transaction, since I like to use another VISA card I have for all my credit purchases. Now I'll have to break out the new PlayStation card at least one more time, in order to take advantage of the $150 rebate.
33 comments:
Eric thanks for the detailed information it was very helpful. Now I just need the decision.
Thanks
Anonymous,
"Now I just need the decision," you said. If you meant you just need to decide whether to take advantage of the $150 rebate and buy a PS3, I'd like to hear what your decision was when you have made it.
Or, did you mean you need to hear about the decision Sony Rewards will be making as to whether to fork over the $150 to me? I'll post about that as soon as there is an outcome.
Thank you for giving us a overview to this kind of purchase. I'm also trying to purchase the 80 GB PS3 by using the $150 Rebate offered by Sony Rewards. Can you please give me a quick summary of the best and easiest way in doing this?
(The continuation of the previous comment) I don't have a sony card or a playstation card. I'm referring to your post; and you said that it is required to wait for this card inorder to do this purchase. It's current December 20 and I'm afraid that the limited offer will be canceled before I'll even get the card. Will that really happen? What should I do?
To the anonymous commenter who wanted the best and easiest way to take advantage of the $150 rebate. Click on this link:
http://www.sonyrewards.com/en/gateway/?offerlink=sr150nowps3
Then click on "apply now" and go through the process of applying and getting instant approval for a PlayStation Card. If you do get approved instantly, be sure either to print out the approval page or at least write down the account number, expiration date, and CVV2 code for your new card. Then return to the link I gave above and click on "redeem now," which will take you to the Sony Rewards website, where you can establish an account, register your new PlayStation Card, and buy the PS3. I believe you will instantly get the $150 taken off the price of the PS3. (But note that you will have to pay a shipping charge.)
You need to be clear on this: you cannot get the $150 rebate unless you apply for and get approval for a PlayStation Card.
Of course, it is always possible that if you just wait, the regular price on the PS3 might come down sometime in 2009! With a recession going on, Sony may have to drop prices on items like the PS3 that people might otherwise hold off buying.
I just got my card and activated it by telephone. After creating a Sony account, there is no link on my account page to access the rebate form, and the link in this article leads me to "you are not eligible for a rebate." I called Sony, they transferred me to Chase (the card bank). The lady there said that I could buy the PS3 anywhere and within one or two billing cycles my card would be credited automatically. I'm... skeptical. How do they know what I specifically bought at that store with that purchase total?
Can anyone provide a reliable link to the rebate form? I suspect I still need it.
Here is the link to the Rebate Form:
https://www.sonyrewards.com/en/your_account/rebate_form
When you click on it, you'll have to log in to the Sony Rewards site, at which point you'll see the Rebate Form. Also, for this form to work you will already have to have registered your PlayStation Card with the Sony Rewards site. This card's account number will be filled in automatically on the Rebate Form, and the card has to be the one which you used to buy the PS3.
If you are being told you are not eligible for a rebate, could this be because you have not registered your PlayStation Card with the Sony Rewards site? To do that (if you have not already registered) click on the link in step 1 of these instructions:
http://www.sonyrewards.com/en/offers/index/ps3shoplater?u=http://www.sonyrewards.com/en/home/base/.ssx
If those things don't work, call 1-866-556-SONY (7669) and ask for help.
[Same Anonymous as above] Thanks, but, as I said, that link, even when I'm logged into my account which definitely has the card registered, simply says that I am not eligible for a rebate. My suspicion is that the link will not offer the rebate form until after you've bought the PS3 from the website.
And, I already called the card info line. As I said, they transferred me to Chase, who said that the rebate was automatic and required no form. That would be great, but I'm skeptical that they give $150 to anyone who uses the card on a purchase that could possibly be a PS3. I could go buy an XBox and a stack of games and they'd have no way of knowing it wasn't a PS3.
I'm just going to buy it from the Sony site. I'll have to pay shipping, but there will be no doubt later about the purchase.
This is not a transparent rebate process at all. I guess it's really just another case of the companies hoping you never manage to claim the rebate.
