A curious thing has happened psychologically.

Until recently, I had an efficient system set up for processing rebates and mailing them in.

But one day I stopped doing it. I didn't choose to do so. I was surprised to find myself in some kind of unconscious psychological rebellion against rebates. The intuition (which as a creative person I respect) just said No.

Logically, I can see how to do it just fine. But psychologically, I apparently no longer am willing to do this.

Whatever is going on is a deep rebellion against rebates and all they stand for. So, at the present, I am no longer making purchases that require mail-in rebates. I just want good prices and a simple, honest transaction, period.

This is not an advertisement, but I really do find the Staples web site rebate entry really does make it a lot less of a pain...
'lox

I will not participate with rebates. Why don't they just give you the savings? Why? For many reasons because some people are too lazy to follow up, botch the complicated process or forget. It is a scam and yet companies are allowed to feature pricing including these sneaky tricks. They get full price up front and then it is up to you to battle to get your "savings" .

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Da Good Life

Almost 2 years and won't ever go back.

Purchase. Cut-out, Print. Scan. Mail. Mark date on google calendar. 5 minutes... tops.

When following the rules, I have not missed one yet. Just got my 2 x $50 Buffalo rebates yeterday.

Can you find anyplace that sells Macs for less than Amazon's after-rebate prices?

I just got my CUSA rebate back- $30.

Done online, 2min, tops.

I will only do online rebates.

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I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

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An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Staples and CompUSA rebates are the easiest and best. Too bad CompUSA is closing all their Atlanta stores - they finally just got their rebate program in order after a state (NY?) investigation forced them to do so.

Fry's rebates are notoriously tough. I'm battling to get 2 from November. The manager says that they've had problem with the two companies in particular and took copies of all my info. She says the rebates will come directly from Frys. We'll see.

Circuit City isn't too bad b/c you can at least register online. You still have to send in the requested info.

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GGD
Can you find anyplace that sells Macs for less than Amazon's after-rebate prices?

After rebate prices? Why not upfront? The difference is consumer fraud and an attempt to get away with some of your money.Same same I guess. If I am buying something for $800 and yet have to put $1100 I feel I am in the middle of a swindle.

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Da Good Life

Dealmac always says a price is "$20 shipped after rebate." Just more hustling. Staples and CompUSA make it easier to do something that you should not have to do in the first place. It's cynical for them to create a price struction hoping you don't comply, so that's good for them.

I have also stopped buying things that require a rebate.
And yes, I have always gotten them in the past.
What I have found is I buy a lot less useless stuff, since much of the time I was only buying things only because they offered a rebate and not because I had an urgent need or desire for them.
I usually convinced myself that this product is something I most likely will have use for in the future, and "boy will I be upset that I have to pay full price for it then," but after filling my small apartment with a lot of junk I really didn't need after all, I just decided I'd had enough.

Mint (and others who feel similarly), the rebate companies know a certain percentage of people don't turn in the rebates, and that's why they do it (it helps make the initial sale).

This sort of behavior on the part of companies offering rebates is the same as those crazy "no interest for 'X' amount of years" deals, and other similar marketing schemes (certain auto and home financing offers come to mind). The consumer signs up, but then misses the due date by a day, and all that interest gets charged.

Until we as consumers start changing our behavior in large enough numbers (to make them start noticing a decline in profits when rebates are involved), we're not gonna see a change.

For my part, I do factor in the after rebate price when buying something, because I've had nearly 100% success with them. I only buy if it's something I need, or there is resale potential (the latter being the majority of the cases). I wonder if I'm 'rewarding' bad behavior on the part of the rebates.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2007 12:10PM by Carnos Jax.

"Why don't they just give you the savings [upfront]?"

It should be obvious why companies don't do that. Yes, it is a game, and occasionally a scam by a few unscrupulous mfrs./vendors, but for the most part, it is good thing for the savvy. The fact is, the best final price on something is always going to involve one or more rebates.

I do agree with Seacrest that there is wisdom in avoiding the accumulation of junk for no real need, but there are still plenty of useful instances to redeem rebates. For example, just last week I replaced my ailing DVD drive in my G4 and after rebates, I will actually make a profit. That's a no-brainer.

It does take organization, discipline, and patience to do mass rebating. I realize that not all are up to the task. To each his own, but as long as that's how the game works. I'm willing to keep playing. My final personal tally for last year is $3800 is redeemed rebates. Oh, and that is a nearly 100% success rate. (If elmo were here, he'd be foaming at the mouth at that claim.)

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yoregano
...My final personal tally for last year is $3800 is redeemed rebates. Oh, and that is a nearly 100% success rate. (If elmo were here, he'd be foaming at the mouth at that claim.)

Whoa, and I thought I redeemed a lot in rebates annually (around $1.5-$2K off the top of my head).

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Carnos Jax
Whoa, and I thought I redeemed a lot in rebates annually (around $1.5-$2K off the top of my head).

That ongoing google checkout promo was fun while it lasted. My total for the previous year was around $1700.

Thanks for reminding me. I needed to fill out the forms for my Amazon MacBook rebate.

Took all of thirty seconds. Amazon sure made that part easy (what was the order number? Which item? Where do we send the rebate?)

We'll see if I get it, but I've never had a problem with Amazon (or Staples)

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Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

I'm pretty fed up with rebates too. Lately, I find myself either completely dismissing sale items with rebates or else ignoring the AR price and concentrating on the up-front price--and usually declining because the up-front price is too high.

And at this point, I absolutely refuse anything with multiple rebates. ClumpUSAy loves to do that: "$40 rebate(s)" turns out to be two $10 rebates and a $20 rebate. Screw that.

On the other hand, CompUSA eRebates are so easy they're worth it.

"…ignoring the AR price and concentrating on the up-front price--and usually declining because the up-front price is too high."

Ah yes, that is the essence. For me, the rebate is essential to the deal.

"CompUSA eRebates are so easy they're worth it."

True, as long as they are not defiantly defrauding the consumer, as is the case with the Kaspersky software deal from both last Nov. and Dec. CUSA is not paying the 2nd of two rebates advertised on that item. That rebate, which I am still fighting with them over, is the only blemish (unfulfilled rebate) for me from last year.

Mixed results here. D-Link router and a usb hub were nearly no cost when I got those with rebates a few years ago. OTOH, the rebates for my Nokia 3650 phones never was paid, but given the time I've had them, they've amortized pretty well so I'm not too upset.

You notice that you pay taxes on the full amount, not the rebated amount. The conspiracisit side of me want to believe that there is some "agreement" between the government and retailers to be sure that the maximum sales tax is levied. <g>