mail-in rebate CRAP

[unblock]

ya know those "mail-in rebates" that knock off 30, 40, or 50% of the retail price? makes the product look so much more affordable?

so you buy it, banking on that rebate. then you send in for the rebate, and it gets rejected because you missed the deadline or forgot the barcode, or sent in a photocopy instead of an original?

i've maintained for some time now that it's all a big test. the idea is to erect complicated and difficult hurdles to minimize complete compliance so that they can deny the rebate and laugh at your expense. since you didn't comply fully with the fine print, you really have no recourse. kinda like the parking rules in san francisco or boston, but that's another story.

well, this one takes the cake. i'm thinking about splurging on a digital piano, and came across this:

http://www.allaboutpianos.com/digitalpianoAL100R.html

see that $1000 rebate? nice, huh? now check out the "rebate details":

http://www.allaboutpianos.com/rebate.html

got it? that's right, not only do you have a mere 2 weeks to send it, by CERTIFIED mail, but then you have to WAIT for the magic month, somewhere between 11 and 35 days, to send in the "supporting documents", voucher stub registration, and prove your identity. you have only 30 days for this second step.

send that stuff in too late? NO REBATE
send that stuff in too EARLY? NO REBATE -- and no second chance, because no way will they return the documents to give you another chance.
send anything in not 100% correct? NO REBATE
what if you move in the meanwhile? NO REBATE, i'll bet, because they';; surely say they can't confirm your identity if the address has changed.

it's amazingly obvious that there's no legitimate operational reason for erecting this two-stage process other than to increase technical non-compliance.

if i buy this product:
(a) i'll probably buy elsewhere, just on principle; or
(b) if i do buy it from these people, i'll bank on NOT getting the rebate.

some consumer advocate ought to take on this crap.
better yet, some legislator ought to impose some guidelines.
it amounts to false advertising to call this a rebate.

it's not a rebate. it's an opportunity to participate in an arcane test, which pays the so-called rebate to the few lucky and painstakingly diligent people who pass the test.




CashBack Rebate Details

For the rebate offered with select Schoenhut, Suzuki, Casio and Kurzweil Pro products, we issue a rebate voucher within one week of the delivery of your product. The first step in claiming your rebate is to complete and return the voucher stub to United Stated Administrative Services, a private, third-party company that handles the rebate processing for CashBack America, the supplier of the rebate forms. This must be done within 14 days of the date on the voucher by certified mail with a return receipt.

The claim period begins 11 months after the date on the voucher for rebates up to $225, and 35 months for rebates from $226 to $3000. At that time, you have 30 days to send the required supporting documents proving your purchase, the registration of your voucher stub, and your identity to USAS. If the process is completed correctly, they will send you a check for the rebate amount.

More details are available at www.cashbackamerica.com

[amazona]

1. this is probably the wrong thread

Maybe the lounge or there is some small discussion of consumer finance issues on the progressive living group.

In short, my experience is if a rebate sounds too good to be true, it is.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[unblock]

3. yeah, sometimes us mods can't even tell.

the lounge doesn't seem right because it's not frivolous or apolitical, there is a political/advocacy relevence.

and even if it would be approporite in a small group, the point of the small groups is not to completely rid the major forums of such topics.

:shrug:

i'll respect the judgement of the general discussion mods :hi:

[FormerDittoHead]

2. OfficeMax is the worst for rebates...

To start, you have to mail it in like within 7 days of the purchase.

and there's LOTS of people who've never seen the rebate check.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1903.html

furthermore, I remember at least one state's attorney general sueing them for their rebate 'scam'

overall, if the price reflects a rebate, I usually take a pass.

ONE EXCEPTION: My Tivo rebate went without a hitch. They even emailed me, and I had a web address to keep track of it before I got it...

[NMDemDist2]

4. i use rebates all the time (Office Max included)

and always read carefully, follow instructions, and save a dated copy

I get checks all the time, usually about 90 days later

the difficulty of the rebate "hoops" is usually proportional to the payoff in the end. Bigger payoff, more hassle

but getting a check for $25 or $75 bucks in the mail always makes my day!

[amazona]

6. yes I do a lot of rebating also

If you follow the rules you almost always -- I'd say 95 percent or the time or more by my records -- you get the rebate.

My biggest gripe is stores who leave out rebate hangers on items when the time for sending in the rebate has already expired.

As a bright spot, recently Circuit City gave me a VERY unusual "stacking" of rebates so that I could get two rebates, one for $20, one for $30, for the same item.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Mz Pip]

5. A friend of mine was denied

his $500 rebate on a computer he bought and raised holy hell. He could find nothing in the rebate information that said anything about sending it within 2 weeks. He called and complained and they did send him his money.

On a side note, I got scammed when I bought some clothes on-line. I had used this company for years and never had a problem. I clicked on the window for a $10 gift certificate during checkout and later discovered a $9 a month charge from some unrelated company on my credit card. It only appeared that I was getting a "gift" certificate when in fact I was paying for the privilege of buying crap I would not ever want. We called the company and demanded a refund then called the clothing company and yelled about them giving my credit card number to this other company. They lost any future business with me.

There seem to be many creative ways companies get people to part with their money by making the fine print so small or so complicated it's indecipherable.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Liberal In Texas]

7. That's bizarre.

I hate mail-in rebates.
I always keep a copy, but by the time they get around to when they're supposed to send it out, I've completey forgotten I'd ever sent it in.

If I do run across one that I haven't gotten, it takes all kind of phone calls before they'll finally pay up. It's really not worth it.

I would guess that I get about half of the ones I apply for.

They're legal scams.

[Bluebear]

8. Check yer mail

:hi:

[Bluebear]

9. .

self delete

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I've been a victim of this too

Just recently I tried to get a $100 rebate on a $1,000 Samsung monitor. The fine print bit me in the ass. I spent more than the rebate in time and trouble and phone calls, all to no avail.

On the other hand, I screwed up the process on a $2,500 Toshiba laptop and got the rebate anyway.

In both cases, the issue was missing packaging. The lesson: never recycle a carton with a bar code until you get the fucking rebate from the fucking test-givers who offer the fucking rebate.

Oh .... and CompUSA? ..... blow me!

[cattleman22]

11. I love rebates

With rebates, companies and stores can offer larger discounts than if they just reduced teh price. I have never submitted a rebate and had it rejected. I have probably received over $2000 in rebates without a problem.

[bvar22]

12. Rules for Rebates.

1) Keep a scanned dated color copy of Everything sent to the Rebate House,
including:

....bar code from box,

....receipt (filled out when applicable)

....the envelope with address and stamp attached,

....and cover letter with YOUR address in the letterhead and body of the letter requesting rebate.

2) File for your Rebate within 24 hrs unless otherwise stipulated.

3) Keep a computer calendar with alarms set for reminders.

4) Almost all rebates offers include a web site for checking on your rebate status. Contact this website after 30 days, and send an E-Mail with your scanned document file attached to "check on the status of your rebate". (Add this request to your document file.)

5) Any phone contact needs to be documented, including return #, person contacted, date and time.

The above won't guarantee a rebate, but it will let the Rebate House know you are serious, have documentation, and won't forget.