OK, Anonymous, based on what you said it would indeed seem that the only way to be eligible to fill out the Rebate Form at the Sony Rewards (SR) site is to have purchased your PS3 from that site, using your new PlayStation Card. Just registering the card but not making the purchase at the SR site isn't, sadly, enough to allow you to use the procedure I have discussed above to get the rebate.
Click here to see another version of the $150 rebate offer, this one at the SonyStyle website. Its fine print says:
"PlayStation Card is issued by Chase Bank USA, NA, and is subject to credit approval. To qualify for this offer, you must apply for your new PlayStation Card by 12/31/08. In some instances an application may require additional processing, in which case instant approval will be unavailable. To qualify for the $150 card credit, you MUST purchase a PLAYSTATION 3 system with your new PlayStation Card ("PS3 Purchase") at an authorized Sony retailer such as Sony Style store and SonyStyle.com. Complete instructions will be sent upon your approval for the PlayStation Card via email. To receive card credit, your account must be opened by 01/31/2009 and PS3 Purchase must be made by 03/07/2009. Card credit will be posted to your PlayStation Card Statement within 8-12 weeks after PS3 Purchase. This promotional offer is available to new PlayStation Card accounts only and only one $150 card credit may be earned per PlayStation Card account. Existing PlayStation Card account holders or accounts are not eligible."
The part that says "Complete instructions will be sent upon your approval for the PlayStation Card via email" suggests to my mind that if you use this particular entry point to obtaining the rebate, rather than the one I have been discussing that is linked particularly to the SR site, a different set of instructions will at some point be forthcoming via e-mail as to how to claim the rebate.
Hence, it looks as if the SR entry point is (uniquely) geared to allowing you to apply for the card, get instant credit approval, save the vital account number/expiration date/CVV2 code information, and redeem the rebate offer all in one go. If you drop the ball (as I did) and fail to "redeem now," and accordingly you wait to receive the new PlayStation Card in the mail, and only then buy the PS3 at the SR site, using that card, you then need to follow the procedure I outlined above in my original post and in my responses to comments to that post in order to pick the ball back up and claim the rebate.
For those who want the rebate and are afraid time is running out, note that in the fine print I quoted above it says, "To receive card credit, your account [at SonyStyle.com] must be opened by 01/31/2009 and PS3 Purchase must be made by 03/07/2009." It also says, "To qualify for this offer, you must apply for your new PlayStation Card by 12/31/08." It does not say you have to get approval for the card by that date ... just apply! It does say, "In some instances an application may require additional processing, in which case instant approval will be unavailable." I take this to mean that if you apply before 12/31/08 and additional processing is required before approval is ultimately granted, you have until 1/31/08 to open your SonyStyle account and 3/7/08 to buy the PS3, using your PlayStation Card and that account.
Oops, I meant to say in the previous comment:
"I take this to mean that if you apply before 12/31/08 and additional processing is required before approval is ultimately granted, you have until 1/31/09 to open your SonyStyle account and 3/7/09 to buy the PS3, using your PlayStation Card and that account."
I call bullshit. I went to the Sony Rewads and received instant approval. For about 5 seconds my temporary card number and code was on the screen and then the web page automatically forwarded to sony style. I never had a chance to record the information to go back to the redeem now button.
Of course when I hit back the cache was not valid because it was an ecrypted page.
WTF are you supposed to do? Hit Alt-PrintScreen the moment it appears????
Christopher,
I agree, that's BS.
I honestly don't remember exactly what happened on my screen at that same point, because I wasn't even thinking about needing to write anything down for the "redeem now." I had no map in my head about what I expected to happen next. It was only some time later that I remembered I supposedly could have gone ahead and redeemed without waiting for the card in the mail, and by that time I was definitely in the same position you are in now.
Just to be real clear about it, were you automatically forwarded to Sony Style, or Sony Rewards?
Hello Eric,
I was the first comment on this post. I decided to buy the PS3 and had some issues that I would to share and hopefully save some time for others.
I went the SR route and I experienced the same issue that Christopher Painter had, the screen forwards 5 seconds after you get the cc information. In my case I was hoping to copy and paste from one tab another but didn't have time.
