I hate rebate offers....

Blueface · 02-05-2009, 10:22 AM

Anyone else hate that stuff as much as I do?

I just got an LG phone for my wife, has a $50 rebate offer.

I just got an LG Shine for my dad, has a $50 rebate offer.

Don't know about the rest, but I try to avoid rebates and get best sale price I can.
If unavoidable, I invariably include the cost of the certified return receipt mailing in my mind and always send that way.
Seems I have never, ever not gotten my money back.

Anyone send them out regular mail and ever have any problems getting their money as they say they 'never received it from you"?

Just curious.

Mugen910 · 02-05-2009, 10:26 AM

I just make copies of everything and when I get a letter saying "Denied" I call them up and fight for every penny I can...but that's just me.

pnoon · 02-05-2009, 10:26 AM

Rebates are a pain, for sure, Carlos.
But I have never had a problem getting one.

zmancbr · 02-05-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

Rebates are a pain, for sure, Carlos.
But I have never had a problem getting one.

I hate them with a passion as well and do my best to avoid them... but I haven't had any problems getting them back (other than the awfully slow 12 week wait times for some)...

68TriShield · 02-05-2009, 11:29 AM

Celeste is not one to pass up free money

MikeyC · 02-05-2009, 10:26 AM

I always send mine regular USPS and have never had a problem. Although, I too HATE rebates. They always take SO long to get. Recently, I bought a Bosch dishwasher with a $50 rebate and I think it took 4 months to get it.

On a more positive note . . . my wife recently bought a Mac Book Pro and it had a rebate for a free iPod Touch. We had the check in about a week. This is the way a rebate should work.

02-05-2009, 10:38 AM

I truly dislike the "rebate" offer system. You buy the product and if your lucky, you'll receive the rebate (if you have crossed every t and dotted every i) in maybe 8-12 weeks to never. Then you get to debate the situation with the company that is processing the rebates, what fun. I would not want to work as a customer service rep.

Now, more companies are offering rebates but they're in the form of a "debit card", so you have to come back to spend it with them anyways. What a racket!!

02-05-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashmaster

Now, more companies are offering rebates but they're in the form of a "debit card", so you have to come back to spend it with them anyways. What a racket!!

Thats the one gets me.

MedicCook · 02-05-2009, 10:29 AM

I usually forget to send them in so I try to stay away from rebate offers.

poker · 02-05-2009, 10:31 AM

Mail in rebates suck @ss.

Blueface · 02-05-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I usually forget to send them in so I try to stay away from rebate offers.

Exactly the reason why they do it that way.

I recall seeing some mad stats that illustrated a large percentage of folks that never claim it.
I believe the number to have been around 60%.

MikeyC · 02-05-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedicCook

Verizon did my rebate at the register a few years ago and took it off the cost of the phone at time of purchase.

That's an "instant rebate." I don't even know why they use the term "rebate" with this type of transaction. It's nothing like a mail in rebate. Why not just make it a "sale?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashmaster

I truly dislike the "rebate" offer system. You buy the product and if your lucky, you'll receive the rebate (if you have crossed every t and dotted every i) in maybe 8-12 weeks to never. Then you get to debate the situation with the company that is processing the rebates, what fun. I would not want to work as a customer service rep.

Now, more companies are offering rebates but they're in the form of a "debit card", so you have to come back to spend it with them anyways. What a racket!!

I HATE that, but I guess it's better than no rebate at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

Exactly the reason why they do it that way.

I recall seeing some mad stats that illustrated a large percentage of folks that never claim it.
I believe the number to have been around 60%.

My wife last summer bought an aero-bed for a weekend getaway with some of her friends. There was a rebate offered on it and I told her "make sure to bring the box back so that we can cut off the UPC for the rebate." When she got back she did have the box with her, but for some reason she took the receipt with her and lost it.

Blueface · 02-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyC

My wife last summer bought an aero-bed for a weekend getaway with some of her friends. There was a rebate offered on it and I told her "make sure to bring the box back so that we can cut off the UPC for the rebate." When she got back she did have the box with her, but for some reason she took the receipt with her and lost it.

You really have got to read the requirements carefully.

Of the two I just sent, one says "original receipt or copy" while the other says "original receipt".
Send a copy on the latter and there goes your rebate up in smoke.

MikeyC · 02-05-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

You really have got to read the requirements carefully.

Of the two I just sent, one says "original receipt or copy" while the other says "original receipt".
Send a copy on the latter and there goes your rebate up in smoke.

It seems most stores when there is a rebate will print you a "rebate receipt" which you can send in with your paperwork. When that doesn't happen I just send in the original and keep a photocopy.

