Mail-in Rebate Rant

Podunkadunk · Jan 22, 2009

How many of you have been reeled in by "manufacturer mail-in rebate" offers? I hope I'm not the only one who has bought something in the past, and buying it with the inclination that I'll get that money back! The rebate offer is what sweetened the deal enough for me to buy it in the first place...

Back in November, I bought a Remington model 700 SPS in .308 caliber. It was 549.99 and had a 40.00 mail-in rebate from the manufacturer. I figured since it was cheaper than a couple of the other places I had shopped, AND that it had 40 bucks off, I'd get it. Well, I did...

A few days later, I got all the stuff together required for the rebate. You know, birth certificate, shot card, last years W-2's, photocopy of first-born's footprint, proof of purchase of the item (which is basically a sworn affadavit from retailer which is notorized), original receipt, serial number, pics of my property where I'll be shooting it, etc., etc., and followed the directions to a TEE! If you misspell one word, they'll kick it out of the system. No, they won't tell you...it'll just fall into a black hole somewhere, never to be found again.

Well, now that it's been just shy of 8 weeks, I went on the Remington website to follow up on the refund. I enter all the required verification data, hit enter and get a message stating they have no record of me!

Thinking I must have done something stupid like, oh I don't know, misspelled my own name, I do it all again. Nope, still not there. I swear I heard the website's autobot computer system laughing at me!

So my rebate was lost. Maybe it's in a postal worker's basement somewhere. Maybe Remington's rebate is just a gimmick! I'll go with the latter. I mean, what do they have to lose? Nothing! I mean, all they have to say is that they never got it in the first place, or that I didn't provide all the information they had requested. Wait, I think I left out my social security number...yeah, that's got to be it. I should have used the SSN of the Lifelock guy...

Anyhow, I'm going to call them today and see what's up and if I can still refile all the above information.

I feel better now. I'm finished with mail-in rebates. They are a PITA anyhow, take months to get back and the manufacturer is a schmuck in the first place (any manufacturer who uses rebates) for not giving it to me on the spot anyhow. Man this gets my goat!!!!!

Podunk

***EDIT***

It took me a lot of surfing, but I found a number to call about the rebate. For future reference if anyone else needs to call (1-866-200-6656). I got a really nice lady on the horn. It seems the check was mailed out on the 16th and I should be receiving it any day. Miracles do exist! She didn't understand why my name wasn't in the system on the website...? Anyhow, now I feel like a schmuck. Since this thread was already responded to, I'll not delete it. I've still had issue with other mail-in rebates in the past. Maybe you have too and want to rant a little.

Scooby074 · Jan 22, 2009

Your right, they got nothing to lose. In fact i think they rely on a large percentage of people forgetting or failing to send it in. I HATE mail ins. I think of all the ones i sent in that i might have only got 1 or 2 back

. Now i look at the after rebate price but only if its a instore rebate, otherwise i just look at regular price and go with the lowest. If it has a mail in, then thats just a bonus

but i dont rely on ever seeing the money.

Tig · Jan 22, 2009

My favourite is when the rebate is in two parts. Each to be mailed separately. Each requiring a proof of purchase UPC.

MossRoad · Jan 22, 2009

Podunkadunk said:
How many of you have been reeled in by "manufacturer mail-in rebate" offers? I hope I'm not the only one who has bought something in the past, and buying it with the inclination that I'll get that money back! The rebate offer is what sweetened the deal enough for me to buy it in the first place...

Back in November, I bought a Remington model 700 SPS in .308 caliber. It was 549.99 and had a 40.00 mail-in rebate from the manufacturer. I figured since it was cheaper than a couple of the other places I had shopped, AND that it had 40 bucks off, I'd get it. Well, I did...

A few days later, I got all the stuff together required for the rebate. You know, birth certificate, shot card, last years W-2's, photocopy of first-born's footprint, proof of purchase of the item (which is basically a sworn affadavit from retailer which is notorized), original receipt, serial number, pics of my property where I'll be shooting it, etc., etc., and followed the directions to a TEE! If you misspell one word, they'll kick it out of the system. No, they won't tell you...it'll just fall into a black hole somewhere, never to be found again.

