Rebates - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 06-30-2004, 01:49 PM

Okay. I bought a ton of stuff to bring to Iceland, and I got a ton of rebates to submit. A few of them I missed out on, thus I lost $80 of savings. (I missed them because the deadline was while we were in Iceland)

I hate it. It's kind of lame, but at least now you can track them down a little bit easier to find out just how long you have to wait to get the check etc.

But still, it's some work. I have to remind myself to do them as fast as I can. It's lame to miss them for no reason, so I've been doing them a bit differently. Where I prep it all out as soon as I open the box and start playing with the item. Once I know it's good then I can turn around and cut off the UPC and submit the rest of the paperwork.

I much prefer coupons and instant coupons or instant rebates... but the new rebates you have to purchase in small 2 week window and then you have 30 days to postmark from the purchase date.

but damn... I lost $80....

World's King · 06-30-2004, 02:01 PM

It could have been worse.

You could have lost $80 and not gone to Iceland.

kutulu · 06-30-2004, 02:08 PM

The way I look at rebates is it's nice to get the money but if I blow it off it's no big deal. Of course instant savings are better but rebate amounts are usually larger. Most people don't send them in so they can advertise a rebate that is 4x larger since they know only 1 in 4 will send in the rebate.

KellyC · 06-30-2004, 02:09 PM

That reminds me when I bought my shitty monitor, the rebate was $ 100. I got lazy and didnt' send the rebate, until it was too late...now I stand before you, with 100 dollars less....Sure learned my lesson though...

Moobie · 06-30-2004, 03:07 PM

I can't fucking stand rebates. I will actually not buy a product specifically because it has rebates. If it's instore, then that's different, then it's just a case of the store being too stupid to mark the actual price of the item on it.

lefty8080 · 06-30-2004, 03:51 PM

Not sure of accuracy because I can't remember where I read it but the figuire I saw was 40% of rebates sent in aren't ever received by the consumer. So not only do you need to remember to send it in you need to make sure you get it back.

Moobie · 06-30-2004, 04:20 PM

I've never had a rebate that I've sent away for ever come back. Usually they make up some obscure excuse, either you didn't send it in before the deadline, or they try to send you coupons. My dad sent in a rebate for some random piece of electronics that he bought and the company actually sent him a letter back saying that the form he sent in for the rebate was mangled in the mail and they couldn't give him his money.

ratbastid · 06-30-2004, 06:51 PM

Yeah, there was an expose a few months ago on a tv news show about the hoops that companies go through to prevent you from claiming the money you're owed through rebates. It's a really horrible practice.

analog · 06-30-2004, 08:02 PM

They're giving you the chance to get money off, money that you wouldn't normally get off, the product... so you're not being "ripped off"... you were given a chance to get some money off, and you fooked it by taking too long. That's not their fault. It's also not their fault that people carelessly assume that whatever they get will ALWAYS work with the rebate, without checking out the details. If you're going to assume you're getting a check in the mail just for buying something, you should properly inform yourself beforehand.

quadro2000 · 07-01-2004, 05:02 AM

I'm a cheap bastard, so whenever there's a rebate to be had, I do it. I make very sure that I include all that they ask for and I include a cover sheet stating each of their requirements and how I fulfill it.

I've only been dicked over once, by Staples and a random CD-R company. They make it very hard to contact them.

Best Buy and Circuit City have good rebate programs. They generally give you the numbers and websites to contact if you don't get your rebate. So if I do them, I usually stick to those two places. CompUSA usually does a pretty good job also.

onetime2 · 07-01-2004, 05:17 AM

I've never not gotten a rebate I sent in. Additionally, with the exception of one, I've always received rebates despite the fact that I sent them in late. I've been as much as a couple of months late on some and still received them. I guess the rebate fairies just like me.

I always send the rebates in even if they're expired. It costs me 37 cents to maybe get back 10, 15, 20 or more dollars. To me it's worth the gamble (so long as I remember).

