Rebates – Reward or Rip Off?
Rebates have become increasingly popular in the last few years on a lot of items and certainly on electronic items and computers. Rebates of $20, $50 or $100 are not uncommon.
I’ve even seen items advertised as “free after rebate”. Do these rebates come under the heading of “too good to be true”? Some of them do and there are “catches” to watch out for but if you are careful, rebates can help you get some really good deals.
The way a rebate works is that you pay the listed price for an item then mail in a form and the bar code to the manufacturer and they send you a refund thus reducing the price of what you paid for the item except with a time delay of several weeks.
Rule #1. Rebates from reputable companies are usually just fine.
You can be pretty sure you will get the promised rebate from Best Buy, Amazon or Dell but you should probably not count on getting one from a company you’ve never heard of. If you really want the product and are OK with paying the price listed then buy it but don’t count on actually getting the refund.
Rule #2. Check rebate expiration dates.
Many times products will stay on the shelf of a retailer after the date for sending in the rebate offer has expired so check that date carefully.
Rule #3. Be sure you have all the forms required to file for the rebate before you leave the store.
Rebates will almost always require a form to be filled out, a receipt for the purchase and a bar code.
Rule #4. Back up your rebate claim.
Make copies of everything you send in to get your rebate including the bar code. Stuff gets lost in the mail all the time and if the rebate is for $50 it’s worth the trouble to back up your claim.
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Eve, 26, housewife, blogger, located in Lake City, FL 32024
Comments (5 comments)
I think redemption rates on rebates are surprisingly low. I guess this makes it possible for something to be free after a rebate if the company can bank on enough people never mailing it in. I read somewhere that once when Tivo offered a $100 rebate, half of people never mailed it.
It’s a case of she who can be bothered to do the paper work wins! :-)
Wibbly / September 21st, 2007, 4:04 pm / #
My experience with rebates has been that they are always looking for a loophole so they don’t have to redeem them.
Lisa / September 21st, 2007, 8:50 pm / #
Hey I just wanted to say that you have a wonderful blog.
I am also a housewife. So I can relate to your content. I will be subscribing to your blog. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read. Have a wonderful day.
Carolynloveman / September 21st, 2007, 11:08 pm / #
How many people actually claim back rebates? They probably buy the product mentally deducting the rebate from the listed price and then never actually get round to filling in the form and sending it off.
Chamonix / September 22nd, 2007, 4:12 am / #
Hi! I claim rebates everywhere I can get them. I even ask for them - or discounts!
Sybil Amber / September 22nd, 2007, 1:51 pm / #
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