What takes mail in rebates so long?

[Jschmuck2]

You'd think in the year 2008, we'd be past an 8 week prep time.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why would they want to give up their money sooner?

 

[nageov3t]

the whole premise behind offering rebates is the idea that most people won't actually follow-through on them, but they'll be seduced by the (AR) price and buy whatever anyways... so they don't bother putting a particular rush on the rebate requests that they DO get.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: loki8481
the whole premise behind offering rebates is the idea that most people won't actually follow-through on them, but they'll be seduced by the (AR) price and buy whatever anyways... so they don't bother putting a particular rush on the rebate requests that they DO get.

Yup. That's why they also come in envelopes and stuff that make them look like junkmail... so people rip them up and throw them away.


Most rebates also have an insurance policy baking them so that if enough people redeem them, the company is liable for less, thus, they probably have to wait a certain time period to check the amount of rebates that are returned before mailing them out or something.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Why would they want to give up their money sooner?

Really. What possible incentive would they have to give you the money sooner? There is none.

 

[alkemyst]

also the way they tend to work is a company offering them insures against their payout.

As a result you usually will have no payouts prior to a certain date no matter how early you send the rebate in. Once the payout date is hit they tabulate the damages, see if it goes to insurance and then start issuing checks.

Not everyone always gets paid.

I look at a rebate as icing on the cake usually. Some that I have had good luck with I'd be pissed if they fell through when they were large, but all in all it's just a bonus.

I can't remember the last rebate I got burned by and I use them alot...almost everything but groceries I buy online.

 

[I4AT]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Not everyone always gets paid.

I look at a rebate as icing on the cake usually. Some that I have had good luck with I'd be pissed if they fell through when they were large, but all in all it's just a bonus.

Huh? Are you saying companies offering rebates aren't required to pay them?

 

[nismotigerwvu]

Yeah, me too there myst. In fact, I don't I've ever been burnt on any rebates, not even TigerDirect ones. I just quadruple check everything, scan a ton of copies and file them away and nag if its taking forever.

 

[CorCentral]

Some rebates are just BS...... PERIOD!
If I had to put a % on it?...... 75%+ received!

75% sounds decent, but when you look at the $$$/rebate you're supposed to get on that other 25% item........... Fuck that!

 

[Bill Brasky]

I mailed a rebate to PNY, received online confirmation and then never got a check. :shrug;

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: I4AT

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Not everyone always gets paid.

I look at a rebate as icing on the cake usually. Some that I have had good luck with I'd be pissed if they fell through when they were large, but all in all it's just a bonus.

Huh? Are you saying companies offering rebates aren't required to pay them?

Huh? I said not all come. Is english your primary language?

 

[lucasorion]

I purchased computer parts, with four different rebates involved, in mid march - and haven't received any of the rebates.
Companies suck. viva la revolucion!

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: I4AT

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Not everyone always gets paid.

I look at a rebate as icing on the cake usually. Some that I have had good luck with I'd be pissed if they fell through when they were large, but all in all it's just a bonus.

Huh? Are you saying companies offering rebates aren't required to pay them?

I don't know how often you deal with rebates, but if you don't understand that companies often intentionally don't send them out or tell you that you didn't meet the qualifications when you clearly did then for your sake, please don't ever buy anything with a rebate.

Rebates are dirty business and companies will go above and beyond to screw you over to save themselves a few bucks. It might be illegal, but you aren't going to do anything about it, so the get away with it.

 

[brtspears2]

Rebates should be on the spot like when you buy a car. You just sign over the rebate to the store.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: I4AT

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Not everyone always gets paid.

I look at a rebate as icing on the cake usually. Some that I have had good luck with I'd be pissed if they fell through when they were large, but all in all it's just a bonus.

Huh? Are you saying companies offering rebates aren't required to pay them?

I don't know how often you deal with rebates, but if you don't understand that companies often intentionally don't send them out or tell you that you didn't meet the qualifications when you clearly did then for your sake, please don't ever buy anything with a rebate.

Rebates are dirty business and companies will go above and beyond to screw you over to save themselves a few bucks. It might be illegal, but you aren't going to do anything about it, so the get away with it.

On two occasions I received a notice saying my rebate was incomplete because I did not enclose the required UPC, even though I did. The UPCs were one square inch pieces of cardboard, so I find it hard to believe they lost it. Luckily I took pics of the UPC before I mailed it, and the CSR let me mail in a photocopy of the UPC, which they then counted and sent me my rebate. It's still a huge hassle however, and I avoid AR deals if at all possible.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

My last rebate I got a check in about a week and a half. The one before that they rejected for a BS reason that involved reading the itty bitty print rather than the big large print and don't allow resubmissions. And even then they didn't reject it for 12-14. There is absolutely nothing holding them to the terms they state.

...too bad I can't offer the same terms when I have to pay companies.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2195251

Worst rebates I actually recieved:
Umax: took so long I forgot what the check was for, no longer had the scanner.
Seagate: rejected three times, rebate company flat out lied to the BBB saying they sent the check out before the first rejection, took 9 months.

Best:
Lowes: got the check in a week and a half, just had to mail in the rebate receipt.
Staples: got the check in about two weeks, didn't take much more.

I don't even look at the after rebate prices because the whole rebate experience is so horridly shitty. Filing my taxes is regularly easier and the returns come faster. If a company relies on them, I just buy from somewhere else.

 

[daveshel]

If everybody said no to rebates the vendors would be forced to find other ways to compete, and that would put an end to rebates. Every rebate deal you bite the hook on just ratifies a sleazy practice.