Mail in rebates- Am I the only one to get ripped off by them?

[Mike N]

So I generally don't buy products with mail in rebates, my past experiences are they send you a letter back well after the promotional period ends stating that because you didn't submit the required items, you're out of luck.

Well, recently I purchased a set of brake pads that had a $20 mail in rebate. This was not my choice to buy these particular pads, it just so happened this was the only set I could find that came with the much needed hardware. So I filled out the paperwork, dotted my I's and crossed my T's, and sent it all in, with the original sales receipt, upc tags from the box, mother's maiden name, etc....... I copied all the forms for my own records, and wouldn't you know it today I get the you're out of luck letter in the mail. Seems I "forgot" something so they're unable to process my rebate. A quick phone call to the 1 800 number at the bottom of the letter gets me some clueless idiot to tell me the promotion ended Dec 1st, 2010. I tell them no kidding, but it took you over two months from the time I sent it in to tell me that I'm SOL?

I'm firmly convinced that most companies bank on no one ever trying to obtain their rebate, and for the unfortunate that try they probably have a list of BS reasons to give people as they deny the rebate. From this day forward I will never purchase another product that has a mail in rebate of any sort. If you want me to buy the product, give me the $ off right at the register.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Mike N

If you want me to buy the product, give me the $ off right at the register.

Thats how it should be done.

I also avoid mail-in rebates. Since you have copies of what was asked of you, and what you submitted, you should be able to talk to someone to get your $20.

The only mail-in rebate I've gone for was a phone from Verizon. I did actually get my $50 mail-in rebate card, only it was a debit card thing, but it still worked.

[MX21]

Originally Posted by Mike N

So I generally don't buy products with mail in rebates, my past experiences are they send you a letter back well after the promotional period ends stating that because you didn't submit the required items, you're out of luck.

Well, recently I purchased a set of brake pads that had a $20 mail in rebate. This was not my choice to buy these particular pads, it just so happened this was the only set I could find that came with the much needed hardware. So I filled out the paperwork, dotted my I's and crossed my T's, and sent it all in, with the original sales receipt, upc tags from the box, mother's maiden name, etc....... I copied all the forms for my own records, and wouldn't you know it today I get the you're out of luck letter in the mail. Seems I "forgot" something so they're unable to process my rebate. A quick phone call to the 1 800 number at the bottom of the letter gets me some clueless idiot to tell me the promotion ended Dec 1st, 2010. I tell them no kidding, but it took you over two months from the time I sent it in to tell me that I'm SOL?

I'm firmly convinced that most companies bank on no one ever trying to obtain their rebate, and for the unfortunate that try they probably have a list of BS reasons to give people as they deny the rebate. From this day forward I will never purchase another product that has a mail in rebate of any sort. If you want me to buy the product, give me the $ off right at the register.

I've had that happen, but kept photocopies of everything. After talking on the phone, I sent another copy and ended up getting the rebate.

I think the rebate thing has gotten better in the last few years.

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

I have never once received a rebate for something I've bought, despite following their instructions.

[Jonyak]

its a scam.

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Since you have copies of what was asked of you, and what you submitted, you should be able to talk to someone to get your $20.

I tried that, and was actually pretty pleasant at the start of the phone call. I was repeatedly told that I didn't send the required forms to receive the rebate, and even if I re-submitted the "correct" forms it was past the deadline. So no matter what, I'm out of luck. They probably looked at my receipt and saw I paid wholesale price for the pads and were pissed I wanted another $20 off the overall price.

By the end of the phone call, pleasant flew right out the window. I did make it known to the person I spoke with that I wasn't upset with them, I was pissed at the corporation and the bs process you need to go through for a $20 rebate.

[steamthief]

I've submitted rebates for the better part of two decades, and have never experienced having the company not follow through on what was promised.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Thats how it should be done.

I also avoid mail-in rebates. Since you have copies of what was asked of you, and what you submitted, you should be able to talk to someone to get your $20.

