UMAX Rebate Problems

I purchased a scanner on May 13, 2002 from UMAX. I received defective equipment and requested replacement. A replacement (used/refurbished) product was shipped in early July 2002 as per UMAX policy. The replacement product was also defective. I again requested replacement with a NEW scanner, but again received a refurbished scanner in mid-September of 2002. The product started malfunctioning in January of 2003, within the 1 year warranty period. I contacted UMAX for resolution on January 27th 2003 and spoke with Shane Smith.

The representative offered several possible solutions that did not work and then told me he would speak with another representative in the office and get back to me regarding my issue; this was my formal claim with UMAX that the scanner was not operating properly. Still to this date, they refuse to honor the warranty although I (and they) have clear documentation that they were made aware of the problem during the warranty period.

The warranty clearly states, "UMAX Technologies, Inc. (UMAX) warrants this hardware product against defects in material and workmanship for claims made within a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the original date of purchase." I complied with the stipulations of the warranty and made a claim on January 27, 2003 - 8.5 months into the warranty period.

I bought a UMAX Astra 6400 scanner on 4/7/02 for a project. It arrived without any software other than Photoshop LE 5.0. Numerous emails finally got me the information that I could get the software for an additional $15.00. I am furious.

My project is delayed over a month. In fact, it isn't viable any more. Dead in the water. I paid the #@$$!! extra fifteen dollars for the software that should have been packaged with the scanner but I feel taken advantage of-I feel blackmailed.

WHY didn't I read the complaints from others duped by UMAX rebate offers?? I purchased a UMAX 3400 scanner on 10/08/01, sent in the rebate form for a $30 rebate and required documentation on 10/18/01 that was within the required post-purchase time period and within the "Offer Valid through 12/31/01" offer date. The offer stated that "if you have not received your check within 10 weeks visit www.wheresmyrebate.com or call 914-***-****."

The web site indicated that the rebate was "APPROVED" as of 1/12/02 when I first looked. After a month I called on 2/06/02 and was informed the payment was "scheduled"for 2/12/02. When no rebate arrived, I called on 3/05/02 and was informed that payment "has been approved but not scheduled." No date could be provided for payment. Add my name to the ASTRA UMAX list of unsatisfied (or perhaps swindled) customers.

I am just another victim of the Great Umax Rebate Scam. I purchased an Astra 3400 for Christmas, completed all the paperwork, mailed it in, and even registered on-line. The website let you monitor the "progress" of you rebate. As the days and weeks went by my status was always "waiting for paper work" even though I mailed it all in weeks ago. I decided then to e-mail them scanned copies of all my documents. Within hours of sending them my e-mail I checked the status of my rebate and the site said that my tracking number was no longer in their system because the promotion was over. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I have never received my rebate from UMAX. I mailed in all the items that were requested on the rebate form 4-11-2000. I called them several times about why I hadn't received the rebate and was given the run-around. Once I was told that I didn't send in the UPC from the box. I had enclosed a copy of the shipping label which they had stuck over the UPC bar code, that was barely legible thru the shipping label.

I noted on the paperwork that I couldn't get the label off without tearing the UPC label also. She then sent me a form to fill out for "lost UPC/Copy UPC Form" which I filled out and mailed back to them. Since then, I've called several more times and was told that it was denied, delayed due to back-log of claims, in processing and it was "in the mail"!!!! Which of these I was to really believe, I wasn't sure. I decided to wait a while and call them back, since I was last told it was in the mail, but I still haven't received it as of 9-17-2000. I'm going to try to call them again tomorrow.I sincerely would like to get this rebate.

umax failed to include setup disc in package and i now have a scanner that wont work I have to purchase "free" setup hardware

Thank you for your speedy reply. Yes, Umax DOES HAVE a rebate center, but the problem is that they don't give out rebates!!! I submitted my first request in August of 1999, then after seeing a New York Times article ( dated 01/13/00 ) about how Umax and another company, Memtek were cited by the Federal Trade Commission for not following through on consumer rebates, I decided to call the rebate center ( the same number you provided me ), and sure enough the rebate center told me they didn't have any of my information.

So I then resent all the information again, and mailed it with a return receipt to be sure it got to its' destination. I got the return receipt back in late January, so I KNOW the rebate center got the SECOND submission, but when I called again in mid March, they claim not to have received any of my information. Pretty fishy, huh? I was hoping to resolve this amicably with your company. I realize many companies farm out the rebates to other companies, but I'm pretty hot about this and think that if you guys can't help me out on this perhaps the F.T.C. can.

1: Do you realize that your company has MAJOR problems with rebates - and that the Ferderal Trade Commission has been speaking to your company about this issue???

2: Is there anything you can do or anyone you can refer this correspondence to so that I can resolve this matter with you guys, and thereby not get you guys in any further hot water with the F.T.C.???

