Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I'd rather buy an HD for $70 than one for $40 after $60 MIR. I've had too many rebate companies jack me around with deals (ie: 6-8 weeks becomes 5+ months) that I'd rather have a low upfront price.
Examples:
$50 Umax rebate: gave away the scanner before I got the rebate (over 9 months), when it came, I forgot what the check was for. Umax never replied to my inquiries.
$50 Seagate rebate: Got rejected three times, the rebate house flat out lied to the BBB. Eventually got a check 5 months later.
$25 Newegg/ABS rebate: rebate company only said "Wait 8 weeks" after it had been 9 after thier "submission date" (which was 8 weeks after I mailed it out). Eventually got it after 5 months.
Taxes also apply BEFORE MIR amounts. So I had to pay sales tax on most of the rebate amounts. I've only had one rebate experience that was actually pleasant (Staples iirc), where the check was mailed out within two weeks.
Instant rebates=win, mail in=lose.
Wow, it just amazes me what problems some people have with rebates. I've submitted
hundreds, and I've only ever been denied one. That one was $10 from Staples...they said I could resubmit, but I was out of the country at the time and the resubmission window had expired by the time I returned. As a matter of fact, that was the only one that has ever not just sent me a check. I read about people having to call the companies and hound them and beg for their check, while I just follow the simple instructions and they mail the checks to me just like they promised to. I think the longest I've ever had to wait was 12 weeks, while most come in 8 weeks or less.
Your Seagate example intrigues me. I've done at least six rebates for Seagate hard drives, and in every case I had the rebate check in my hands within three weeks. One of those had a second rebate from Office Depot, and that check arrived within two weeks. This
is unusual...Seagate seems to not play the "8 weeks" game that most companies do. Still, even if it takes 8 weeks, I'd rather pay $40 after a $60 rebate on a $100 hard drive as opposed to just paying $70 somewhere else. I'm damn sure not going to make $30 in interest on that $60 in the next two months...so the rebate is a great deal.
If a rebate is less than $10, I almost never go for the deal. There have been a few cases where I got an $8 item free after rebate, but for the most part I only go for the really good deals. Anything less than $10 isn't worth my time to fill out the paperwork.
Really, it's pretty easy: Follow the instructions, scan everything into your computer just in case they ever ask for proof of your claim (I use the nice scanner I got for $15 after a $40 rebate a few years back) and mail the thing on time. Why do people find this so hard? On the bright side, I guess the manufacturers will continue to offer me great rebates as long as other people can't figure out how to follow simple instructions.