The Devils are in the details

[wraith3k]

Originally posted by: JohnDoh


The problem is rebates. Rebates are mild form of trickery. They are to draw in customers to buy the product and other products they may buy while in the store and counting on them NOT to fill out the rebates. We all know in the past (and still) that a large majority of customers dont fill out rebates and in the end it becomes a profit for bestbuy.

I don't see why they would be considered tricks. Granted that the reason behind rebates is to encourage the customer to buy something because they see it's such a great deal, in the hopes that they won't bother actually filling out the rebate. But, it is always plainly indicated that to get the sale price you must use a rebate. There is nothing wrong with this business practice. If a customer doesn't fill out the rebate, it's their own fault. If they do fill it out though, then the company is obligated to send the customer a check for the price of the rebate and not doing so would be illegal on their part. I will often wait for things to go on sale with a rebate before buying and I've never had a problem getting them in the mail. Sure it takes a few months, but you do get them eventually.

 

[Dubb]

newt time I walk into best buy, I'm bringing my girlfriend and another friend.

"hi, my name is barry, this is my wife jill, and this is my friend buzz. we're all looking for different things, can you help us out?"

 

[Monotaur]

Originally posted by: theslug

Originally posted by: JohnDoh


The problem is rebates. Rebates are mild form of trickery. They are to draw in customers to buy the product and other products they may buy while in the store and counting on them NOT to fill out the rebates. We all know in the past (and still) that a large majority of customers dont fill out rebates and in the end it becomes a profit for bestbuy.

I don't see why they would be considered tricks. Granted that the reason behind rebates is to encourage the customer to buy something because they see it's such a great deal, in the hopes that they won't bother actually filling out the rebate. But, it is always plainly indicated that to get the sale price you must use a rebate. There is nothing wrong with this business practice. If a customer doesn't fill out the rebate, it's their own fault. If they do fill it out though, then the company is obligated to send the customer a check for the price of the rebate and not doing so would be illegal on their part. I will often wait for things to go on sale with a rebate before buying and I've never had a problem getting them in the mail. Sure it takes a few months, but you do get them eventually.

Actually, if I recall correctly (from various articles I've read), rebates are generally not handled by the original retailer (there are some notable exceptions), and instead are contracted out to a third party clearing house who has been paid a fixed amount by the original retailer. I do not believe that this third party clearing house is legally responsible for fullfilling rebates, and (as I recall) can stop at any time (ie, they are approaching the amount that the original retailer paid them to start with...). It does behouve them to keep paying though, since essentially, they are competing for future contracts from retailers.

I could be wrong, but this is about what I remember from reading around...