Rebates are a bad joke

[Davej]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

 

[John Doe]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB
thumbdrives I had bought from NewEgg a few months ago.
Apparently the rebate was only good for a limit of one unit,
even though that was not clearly stated on the rebate form, so
they sent me a postcard saying that my rebate request was
invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this means because
it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

The clerk should be promoted for that one.

I recently purchased another Oral-B electric toothbrush. Noticed
it came with the rebate, so I mailed for it. The price ended up
being $17 for the (model 1000) toothbrush and two replacement
brush heads. It's a great toothbrush. However... I did not even
know that it included a rebate until after buying it. One of their
motivations for fulfilling the rebate might be because they make
most of their money off of their expensive replacement brush
heads. They want you to be satisfied with the toothbrush while
they are selling brush heads to you.

As far as I can guess, the only reason for a mail-in rebate is for
demographics and because they don't want you to return the product.
Until someone comes up with a better motive, I will continue
avoiding mail-in rebates like the plague.

 

[Flasherly]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

Got a cute one from Amazon. Everybody is selling ASUS soundboards,
one of the best spec'd addon boards out there, and ASUS is running hot
rebates. So it's a $50 board marked to $30 with a special $10
incentive sale along with the $10 company rebate. $10 being the
bottom line. So what's Amazon do -- they delay shipment from their
unknown, unpublished supplier of ASUS boards to within a day or two
"expected" delivery time, prior to the stipulated date on the rebate
form when it becomes invalid and worthless. Didn't know Amazon could
be that cute, too.

 

[Flasherly]

Got a cute one from Amazon.

(just got an update - my bad, amazon's good: . . .)

We have good news! We're able to get this part of your order to you
faster than we originally promised:

"ASUS PCI 5.1 Channel Sound Card XONAR_DG"
Previous estimated arrival date:
New estimated arrival date: (2wks under rebate cut-off date)

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

Always assume rebates are limit 1 unless it indicates otherwise.

Look at the fine print on the rebate form (you kept a scan of it,
didn't you?) and you'll no doubt find verbage to that effect.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

As far as I can guess, the only reason for a mail-in rebate is for
demographics and because they don't want you to return the product.
Until someone comes up with a better motive, I will continue
avoiding mail-in rebates like the plague.

They make the rebates to have lots of breakage.

I also find that you'll often find the rebate on the old verison of a
product soon before a new version comes out.

I do a fair number of rebates, so long as I don't screw up they're
basically 100%.

 

[John Doe]

Always assume rebates are limit 1 unless it indicates otherwise.

That's irrelevant.

Look at the fine print on the rebate form (you kept a scan of
it, didn't you?) and you'll no doubt find verbage to that
effect.

You need to get a clue. He was denied a single rebate because he
sent two requests with two proofs of purchase.
--

Path: border6.newsrouter.astraweb.com!news.astraweb.com!border5.newsrouter.astraweb.com!not-for-mail
From: Loren Pechtel <lorenpechtel hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Subject: Re: Rebates are a bad joke
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:47:54 -0700
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[Michael Black]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

I thought rebates had mostly disappeared.

Everyone was whining about them some years back, all the fuss they
required and "why can't they just apply a discount across the board",
never grasping the point of it all. Endless debates, one side arguing how
much trouble they are (usually because they had trouble) while the other
side arguing how much they liked rebates and how much they saved with
rebates (usually because they had no trouble).

And then some of the stores announced they'd drop the rebates, and slowly
they disappeared.

They've pretty much disappeared here in Canada. I suppose they still
exist (after all, rebates were around for a long time, just in a more
complicated and less obvious form), but they aren't the issue they once
were since they aren't common. Nobody much is complaining, nobody much is
boasting about the great deals.

The rebates counted on only some making the effort. If it had been across
the board, it wouldn't have been worth it to the companies. They
didn't want to give away products, they wanted more people to be buying
their products, and thus the enticement of deep savings was seen as
good, so long as the effort for the rebate meant not that many went for
the rebate.

Every so often, people whine now, wishing there were rebates, forgetting
all the fuss made in the past, despite people warning at the time that if
rebates went away, the really low prices would disappear. It was never a
matter of the rebates going away and the prices dropping.

Michael

 

[John Doe]

I thought rebates had mostly disappeared.