Well, now that it's been just shy of 8 weeks, I went on the Remington website to follow up on the refund. I enter all the required verification data, hit enter and get a message stating they have no record of me! Thinking I must have done something stupid like, oh I don't know, misspelled my own name, I do it all again. Nope, still not there. I swear I heard the website's autobot computer system laughing at me!

So my rebate was lost. Maybe it's in a postal worker's basement somewhere. Maybe Remington's rebate is just a gimmick! I'll go with the latter. I mean, what do they have to lose? Nothing! I mean, all they have to say is that they never got it in the first place, or that I didn't provide all the information they had requested. Wait, I think I left out my social security number...yeah, that's got to be it. I should have used the SSN of the Lifelock guy...

Anyhow, I'm going to call them today and see what's up and if I can still refile all the above information.

I feel better now. I'm finished with mail-in rebates. They are a PITA anyhow, take months to get back and the manufacturer is a schmuck in the first place (any manufacturer who uses rebates) for not giving it to me on the spot anyhow. Man this gets my goat!!!!!

Podunk

***EDIT***

It took me a lot of surfing, but I found a number to call about the rebate. For future reference if anyone else needs to call (1-866-200-6656). I got a really nice lady on the horn. It seems the check was mailed out on the 16th and I should be receiving it any day. Miracles do exist! She didn't understand why my name wasn't in the system on the website...? Anyhow, now I feel like a schmuck. Since this thread was already responded to, I'll not delete it. I've still had issue with other mail-in rebates in the past. Maybe you have too and want to rant a little.

Hee hee. They got your goat AND made you feel like a schmuck! Hahahaha

If you really want to see rebates, go buy a copy of Turbo Tax and get all the free stuff that comes with it. You will be filling out forms for a couple hours. I do that almost every year. And I usually get all the rebates back after a few weeks. Staples is pretty good for giving you the extra printed receipts and instructions.

Bird · Jan 22, 2009

I hate the rebate system myself; wish they'd just lower the price, but I don't think I've ever seen one of the two part rebates. I'm sure they make more money with the rebate system than they'd make just lowering the price, since not everyone will go to the trouble to apply for the rebate. But to the best of my recollection, I've only had one rebate offer rejected. That was when I bought a hard drive in March, 2004, from an electronics store and the posted sign clearly showed that the manufacturer's rebate offer had expired. However, both the salesman and the cashier assured me that they had gotten an extension of the rebate time period. When I followed all the instructions and it was turned down, the store employees claimed their home office was fighting with the manufacturer and that I (and other customers) would eventually receive our rebate. It was only $30, but being hardheaded and not liking to be lied to, I stayed after them, sent a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, etc. and the store eventually did give me $30 in cash.

LBrown59 · Jan 22, 2009

Tig said:
*My favourite is when the rebate is in two parts. Each to be mailed separately. Each requiring a proof of purchase UPC.

Nize ain't they ?
The one that got me was the one where you had to send in the bar code and the bar code was printed on the quart bottles of oil.
The only way to send in the bar codes was to cut a hole in all 12 quarts of oil.
Never did figure out how they thought the oil would stay in the jugs once you cut the holes in them.

LBrown59 · Jan 22, 2009

Scooby074 said:
Your right, they got nothing to lose. In fact i think they rely on a large percentage of people forgetting or failing to send it in. I

That's their hole idea.

shvl73 · Jan 22, 2009

We needed a new range and while in Lowes I asked the spouse to look around. The salesperson showed us a unit that had a $175.00 rebate deal. It was pretty much just what we wanted and with the rebate it was down to the price of a basic steel burner job. We bought it and today, roughly 6 weeks later, the check arrived.

One thing I've learned is to assign rebate tasks to her. I never send them in.

kenmac · Jan 22, 2009

Just bought some antifreeze . Buy 1 get 1 free after mail in rebate. Instructions state . If you haven't recieved your rebate within 10 WEEKS !!!! call ####. No more rebates for me

Runner · Jan 22, 2009

I gave up on rebates years ago. Not worth the hassle for me.

ragkar · Jan 22, 2009

If the item has a rebate then it's a warning flag for me. Just why are they pushing it? Is it gong to be discontinued?
Why not just lower the price. Well they hope you won't redeem it and they'd have additional profit.
One rebate check that I got looked so much like a sales offer that I took it to the bank and asked if it was a legitimate check. They couldn't decide either so I told them to put it in the system and see if it bounces. It didn't. The manufacturer was just hoping that I'd throw it away.

kenstrac · Jan 22, 2009

Its a win win for the mfg. if you don't send it in they have your money .
If you do send it in they sell your name to a telemarketer, that's when you start getting phone calls + junk mail.I know because I change a letter in my name on the rebate and all the mail and e-mail comes in with that letter changed.

dgl24087 · Jan 22, 2009

Best rebate deal I ever got was on a printer a few years ago. The company sent me 2 checks, ended up getting the printer free.

