http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20060126/tc_zd/170077
Retailer Best Buy said this week that it will electronically process rebates for notebook PCs and PC accessories, eliminating the mail-in rebate.
The two-year process, begin in April 2005, is already in place with some desktop PCs. Since the beginning of 2006, the policy has been categorically extended to all notebook computers sold by Best Buy, and will be extended to computer accessories in early February. For now, however, the electronic rebate program for laptops will apply just to rebates Best Buy itself offers, and not third-party suppliers.
"We realized that mail-in rebates were a source of frustration with consumers, and something worth taking on," said Brian Lucas, a spokesman with the Minneapolis, Minn. retailer. The two-year process has necessitated explaining and working with vendors, and implementing a back-end IT process to handle the flow of rebates, he said.
By the end of the two years, the retailer hopes to eliminate all mail-in rebates within its store, Lucas said.
Typically, a consumer asking for a Best Buy rebate on a notebook computer will be directed to a Best Buy website, where he or she will be asked to enter information about the item and his receipt information. Best Buy will either pay the rebate as a check, an instant discount, or a gift card, depending upon the promotion, Lucas said. Provided the submission is compliant, most rebate checks will be mailed within seven days after submission, the retailer said.
In the first week of February, the online rebates will be extended to a range of computer accessories: wireless routers, cables, blank media, and other items, Lucas said.
Over time, Best Buy will ask third-party vendors to get on board with Best Buy's electronic rebate system. However, the ability of Best Buy to process rebates from third-party vendors will vary by vendor, as the retailer works to establish the program with each manufacturer over time, Lucas added.
Retailer Best Buy said this week that it will electronically process rebates for notebook PCs and PC accessories, eliminating the mail-in rebate.
The two-year process, begin in April 2005, is already in place with some desktop PCs. Since the beginning of 2006, the policy has been categorically extended to all notebook computers sold by Best Buy, and will be extended to computer accessories in early February. For now, however, the electronic rebate program for laptops will apply just to rebates Best Buy itself offers, and not third-party suppliers.
"We realized that mail-in rebates were a source of frustration with consumers, and something worth taking on," said Brian Lucas, a spokesman with the Minneapolis, Minn. retailer. The two-year process has necessitated explaining and working with vendors, and implementing a back-end IT process to handle the flow of rebates, he said.
By the end of the two years, the retailer hopes to eliminate all mail-in rebates within its store, Lucas said.
Typically, a consumer asking for a Best Buy rebate on a notebook computer will be directed to a Best Buy website, where he or she will be asked to enter information about the item and his receipt information. Best Buy will either pay the rebate as a check, an instant discount, or a gift card, depending upon the promotion, Lucas said. Provided the submission is compliant, most rebate checks will be mailed within seven days after submission, the retailer said.
In the first week of February, the online rebates will be extended to a range of computer accessories: wireless routers, cables, blank media, and other items, Lucas said.
Over time, Best Buy will ask third-party vendors to get on board with Best Buy's electronic rebate system. However, the ability of Best Buy to process rebates from third-party vendors will vary by vendor, as the retailer works to establish the program with each manufacturer over time, Lucas added.