I hate mail in rebates!

[I Saw OJ]

I'm going to be moving soon to a place of my own and currently looking for a new TV.

I'm not looking for anything insane, but a nice 30-32 inch CRT will do. While browsing the main big electronic stores I see lots of good deals but like 95% of them require a mail in rebate! If its for a certain discount, or free shipping or something like that they all require a MIR!

What ever happened to the good ol' days of regular sales?



/rant

 

[Pikachu]

Originally this was a way for manufacturers to encourage sales, by giving the money directly back to the customer, rather than the retailers keeping it.

 

[thomsbrain]

costco FTW.

 

[amol]

They're also banking on the fact that some people don't get their rebates in on time or in at all.

 

[BigJ]

Make photocopies of everything, spend the extra 2 bucks required for registered mail.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Amol
They're also banking on the fact that some people don't get their rebates in on time or in at all.

Exactly...

Originally posted by: BigJ
Make photocopies of everything, spend the extra 2 bucks required for registered mail.

I'd like to see an ROI on that...I find it hard to believe that, all else equal:

rebate amount [p(rebate comes w/registered mail) - p(rebate comes w/1st class mail)] > $2

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Amol
They're also banking on the fact that some people don't get their rebates in on time or in at all.

Exactly...

Originally posted by: BigJ
Make photocopies of everything, spend the extra 2 bucks required for registered mail.

I'd like to see an ROI on that...I find it hard to believe that, all else equal:

rebate amount [p(rebate comes w/registered mail) - p(rebate comes w/1st class mail)] > $2

Obviously I'm not saying mail in a rebate thats worth $5 with registered mail, but if you're risking $100-$150 rebate, why would you do anything but send it registered mail?

As far as ROI, do you know how many times these companies claim they either didn't receive the rebate, or that they received it incomplete, or that it just plain got lost somehow? I'm not saying the mail is faulty, I'm saying these rebate companies are notorious for being a bunch of "scammers." If it's sent registered mail, you have proof that you sent it in.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: BigJ
As far as ROI, do you know how many times these companies claim they either didn't receive the rebate, or that they received it incomplete, or that it just plain got lost somehow?

That's exactly what I'm asking: How many times? (Out of how many times total?)

And how many times out of those times did the use of registered mail resolve the issue?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: BigJ
As far as ROI, do you know how many times these companies claim they either didn't receive the rebate, or that they received it incomplete, or that it just plain got lost somehow?

That's exactly what I'm asking: How many times? (Out of how many times total?)

And how many times out of those times did the use of registered mail resolve the issue?

You can look on the forums to get an idea, but I'm sure it's almost impossible to get exact numbers.

I used to send in rebates without registered mail and had tons of problems with them never receiving them. I started sending it with registered mail, and my problems all but went away.

 

[saymyname]

I was told that only 30% of MIR are sent in. That's how they make their money.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: BigJ
As far as ROI, do you know how many times these companies claim they either didn't receive the rebate, or that they received it incomplete, or that it just plain got lost somehow?

That's exactly what I'm asking: How many times? (Out of how many times total?)

And how many times out of those times did the use of registered mail resolve the issue?

You can look on the forums to get an idea, but I'm sure it's almost impossible to get exact numbers.

I used to send in rebates without registered mail and had tons of problems with them never receiving them. I started sending it with registered mail, and my problems all but went away.

...and I've always sent first-class and have yet to have a problem. But I do photocopy. I did DC for a while but realized I'd never be able to prove anything with just that anyway...

Personally, I like mail-in rebates because manufacturers are willing to offer a bigger discount since they know not everyone will send in their forms. It's like a tax on lazy people and people who can't follow directions

 

[allisolm]

I used to send in rebates without registered mail and had tons of problems with them never receiving them. I started sending it with registered mail, and my problems all but went away.

Guess it's an individual thing. I've been doing rebates since they started and have never sent registered mail and have gotten 100% back. People at the rebate companies have said that sending them registered slows the process as those require special handling and there was even a period of time during which some rebate houses wouldn't accept mail that had to be signed for.

Best buy has eliminated them and OfficeMax is going that route as well and I'm not too happy about it. As much as a pain as they are, you get much better deals with the rebates. I have watched Best Buy's prices since they eliminated rebates, and their deals are few and far between. I don't think I'll be getting too many free TiVos, printers, CD-Rs, DVD blanks, surge protectors, etc when there aren't any rebates.

 

[13Gigatons]

Mail in Rebates are great and terrible at the same time. If it's a big rebate you worry that it will make it in and they won't try and stiff you.


I've always said it would be better if they would send the rebate check to the store so you need to return to pick it up.