Podunkadunk · Jan 22, 2009

kenstrac said:
Its a win win for the mfg. if you don't send it in they have your money .
If you do send it in they sell your name to a telemarketer, that's when you start getting phone calls + junk mail.I know because I change a letter in my name on the rebate and all the mail and e-mail comes in with that letter changed.

I never thought of that one. Makes sense though. To be devious toward a buddy of mine, I'd go to fairs and arts and crafts shows and fill out the "register for a free drawing" cards in his name. He'd get spam and junk mail for a year. I never asked him about it, but one day he was complaining about all the calls, spam and junkmail he was getting. I started laughing and confessed what I had done to him several times. Boy did that start a war. Next thing I know, I'm getting emails and thanks from the NAACP, Gay and Lesbian Magazines...pretty funny actually as those lifestyles don't align with mine. I released a lion...shouldn't have confessed.

All in good fun I guess.

Podunk

MikeD74T · Jan 23, 2009

Way before the internet, in the mid 80's I build a fireplace for a Dr. & his family, thus spent a couple of weeks in his house. His 2 children were 10 - 12 y.o. They had a project going for over a year at the time where they mailed in rebate coupons with slight variations in name/address/income/etc and tracked the increased mailing lists they were added to. It was quite interesting to watch them plot daily junk mail on a spreadsheet, a junkmail family tree. MikeD74T

Philscbx · Jan 23, 2009

Runner said:
I gave up on rebates years ago. Not worth the hassle for me.

10-04 that. It's not worth my 200.00 of effort to gain 10.
In the past, I have wrote the company saying I would of purchased the item had you processed the rebate in house at the time of sale.
About a week later, they decided to do it that way.

Chuck52 · Jan 23, 2009

I kinda like getting those $20 checks so many weeks after I send in the paperwork. It always seems like manna from heaven. "WooHoo Honey! Look! Some company I never heard of just sent me a check for $20!" And it then gives SWMBO something else to laugh at me about. A win-win situation!

Chuck

MossRoad · Jan 23, 2009

For anyone that says sending in a rebate isn't worth it, all I have to say is taking 5-10 minutes to get $5.00 or more back puts you in the $30-$60 dollar an hour labor range at the minimum. It's a shame that that kind of money is trivial to you.

Personally, I don't like rebates. I wish the store would just give me the discounted price at the time of purchase. But if I can get a product for less money by simply filling out a card, cutting off a UPC, stapling three pieces of paper together and sticking it in an envelope, I'll do it.

thatguy · Jan 23, 2009

At least your first rebate check didnt bounce...

I bought a Bushnell range finder with a $50 rebate - mailed everything in got my check.. Cashed check.. Read online that rebate company had gone bankrupt... HMMMM, thought to self at least I got my check.. Notice from bank $50 check bounced.. Check bushnell website and they were sending out new checks.. Got new check and it didnt bounce..

I still got charged $10 by the bank but didnt feel like fighting bushnell over it..

I dont understand how the company went bankrupt.. to me it seems like you process the rebate, send notice to mfg of how many and much rebates were being paid, mfg sends you a check for the rebates + your fee..

Brian

mjarrels · Jan 23, 2009

Maybe not a rebate thing... but I once bought a 7MM rifle using overseas, military discount while aboard the USS Enterprise... On CAG-11 staff, yep, we had a CAG gunner who set the deal up... got the firearm while pier side in Subic Bay Philippines, Gun went thru Manila postal system (still can't figure how it wasn't stolen)... You would have think that 7MM was a nuke when it arrived onboard! I notified the OOD and had two GM's escort me to the armery. Probably not a 7MM round for 8 thousand miles! I still have the box and the gun...

mark