I received the card via mail (after I called and had them expedite the cc delivery) then clicked on the SR link and redeem, it adds the PS3 at the $250 price, you register and are sent to the SR site, when you check the cart you will see the PS3 you selected but it does not give you a price in dollars but in points.
The user is required to buy the points in order to get the lower price (with the sony credit card). You need ~28,000 points which equates roughly to $280 ($30 for shipping). The user buys the points with the Sony CC and gets the lower price.
This purchase does not need to be complicated but Sony just went out of their way to make it cumbersome for the users.
Hope's this helps
I don't recall which site I was FW to. I have a mortgage with Chase and today I saw my new credit card account online. It only showed the last 4 xxxx of course.
I called into Chase to see if there was a way to get my info and she said `your working against the 12/31 deadline aren't you?`
Long story short, I'm not the only one that's called in and she couldn't give me what I needed. She tried to transfer me to another department that could send me an emergenecy replacement call but I was disconnected. Not that it would arrive in time anyways.
Well, I'm feeling stupid that I bothered to open this credit card account anyways. I'll probably just cancel the account and tell Sony where they can shove their PS3.
Christopher,
Don't panic! I quote again from Sony's legalese:
"PlayStation Card is issued by Chase Bank USA, NA, and is subject to credit approval. To qualify for this offer, you must apply for your new PlayStation Card by 12/31/08. In some instances an application may require additional processing, in which case instant approval will be unavailable. To qualify for the $150 card credit, you MUST purchase a PLAYSTATION 3 system with your new PlayStation Card ("PS3 Purchase") at an authorized Sony retailer such as Sony Style store and SonyStyle.com. Complete instructions will be sent upon your approval for the PlayStation Card via email. To receive card credit, your account must be opened by 01/31/2009 and PS3 Purchase must be made by 03/07/2009. Card credit will be posted to your PlayStation Card Statement within 8-12 weeks after PS3 Purchase. This promotional offer is available to new PlayStation Card accounts only and only one $150 card credit may be earned per PlayStation Card account. Existing PlayStation Card account holders or accounts are not eligible."
So, assuming you eventually get the card, the mere fact that you applied for the card before the calendar flipped over to 2009 covers you. You then have until 1/31/09 to open a Sony Style account and register the card there, and until 3/7/09 to actually use the card to buy the PS3 at Sony Style.
And, no, there's no reason for you to feel stupid. Sony and Chase have made this process all too opaque. I know they have to protect themselves against all sorts of potential fraud and abuse, and there is no reason why they'd want to make this too easy, since they're probably sacrificing their entire profit margin on the PS3, but still ...
My story is a little different. When i came across the information on the Playstation website it actually gives you three choices of purchasing a ps3 for $250.
The first choice: Apply here now
Get approved instantly¹
Wait a few days and you'll receive your card in the mail
Use your card to purchase your new PS3 at any authorized retailer
You will automatically receive an email with instructions
Follow the directions in the email and get $150 card credit on your first statement²
Choice two: Apply here now
Get approved instantly¹
Purchase a PS3 immediately (for the discounted price) on the Sony Rewards site. after receiving the temp you are redirected to page on the sony rewards website. At this point you would proceed with your purchase and and the $150 deducted in the form of points leaving you to purchase the differnce of points which would leave A $284.XX charge on your playstation card as the gentleman mentioned earlier.
And choice 3rd: Apply at any participating Sony Style store
Get approved instantly¹
Use your card to purchase a PS3 at the store
Get $150 card credit on your first statement²
When I was applying for the card I read the terms and conditions which stated "For one or more purchases that post to ur account within 45 days of account opening, on a single sales receipt at sonystyle or sonystyle.com with a value of $299 or more(qualifying purchase)provided your account is not past due on the purchase date:0% fixed apr for the first 12 billing cycles following the purchase date(promotional period)." I thought that's great a ps3 for $250 and 0% for 12 months. lets ask, So after a few phone calls I was informed that yes I could make my purchase and still qualify for the 0% apr.