The only mail-in rebate I've gone for was a phone from Verizon. I did actually get my $50 mail-in rebate card, only it was a debit card thing, but it still worked.

don't get me started on the rebate debit card crap, you can't spend more than whats on the card, so that last dollar or so is left on there. multiply that by that thousands or more people who also never spend that last dollar. wonder where all those dollars and cents get to?

i bought a bunch of bazooka joe gum at 5 cents per piece, so i got my card down to $.03

[mmbongo]

I've had good luck with them, mostly from computer parts. Takes forever though.

[DigMe]

I am not tempted to buy products because of rebates but when I have purchased products that happen to have one I have always received the rebate.

One of my pet peeves though has become the issuing of the rebate in the form of Visa gift cards instead of a check.

bc

[Ziltoid]

[MX21]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

don't get me started on the rebate debit card crap, you can't spend more than whats on the card, so that last dollar or so is left on there. multiply that by that thousands or more people who also never spend that last dollar. wonder where all those dollars and cents get to?

i bought a bunch of bazooka joe gum at 5 cents per piece, so i got my card down to $.03

I just use them when I buy something for more than the value of the card. Most merchants will apply the card then let you pay for the rest with another payment method.

[elgecko]

I've never been stiffed on a rebate.

I figure the companies are banking on people being too lazy to submit the rebate forms.

[Joe Nerve]

I'm with the guys that never had a problem. I've sent in lots of rebates, and always got what I was supposed to.

Yet I do agree that the companies bank on people not meeting the requirements. I don't think it's a scam, I think it's a complicated bargain that allows the companites to offer bigger savings for those who follow directions well. I'd bet less than half go through the rebate process, and only about half of them do it right. I always go over everything with a magnifying glass, make sure I have copies of it all, and depending on the size/value of the rebate sometimes send it registered mail. I once got a $300 M Audio recorder, for ordering $150 monitors.

To the OP, you didn't mention what they said you left out (or I missed it). I'm gonna guess they got you with a minor detail that hoped you'd overlook, and you did.

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by elgecko

I figure the companies are banking on people being too lazy to submit the rebate forms.

I remember talking with one of the marketing guys at a PC parts manufacturer, and he claimed that they base all their calculations on an estimate that only 40% of people will send in a rebate form. Which, looked at from the other end, means that rebates allow you to get 2.5x as much of a discount compared to what they would give if it just was taken off at the register.

I've never had trouble with them myself except for one time when I actually had left out one of the required items. But, yes, keep photocopies of everything.

[MakiSupaStar]

I wouldn't mind if they replaced to rebates with mail-in brides.

[MIJ-VI]

Profile of a mail-in rebate: XY time to reclaim Y amount of $.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Mike N

I'm firmly convinced that most companies bank on no one ever trying to obtain their rebate, and for the unfortunate that try they probably have a list of BS reasons to give people as they deny the rebate. From this day forward I will never purchase another product that has a mail in rebate of any sort. If you want me to buy the product, give me the $ off right at the register.

I've mailed in rebates on two occasions. One through Castrol by way of an oil change, and the other one through Sprint after the wife and I bought phones.

Both were successful with minimal effort.

That said I'm inclined to agree with the quoted paragraph. Phones aside,...if I see an advertised sale price on an item that has a mail in rebate I pretty much prepare myself to pay full price for that item.

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

To the OP, you didn't mention what they said you left out (or I missed it). I'm gonna guess they got you with a minor detail that hoped you'd overlook, and you did.

Joe, they didn't specify what I left out. The letter sent to me merely stated that I didn't submit all the required items. Lets see, I submitted the completed rebate form, original sales receipt and the upc code from the box. No idea what I could have possibly missed, and the person on the phone told me it didn't matter what was missed since it was past the deadline for me to re-submit anyway.

[baba]

I never got my free Reservoir Dogs DVD when I bought my DVD player. Bastards.