Rebates Bite

Rebates Bite

You walk into a retail store with the intention of purchasing a desktop computer. You have compared shopped aplenty and are now ready to make a final decision. You are taken back now that you are noticing that a mail-in rebate is part of the equation for each of the computers you are interested in. Disappointed, you still decide to buy a computer from the retailer. A few weeks later, you receive a letter in the mail from the rebate center stating untrue and bogus information. You sent in copies of everything asked, UPC code and sent the information in a timely manner, but somehow there was not enough information given to the rebate center. In a frenzy, you make the round of necessary phone calls, remain on hold for the typical, hideous wait time, speak with numerous customer representatives, and unfortunately come to an unsatisfied halt. After much effort, you find out there is not any way to receive the rebate check. Instantly, you hold a grudge towards any and all rebates. The most common rebate offered would be the mail-in; this begins my explanations, statistics, and reasoning of why I am against rebates.

Why should a person have to initially pay out of their own pocket of their hard earned money to eventually receive it back much later on? The general concept of rebates, especially mail-in rebates are ridiculous. Then, to retrieve the money back, the customer has to put in effort and time to earn back the money they once had!

To define rebate in general would be a generalized amount that is offered by a retailer and / or manufacturer that may be paid to the consumer separately or to be credited to a lease agreement. Notice the key word “may.” This is not what a consumer wants to see, but in truth, may truly applies in any situation. A mail-in rebate is redeemed through the mail whereas an online-rebate through the internet and in-store rebate simply means instant savings from the retailer the moment the item is purchased.

While rebates seem intriguing, the customers who have had unfortunate experiences before will not hesitate to look somewhere else. In the spirit of “may”, the consumer may automatically associate rebate with scam. These advertising and marketing techniques might only work for new buyers or with consumers of relatively good luck. On the other hand, because of mail-in