I was about to checkout and realized that since the points were already redeemed my purchase would be under $299 and would not qualify for the 0%. So back to the phone again. I was given the same information again that my theory was correct. The more I thought about it the more I was unsure so as I continued to read the terms and conditions for the card and read the terms for the promo again. I realized that it said the purchase would have to be made through sonystyle.com. well i went to sonystyle .com and made my purchase.
As posted earlier the promotion states "PlayStation Card is issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A., and is subject to credit approval. To qualify for the $150 card credit, you MUST purchase a PLAYSTATION 3 system with your new PlayStation Card ("PS3 Purchase") at an authorized Sony retailer such as SonyRewards.com, Sony Style store and SonyStyle.com. Complete instructions will be sent upon your approval for the PlayStation Card via email. To receive card credit, your account must be opened by 01/31/2009 and PS3 Purchase must be made by 03/07/2009. Card credit will be posted to your PlayStation Card Statement within 8-12 weeks after PS3 Purchase. This promotional offer is available to new PlayStation Card accounts only and only one $150 card credit may be earned per PlayStation Card account. Existing PlayStation Card account holders or accounts are not eligible."
So I figured ok I can purchase it through Sonystyle.com be eligible for 0% apr and still get it less $150. I now called Sony rewards to find out how I could redeem the $150 and I was now told I would only be able to redeem the $150 by purchasing the ps3 at Sony Rewards since that is where I applied for the card. The rep then instructed me to cancel my order with sonystyle and purchase it through sonyrewards if I wanted to receive the rebate. Back to the phone again with sonystyle. I finally got through to cancel my order when I was informed by the sonystyle rep that it was untrue. he told me that regardless of where the card was issued it was still a Playstation card that would be eligible for the $150 rebate the only difference would be how you received the rebate. He said if you purchased the unit from an authorized reseller then you would have to fill out a rebate form that would be sent to you via email after the purchase was made. If you purchased the unit from sony rewards you receive the rebate instantly. If you purchased through sonystyle.com you would automatically receive the credit. Since it was purchased from sony directly they know that you purchased a ps3. Although it sounds like it all makes sense I still was not reassured so I called sonyrewards where I was still given the same information that I was given the last time I called Sonyrewards. Then I called Sonystyle.com where after speaking to 2 reps and a supervisor they all reassured me that I would receive the rebate 8-12 weeks and I that was eligible for my 0% apr. So we will see. Sorry for the long story I hope it helps anyone to not make the same mistakes.
They sure made this hard.There was no way I was shelling out 399 for a PS3[gift].250 sounded alright it was almost Christmas so I called Sony Style store Seattle 150 mile away was told after instant credit I could purchase have chase card already 720 credit score.I drove 150 miles applied was told would receive card in 2 weeks in mail.Drove back was approved in less than 7 days had them 1 day mail card.Back through a snow storm i went got the PS3 also picked up a stereo bluetooth headset hbh-ds980 for 29 bucks great deal so that was nice.Chase says i get credit doing nothing sony rewards says to mail in rebate form so i did.I didnt have to be this hard. after playing and watching movies it is a nice unit my 18 yr old put Linux on it also.As screwed up as they have been up to now I hope I get my credit and does it apply to balance or do I have to spend it.
Anonymous,
Thanks for your detailed response. You've been put through a lot, and you deserve a pat on the back ... and a $150 rebate on your new PS3.
I'm going to try to sort out what you said. First, I gather that your entry point to the $150 rebate offer was this page at the PlayStation site. It shows three options: "Apply Now at Sony.com", "Apply Now at SonyRewards.com", and "Find a Sony Style Store Near You".
The first option, "Apply Now at Sony.com", links to here, which is supposedly at Sony.com but, in my browser at least, automatically forwards me to SonyRewards.com! I assume this is some quirky cookie thing in my own browser environment and that you will instead see a $150 rebate offer that lets you apply for the PlayStation Card through SonyStyle.com. (No, I'm not clear whether Sony.com and SonyStyle.com are one and the same.)
