Rebates..

[LiNoX]

Are rebates used to deceive customers into buying products with say, a pleasant $100 off (after mail in rebate) but seldom pay customers unless complained to constantly? this is how i see it i never got back a $20 which doesnt seem to be a lot of money but the essence of being deceived gets me.. :|

does anyone else have problems with rebates?

 

[Navid]

I have filed for about 10 rebates over the last 2 years. Fortunately, for me, I have got all except one that I filed a few days ago.

I believe that not everyone files correctly. So, they will not pay the rebates to as many as have bought an item. And nothing is wrong with that. I mean this part of it is not a scam. The rules of the rebate are clearly specified and one has to follow all the steps or be prepared not to get it.

Whether there is a scam or not, I don't know.

One thing that is obviously incorrect is that for example for a $100.00 item, they write $50.00 after a $50.00 rebate. But, that is not what you really end up with. You pay tax on $100.00. Then, you get $50.00 back for the rebate. So, you pay more than if you paid tax on $50.00.

 

[poisonthewell]

Rebates are hit and miss. Check the hot deals forums and you'll se almost every Tiger Direct rebate offer gets plenty of moaning and complaining from the members.

Companies generally take out "insurance" policies on these offers. If they end up paying out over XXX dollars they get money back on the policy. Just check the forums when dealing with a specific store or company to see what their track record is like. And the old adage "if it sounds too good to be true it probably is" can definitely come into play with some of these offers.

Just make sure you have copied of EVERYTHING, follow the rebate instructions exactly, and mail to them with some type of delivery confirmation or tracking. And wait . . .

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Navid
I believe that not everyone files correctly. So, they will not pay the rebates to as many as have bought an item. And nothing is wrong with that. I mean this part of it is not a scam. The rules of the rebate are clearly specified and one has to follow all the steps or be prepared not to get it.

My latest experience

Goes to show that doing everything you can to properly fill them out is sometimes not enough.

 

[oskhan]

I usually send in my rebate form all the time, but I rarely expect to recieve something without complaining and having to phone them up several times. Usually, if it is below $100, I forget about it. Its not worth the hassle. So yeah, I do believe they are a scam.

 

[P0ldy]

It's not a "scam" as such, because to "scam" you would involve offering a rebate and never making good. Depending on which circumstantial anecdote you read during which moon phase, you may hear of some companies whose rebates are scams (TigerDirect, for example).

Still, they are a marketing ploy. New 160 Seagate for $49.99!*

(in half the pixels)* After one $20 mail-in rebate from Seagate, one $20 mail-in rebate from X, and one $10 off instantly!

And, yes, it's because most people never pay them. That's why they WORK. Considering the frugality you can find in Hot Deals, Fatwallet, and Bargainshare, people here are all keen on rebates. They know how to make sure they get them. For most people? An avoidable hassle. "It says 19.99 even if I did pay 49.99... I'll do the rebates [later[/i]." It's WORK to get a rebate, which is something most people will avoid, pay to avoid at all costs.

It's a nonsensical runaround most of the time. Some savvy (and perhaps maniacal) users even get delivery confirmation on mail-in rebates. Why? Because companies will do anything to keep their money, and "lost in the mail" is typically such an easy, unprovable excuse.

That said, I've only done business with two companies for rebates. Gotten both, rather summarily. Staples is by far the best. Their Easy Rebates system probably costs them more on the back-end, but I'd make a purchase with Staples as opposed to CompUSA if rebates were involved any day.

 

[JohnHenryDoe]

Here is my 2 cents.
First, any company offering a rebate has already won and will never lose. The amount you are getting the item for is "still" above what they paid for it even after a rebate, if you get it.
Second, say 75% of people who bought a item returns the paperwork for a rebate. That leaves 25% that never get a rebate. More money for the company.
Third, and in my opinion the biggest reason rebates are given, especially mail-in rebates, is interest! I buy a monitor for $300 cash, but if I send in the "rebate" I can get $50 off. Sounds great. Well, a company like say Dell, takes the $300 cash, it goes into thier bank and while you wait for oh say 3 months for your $50, guess what, Dell just made back that $50 in interest. Certainly, an average Joe who has maybe thousands in the bank cannot make such interest; but big ole corporations who rake in millions or billions of dollars can turn a dollar into a thousand with the right investments, cds, money markets, etc.
So, for me, I hate rebates. Give me a rock bottom price and if I can buy it I will.
My wife was a manager for one of the big retail stores who filed backruptcy a couple of years back. She could access what a particular item was purchased for, and believe me the difference is alot.
On average, anything for $100 was bought for 1/4 of that. I run my own business so I know the need to make a profit. But geeez!!!! Sam Walton probably just turned over in his grave.

