Slate.com's top story today about rebates

[cogan]

Direct link: http://slate.msn.com/id/2084210/
(Or, if it's June 10, 2003, go to www.slate.com to see the big graphic and headline).

Aside from some kvetches about how hard rebates can be to get sometimes, also some hard numbers and facts on the economics, etc. of rebates. Worth a look.

(If you haven't heard of Slate, they are an online daily magazine put out by Microsoft. They are in a similar space to Salon, but more mainstream. They have interesting weeklong diaries, surveys of international newspapers, surveys of the tabloids and articles on issues of the day).

 

[Wozster]

You may get flamed for posting this here but I applaud you!

 

[RIGorous1]

I think posting it here is fine... its to educate hot deal'ers to how the process works and use it to our advantage. Since there are so many hot deals here that involves rebates (I'd say half), we must be head strong and fight, because in business everything is about getting as much as you can from the other person, simply put, to rip them off.

Edit: I like the story about how notorious Microsoft was on that one rebate, shows the true nature of unbiased journalism as it should be.

 

[dew042]

yep. i do tip my hat to all those who don't get their acts together to actually send rebates in - it keeps the actual rebate prices higher for those who do send them in - like me

dew.

 

I take this article with a grain of salt. The moron author wanted to get a $50 rebate on a cell phone but she threw away the box with the UPC on it? Come on, anyone who pays ANY attention to ANYTHING knows that UPCs are required for rebates. Besides, she said that the rebate form was due in 2 weeks - but you need your first month's bill to get ANY sort of cell phone rebate. Sounds like a made up premise to me.

EDIT: fixed gender references.

 

[TekDemon]

lol I find it funny that he attacks the MS Visual Basic upgrade rebate...

For the record, I believe the MS upgrader rebates are usually pretty flexible, accepting box tops, manual's front page, etc.

And I think you probably would have kept the manual at least.

 

[ericlp]

Hmmm... Half the time I can't remember if I even got the rebate. But, I just went to nokiapromo and looked my phone up. Sure enough they said the sent it to me. I'm sure I got it. But mine was only 50 bucks. Tho, I only play 49 bucks for the phone.

I agree any IDIOT that expects his 100.00 should read up on any rebate before plunking out the visa. If there is a rebate I ask for a second copy of the reciept or make frys go back the copy machine and make me a copy. I usually fill it out the same day. I figure if your gonna procrastinate for the weekend to get your rebate in the mail you might as well throw it away. I'm not that orgonized. I like to get it over with that day. At least everything filled out and stuffed in a envolope.

 

[cogan]

You may get flamed for posting this here but I applaud you!

No applause--just throw money.

(Sorry--always wanted to use that line, and it kind of fits the theme of this forum, no? ).

Seriously, I felt that it would be of sufficient interest to readers of this forum to warrant posting here.

About the article: first of all, I'm reasonably sure the author, Carol Vinzant, is female.
Second, I wondered a bit about some of the complaints she raises--I've sent in many rebates and haven't found many that were particularly onerous in their terms--only a handful gave me less than 2 weeks to send in and most of the time the checks come without my having to intervene (though at times they do take longer than expected).

But since things don't always go the way they are supposed to, it helps to understand the rebate-processing process, to avoid problems at the outset or to deal with issues that arise later.

BTW, to the person who mentioned the Microsoft rebate, while most of them go well, there seem to have been widespread problems with the specific rebate mentioned in the article--it got coverage in industry trade publications like Infoworld, in this column, from March 29, 2002:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/02/03/29/020401opgripe_1.html

Anyway, I agree with the poster who suggested that the more information, the better, especially given how opaque the rebate process is to people on the outside.

 

[axskkyline]

in before lock

 

[Computergasm]

I really hate rebates.

 

[rzrshrp]

Originally posted by: axskkyline
...

shhh, I don't think the mods like that

 

[sak]

That author is an idiot..throwing the box..wtf..why would anyone throw the box of any electronic item..its a potential sell later..lol


but in any case..rebates are a bitch...and the article isnt saying anything we guys dont already know.