SmoknTaz · 02-05-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I usually forget to send them in so I try to stay away from rebate offers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

Exactly the reason why they do it that way.

I recall seeing some mad stats that illustrated a large percentage of folks that never claim it.
I believe the number to have been around 60%.

I hate mail in rebates. Total scam IMO. They certainly bank on a high percentage of people not claiming it and then try to screw the rest on a technicality when you do. I try to look for products with instant rebates because of this!

neoflex · 02-05-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I usually forget to send them in so I try to stay away from rebate offers.

That's usually what happens to me too.

dunng · 02-05-2009, 10:31 AM

I like Staples Easy Rebates some of Home Depot's... you just go on the web and submit info from your receipt and you are done!

MedicCook · 02-05-2009, 10:42 AM

Verizon did my rebate at the register a few years ago and took it off the cost of the phone at time of purchase.

ucla695 · 02-05-2009, 11:29 AM

I try to avoid mail-in rebates because I usually forget to send them in, which is what the companies hope for. I guess the key is to follow the instructions very closely to avoid any hassles.

Mail-in rebate = PITA for me

02-05-2009, 10:22 AM	#1
Blueface Gramps 4x's Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Horatio Seymore Hiny Location: Boca Raton - North of La Habana Posts: 8,774 Trading: (8)	I hate rebate offers.... Anyone else hate that stuff as much as I do? I just got an LG phone for my wife, has a $50 rebate offer. I just got an LG Shine for my dad, has a $50 rebate offer. Don't know about the rest, but I try to avoid rebates and get best sale price I can. If unavoidable, I invariably include the cost of the certified return receipt mailing in my mind and always send that way. Seems I have never, ever not gotten my money back. Anyone send them out regular mail and ever have any problems getting their money as they say they 'never received it from you"? Just curious. __________________ Little known fact: I am a former member of the Village People - The Indian

02-05-2009, 10:26 AM	#2
Mugen910 I <3 Huy Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Location Location: First Name Posts: 8,387 Trading: (106)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I just make copies of everything and when I get a letter saying "Denied" I call them up and fight for every penny I can...but that's just me. __________________ I'm not antisocial, I just think people are stupid.

02-05-2009, 10:26 AM	#3
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... Rebates are a pain, for sure, Carlos. But I have never had a problem getting one. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

02-05-2009, 11:29 AM	#5
68TriShield Got Torque? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Maryland Posts: 7,194 Trading: (40)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... Celeste is not one to pass up free money

02-05-2009, 10:26 AM	#6
MikeyC member of the CA MINYAN Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 1,782 Trading: (11)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I always send mine regular USPS and have never had a problem. Although, I too HATE rebates. They always take SO long to get. Recently, I bought a Bosch dishwasher with a $50 rebate and I think it took 4 months to get it. On a more positive note . . . my wife recently bought a Mac Book Pro and it had a rebate for a free iPod Touch. We had the check in about a week. This is the way a rebate should work. __________________ I think Pandora's box was actually a humidor!

02-05-2009, 10:38 AM	#7
ashmaster Guest Posts: n/a	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I truly dislike the "rebate" offer system. You buy the product and if your lucky, you'll receive the rebate (if you have crossed every t and dotted every i) in maybe 8-12 weeks to never. Then you get to debate the situation with the company that is processing the rebates, what fun. I would not want to work as a customer service rep. Now, more companies are offering rebates but they're in the form of a "debit card", so you have to come back to spend it with them anyways. What a racket!!

02-05-2009, 10:29 AM	#9
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I usually forget to send them in so I try to stay away from rebate offers.

02-05-2009, 10:31 AM	#10
poker 1:11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kelly Location: SoCal Posts: 5,280 Trading: (7)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... Mail in rebates suck @ss. __________________ Cigar Asylum: A cigar board birthed without agendas, without profiting, and without advertisements. Amor puro Character is what you do when no one is watching

02-05-2009, 10:31 AM	#17
dunng MassHole Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: MassHole Posts: 4,719 Trading: (59)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I like Staples Easy Rebates some of Home Depot's... you just go on the web and submit info from your receipt and you are done! __________________ MassHole Banter

02-05-2009, 10:42 AM	#18
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... Verizon did my rebate at the register a few years ago and took it off the cost of the phone at time of purchase.

02-05-2009, 11:29 AM	#19
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: I hate rebate offers.... I try to avoid mail-in rebates because I usually forget to send them in, which is what the companies hope for. I guess the key is to follow the instructions very closely to avoid any hassles. Mail-in rebate = PITA for me

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