I refuse to shop at at least one popular computer retailer who would not honor their rebate. Even worse, they didn’t mention this until about the fifth time I visited the store to attempt to get my promised rebate. This was even with proof of purchase and proof of rebate (the filled out forms as well as the original advertisement) in hand.
I’m sure that the rules for redeeming rebates make sense, in a Dilbert sort of way. After all, if they don’t give out the rebate, they make more money on the product. So why not make it as difficult as possible?
It seems that the process must work something like this:
Step 1. Advertise a product with at least one mail-in rebate so that the price in the advertisement can be as low as possible (perhaps even free).
Step 2. Print the rules for the rebate in as small a print as possible so that people don’t realize that there is only one rebate per product per household, at least one form is required (and often more than one), many times you have to request that information specifically or you won’t get the rebate and the information required to get the rebate must be submitted to the rebate processor within a miniscule time window.
Step 3. Make the documents required for the rebate as complex as possible. Generally this is the rebate form and a proof of purchase – typically the original UPC code from the product and at least a copy of the receipt. I’ve even seen some rebates that won’t allow a reproduction of the rebate form itself, even though you can only send in one. I guess they don’t want you running a rebate clearinghouse.
Step 4. Require the person requesting the rebate to actually check on the status of the rebate at least once before even considering releasing the rebate.
Because of step 4, I now save everything related to a rebate when I purchase a product and submit the forms. A copy of the ad that shows the rebate price, a copy of the filled-out rebate form, a copy of the UPC code, a copy of the addressed envelope. Everything. But even with such precautions, it’s come to the point where it’s just not worth it anymore.
When I have to make multiple phone calls or store visits just to get my rebate, it’s just not worth the $10. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not letting them keep the $10 on a rebate that they promised to me. Not by a long shot. But I’ve recently decided that instead of dealing with it, I just won’t buy those products. Sure, good deals are more difficult to come by. But wow – who would have thought how much more pleasant the shopping experience could be once you stop worrying about collecting your rebate?
Update: A recent entry in the category found that over 1300 unopened rebate forms were dumped by a rebate processor for Fry’s. Whoops.
Comments
22 responses to “I Hate Rebates”
I hate rebates too. But, you can’t deny that there are some great deals out there if you have the fortitude to battle over the rebate. In my experience, I have had to fight for each and every rebate I’ve ever applied for, but I consider that’s part of the game, and it always feels great to win in the end. DON’T GIVE UP and don’t give in, and you’ll get your rebate every time.
By the way, I do think there’s a conspiracy in corprate America to rip off millions and millions from consumers in many ways. Rebates, 50% of which go unclaimed, are only one of the ways consumers are getting systematically screwed. UPC scanners in stores is another. I’m scrupulous with checking each and every receipt I get from a retailer and AT LEAST 30% of the time, something’s scanned wrong, or my change is wrong, to the retailer’s benefit. Curiously, it never happens the other way around, i.e., to my benefit. WalMart, to cite just one example, is notorious for this. They always say “I’m so sorry”, and correct the “error”, but this happens so regularly, it can’t be an honest mistake; I’m convinced it’s a colossal systematic ripoff by corporations that most consumers never even notice, and they reap billions annually, a dollar at a time.
I hate rebates more that you hate rebates. I have been burned many times by attempting to collect rebates from Fry’s Electronics. I have even been refused a rebate because of an incorrect form the store printed out for me and then failed to honor it. I have also been unable to return merchandise because I cut the UPC symbol from the packaging. I will never participate in a rebate program again.
I would rather if the retailers had to put up with the retailing fiasca then foist it on the consumer. “Here, YOU keep the UPC and deal with those bastards”
Took me 5 months to claim a rebate, and yes, I had to annoy them with 3 emails.
I also hate rebates. I no longer shop at Bestbuy, Circuit City and Staples. And now that Newegg.com also joined the rebate mess. My shopping there is over also. I will search for a new computer hardware site, without rebates. I agree that all advertised price should be without the rebate first in the bigger print,then include the rebated price if necessary. But we all know this will never happen because the FTC is in bed with the coporate world.
I hate rebates more than anybody. You send in all this crap and cut upc’s off boxes and still get a letter back saying you wont get the rebate because of this or that. I’ll want to sock every person that tries to sell me a rebate! I don’t care if the rebate is 99% of the sale price it’s not worth it. I think rebates are just a scam to get your mailing/consumer info and they make you jump so many hoops they probably only end up paying ten percent of them.
I refuse to buy anything that is attached to a rebate program. I have even gone so far as to get the manager at Best Buy and inform him that I will never buy a product that offers a rebate. I wish there was a national consumers movement to try and bring an end to this rip off system. I would surely support it.
It is also a money ripoff. For example, to make it easy i will simply round off the numbers i use to describe it. Lets say a product is $3000.00 and you can get a rebate of $1500.00. You check out and the total with the tax (10%) is $3300.00. Shouldnt the total including the tax be $3150.00? Why do they want to tax you on the full amount BEFORE the rebate? When you get the rebate in, do they reimburse you for the excese you were charged? NO THEY DON’T! I HATE REBATES AND DO NOT PURCHASE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE REBATES FOR BETTER PRICES.
I will not buy any items with rebates.If everyone did the same thing.The retailers would stop offering them.Every rebate becomes a nightmare to try to collect on if you as much as get a finger smudge on the form it becomes invalid.WAKE UP AMERICA!Quit getting ripped off.
I also hate the rebate sale system. More and more stores and now even web sites are quoting thier prices after the rebate. I would like the FTC to require the advertisments to use the real price in the large print followed by the rebate price. I only buy a product that has a rebate if there is no other choice avaliable. Your major electronics stores such as Bestbuy and Staples and etc are off my purchasing list due to thier rebate policy . Now a web site that I had used a lot , Newegg is also joining the rebate mess. It also is now going on my list of no purchase locations. We consumers also have to pay the tax on the actual selling price plus the cost to apply for the rebate, Postage and copying, so the rebate amount is not the true value you are getting on the product.
How can we put a stop or change the current rebate and false advertisement practice the store are all using ??
Complain, complain I guess !
I just refuse to participate in the rebate process. If I don’t perceive the value at the full price, then I just don’t buy it. I avoid Circuit City and Other retailers that advertise 98% of their products with the rebated price. Why do they call it reBATE? Cause they just keep RE Bateing the trap.