This first option assumes you will get approval instantly for your PlayStation Card (though "in some instances an application may require additional processing in which case instant approval will be unavailable"). If you do get instant approval, you still must wait to receive the card in the mail, use it to buy the PS3 "at any authorized retailer," wait again until you "automatically receive an email with instructions" for obtaining the rebate, then "follow the directions in the email and get $150 card credit on your first statement."
Option 1 is the only one of the three options that lets you buy the PS3 "at any authorized retailer," as opposed to SonyStyle.com, SonyRewards.com, or a bricks-and-mortar Sony Style store. Of course, you can still buy from any of those three places with option 1, but you don't have to.
As has been pointed out by some commenters, it is not clear how this actually works. If you buy the PS3 at (say) Best Buy, what is it that triggers the sending to you of the crucial e-mail with instructions for obtaining the rebate? In my case, I in effect used option 1 but then turned around and bought the PS3 through SonyRewards.com. I used the PlayStation Card I had received in the mail to buy the PS3, I did not get an instant rebate, I started worrying and called the SonyRewards telephone number [1-866-556-SONY (7669)], and I was told I'd get a call back within two business days with some sort of answer. But on the second day the crucial e-mail showed up in my inbox — I never got the callback — and I followed the instructions it contained to apply for my rebate.
Anyway ... the fine print for option 1 indicates: "PlayStation Card is issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A., and is subject to credit approval. To qualify for the $150 card credit, you MUST purchase a PLAYSTATION 3 system with your new PlayStation Card ("PS3 Purchase") at an authorized Sony retailer such as SonyRewards.com, Sony Style store and SonyStyle.com. Complete instructions will be sent upon your approval for the PlayStation Card via email. To receive card credit, your account must be opened by 01/31/2009 and PS3 Purchase must be made by 03/07/2009. Card credit will be posted to your PlayStation Card Statement within 8-12 weeks after PS3 Purchase. This promotional offer is available to new PlayStation Card accounts only and only one $150 card credit may be earned per PlayStation Card account. Existing PlayStation Card account holders or accounts are not eligible."
This fine print applies also to option 3 (see below).
The second option, "Apply Now at SonyRewards.com", links to this page, which is a SonyRewards.com offer page I myself pointed to earlier in my main post: the one that has both an "apply now" button and a "redeem now" button. This second option is the only one that allows you to redeem the rebate offer concurrently with buying the PS3 at SonyRewards.com.
The third option, "Find a Sony Style Store Near You", is set up to let you apply for the PlayStation Card at a Sony Style bricks-and-mortar store near you. There are not a lot of these stores. The closest one to me is in Annapolis, MD, and I've never seen it or heard of it. If you do have such a store nearby, you can go there to obtain a PlayStation Card, and if you get instant approval you would buy the PS3 there and put it on the card, getting the $150 rebate immediately in the process, to show up on your first statement.
The same fine print that I quoted above for the first option applies to option 3.
Now, Anonymous, I gather you must have started out by using option 2: the one that, via the SonyRewards.com website, lets you apply for the card and get approval through Chase Bank and then optionally takes you expressly to the SonyRewards.com website to buy the PS3 and redeem the $150 rebate instantly.
But I gather you must not have instantly redeemed the $150 offer at SonyRewards.com. (At this point in your tale I'm having a hard time following the sequence of events.) You applied for the card at SonyRewards.com, but you did not redeem the $150 rebate offer then and there. You decided you might be able to do better at SonyStyle.com — specifically, to get an APR of 0%.
I'm not sure why this 0% APR appeared to you to be available only at SonyStyle.com, since it's on the PlayStation Card (or am I wrong?) and should apply no matter where you use the card? I haven't seen the 0% APR advertised, but never mind ... Right now I'm composing this comment offline, since my cable Internet connection has just dropped, and I can't investigate the 0% APR further ...
You next placed your order for the PS3 at SonyStyle.com, correct? It was for a total price of $284: the MSRP of (a penny under) $400 for the 80GB PS3; plus $34 for shipping and handling; minus the $150 rebate — was it applied instantly, or not? — for a total cost of $284.
