Zeiss winter cashback - careful

[chrisrabe]

They have an arbitrary 2 week window in which to register for it.

I misread the (very) small print and thought it was you could only register within 30 days of purchase.

It's actually open after 15 days, and closes 30 days after purchase - i can only think this is purely so limited in order to catch people out. Like me.

So, registered this morning just outside the window for my Batis 40mm, and am guessing will be denied.

This sort of thing really sours me against companies. If they deny I'll not have anything to do with them in future.

 

[zoomo]

They have an arbitrary 2 week window in which to register for it.

I misread the (very) small print and thought it was you could only register within 30 days of purchase.

It's actually open after 15 days, and closes 30 days after purchase - i can only think this is purely so limited in order to catch people out. Like me.

So, registered this morning just outside the window for my Batis 40mm, and am guessing will be denied.

This sort of thing really sours me against companies. If they deny I'll not have anything to do with them in future.

If you lose out on the cashback I feel sorry for you and understand your frustration but ... who made the mistake when reading the small print. I too made use of the cashback and found the explanation perfectly clear. There is no reason to take it out on the company I think.

 

[chrisrabe]

They have an arbitrary 2 week window in which to register for it.

I misread the (very) small print and thought it was you could only register within 30 days of purchase.

It's actually open after 15 days, and closes 30 days after purchase - i can only think this is purely so limited in order to catch people out. Like me.

So, registered this morning just outside the window for my Batis 40mm, and am guessing will be denied.

This sort of thing really sours me against companies. If they deny I'll not have anything to do with them in future.

If you lose out on the cashback I feel sorry for you and understand your frustration but ... who made the mistake when reading the small print. I too made use of the cashback and found the explanation perfectly clear. There is no reason to take it out on the company I think.

--
Some of my photos: https://www.zeissimages.com/member-photos/718

When I read it again this morning, yes i could see it was there.

But such a narrow window is completely unnecessary. So, yes, I'll hold it against them.

I'm glad for you that you read it right the first time.

 

[Mark Rosher]

As an aside, I note the winter cashback with Sony requires you to apply thirty days after purchase. Again, no doubt, a strategy to avoid paying out to the less careful. Some of us however have got reminders set on the computer... ;-)

 

[Helen]

As an aside, I note the winter cashback with Sony requires you to apply thirty days after purchase. Again, no doubt, a strategy to avoid paying out to the less careful. Some of us however have got reminders set on the computer... ;-)

Actually, I think that those cashbacks where the application cannot be accepted until thirty days after purchase are primarily to avoid people claiming on goods quickly and then taking advantage of a no-quibble returns period with the retailer, which typically have a maximum duration of 30 days (though at Christmas they may be extended).

On the other hand, you may well be right that most cashbacks are an attractive proposition to manufacturers as they stimulate sales more openly than a simple price drop by actively advertising the saving and its limited window of opportunity to get it - as well as saving them some money on the applications that miss the window or somehow fail to fulfil all the eligibility requirements. ;-)

 

[PWPhotography]

In USA Zeiss and Voigtlander already applied discount directly in the holiday season. I hate those cashback trick. Decade ago remember when I bought Canon 5D+EF 24-105L IS+PixaPro9000 combo package, need to cut barcode piece from camera box and printer box, attached together with receipt and mailed to the third party to get cash discount back upto 8 weeks later.

https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/still-running-300-off-zeiss-voigtlander-fe-lenses/

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/55485085@N04/albums

 

[tqlla]

Just to be sure, this is a Europe thing?

I am in the US, and just bought a Batis 85mm.

 

[Jerry R]

Return the lens and repurchase it.

 

[chrisrabe]

Return the lens and repurchase it.

 

[chrisrabe]

Well, they declined.

Then I kicked off a bit, pointing out how ridiculous their time limit was, etc.

Then they agreed.

So I'll keep my zeiss lenses

 

[zoomo]

Well, they declined.

Then I kicked off a bit, pointing out how ridiculous their time limit was, etc.

Then they agreed.

So I'll keep my zeiss lenses

Good on both fronts! ;-)

 

[Stonedhouse]

As an aside, I note the winter cashback with Sony requires you to apply thirty days after purchase. Again, no doubt, a strategy to avoid paying out to the less careful. Some of us however have got reminders set on the computer... ;-)

To be fair the 30 day thing is purely to stop people buying the camera / lens etc, getting a receipt, returning the item within the 30 day no quibble return period but then still claiming the cashback. I've used Sony Winter cashback numerous times and provided you leave it 30 days until you claim you get yer cash. Sony's window for the purchase period is also quite wide and advertised very clearly as winter cashback so is pretty fair - the issue the OP had does sound somewhat trickier but in fairness they came through in the end.

 

[Mark Rosher]

Ah yes, a far less underhand reason, thank you.

 

[chrisrabe]

As an aside, I note the winter cashback with Sony requires you to apply thirty days after purchase. Again, no doubt, a strategy to avoid paying out to the less careful. Some of us however have got reminders set on the computer... ;-)

To be fair the 30 day thing is purely to stop people buying the camera / lens etc, getting a receipt, returning the item within the 30 day no quibble return period but then still claiming the cashback. I've used Sony Winter cashback numerous times and provided you leave it 30 days until you claim you get yer cash. Sony's window for the purchase period is also quite wide and advertised very clearly as winter cashback so is pretty fair - the issue the OP had does sound somewhat trickier but in fairness they came through in the end.

Yeah, used Sony (and other) cashback and never had an issue and they have all had reasonable times to register.

Am glad zeiss came through, and I really hope they revisit this stupid short window to register in future promotions.

 

[Veloster75]

They have an arbitrary 2 week window in which to register for it.

I misread the (very) small print and thought it was you could only register within 30 days of purchase.

It's actually open after 15 days, and closes 30 days after purchase - i can only think this is purely so limited in order to catch people out. Like me.

So, registered this morning just outside the window for my Batis 40mm, and am guessing will be denied.

This sort of thing really sours me against companies. If they deny I'll not have anything to do with them in future.

I don't blame you. That's a company playing games with their consumers. I do suspect that this "window" is to make sure people keep the lens. Possibly the return to store time is within the first couple of weeks? Of course, this is just a guess as to why they would have such a limited time.

 

[chrisrabe]

They have an arbitrary 2 week window in which to register for it.

I misread the (very) small print and thought it was you could only register within 30 days of purchase.

It's actually open after 15 days, and closes 30 days after purchase - i can only think this is purely so limited in order to catch people out. Like me.

So, registered this morning just outside the window for my Batis 40mm, and am guessing will be denied.

This sort of thing really sours me against companies. If they deny I'll not have anything to do with them in future.

I don't blame you. That's a company playing games with their consumers. I do suspect that this "window" is to make sure people keep the lens. Possibly the return to store time is within the first couple of weeks? Of course, this is just a guess as to why they would have such a limited time.