Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

[Homerr]

REBATES!!<br /><br />I HATE 'EM!<br /><br />ARGHHH!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Wow..that's a great price on that product...<br />No wait...lemme get my glasses and magnifying lense to read the fine scribbling... <br /><br />*price after mail-in rebate... DAG-NABIT!<br /><br />*Must wait 6-8 months, at which time you may be told by a non-english speaking person that they have no idea where your rebate claim is and accuse you of losing or not mailing it. <br /><br /> <br /><br />I've had enough. I avoid buying things that have a rebate. <br />I just don't get it... if they are going to give your money back, then why don't they just do it at time of purchase?<br />Is it just another mind game, hoping that most people won't send in the rebates? <br /><br />Sorta like raising your interest rate on your credit card for no reason.<br />This actually happened to me, and when I called the bank and had it lowered back down, they told me that a good percentage of people don't notice the increase and won't call in about it.<br /><br />Just say NO to rebates!<br />Read my lips: "No more rebates!"<br />Hmmm.. what other slogan can we come up with?<br /><br />Aww heck..Now the "save the rebates" foundation will come after me now... <br /><br /> <br /><br />H.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

I hear ya Homer.... <br /><br />Went thru the B.S. with Bellsouth about the $100 dsl modem rebate.. Was supposed to get the rebate after the second biling cycle.. Second cycle rolls around, no rebate... Third cycle rolls around, no rebate so i get on the horn with Ma' bell and talk to some sweet sounding Georgia peach who tells me i'll have to wait another two billing cycles cause they messed up and did'nt process the rebate, "OK FINE!".. <br /><br />Few months roll by and i'd just about forgot about it all and then i saw the commercial for the rebate on the tube.. Decided to look thru my records, just as suspected, no rebate... <br /><br />I get on the phone to em', again, same B.S. story, wait another two billing cycles.... "I want to talk to the boss right now", they hang up on me.. Finally get the stupervisor (i spelled it right), she says give us a month, I said "NO!, Already been 5 months, I'll give you a week and if no rebate, you'll hear from the states attourney for defrauding me outta $100 bucks"..<br /><br />Three weeks later, end of that billing cycle, no rebate... Filed a formal complaint with the state, low and behold a few weeks later, I get a call from a rep from Ma bell telling me how they already credited my account for the $100 bucks about 4 months ago, WRONG!.... I asked her who she thinks she's fooling, i have everything right here in front of me from the day I signed up for service, so somebodys got a problem with their math, and it ain't me... I'll let the state's attourney handle it, click....<br /><br />Month later, a letter from the State Attourney telling me that they consider the matter closed, and i ain't gettin diddley squat.. Enclosed with this letter from state, a letter from Ma bell telling me how I did'nt qualify for the rebate in the first place, because they had not recieved it before the cut off date.. This, I know for a fact, was a complete and total lie... See, I had kept records of the names of persons in customer service who said that they had recieved the rebate coupon but had not processed it, times and dates which were three full months and a few days before the rebates cut off date..<br /><br />Called the contact at the State attourneys office and told him he was a dumb **** and a few other "colorful words", and that he needs to look at the info i gave him again with reguards to the dates... <br /><br />Never heard from the state again (did'nt figure i would either after the ration of crap I gave em'), just thought i was skrew'd outta $100 bucks, case closed and lesson learned...<br /><br />Few weeks later, I get my credit card statement.. Much to my shock and horror, I have a credit for the $100 rebate from Ma Bell.. Go figure?

 

[Homerr]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

Yep...<br /><br />AT&T did a similar thing to me with my phone rebate. <br />They shifted it around and around..I finally gave up.<br /><br />'Nother reason to say to hell with the rebates.<br /><br />H.

 

[Link]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

Rebate = Free money to invest with (your money) for X amount of months.<br />In 1984 I asked a friend at the bank why my 3000 dollars of travelers checks were free. We went to lunch and he explained that the average turn around was 60 days so they invested the money.. in a 60 day something or another at a set rate.<br />This is just a example as I don't remember the details<br />It was 20 years ago <br />At 5% on my $3000.00 they would only make about $300.00 but when your dealing with millions...do the math!<br />Mabe someone here on IBOATS is in the banking business and can spell it out in Laymans terms better.. I remember driving home that night, (I was in the Military in So Korea) at the time...<br />$600,000 a year on travelers checks... I could retire! Ugggg

 

[JB]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

Hmmm.<br /><br />Most of the rebates I see are a way to complicate figuring out how much you are about to overpay for a product.

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

You're right on the money there JB.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

Receipt, your name and address, upc, stamp, = $20.<br /><br />I like em.<br />I got 300 CD-R for less than $2.(Best Buy)<br /><br />A home improvement store (Menards) offers rebates every month, many of the products end up costing $0.00, but the rebate is only good for store credit. Doormats, ice scrapers,work gloves, lightbulbs, duct tape!!!, and fishing lures.<br /><br />I bought 4 dozen of the Rapala coffee mug and lure gift sets last year. 48 rattlin Raps and 48 mugs ended up costing me $10. They made great stocking stuffers.<br /><br />But I won't get involved with any of the ones that promise you something down the line.<br /><br />Heard an interview with "The Dolans" a few months ago. THe guy owned one of the BIG rebate processing companies. If you ever have a problem receiving a rebate, you should contact the retailer first. He said they had a legal obligation to make it good, as they were in the chain of advertising, promotion, and distribution of the product.<br /><br />Why do they do rebates instead of discounts?<br />Well, the retailers generate store traffic and rack up sales, the manufacturer sells product, and only about 14% of people mail in the rebates.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

Yup...<br /><br />Making money off of people's ignorance.<br />They are hoping they won't send the rebates in.<br /><br />H.

 

[BRIAN03]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

I will not Buy anything with a rebate. It took 6 months to get all my money back form my last purchase with rebates. I go to Best Buys on weekly basis and always ask the sales person What doesnt have rebates. The sales person always says you will get your money back right away. I always say let me use your money and I will buy it. They then take me to the products with no rebates.

 

[Skiuseme]

Re: Rebates, rebates, rebates...When will the madness end?

I just got a rebate back from somthing I Bought in Feburary