Then you were told on the phone by a SonyRewards.com representative that the rebate offer had to be redeemed at SonyRewards.com, not SonyStyle.com, because you applied for the card at SonyRewards.com. But a SonyStyle.com phone rep said you could in fact redeem the offer at SonyStyle.com and "automatically receive the credit"! And that's what you are hoping will happen now.
Wow! Whew!
I think you are OK here, and that you have in effect converted your transaction from option 2 to option 1. You certainly have a right to expect the crucial e-mail containing instructions for the rebate to show up in your inbox soon, and if it doesn't, you ought to be able to rattle cages at SonyStyle.com until you get it. Would you post a comment here when you finally get satisfaction? Also, if I have gotten some of the details wrong about what you have been through, would you post a comment setting me straight? And thanks again for your input.
This is to the anonymous poster who said:
"They sure made this hard.There was no way I was shelling out 399 for a PS3[gift].250 sounded alright it was almost Christmas so I called Sony Style store Seattle 150 mile away was told after instant credit I could purchase have chase card already 720 credit score.I drove 150 miles applied was told would receive card in 2 weeks in mail.Drove back was approved in less than 7 days had them 1 day mail card.Back through a snow storm i went got the PS3 also picked up a stereo bluetooth headset hbh-ds980 for 29 bucks great deal so that was nice.Chase says i get credit doing nothing sony rewards says to mail in rebate form so i did.I didnt have to be this hard. after playing and watching movies it is a nice unit my 18 yr old put Linux on it also.As screwed up as they have been up to now I hope I get my credit and does it apply to balance or do I have to spend it."
I am confused ... you bought the PS3 at the bricks-and-mortar Sony Style store in Seattle but are trying to get the rebate through SonyRewards.com? I'd like to know how that works out!
If you didn't get an instant rebate, i.e., $150 taken off the price of the PS3 right away, then the rebate (however you manage to obtain it) will apply to the balance on your PlayStation Card. But you'll probably be billed for that balance before the rebate arrives, so if you have a zero balance at the time the rebate arrives, you'll just get a $150 credit. You'll have to buy at least $150 worth of stuff on the PlayStation Card to use up that balance. At least, that's the way I have it figured.
You pretty much have it right.
Correct, I did not redeem the the $150 at Sony Rewards. Had I redeemed the the $150 I would not have been able to take advantage of the 0% apr. Since they apply it immediately the charge on the card would have been $284.xx
As I applied for the card I read the terms and condition and it stated a $299 or more purchase at sonystyle.com or sonystyle store would qualify for 0% apr for 12 months. I would think one of the main factors being that the purchase had to be $299 or more and another being from Sonystyle store or Sonystyle.com.
So yes I purchased the PS3 through Sonystyle.com and the total was $433.XX. So i qualified for the 0% apr but now the problem is how to redeem the $150.
Yes absolutely, I called Sonyrewards to inquire about redeeming the rebate and the rep told me the only way of redeeming the $150 would be to make the purchase through Sonyrewards and get the instant $150.
So basically I used option 2 to get instant approval and then used the credit card information that appeared to make my purchase at SonyStyle.com.
I think your right. Earlier today I found a page for Sony Card Purchase Credit Form at the Sony Rewards website. I believe by submitting this form with a copy of my purchase from Sonystyle.com will get me $150.
I missed the Fedex guy on Saturday. They shipped Fedex Home delivery. So I should receive it tomorrow. As soon as I receive my PS3 I will send out the paperwork. I will know in about 4-8 weeks. I will definitely keep you guys posted. Thanks for listening.
By the way my name is Dominic. and unless you saved the terms and conditions like I did. You probably might not be able to view it anywhere. Unless maybe if you apply for the card and read the terms and conditions before you hit submit.
Dominic,
You are the commenter, right, who posted the last two comments plus the earlier one in which you tell the story of purchasing the PS3 at SonyStyle.com after getting the PlayStation Card through SonyRewards.com?
