I hate rebates

[Colt_45]

A) the big M store only does merchandise credit so I won't buy something with a rebate from them.

Phone rebates are in the form of a visa check card, at least ATT is....have actually had these declined at places, from the machine not the place.

C) Manufacturer's rebates I have had good luck with....reminds me I need to send in mine for my tires I bought last month....5 days left to do it...

Bottom line is there is an angle for them otherwise they wouldn't do it...so do what they say and keep a record...you should be fine.

[CJH]

Admittedly, at first glance it seems like they are trying to hose you; if you don't cross your t's and dot your i's they won't help you. The truth is far from that. If you try calling in and explain the situation, they will very likely allow you to resubmit for the rebate. The reason they require the UPC is because there are people out there who love rebates. They buy the product, send in for the rebate and then return the product to the store and make a nice profit. To prevent that, you are required to send in the part of the box that would allow you to easily return the product to the store. The companies which offer rebates aren't trying to give you the shaft, they are just like you and me--they don't want to get ripped off. If you want to play the game, follow the rules. If you can't follow the rules, don't complain that you're not allowed to join in the fun.

Bingo!!!

[deathmatch782]

Yup, still waiting on my Marcum rebate.

[bobbymalone]

Come on, it's not rocket science!!

+1

[russ]

I see it as a scam you can win. Companies do it because like stated before, they know people will get disgusted with the whole rebate process and will disregard it, therefore their intentions are insincere. They aren't doing it to be good guys and give us a deal, they only do it as a way to more profits, which is why they are is business. But you can win the scam if you are diligent and play by the rules. I still loathe rebates tho!

[Tom Buckles]

Ok, so let me get this straight. A company is offering to give you money back as long as you follow a few simple instructions. Like someone already said, "it is not rocket science". Fill out your address, and send in the reciept and UPC. I am confused as to why this seems so dificult. Im also confused as to why it is the companys fault when people cant follow these instructions. If any of you have any rebate items at home and you cant figure out how to get your money, send the receipt and UPC to me. I will spend the 1 minute getting everything together and mailed out.

[deerminator]

Last time I checked, filling out a rebate form completely wasn't a matter of intelligence. It can often be a matter of, gasp, chance, unless you drive staight home with everything in hand, cut everything out, copy everything and mail it immediately. People lose things, often. So just because you lose a receipt or someone accidentally throws out the box you were saving, it doesn't mean you're an i d i o t. Bottom line, merchants do rebates versus sales because they know some people won't go through the effort, some will forget and other lose one piece of the five required to get your money back. It's a matter of human nature, not intelligence to not be so detailed about every little thing. So yes, it is my fault. I lost the receipt but it still stinks and I believe a little venting like that is what this post is probably all about.

[deerminator]

Good luck deerminator... Without a receipt, which is proof of purchase, there's no proof where you bought it from or for how much. Manufactures will often times give a retailer money on the backend to discount their product instantly during other promotions. Since a receipt shows where and how much you paid for it they know you are not trying to "double dip" by buying it on sale and then trying to get a non-qualifying mail in rebate which would further degrade their margin. I'm afraid 999,999 times out of 1,000,000 you're SOL. Like MNice and others have said, it's not rocket science. Follow the directions, make copies and documentation and you have nothing to worry about.

Which is exactly why I spent 10 minutes on the phone with Cabelas to get a copy. But I doubt they'll take a copy. It proves everything and I have all four other pieces off the packaging but I'm sure I'll get drilled ont he technicality.

[leech~~]

Here's a good one. I went to the Save-big-money store the other day to buy a little plastic bin to hold my add-on battery inside my sled to run my GPS off of which was an idea from Macgyver55. The bin cost 63c and the kid there gave me a rebate slip and said everything you buy right now has a 11% rebate on it. I just stared at him for a Min trying not to laugh and said what will I get back on 63c! Yes I hate rebates!

[TylerS]

Here's a good one. I went to the Save-big-money store the other day to buy a little plastic bin to hold my add-on battery inside my sled to run my GPS off of which was an idea from Macgyver55. The bin cost 63c and the kid there gave me a rebate slip and said everything you buy right now has a 11% rebate on it. I just stared at him for a Min trying not to laugh and said what will I get back on 63c! Yes I hate rebates!

Look on the bright side, you'd be six cents richer Minus postage, of course...which, I suppose, would be much more than the six cents...

[croixflats]

Hmmmm? Only the cost of a stamp to get 6 cents back. Leech should have bought more bins that way you can send the rebates all at one time and pay for the stamp.

[FishLocker]

Why do I play the rebate gamble game instead of the Mystake Lake gamble game?

Simple. For smaller than a 50 cent bet I will win (in this case) 45 dollars EVERY TIME! All I do is follow their rules.

At Mystake Lake, I follow all their rules and 80-90% of the time they take my money anyway. I do not like those odds, so I never go there to play...but I win big time EVERY time I play the rebate game =)

I have a buddy that plans his time every week to play at Mystake lake, and looses money every week...I on the other hand, plan to walk to my office and spend 3 minutes making 45 dollars by sending my rebate as soon as the van is unpacked from Menards.

That is not a bad hourly wage.

True, the manufacturer plans on you NOT following simple rules, or forgetting...but we are talking MONEY here. For that, I will read directions........just don't tell my wife.

[GotALunker]

rebates are great especially when unexpected. just get an extra copy of the receipt and send it in. Just don't write it in the checkbook twice...!

[russ]

Hmmm, you seem to be awfully confused.

[SFC]

I got my $45. dollar rebate a few weeks back, so the cost of the ice 45 was something like $330 including tax. I ordered mine online printed the receipt, no problems, I love rebates!

[LightningBG]

What I hate is when the rebate takes forever to get. My very first cell phone, back in 1998 had a $100 rebate. I sent it in right away and didn't get a check for 11 months.

[Fowlmouth]

I'm sure when you bought it though you liked rebates and thought to yourself, "awesome money back". I myself love rebates. Nothing like getting money back. One has to be smarter than the receipt and read the fine print. Just my 2 cents.

[leech~~]

Hmmmm? Only the cost of a stamp to get 6 cents back. Leech should have bought more bins that way you can send the rebates all at one time and pay for the stamp.

croixflats, than that would be shopping like my wife! "I had to buy two, it was a two for one sale" "We can always give one away to someone else if we can't use it"