Rebate confusion at the cash register

According to “Replace the old fridge; get some money back” (Consumer Watch, July 29), Home Depot will subtract at the cash register the $30 rebate offered by Southern California Gas Co. on a new energy-efficient water heater. So I went to a Home Depot to buy one. After consulting with his manager, a clerk told me the cashier would automatically apply the credit. But when I went to pay, there was no automatic rebate. Soon I had four employees arguing about how to allow the discount. After 15 minutes, I was given a $30 “customer satisfaction” credit. That means my rebate was from Home Depot, not the gas company.

Donald Vanderhei

Los Angeles