So you managed to get a 0% APR by doing that ... congratulations! I am no financial wizard, but I assume that will allow you to simply carry the balance of your PS3 purchase for however many weeks or months it takes for the $150 rebate to come through.
That's clearly the right way to have done it, assuming one didn't just use the SonyRewards.com entry point, redeem the $150 rebate offer immediately by purchasing to PS3 at SonyRewards, and pay off the (reduced) purchase price at the end of the first billing cycle. Your way was better for anyone who needed extra time to pay off the purchase.
I'm using the past tense now, because the $150 rebate offer expired at the end of 2008. It will be interesting to see whether there will be more deal sweeteners in the future. Will Sony simply cut the price of the PS3, sometime down the road? Or will the PS3 80GB stay at $399.99 into the foreseeable future?
Hello all,
To anyone that has filled the rebate form.
How/when/where do you give the rebate form a name?
The rebate instructions as for a name = 'PS-PS3 $150 Rebate’
Carlos
"PS-PS3 $150 Rebate" is shown as the last part of the name of the rebate on the form as originally presented to you. You do not have to fill it in.
Look near the top of the form and find where it says "Rebate Name: C8D8-C8D2-PS-PS3 $150 Rebate -Nov08". That's what needs to be there.
I'm having problems as well. I followed every step presented, but the website says I "do not qualify for a rebate". I called the sony number here, and each time they say to wait 1-2 weeks. Seems like they do not intend to pay up. Has anyone had success?
Yes, I needed to wait 1-2 weeks, just as they told you, and then I got instructions in my e-mail inbox and I was able to submit a rebate form.
After 1-2 weeks have gone by, if you have not been contacted via e-mail, make doubly sure you are accessing the same Sony site (Sony Rewards or Sony Style) that you purchased your PS3 from, and that you actually used your PlayStation Card to buy it at that site, so that the card is registered at the site. Then try accessing the rebate form and filling it out.
Also, you did not by some chance get an instant rebate at Sony Rewards, did you?
I think the basic problem here has to do with the fact that the card comes from a bank (Chase Bank) and the rebate offer comes from one of the Sony sites. It takes a while to coordinate the two.
As you said, I finally got my rebate link and I have filled it out. Now, I wait 6-8 weeks and I'll see what happens.
Thanks
I'm still waiting for my rebate to come through. Good luck with yours!
I purchased a PS3 from Sony at Thanksgiving by taking up their offer to open a Playstation Chase credit card. The offer said I would receive a $150 credit from Chase on my bill. Chase and Sony now refuse to give the credit for no good reason. They are thieves, and I am looking for others who have been cheated by Sony to join me in a class action law suit. I am going to talk to a lawyer and go on local TV consumer program.
They are committing a federal crime, mail fraud, and hope the lawyer can file criminal charges.
"I purchased a PS3 from Sony at Thanksgiving by taking up their offer to open a Playstation Chase credit card. The offer said I would receive a $150 credit from Chase on my bill. Chase and Sony now refuse to give the credit for no good reason. They are thieves, and I am looking for others who have been cheated by Sony to join me in a class action law suit. I am going to talk to a lawyer and go on local TV consumer program.
They are committing a federal crime, mail fraud, and hope the lawyer can file criminal charges."
You need to document what Chase and Sony are telling you by getting their responses in writing. If you hire a lawyer, he or she will need to do that, if you haven't already done it. Good luck!
Eric & gang -
I just wanted to post my thanks to you folks.
I got an email reminding me to apply for my $150 rebate but the link in the email did not work.. I followed links here and was able to register and apply for my rebate (which I printed).
I did receive my PS3 last week - believe it or not I am not a gamer, I just wanted it for it's superior Blu-Ray playback.
All the best to you folks..
Regards - Randy
Randy,
Thanks. Glad you got the magic e-mail and were able to apply for your rebate.
I too got the PS3 for Blu-ray, more than for gaming.
It is a sad commentary that getting the rebate is such a confusing process. Your experience with the link in the e-mail not working is typical.
In the future, I think Sony/Chase need to make all such rebates instant, no matter what entry point you use to get them.
I finally got approved for my $150 credit! See this post.
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