He writes, "Come on, why print on the card that it expires in July 2009 when it couldn't possibly last beyond April 2009? I guess I'm lucky, at least I haven't gotten a bill for ongoing card maintenance. Anyway, that's the last item I ever buy from Creative Labs, I hope the rebate tactic was worth losing a customer."

If you take advantage of a Creative Labs rebate, use it immediately. Or better yet, don't take the bait the next time Creative dangles a rebate offer in front of you. They're not kidding about it being a "Creative rebate."

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(Photo: cpchannel)

Bernard cc'd us on the Executive Email Carpet Bomb he sent to Creative's public relations team:

Mr. O'Shaughnessy,

I have resorted to emailing you out of desperation at the complete lack of effective customer service Creative Labs has provided me regarding a subwoofer that was malfunctioning. The issue began November of 2007. I set-up an RMA and sent back just the subwoofer at a cost of approximately $50 for shipping. When the subwoofer was returned to me it still did not function properly. At this point I returned to college where I needed what little function the unit actually provided.

At the conclusion of the spring semester I again initiated another RMA to resolve the as of yet unresolved subwoofer issue. When I received the email confirming the RMA, I was directed to send in ALL components of the speaker system, which I did. A few weeks later, I received only the subwoofer in the mail with none of the other components. I have absolutely no way of knowing if the subwoofer I received actually works because I did not receive the other components of the system back when I received the subwoofer.

I emailed the RMA department concerning this and was told to call customer service. I then called customer service and was told I would receive a call back. I never received that call and it has been over two business days.

It is completely unacceptable that I had to send in my unit for service twice let alone the fact that after the second time, most of the parts I sent in to be repaired were never returned to me.

To resolve this issue I would like you to provide me with a new, complete replacement unit as well as refund me the $25 I paid for the out-of-warranty repair, and the two shipping costs of approximately $50 each for a total of $125.

Thanks for taking the time to get this issue resolved.

Sincerely,
Bernard

C'mon Creative, return the rest of the $500 sound system. Preferably in working order.