My rant on rebates!

GraphyFotoz

Personally I think they are a buncha bull!
Why can't they just give you X # $$ off the product rather than have you jump threw hoops??
Manufacture gives the store the refund for item so they can pass the savings on to us Mr Joe Consumer.
Circuit City is infamous for this....X item $60....instant savings $10 + Mail in Rebate $40 your final price $10.
Fill out this and send in that...I think is just a ploy to get your info so they can send ya buncha crap in the mail/email...to TRY to get you to buy something else you don't want.
Not only that....MANY places sell this info to "spam companies" and make mega bux doing it.
Come on when was the last time someone sent ya junk mail on a product and you actually bought it?
If your like me....NEVER.

Your thoughts on this?

I'm off my :soapbox now!

frankiejr

I think maybe part of it is also that companies know that the large majority of people that buy with the "after rebate" price in mind are busy, forgetful, or just plain lazy. I could be wrong, though.

I know I'm guilty of it. I've bought so many things over the years thinking "Whoa! Big rebate!" and then the lazy frankie syndrome kicks in. Oops.

That reminds me... I have a Canon rebate to send in...

.frankiejr

Mike Lane

GraphyFotoz wrote:

Personally I think they are a buncha bull!
Why can't they just give you X # $$ off the product rather than have you jump threw hoops??
Manufacture gives the store the refund for item so they can pass the savings on to us Mr Joe Consumer.
Circuit City is infamous for this....X item $60....instant savings $10 + Mail in Rebate $40 your final price $10.
Fill out this and send in that...I think is just a ploy to get your info so they can send ya buncha crap in the mail/email...to TRY to get you to buy something else you don't want.
Not only that....MANY places sell this info to "spam companies" and make mega bux doing it.
Come on when was the last time someone sent ya junk mail on a product and you actually bought it?
If your like me....NEVER.

Your thoughts on this?

I'm off my :soapbox now!

It's really simple. I read that 80% of people never fill out mail in rebates. So as a store you can offer a great sounding deal without as much risk.

Think of it this way. You're getting a great deal because of all the other lazy suckers who can't find the time or energy to lick a stamp.

And they even make self adhesive stamps these days!!!!!

Harryb

GraphyFotoz wrote:

Personally I think they are a buncha bull!
Why can't they just give you X # $$ off the product rather than have you jump threw hoops??
Manufacture gives the store the refund for item so they can pass the savings on to us Mr Joe Consumer.
Circuit City is infamous for this....X item $60....instant savings $10 + Mail in Rebate $40 your final price $10.
Fill out this and send in that...I think is just a ploy to get your info so they can send ya buncha crap in the mail/email...to TRY to get you to buy something else you don't want.
Not only that....MANY places sell this info to "spam companies" and make mega bux doing it.
Come on when was the last time someone sent ya junk mail on a product and you actually bought it?
If your like me....NEVER.

Your thoughts on this?

I'm off my :soapbox now!

My thoughts on rebates - Love em I get a reduced price for a bit of effort because others don't take advantage of them. Love those rebates. I get regular offers from CC and some of them are quite good and if I need or want the product I take advantage of them. If you want to get annoyed at something I would recommend squirrels the spawn of the anti-christ.

Junk mail - no sweat, it goes in the garbage unopened or gets deleted unread if sent by e-mail

rdegro

I agree with most of what is writen above, but.... I've gotten some great deals too. I like the ones where (less the tax you,ve paid and the postage) you either get the item free or you make something. Most of my anti virus software has always been this way. I do send in the rebate stuff and make copies of everything including the packaage after I've cut out the POP, once in a while you have to remind them that you have complied with their requirements The instant rebate without sending in anything is the most convient for me. I don't take advantage of the rebate offers though if I don't need the product.

digismile

I used to work for a very large Canadian Retailer that has been using mail in rebates for the last several years.

It's simply a numbers game. The desire is to have a "sale" price that is desirable enough to drive up demand, but not so wild that you wouldn't risk missing out on receiving the rebate. The marketing dept. would track each and every rebate program. Redemption could be as low as 5-10% on low dollar amounts and as high as 125% on big ticket promos (yes 125%. Often people that bought the item before or after a item was on sale will come back and demand the rebate.)

Most large corporations will use a 3rd party company to manage the rebates, so their cost also has to be factored in.

In the end, it can be a big money maker for a company. Add 1% to the bottom line on a $1B in sales and you add another $10M.

Although I would prefer a straight cash discount to a rebate, I'm like Harry. All I do is fill out the rebate before I open my new toy and my job is done. And I have never had a problem with a lost rebate.

marlinspike

Granted Circuit City does this the most, but they also are among the best at actually redeeming your rebates.

GREAPER

Harryb wrote:

If you want to get annoyed at something I would recommend squirrels the spawn of the anti-christ.

marlinspike

Harryb wrote:

If you want to get annoyed at something I would recommend squirrels the spawn of the anti-christ.

How could someone not like squirrels? Did you not like them even when you were a child? In my book they're right up there with chipmunks in the awesome everyday animal list.