[Andrew Putschoegl]

I still think that by calling this rebate an Ecoupon to the Sony Style site, they tried to have it both ways – make it sound generous and enticing to generate sales, but don’t actually deliver any value to the customer. (This is particularly true for the EX1 customers, who don’t even have regular accessories to their cameras included.)

I expect this kind of behavior from all kinds of companies, but I thought Sony would value a better relationship especially with their professional customers. And what difference does it make, if you buy a flat screen or a camera and get $500 off? The whole thing is a little sleazy and, though you caught on early, other reputable dealers did not. I think that miscommunication originated in their questionable marketing.

At fault is the company (Sony!) who can’t communicate clearly to their dealers and represent their true intention to the customer. But then again, I think they didn’t truly want to have their intention known…

If it’s not a coupon to the Sony Style site, just don’t call it that.

[Andrew Putschoegl]

Scot –

Your suggestion of products which can in fact work with the EX1 is great, but I don’t know about not blaming Sony. Three major dealers here in LA – Samy’s, Abel Cine and BandPro – all gave me the same wrong information. From what I understand, even the Sony rep dealing with these thought that EX1 accessories would be added to the site. At the very least, Sony is benefiting from the confusion.

A $500 for the Sony Style site should be a $500 coupon for the Sony Style site! If the coupon is only good for cameras and accessories, it is a $500 coupon for cameras and accessories. And, if the $500 coupon is only good for other cameras (after you have already bought a more expensive one) and their accessories (even though you point out correctly that there are indeed a couple of usable exceptions), it is simply a rip off.

Sony, with a nod and a wink and some fine print and confused dealers, made it sound like a better offer than it is, generated some sales, and is now pointing to the fine print. The credit card company I charged $18K for these cameras to treated me with more honesty – and that’s saying something.

[Andrew Putschoegl]

You’re right – I guess those are an option that would work. Even if those products are not Sony’s strong suit – there are better and cheaper alternatives – at least I can use the coupon. Thanks

[Andrew Putschoegl]

They include one 8GB SxS card in the camera package, which I think they always did, but the additional SxS memory card has been discontinued. The memory would, of course, be much more helpful, but for NAB they came up with the $500 coupon instead. The accessories you can buy with that coupon are not for the EX1 and SxS memory cards are not available on the Sony Style site. I don’t know what the current incentive is, but I suggest reading the fine print with extreme care and not trusting what the Sony retailer tells you…

[Andrew Putschoegl]

You’re right about the dead end – Sony doesn’t seem inclined to budge. However, I didn’t fail to read the fine print, because I was going off the word of three different Sony retailers, who all said this coupon was for the Sony Style site. And the precedent, even with Sony, is that the rebate is at least good for accessories that work with the camera you bought. Clearly I will go on with my life, but I also wanted to share this cautionary tale with others, so that they not take the word of the dealer, but very carefully read the fine print, as you suggested…