please explain rebates!!!

[kierwestkills]

I have never bought from newegg or tigerdirect but keep complaining saying NOT TO TRUST rebates! WHY??

 

[Slugbait]

Because sometimes rebates don't come...like from MSI, or any manufacturer who contracts with a rebate company from City of Industry.

Just dot all the i's, cross all the t's, and make copies...then prepare to spend a lot of time bitching (politely...) if it doesn't come thru.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Rebates are just unreliable. >,< unlike the ones at staples which isnt outsourced

 

[corkyg]

Rebates are marketing tools. The best ones are "instant." Mail in ones are slow. It is essential to apply precisely as instructed. Failure to comply exactly can be cause for rejection.

 

[mwforrest7]

I haven't had a ton of experience with mail-in rebates. But when I built this current system that I'm using about 4 years ago I sent in several rebates. I had no issues what so ever. They did of course come back to me slowly. I think one took over a month, but they came none-the-less without me having to complain to anyone. Just make sure to follow the directions and keep copies of everything and I don't think there is any reason to be worried. When you have hard proof of something, you can never lose.

 

[subtraction]

I dont even both with rebates any more. Now I just assume the price I paid before rebates is what the cost of it will be.

I get so upset at Frys and MC when they have these awesome prices listed in huge font only to see upon further inspection in microscopic letters it says thats the price AFTER rebate. Should know better, but their shenanigans seem to get me every time.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Its a marketing tool >.<

i have a question. do the MIR come as a giftcard from that company, or will they pay back onto the credit card?

 

[Spikesoldier]

people send their rebate forms out, and DONT get them because people cant read.

1. people cant read the instructions, and miss a critical part of the application process. this causes the application to be rejected and you dont get your rebate.

2. people cant read because you have sloppy handwriting. they simply toss the application in the trash, and you dont get your rebate.

so read very carefully, make sure the application goes to the right place, and make sure your handwriting is legible. following these steps, ive never had a rebate fail to come back.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

ive never had a rebate fail to come back.

good for you lol

 

[mfenn]

Its a marketing tool >.<

i have a question. do the MIR come as a giftcard from that company, or will they pay back onto the credit card?

They either come as a check or a prepaid debit card.

Basically, the way (most) MIRs work is that the company who decides that they want to offer a rebate (MSI, EVGA, ASUS, Rosewill, etc.) contracts with a rebate processing company. That company is in charge of handling all of the paperwork, processing, etc. of fulfilling the rebate. So you aren't actually dealing with MSI, etc. but instead with some unnamed third party. Some give a shit, others don't.

 

[greenhawk]

on one hand it is ment to be a good way for a company to lower the price of it's goods to the consumer without worry that some middle man will take the price difference as a reason to get a larger proffit on the item, But unfortunitly, I find that in practice, it is not worth my time to chase them up, worry about issues like "not received on time" or "offer expired on..." or "you did not cut the barcode out properly" ect. Easier (and less hassels) to just find the best price and ignore rebaits.

If I knew someone that would do the leg work / process my end of the MIR, I would proberly just sell the MIR claim code to them at 20c in the dollar.

Seeing as their are buinesses to do the MIR from the manufacture's side, and that there are ebay listing companies, I am suprised their is not someone doing MIR's from the customer's side as a business.

I suspect it is either against some MIR rule or more likly, their is no viable business model for doing it (as most MIR's do not get claimed).

 

[Blain]

please explain rebates!!!

Seriously, you don't know what and how rebates work... Seriously?