 

[LiNoX]

well it seems to me that they have more or less the intention of paying everyone.. besides there would be no one to justify the credentials of rebates if not for paying some customers hassle free here and there.. seems somewhat like the lottery

 

[TankGuys]

I saw a stat once that said 60% of people will never end up sending in for rebates. Of course, I'm sure this depends on the size of the rebate. I know I've forgotten, or even decided not to send in rebates before. You might see something at the grocery store with a $5 rebate and think "OH, a meal for 99 cents!" but once you get home, you decide it's just too much hassle to fill out all the paperwork for a measley $5 that will probobaly take 10 weeks to arrive.

So they are fraudlent; rather, the play on the fact that most people won't even bother trying to claim them.

 

[LiNoX]

Originally posted by: JohnHenryDoe
Here is my 2 cents.
First, any company offering a rebate has already won and will never lose. The amount you are getting the item for is "still" above what they paid for it even after a rebate, if you get it.
Second, say 75% of people who bought a item returns the paperwork for a rebate. That leaves 25% that never get a rebate. More money for the company.
Third, and in my opinion the biggest reason rebates are given, especially mail-in rebates, is interest! I buy a monitor for $300 cash, but if I send in the "rebate" I can get $50 off. Sounds great. Well, a company like say Dell, takes the $300 cash, it goes into thier bank and while you wait for oh say 3 months for your $50, guess what, Dell just made back that $50 in interest. Certainly, an average Joe who has maybe thousands in the bank cannot make such interest; but big ole corporations who rake in millions or billions of dollars can turn a dollar into a thousand with the right investments, cds, money markets, etc.
So, for me, I hate rebates. Give me a rock bottom price and if I can buy it I will.
My wife was a manager for one of the big retail stores who filed backruptcy a couple of years back. She could access what a particular item was purchased for, and believe me the difference is alot.
On average, anything for $100 was bought for 1/4 of that. I run my own business so I know the need to make a profit. But geeez!!!! Sam Walton probably just turned over in his grave.

so true.. :thumbsup:

just what i was thinking.. but in a more educated, comprehensive manner

 

[poisonthewell]

Originally posted by: JohnHenryDoe
Here is my 2 cents.
First, any company offering a rebate has already won and will never lose. The amount you are getting the item for is "still" above what they paid for it even after a rebate, if you get it.
Second, say 75% of people who bought a item returns the paperwork for a rebate. That leaves 25% that never get a rebate. More money for the company.
Third, and in my opinion the biggest reason rebates are given, especially mail-in rebates, is interest! I buy a monitor for $300 cash, but if I send in the "rebate" I can get $50 off. Sounds great. Well, a company like say Dell, takes the $300 cash, it goes into thier bank and while you wait for oh say 3 months for your $50, guess what, Dell just made back that $50 in interest. Certainly, an average Joe who has maybe thousands in the bank cannot make such interest; but big ole corporations who rake in millions or billions of dollars can turn a dollar into a thousand with the right investments, cds, money markets, etc.
So, for me, I hate rebates. Give me a rock bottom price and if I can buy it I will.
My wife was a manager for one of the big retail stores who filed backruptcy a couple of years back. She could access what a particular item was purchased for, and believe me the difference is alot.
On average, anything for $100 was bought for 1/4 of that. I run my own business so I know the need to make a profit. But geeez!!!! Sam Walton probably just turned over in his grave.

Remember to factor in the cost of promoting the rebate (which could possibly be next to nothing), as well as costs associated with processing the rebate. I don't feel confident saying the interest they earn on my measley $20, $50, or even $100 is greater than what they spent to process it - anyway, that's just my guess.

 

[LiNoX]

rebates are essentially, legalized, widescale.. robbery.. :frown:

 

[grimlykindo]

Rebates are just like gift cards- a very small percentage of people actually use them! And even is they do use it theres always a couple bucks left on it.

So its perfectly legal, but companies know that most people are too lazy to actually fill out paperwork and mail it in. So its the lazy consumers that don't fill them out that are to blame

 

[LiNoX]

well sometimes it is the rebates that make the final factor in deciding whether or not to purchase an item. let alone 6-12 months it would be nice to even get paid

 

[shoRunner]

never had a problem with rebates.