The Jan. 13, 2000 article from the New York Times mentions Alice Hardy, a lawyer, and Jodie Bernstein, director of consumer protection as the two Federal Trade Commission employees who have been dealing with Umax directly on the rebate problem. I have their phone numbers and e-mail addresses, but as I said before, was hoping to resolve this matter with you directly. Please let me know how you'd like to handle this.

Like everyone else. I went to Best Buys computer store back during the first week December 1999. I bought an IBM Aptiva computer with a FREE scanner from UMAX (Astra 2000) after rebates. I sent in all the forms, correctly filled out, immediately and I am still waiting to receive my $40.00 rebate.

Isn't this company going out of business and sticking everyone with the bill? Thanks for any assistance you can offer! I never would have gotten this scanner had I known. They don't have a good reputation as a reliable machine.

i purchased a UMAX laptop computer Feb. of 1999 at Fry's electronics. It broke at the end of Oct.1999. I contacted Berry(tech.support) at UMAX for warranty repairs. He ask me to describe the problem, and then he said it was probably a faulty hard drive. He told me to ship the item to them using FedEx and said that because of the holidays it might take longer time to fix the problem - about 2-3 weeks.

After shipping the computer to UMAX i waited for about a week, then i called UMAX to get status on the repairs. i was told by Kemmy(female)that they did receive it and they're working on it. I asked her to tell me exactly what's going on and what the status on the repair was. She said that she does not know, but will find out and call me back. That never happened!

After another week i tried calling UMAX again. I got the same person. I asked her what's going on and why she didn't call me back. Her reply was an apology and a promise (!!!) to find out what is going on and call me back right away. guess what? ...never happened. I called back in about two weeks, got her again. She said that the parts are on back order and will take some time to get. I asked her what parts? What is the problem with my computer? After putting me on hold for a couple of minutes she came back and said that they(tech.support) don't know yet.

Now, how could the part be on back order if they don't know what the part is that they need?!! I asked for a supervisor, she gave me a number and a name and said he was on vacation, and will be back next week. That person is James **** at 510.***.****. I called him next week and got a recording. I left a message and got a call the next day from Berry(the person who originally helped me). He said that mr. **** asked him to resolve this situation. I explain the story to him. He said he would check on the status and call me back. He called me back in a few minutes and said that they're still working on it. I asked him what the problem was, he said they still don't know. I asked him about the shortage of hard drives, and specifically about a hard drive for my model(520t). He said that they have them in stock and there was never a shortage in the recent past!

I asked him when will i get my computer back,he said that he would have to do more research about my notebook and call me back on this. After no reply i tried calling James **** three more times. Got no reply at all. Today 01.14.2000 i tried calling UMAX again (1-888-815-8629, #3) and got a female operator, who refused to give me her name. She was extremely rude. I asked for her supervisor. A man came back on the line. He said his name was Mario and that his was the tech.support supervisor.

I explained everything to him. He said that i should get my computer back next week. I told him that i have a complaint. He just said that that's all he can do. I asked him for his boss. He said it would be James **** and he's at the meeting all day long. I asked to talk to Berry. He said Berry was unavailable. I use my computer for business. Because of this i had to by another computer. I spent $1500 on this UMAX 520t notebook and charged it on my credit card, so i'm paying 19% every month for something i don't even have. Please, help. Roman ****

P.S. I'm really thinking of taking legal action against UMAX and the people involved.

My story is similar to the others. I purchased a UMAX astra 1220P scanner in October. No sign of the rebate to date. I made my purchase decision based on the rebate offer. The scanner is good and I have no complaints about that, but I do object to a company who does not honor it's own business plan. I am willing to pursue this in depth, even though it will cost me more than my $40.00 rebate. It is the principal at this point and they should not be allowed to operate in this fashion. There are plenty of organizations out there who would consider this consumer fraud and shut them down in a heartbeat. I think I shall contact them.

I purchased a Umax S1200 scanner in early December, 1998 and immediately sent a $50 rebate request in. The rebate form stated I could expect a rebate in 10-12 weeks. This is April 19 and, as of today, I have not received a check. I sent them two e-mails on this subject but they have not responded. I have called their "rebate inquiry" phone number several times but get a recorded message stating they are too busy with rebates to answer the phone.

The rebate offer definitely affected the scanner I purchased. I feel Umax is not acting in good faith. Perhaps the State Attorney General's office would be interested in resolving this. It's apparent that Umax isn't!

I bought a umax astra 610P scanner 11/15/98 and I was promised a $30.00 rebate if I sent in all the upc/serial number labels along with the rebate coupon. I did all that before the deadline and months later I received a letter saying they didn't receive a copy of the retail receipt from me

I know I sent it . So I sent another copy of the retail receipt and that was months ago Now it is 4/19/99 and still no rebate I wish someone could do something about people like that. Isn't it false advertisement ?

I send this in hoping I can stop other people from making the same mistake as me and some of the other unfortunate people who got suckered out of their $30.00 rebate. Thanks for letting me blow off a little steam.