I receive many emails every week from people who have been ripped off.

 

I must say each email makes me both sad and angry.

 

I am sad that nice people throughout the U.S. and Canada were scammed by the rip-off artists (my opinion) who ran Cashback America.

 

I am angry at

1) the Cashback American clowns;

2) the local retailers who bought into this scheme and then abused their local customer base (their neighbors) by using the system to drive short-term sales; and,

3) retail customers who believed the baloney and made a purchase decisions counting on a phantom rebate.

 

Now, of the three, I am most angry at the local retailers.  The Cashback America guys are scam artists  (my opinion) who do this for a living.  Ripped-off customers were just looking for a good deal.  However, the local retailers - selling cars, ATVs, spas, pianos, treadmills, sewing machines, and on and on - are the real losers in this story. 

 

The local retailers are losers in so many ways.  They are losers for being stupid enough to participate (in any way) in such a scam.  They are losers for being so incompetent (or desperate) that they utilized this scam in their business operations.  They are losers for not realizing the long-term business risk involved in such a scam.  They are losers for telling their shafted customers things like "this is not my rebate and thus not my problem" and "I told you the rebate might not work out" and "you should not have counted on receiving the rebate".  They are losers in the best sense because of the hundreds of alienated customers who will not only return to their establishments but also will spread the stories of their rip-offs throughout their communities.

 

I wish to also make the point that during 2004 and 2005, I called numerous state AG offices to complain about the Cashback America scam.  In nearly every case, I was told that the AG offices were powerless to do anything until someone actually failed to receive a rebate.  What a way to run a state.

 

During 2006, 2006, and 2007, I remained watchful for participating retailers in my region (Billings, MT).  I probably made a dozen calls to these retailers encouraging them to stop promoting such a ridiculous program.  Several retailers actually listened and then stopped their participation.  Others laughed at me as I described the damage they were likely doing to their business reputations.  Several business owners were outright rude.

 

I fully expect that most retail participants will never see any money out of this mess.  Obviously, you will be very angry.  For you folks, I first offer my sympathies.  Next, I suggest you take the following actions:

1) Contact your state AG office and ask for a status on this case.

2) Attempt to contact Cashback America and/or submit COPIES of your paperwork as outlined in your rebate paperwork.

3) When your rebate goes unpaid, contact the local partipating retail business and ask for their assistance in collecting your rebate.  Document all such requests.

4) Contact your state attorney general's office and file a complaint against Cashback America AND the local participating business.  Ask the AG's office about your legal options.

5) Tell everyone (and their dog) about the incredibly poor business judgement of the local participating businesses.  These folks SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS, and they certainly do not give a darn about their customers.  Write letters to regional newspapers describing the problem, complain to your local Better Business Bureaus, and let these businesses know about your anger.

6) Shift your patronage to other retailers (in your community) who did not participate in the program...the way CBA was pushed, heavens knows they had the chance.