Everyone was whining about them some years back, all the fuss
they required and "why can't they just apply a discount across
the board", never grasping the point of it all. Endless
debates, one side arguing how much trouble they are (usually
because they had trouble) while the other side arguing how much
they liked rebates and how much they saved with rebates (usually
because they had no trouble).

And then some of the stores announced they'd drop the rebates,
and slowly they disappeared.

They've pretty much disappeared here in Canada. I suppose they
still exist (after all, rebates were around for a long time,
just in a more complicated and less obvious form), but they
aren't the issue they once were since they aren't common.
Nobody much is complaining, nobody much is boasting about the
great deals.

The rebates counted on only some making the effort. If it had
been across the board, it wouldn't have been worth it to the
companies. They didn't want to give away products, they wanted
more people to be buying their products, and thus the enticement
of deep savings was seen as good, so long as the effort for the
rebate meant not that many went for the rebate.

That's called a "scam". If they have gone away (I certainly
haven't missed them), part of the reason could easily be legal
problems. Not that it matters.

Good luck and have fun.
--

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

I couldn't find any Patriot thumb drive rebate offers from a few
months ago at NewEgg, only some for Sept. 2011, and all the forms
said, starting on about the 4th line under "Rebate Terms and
Conditions":

" Limit ( One (1) rebate per qualifying rebate offer, per person,
billing address, household and receipt/invoice/packing slip during the
eligibility period, except were prohibited by law. Only one (1) rebate
application per envelope."

However rebate processors are known to alter forms after the fact or
have different forms on file than what the customer was given. I
experienced that with Parago (Texas, Florida), and they're considered
one of the best, most honest processing companies, so always keep a
copy of the original form. I hope you didn't have to deal with
another company, like the crappy one in San Diego, Worldwide Rebates,
which charges extra for "rush" processing. Also before submitting,
always e-mail AND phone the rebate company to verify all the terms,
and if it's legal in your state, record the phone conversation.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

They're irksome, but sometimes are worth the bother. In my experience nearly
all sellers (but not all) are honest with them too.

Keep records, though. I find that sometimes I have to contact them
about a rebate that doesn't show--since this has almost always
produced a rebate check within a week I think it's more than
coincidence.

 

[Flasherly]

However rebate processors are known to alter forms after the fact or
have different forms on file than what the customer was given. I
experienced that with Parago (Texas, Florida), and they're considered
one of the best, most honest processing companies, so always keep a
copy of the original form. I hope you didn't have to deal with
another company, like the crappy one in San Diego, Worldwide Rebates,
which charges extra for "rush" processing. Also before submitting,
always e-mail AND phone the rebate company to verify all the terms,
and if it's legal in your state, record the phone conversation.

I think they something of a crack down years ago. I'd filed
complaints where I could, kept copies and etc. About given up when I
got letters from a class action suit and missing rebates [in]directly
paid from the government, as a result of the law suit. There's one
now on Newegg going on, where the rebate is in the form of an American
Express card, approved and issued in the name of person filing for a
rebate, with a credit applied for the amount of the rebate on the
first charge usage. There's an ATI 5450 PCI-E video board they're
offering for $15 on $35. So, what I'm wondering, were I to call
American Express and ask, is it OK if I reserve usage on the American
Express card, to send out for a pre-approved charge once the ATI
purchase clears, on a local escort service for a $20 humjob, hm?

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I think they something of a crack down years ago. I'd filed
complaints where I could, kept copies and etc. About given up when I
got letters from a class action suit and missing rebates [in]directly
paid from the government, as a result of the law suit. There's one
now on Newegg going on, where the rebate is in the form of an American
Express card, approved and issued in the name of person filing for a
rebate, with a credit applied for the amount of the rebate on the
first charge usage. There's an ATI 5450 PCI-E video board they're
offering for $15 on $35. So, what I'm wondering, were I to call
American Express and ask, is it OK if I reserve usage on the American
Express card, to send out for a pre-approved charge once the ATI
purchase clears, on a local escort service for a $20 humjob, hm?

When it comes to professional services, you usually get what you pay
for, and for $20 you'll probably get hepatitis-C, HIV, bed bugs, lice,
fleas, syphillis, or gonorreha. Far better to pay cash for one of
those much classier Craig's List prostitutes.

 

[Mike Easter]

There is a wide range of structure that surrounds the rebate process
that I get involved with on computer pieces and parts.

