Why do they bother with rebates?

[disneysteve]

A couple of months ago, my wife got a new cell phone. It was $79 with a $50 rebate. We mentioned to the clerk that in the past we've had trouble using the rebate prepaid VISA cards. She said just bring it in and they'll credit it to our bill.

So why do they bother? Just give me the darn credit on my account or charge me the reduced price to begin with.

I know. They figure a lot of people won't bother to send in the rebate. What a scam.

[kv968]

I know. They figure a lot of people won't bother to send in the rebate. What a scam.

You answered your own question Plus even if you do send it in, it's money sitting in their books (presumably invested) until they give it to you.

[disneysteve]

What particularly annoys me is when they give the rebate in any form other than cash/check. Those prepaid Visa cards are a pain. A lot of cashiers don't seem to know what to do with them. I was glad to learn AT&T would apply it to our account (though last time we actually were able to use one at Wal-Mart).

[DayByDay]

You answered your own question Plus even if you do send it in, it's money sitting in their books (presumably invested) until they give it to you.

That is if they even decide to give it to you at all. I have not received rebates more than once, including $50 that Home Depot owed me. Now I stay far away from products with rebate offers.

[JanH]

I've had trouble with rebates, too! I hate the things. Even if I follow the requirements to the letter, I often don't get them for some reason or another. Give me the reduced price up front!

[jasonfuller]

I've never bothered with rebates, seems like so much hassle.

[FrugalFish]

I've never had a problem with rebates until just recently. Seems like I've had to call and prod on an awful lot of them this year. I keep copies on the computer, lest I forget. My favorite so far was a $50 dishwasher rebate that was suppose to have arrived at least 4 weeks prior (after a 16 week wait!). I called at week 20 and the rep said there had been a delay on that rebate and he'd 'expedite' it for me. Huh? How to you expedite something that I was suppose to already have a month ago?

[disneysteve]

I've never bothered with rebates, seems like so much hassle.

I've seen some rebates that were truly a waste of time - "Get $1.00 back by mail" After the $.41 stamp, the envelope and the time to fill out the form, you end up making just a few cents. That's a waste.

However, if you buy something of more significant value, you really have to do the rebates. Our computer system came with hundreds of dollars in rebates - a couple on the computer itself, a couple on the "free" printer, another on the "free" wireless router, etc. Not doing the rebates would have meant paying hundreds more than we had to.

Just on the cell phone, we "saved" $50.00 with the rebate. As much as a pain as it is, who can afford to throw away that kind of money?

[simpleyme]

I am currently waiting for 50 bucks from Lowe's for "free delivery "of my freezer it should have been here two weeks ago ,I will call and complain then they will probably send it.

its weird that rebates are so complicated that it takes months to process as nothing else requires that much time

I too try to avoid products that have rebates

well I am off to check on my rebate wish me luck lord knows I'll need it

[simpleyme]

okay ,just got off the phone with the Lowe's rebate center and surprise surprise ,they have no record of my rebate , I am supposed to resend everything to a different address

I hate them, earlier this year I had to do the same darn thing to get the rebates for my lightbulbs ,I am so frustrated with them right now I could SCREAM

[DebbieL]

I guess I've been lucky. I've never had a problem getting a rebate and they've always come in the form of a cheque. It is usually a nice bonus, because in the 6 weeks or so since I've submitted it I've usually let it leave my mind (not entirely forgotten, just not at the front of my thoughts) so it's a bit of a nice surprise in the mail.

[herm4]

I guess I've been lucky. I've never had a problem getting a rebate and they've always come in the form of a cheque. It is usually a nice bonus, because in the 6 weeks or so since I've submitted it I've usually let it leave my mind (not entirely forgotten, just not at the front of my thoughts) so it's a bit of a nice surprise in the mail.

I agree, I have never had a problem and have done hundreds of rebates in the past.

[simpleyme]

really hundreds? I have done maybe ten and had to fight tooth and nail to get them

I must say i track mine and always know when they have not come,I never forget

[disneysteve]

I am supposed to resend everything to a different address

Of course, resending usually is impossible because they require the original UPC cut from the package - no photocopies accepted.

[simpleyme]

and of course there was a deadline for postmarks,August 29 so I got it to the post office today ,I am not going to hold my breath but I am still going to attempt to get my money