ARTelevision · 07-01-2004, 05:29 AM

Rebates operate in the interest of manufacturers and vendors. They aren't made with the best interest of the customer in mind. They do provide a somewhat misleading impression that the item costs less than the ticket price (if the rebate is properly expedited and processed). The fact that they're not sent in and sometimes are lost in the shuffle benefits the sellers.

I neither like them nor appreciate the way they are designed and executed.
Why should I? I'm just the consumer.

kempster · 07-01-2004, 06:55 AM

Just keep in mind when you send a rebate in send it certified mail. I bought some stuff from Circuit City one time and sent the rebate in and never heard about or recieved my rebate. I went to them bitching and they said we never recieved it!!! I was so pissed. Then I just bought a flat screen tv from Best Buy and sent my rebate certified mail and had my money in about three or so weeks. Just some advise. Send certified mail.

onetime2 · 07-01-2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kempster
Just keep in mind when you send a rebate in send it certified mail. I bought some stuff from Circuit City one time and sent the rebate in and never heard about or recieved my rebate. I went to them bitching and they said we never recieved it!!! I was so pissed. Then I just bought a flat screen tv from Best Buy and sent my rebate certified mail and had my money in about three or so weeks. Just some advise. Send certified mail.

Or keep photocopies of what you send (that's the route I take) and make note of the date(s) the rebates are sent out. Having this info when you call to check on the status virtually guarantees that they'll honor it.

Rubyee · 07-01-2004, 07:15 AM

I bought a $1200 computer once, a rather crappy one, with $700 in rebates. I thought I was going to make out pretty well. Then my mom threw away all of my computer boxes, including the boxes with the recepits. The store I bought it at sent me some substitute receipts, but it was too late.

That one really, really blew.

User Name · 07-01-2004, 03:01 PM

The $20 rebate from my Buslink CD-RW drive (rebadged Lite-on) took about five months. Allegedly, the delay was due to problems Buslink was having with the rebate fulfillment company that they outsource to. Rebates suck, but at least I got my money at the end.

sexymama · 07-02-2004, 07:02 AM

I would rather see all these items priced lower, than have to go through the hoops of rebating; however, being frugal, I send them in when they apply to me. I usually get them back as I'm careful to follow the directions. Read the fine print, it pays off!

06-30-2004, 01:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Rebates Okay. I bought a ton of stuff to bring to Iceland, and I got a ton of rebates to submit. A few of them I missed out on, thus I lost $80 of savings. (I missed them because the deadline was while we were in Iceland) I hate it. It's kind of lame, but at least now you can track them down a little bit easier to find out just how long you have to wait to get the check etc. But still, it's some work. I have to remind myself to do them as fast as I can. It's lame to miss them for no reason, so I've been doing them a bit differently. Where I prep it all out as soon as I open the box and start playing with the item. Once I know it's good then I can turn around and cut off the UPC and submit the rest of the paperwork. I much prefer coupons and instant coupons or instant rebates... but the new rebates you have to purchase in small 2 week window and then you have 30 days to postmark from the purchase date. but damn... I lost $80.... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

06-30-2004, 02:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	It could have been worse. You could have lost $80 and not gone to Iceland. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

06-30-2004, 02:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
KellyC Comment or else!! Location: Home sweet home	That reminds me when I bought my shitty monitor, the rebate was $ 100. I got lazy and didnt' send the rebate, until it was too late...now I stand before you, with 100 dollars less....Sure learned my lesson though... __________________ Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe? Me: Shit happens.

06-30-2004, 03:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Moobie Insane Location: baked beans	I can't fucking stand rebates. I will actually not buy a product specifically because it has rebates. If it's instore, then that's different, then it's just a case of the store being too stupid to mark the actual price of the item on it. __________________ Obscenity is the crutch of inarticulate motherfuckers. We like money. Give us your money you stupid consumer whore.

06-30-2004, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Moobie Insane Location: baked beans	I've never had a rebate that I've sent away for ever come back. Usually they make up some obscure excuse, either you didn't send it in before the deadline, or they try to send you coupons. My dad sent in a rebate for some random piece of electronics that he bought and the company actually sent him a letter back saying that the form he sent in for the rebate was mangled in the mail and they couldn't give him his money. __________________ Obscenity is the crutch of inarticulate motherfuckers. We like money. Give us your money you stupid consumer whore.