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

I've been very lucky with rebates. Follow the instructions carefully. Keep a copy of EVERYTHING---Receipt, rebate form, UPC, etc. and you'll be fine. Every now and then you may have to call, e-mail, or write a time or two, but you'll get your rebates. Heck, I even came out whole a few years ago when Cyberrebate went belly up.

Those who offer rebates count on a few things:

1) A number of folks simply won't take the time to even submit the rebate.
2) Many who file incorrectly (no UPC, putting all rebates in one envelope instead of one per envelope, etc.) will not bother to refile.
3) If a rebate gets lost, most people will simply forget about them and not follow-up.

 

[Auric]

Rebates result in higher revenues which may be more important to a company than increasing profits. As mentioned, even when fulfilled they have effectively secured an interest free loan which may be reinvested and in the best case do increase profits dramatically when not fulfilled. I have never heard of hedging or insurance against them. That's interesting.

 

[furballi]

Avoid those damn MadDog rebates. Still fighting to get my $45 after 16 weeks!

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I simply don't buy anything with a rebate, unless the before rebate (otd) price is good enough. They're not worth the time, the effort, and the uncertainty. I've never seen something for a good price after rebate that I couldn't find elsewhere within a reasonable amount of time for a good price with no rebate.

 

[JackMDS]

Just think about one anecdotal point.

Any piece of mail can get into its destination if the Address is (an Example)

P.O.Box 111
New York, NY 10006-111

Yet you have to address many rebates to:

Company X.
$30 Spring Time Important Rebate for Special Hardware X.
Care of Department 123334 section 98882
P.O.Box 1111
New York, NY 10006-111

Care to speculate why?

:sun:

 

[TankGuys]

Originally posted by: Gigantopithecus
I simply don't buy anything with a rebate, unless the before rebate (otd) price is good enough. They're not worth the time, the effort, and the uncertainty. I've never seen something for a good price after rebate that I couldn't find elsewhere within a reasonable amount of time for a good price with no rebate.

You know it's funny, a lot of people (including me, often times) feel the same way. You have a $25 rebate and you think, "Ah, it's not worth the effort or the time"

Consider though, that it takes what, 10 minutes to fill out the forms and stuff them in an envelope? Heck, let's say it takes 30 minutes since you have make a few phone calls to argue. Well, that's like getting paid $50 an hour for your time. How many people would turn that down?

Funny when you think of it like that...

 

[cryptonomicon]

Originally posted by: LiNoX
Are rebates used to deceive customers into buying products with say, a pleasant $100 off (after mail in rebate) but seldom pay customers unless complained to constantly? this is how i see it i never got back a $20 which doesnt seem to be a lot of money but the essence of being deceived gets me.. :|

does anyone else have problems with rebates?

generally they work, except

FOR THE LAME ASS COMPUSA SCAMMERS WHICH GIVE YOU GIFT CARDS INSTEAD OF CASH BUT DON'T TELL YOU.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: LiNoX
Are rebates used to deceive customers into buying products with say, a pleasant $100 off (after mail in rebate) but seldom pay customers unless complained to constantly? this is how i see it i never got back a $20 which doesnt seem to be a lot of money but the essence of being deceived gets me.. :|

does anyone else have problems with rebates?

generally they work, except

FOR THE LAME ASS COMPUSA SCAMMERS WHICH GIVE YOU GIFT CARDS INSTEAD OF CASH BUT DON'T TELL YOU.

That's when matching a rebate...

I have received my CompUSA rebates within 2 weeks sometimes..

part of that could be because it's rebate center is located in Mesa, AZ.

 

[egkenny]

I had a $100 rebate from Circuit City one time that had impossible criteria to meet.

The one that got me was the requirement to include the original UPC. The original UPC was a sticker on the graphics card. Not only was it almost impossible to remove it but there was a manufacturer warning that stated removing the sticker voided the warranty. I took a digital photo of the sticker and included that with the rebate. The rebate was rejected by the company hired by Circuit City to process them. I explained the situtation to them but that was a waste because they stuck with the original rules.

After much searching I came across a phone number for the person that worked at Circuit City corporate that handled the relations with rebate companies. After 20 minutes of explaining the situation she finally agreed to take off the block and allow the rebate to be processed. I was not going to be deterred and not get $100 back that easily.

Note: the box had a clear window to allow scanning the UPC label.