Yep. I keep all the info on Excel worksheets -- when purchased, when rebate
stuff mailed in, when rebate received. That also lets me see at a glance and
a mouse stroke how much money I've gotten back. Over a year or so it can
really add up.

I agree that there needs to be a systematization of the process from the
beginning to the end. When it is orderly and well documented as if in
preparation for a failure, the problem of failed (or forgotten and
failed) rebate can be entirely avoided.

The rebate process for my purchases has evolved over the years. A
merchant like Fry's now provides a special 'extra' receipt for a rebate
related purchase. That receipt has link information to an online graphic
of the rebate form which contains all of the rebate's rules.

The online graphic (or .pdf) can be completed 'digitally' if the right
kind of software is used and then printed out. The other type of rebate
evolution is that some other online rebate forms are designed to be
completed online and submitted or printed from that online process and
the online process itself may be extended to a mechanism for checking on
the status of the rebate with a link.

Personally, when it comes to the physical form completion business, I
think it is an advantage to have a 'digitally completed' ie printed
mechanically completed rebate form because it sends a message to the
rebate redemption company that the rebate sender is well prepared for
any snags, as opposed to the manually - pen and ink - completed rebate
form which the rebate redeemer outfit might suspect has not been
photocopied in preparation for a 'lost' rebate submission.

The rebates typically require the original UPC attached to the completed
rebate form. I make a scancopy of that digitally completed and UPC
attached form in anticipation of the 'lost rebate submission' gambit.

 

[Flasherly]

When it comes to professional services, you usually get what you pay
for, and for $20 you'll probably get hepatitis-C, HIV, bed bugs, lice,
fleas, syphillis, or gonorreha. Far better to pay cash for one of
those much classier Craig's List prostitutes.

The topic is rebates are a bad joke, LMC. My modus operandi. So,
wasn't it a good bad joke or just a bad bad joke?

Damn, and I feel so fresh out of bad jokes today, but . . . I do know
one about Craig's List and local law enforcement. They busted the
hell out of it sometime slightly past last year. The particulars went
far beyond any of the above-mentioned, as extremes virtually at both
end of boundaries may define themselves. People were being hurt,
corporeally murdered after tawdry "setups" of similar ilk. Actually
wasn't an it, he's a man and the owner of Craig's List, and that is
who was called to bear the onus for that case.

Closest I've come to any of this stuff is realtime online chats over a
worldwide arena. Talked to one guy, seems a Walmart manager who
explained how he had met his last three wives online while chatting,
an eye opener, although I'd have characterize my defining moment as
one when I met a British woman who wished to come for a visit. That
was awhile ago, at least for me, although I've noticed online dating
continues to advance in leaps and bounds. Now the recommended
procedure is to set the date first through a live feed, through Skypes
and such. Happy, happy, smiley people for looking over one another,
how big respectively when the teeth are revealed.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

The rebates typically require the original UPC attached to the completed
rebate form. I make a scancopy of that digitally completed and UPC
attached form in anticipation of the 'lost rebate submission' gambit.

Yeah, I've taken to scanning copies of everything I submit. They're
much easier to keep track of than paper copies and they don't cost ink
to make.

 

[Davej]

Just got a card from Patriot Memory about a couple USB thumbdrives I
had bought from NewEgg a few months ago. Apparently the rebate was
only good for a limit of one unit, even though that was not clearly
stated on the rebate form, so they sent me a postcard saying that my
rebate request was invalid because it was a "duplicate" (I guess this
means because it mentioned two units and included two UPCs).

Oddly enough I received the rejection postcard several days before
this post, but now five days later I have received a rebate for one of
the two units and the rebate form did seem to have a stated limit of
one unit. Why send both a vague rejection postcard and a rebate
postcard?

 

[Nil]

Oddly enough I received the rejection postcard several days before
this post, but now five days later I have received a rebate for
one of the two units and the rebate form did seem to have a stated
limit of one unit. Why send both a vague rejection postcard and a
rebate postcard?

Makes sense to me. They rejected the duplicate and fullfilled the
allowed one.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Oddly enough I received the rejection postcard several days before
this post, but now five days later I have received a rebate for one of
the two units and the rebate form did seem to have a stated limit of
one unit. Why send both a vague rejection postcard and a rebate
postcard?

They rejected one and approved one.