06-30-2004, 02:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	The way I look at rebates is it's nice to get the money but if I blow it off it's no big deal. Of course instant savings are better but rebate amounts are usually larger. Most people don't send them in so they can advertise a rebate that is 4x larger since they know only 1 in 4 will send in the rebate.

06-30-2004, 03:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
lefty8080 Upright	Not sure of accuracy because I can't remember where I read it but the figuire I saw was 40% of rebates sent in aren't ever received by the consumer. So not only do you need to remember to send it in you need to make sure you get it back.

06-30-2004, 06:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Yeah, there was an expose a few months ago on a tv news show about the hoops that companies go through to prevent you from claiming the money you're owed through rebates. It's a really horrible practice.

06-30-2004, 08:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
analog Banned	They're giving you the chance to get money off, money that you wouldn't normally get off, the product... so you're not being "ripped off"... you were given a chance to get some money off, and you fooked it by taking too long. That's not their fault. It's also not their fault that people carelessly assume that whatever they get will ALWAYS work with the rebate, without checking out the details. If you're going to assume you're getting a check in the mail just for buying something, you should properly inform yourself beforehand.

07-01-2004, 05:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
quadro2000 All Possibility, Made Of Custard Location: New York, NY	I'm a cheap bastard, so whenever there's a rebate to be had, I do it. I make very sure that I include all that they ask for and I include a cover sheet stating each of their requirements and how I fulfill it. I've only been dicked over once, by Staples and a random CD-R company. They make it very hard to contact them. Best Buy and Circuit City have good rebate programs. They generally give you the numbers and websites to contact if you don't get your rebate. So if I do them, I usually stick to those two places. CompUSA usually does a pretty good job also. __________________ You have to laugh at yourself...because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. - Emily Saliers

07-01-2004, 05:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	I've never not gotten a rebate I sent in. Additionally, with the exception of one, I've always received rebates despite the fact that I sent them in late. I've been as much as a couple of months late on some and still received them. I guess the rebate fairies just like me. I always send the rebates in even if they're expired. It costs me 37 cents to maybe get back 10, 15, 20 or more dollars. To me it's worth the gamble (so long as I remember). __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

07-01-2004, 05:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Rebates operate in the interest of manufacturers and vendors. They aren't made with the best interest of the customer in mind. They do provide a somewhat misleading impression that the item costs less than the ticket price (if the rebate is properly expedited and processed). The fact that they're not sent in and sometimes are lost in the shuffle benefits the sellers. I neither like them nor appreciate the way they are designed and executed. Why should I? I'm just the consumer. __________________ create evolution

07-01-2004, 06:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
kempster Upright	Just keep in mind when you send a rebate in send it certified mail. I bought some stuff from Circuit City one time and sent the rebate in and never heard about or recieved my rebate. I went to them bitching and they said we never recieved it!!! I was so pissed. Then I just bought a flat screen tv from Best Buy and sent my rebate certified mail and had my money in about three or so weeks. Just some advise. Send certified mail.

07-01-2004, 07:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
Rubyee I'm baaaaack!	I bought a $1200 computer once, a rather crappy one, with $700 in rebates. I thought I was going to make out pretty well. Then my mom threw away all of my computer boxes, including the boxes with the recepits. The store I bought it at sent me some substitute receipts, but it was too late. That one really, really blew. __________________ You don't know from fun.

07-01-2004, 03:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
User Name Banned Location: Urf	The $20 rebate from my Buslink CD-RW drive (rebadged Lite-on) took about five months. Allegedly, the delay was due to problems Buslink was having with the rebate fulfillment company that they outsource to. Rebates suck, but at least I got my money at the end.

07-02-2004, 07:02 AM	#17 (permalink)
sexymama My own person -- his by choice Location: Lebell's arms	I would rather see all these items priced lower, than have to go through the hoops of rebating; however, being frugal, I send them in when they apply to me. I usually get them back as I'm careful to follow the directions. Read the fine print, it pays off! __________________ If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.