 

[TJN23]

the corporate guys think of everything, not accepting copies, fedex or ups, giving you a few days to get your stuff in...basically preventing the customer from covering themselves....

 

[Miramonti]

go article for those who weren't aware...

altho I don't even believe the writer threw out the box when he knew he had a rebate, thats too stupid.

 

[Salvador]

I think it belongs here. Most of the deals posted are contingent on rebates after all.

Sal

 

[Flair]

The cold hard facts are that most consumers are idiots. The bigger idiots most consumers are, the better deals for us HotDealers.

If everyone cashed rebates, the companies offering rebates would lose money and then they would not offer them anymore. Instant rebates are more effecient and since everyone would get money back anyway, this would be the preferred method of reducing price.

The problem arises when too many people sign up for mail-in rebates and the companies don't honor the rebates.

 

[krackato]

The author is pissed that he threw away the box. He F*%)&$%! threw away the box. I'm sorry, but that's just stupid.

 

[SimMike2]

If companies don't honor rebates, they are breaking the law. No question about it! The consumer is not to blame.

The main thing that pushes many people into buying in the first place is the rebate. To not honor the rebate and give some made up excuse (like "lost in the mail") is the same thing as robbery. The problem has nothing to do with "too many people applying for the rebate." If companies don't want to pay out rebates, DON'T OFFER REBATES! If they gamble that a certain percentage of people will not fill out the form and more people do fill out the form, that is the companies gamble and they are responsible for paying the rebate. This is plain and simple consumer law. Whether a pick-pocket thieve steals $20 out of my wallet or a company refuses to pay my properly filled out $20 rebate claim, it's all the same thing -- robbery.

Right now Viking is the king of heap for lousy rebate service. I have a complaint filed with the California Attorny General with Viking in CA. I also have a complaint filed in NY with the New Rochelle rebate fulfillment company. Think about how many different things Viking sells with rebates. They are definitely one of the companies gambling against the consumer. If you don't think so, read the fine print of Viking rebates. They have some of the sleaziest stipulations of any rebate form.

Anyone who defends the "poor" companies on this issue is an idiot.

 

[MontyBurns]

That story is pretty short on facts... The writer tosses around a lot of stats with little to back them up.

And she didn't contact a single rebate company to ask them why they are such idiots. I think what we really want is for a 60 Minutes camera crew to show up in Young America and make some bald guys sweat.

 

[Sesopedalian]

Thank you for taking those steps to complain about not getting your rebate, SimMike2. That helps all of us.

I think most of the problems with rebates stem from the fulfilment houses and not the companies themselves. However, that does not relieve the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure the rebates are paid, and that the fulfillment house is doing an adaquate job. In my experience, Microsoft has been one of the best in paying rebates promptly and without undo strings attached.

Kudos to all of you that keep track of rebates and take action when they are missing or late.

 

[huesmann]

The author of the article is a moron. Manufacturers and retailers offer rebates to make money off the float. They may only have your cash for this particular purchase for 8-10 weeks, but they usually offer various rebates continuously.

 

[feralkid]

"Some rebates require you to cash the check almost the minute you get it."







Er, right, yeah, that's happened a lot.

 

[Celstar]

that article captures all the negative feelings I have for rebates. I always try to avoid rebates if it can be helped--passed over many a hot deal due to it.

 

[Celstar]

BTW, I read that article as an editorial, not for pure fact. I dont understand why some of you have got your panties caught up in bunches over it.

 

[MontyBurns]

Originally posted by: huesmann
The author of the article is a moron. Manufacturers and retailers offer rebates to make money off the float. They may only have your cash for this particular purchase for 8-10 weeks, but they usually offer various rebates continuously.

What "float" do manufacturers have at their disposal, exactly?

I assume you're basing this on the once-circulated rumor that CyberRebates was making its money off the interest it earned on your money while waiting for a rebate. When they crashed and burned, it became clear that they were in fact making money (or, in their case, unsuccessfully trying to make money) on that gamble that some percentage of people would not send in the rebates.

Manufacturers have no "float" to earn interest on, and you can bet that mass retailers aren't using rebates to simply make a few cents while they hold your money. REbates work for them simply because some percentage of people will never get paid.