Ladybug Mom Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 Personally I hate them! Only because I can't use them living in Canada! We even have a PO Box in the US but they won't even mail them to those! So what does everyone else think do you like getting those cheques in the mail after Christmas, or would you rather the stores just give you the bargain upfront? Cara
freesia39 Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 i love them as long as i get them. there was one i didn't get last year, but it was a soyo rebate... so who knows.
MarkRaby Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 I think everyone would just rather have the discounts up front. However, I still like mail-in rebates, because usually you get a bigger discount that way than you would with an instant rebate for the same product (just look at free after rebate stuff, for example). -Mark-
RossMAN Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 It depends on who the rebate clearing house is. CostCo, Microsoft and other rebates are awesome taking only 4 weeks.
amez74 Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 hate them--I would rather have the discount up front. I'm the person who forgets to mail the rebate in--which is probably what the companies are hoping for!
Rebirth Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 i love them as long as i get them. there was one i didn't get last year, but it was a soyo rebate... so who knows.You're not the only one who didn't get the SOYO rebate. Alot of filed a complaint against SOYO. Avoid them as much as possible. As for rebates, I don't mind. I got them pretty fast year. Office Max took the longest. Ladybug Mom, they have Black Friday in Canada?? I thought you have Boxing Day and it's on different date than USA.
rockpzazz Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 I don't like them, I hate dealing with mailing in stuff. I usually don't but if its a big enough rebate, I might do it.
elena_398 Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 I absolutely hate them.Usually if a store has them, I don't shop there. Either give me the discount now or I shop elsewhere. Period. Some of us cann't wait 4-6 weeks for our money back
boudmel Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 It depends - I like them if they are upfront and you just fill out a form and send in your receipt but I hate them if you have to jump through hoops to get the discount.
jerseybarb Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 I absolutely hate them.Usually if a store has them, I don't shop there. Either give me the discount now or I shop elsewhere. Period. Some of us cann't wait 4-6 weeks for our money backI'm the same way, if you want to give me a discount, I want it upfront! Good thing others dont feel that way, my employer processes rebates for various companies:gd_opera:
Ladybug Mom Posted October 16, 2005 Author Posted October 16, 2005 Ladybug Mom, they have Black Friday in Canada?? I thought you have Boxing Day and it's on different date than USA.No BF in Canada, we make the trek to Maine every year! You're correct we do have Boxing Day it's Dec 26th, I always tell DH if he can't find me anything on sale to just wait for the Boxing Day sales. I NEVER EVER pay full price for anything!
outnumbered Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 I would much, MUCH rather get the discount at the time of purchase...but I'll take a rebate if it's that or pay full price with no rebate.
Guest DigDoug Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Rebates are better than no discount, but I'd rather not have to deal with it.
Guest Deals4Me Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 You're right, companies are counting on those to buy and forget rebates. THATS why I have a glovebox full of envelopes with stamps on, already return adressed, and a pen to fill out the form, unless its menards, or someone else's whom I cant get the rebates till I buy, like say its a form I found, the envelope is ALREADY labled and ready and waiting for the upc, reciept and whatever else!
Rebirth Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 No BF in Canada, we make the trek to Maine every year! You're correct we do have Boxing Day it's Dec 26th, I always tell DH if he can't find me anything on sale to just wait for the Boxing Day sales. I NEVER EVER pay full price for anything!Now you're a hardcore shopper.
mrn8 Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Staples has the best way of getting them done efficiently for the customer, so if they have a rebate, I'm confident in them. The only thing I don't like about them is when I forget to send them in.
Dust N Bones Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Another reason I hate them is that you pay the sales tax on the full price before rebates. For lower priced items it may not be a big deal but if it's a $1000 computer for example with $500 in rebates you pay tax on the $1000. In NY that would be an extra $40.
freesia39 Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 You're right, companies are counting on those to buy and forget rebates. THATS why I have a glovebox full of envelopes with stamps on, already return adressed, and a pen to fill out the form, unless its menards, or someone else's whom I cant get the rebates till I buy, like say its a form I found, the envelope is ALREADY labled and ready and waiting for the upc, reciept and whatever else!make sure you make photocopies of everything you submit. when i do my rebates, i even photocopy the envelope (postage by a postage meter so it stamps the date on there) so they can't even argue that i didn't make the postmark date. plus it verifies i sent it to the correct address.
znasouri Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Hate em, nuff said. I never buy anything w/ mail-in-rebates, takes away from the whole saving "MONEY" concept in my head... maybe im just too impatient, eehhh..
maccawolf Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 I agree that if the rebate were an instant discount instead, it wouldn't be as good. Yes, the companies plan on MOST people either forgetting to send them in or doing them wrong, so the rebate can be rejected, and the company won't have to pay. Also, the stores sometimes use those products as lost leaders, hoping that WHILE YOU'RE IN THE STORE, you will pick up other stuff that they make a decent profit on. I love FAR stuff. I have only once gotten denied that I couldn't re-submit. (two rebates for the same thing with different addresses, but I got snagged and only got one of them.) I've gotten so much really good stuff with rebates. I just have trained myself to be really diligent about them. You will frequently find me in the afternoon of BF filling out rebate forms and envelopes. I also stock up on stamps the week before so I don't run out of them and then forget. (although now that the P.O. is open til 7PM, I can even run out in the evening to get more.)
ghort Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 I wish I didn't have to deal with them, but I will take them if they get me a better deal. I always have had luck with all the Best Buy ones.
abram87 Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I really don't like mail in reabtes because they end up being such a hassle, why won't they just give me the savings up front? sigh
HBKitmitto Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I love rebates!!! All rebate checks go into my own bank account for whatever use i want. It's like free money to me. They're even better when it's something I have to buy anyway.
elena_398 Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 Rite Aid is a drug store that never gives you the up front sale. Its always rebates. It drives me nuts.
Booterbunz Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I hate them! LOL I only get about half of the checks. So, I usually won't buy something that has a rebate unless I wanted the item bad enough! LOL
provresgrp Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I'll pay a little more for a discounted item before I go for the rebated items. If the difference is worth it, I'll go ahead and get the rebated one.
orangedaisy Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I don't mind them, don't particularly look for them or avoid them, but I don't think I'd be enticed by one during the BF shopping frenzy. I want my discounts on the spot in that case.
meteorologist1 Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 I hate them. In fact, beginning this year, I will try to stop myself from buying products that require mail-in rebates. Last year the rebates for two items which I bought at Office Max never came. That means I ended up paying the full price!
Guest Deals4Me Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 make sure you make photocopies of everything you submit. when i do my rebates, i even photocopy the envelope (postage by a postage meter so it stamps the date on there) so they can't even argue that i didn't make the postmark date. plus it verifies i sent it to the correct address. Good point, I use my fax machine for that purpose! And the best part of the fax machine? I got it free when someone threw it out!
f1rstclass Posted October 18, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 For me, if it isn't an INSTANT rebate meaning I get the savings on the spot, then I will usually not buy that product and look for it elsewhere where I may get the deal or better one. To get a rebate in the mail 12 weeks later is crazy. It doesn't take them 12 weeks to take it off of my credit card so why should I wait 12 weeks for them to send me a check back...that is so crazy sometimes mail in rebates are more trouble than what they are worth...just my $0.02 worth.
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