“After rebate.”
I’ve written about this before, but over the past week I was reviewing some receipts for technology purchases over the past year and realized that I no longer make any purchase decisions based on “after rebate” prices. Even if you follow all the rules, you could still wind up getting screwed out of a rebate you deserve. It’s happened to me more than once, and I’ve read countless horror stories about other people who were denied a promised rebate or whose check simply never arrived.
The hassle of filling in rebate forms and then tracking their progress isn’t worth it to me, so I don’t bother anymore.
So these days, when I’m in the market for just about anything, I ignore any deal that contains the words “after rebate.” Life’s too short.
Ed Bott 
While I agree that rebates are often more of a hassle than they’re worth, I would like to except Costco. Costco lets you file for the rebate online and it arrives within two weeks. They match your information against their own electronic copy of the cash register receipt. No paperwork whatsoever — except the check.
I can also attest that rebates stink…But the good news is…Best Buy will be out of the rebate business next year!!
I have had positive experiences with rebates, especially through Staples Business Depot (up here in Canada). Some of their rebates can be submitted electronically. Where this is not possible, the cash register automatically prints the rebate form and a copy of the receipt. It is easy to check the status of the rebate online.
Keep in mind Ed that it is unlikely that you will hear positive things about anything – um, your post comes to mind 😉 Most people do not submit glowing stories about their rebate experiences. But I do agree with you on ignoring the rebate aspect of a purchase. I consider receiving the rebate a bonus.
Shameless plug: I run a website that helps a bit with the problem: http://www.Rebate-Tracker.com. You can enter in your rebate details and it will send you an email when the rebate is due. The community is leveraged to save on typing (if someone else has already entered in the rebate details, you wont have to)
Ed,
I agree with your post. Rebates suck and I avoid them like the plague. Tack on a little more to the price and forgo the rebate and you’ve got my attention (typically some online shops carry what I need at a little more than rebate price and I usually end up saving some on tax dollars depending on which online retailer you use).
In the end, its all relative.
Chuck
I seem to remember reading an article that stated some companies intentionally make it hard to get the rebates they promise, counting on a certain percentage to lose the documentation, the receipt, or both, or just never quite get around to filling out the form and send it all in by the deadline.
I never like to say never, but it’ll take an awful lot to get me to buy with a standard rebate again. And that despite never losing a penny that was promised. I upgraded hardware in my Dell last Christmas (DVD burner; 2nd hard drive; FireWire card/cable) and each purchase included a rebate, which I dutifully mailed ASAP. The last check only arrived in July. Doesn’t leave me with a totally positive impression.
My pet peeve on this subject is the multiple rebates, requiring multiple mail-ins. I consider “A.R.” advertising as a ploy to publish deceptively low prices for products. If I’m contemplating a specific purchase, anyway (who isn’t?), I will probably respond; otherwise, they are too much trouble.
I almost never turn in for rebates. Last one I did was years ago for MS Street’s and Trips software deal. They sent the check in about two weeks. I was amazed.
On the other hand, when my Gateway 17″ monitor went out, I snagged a replacement CRT from Office Depot for about $150 at the time. A month later when I was reconcilling my checkbook and checking the receipts, I noticed on the receipt was printed a $70 rebate for that monitor. The clerk/store never told me. I was momentarily bummed, but then, I had obviously bought the monitor for the need not even knowning about the rebate.
Anybody else run into “stealth” rebates after the fact?
My experience with rebates has been mostly positive but I avoid ones that require multiple submissions (store & manufacturer etc.).
Staples Easy Rebates are great–fast response and no paperwork, just an entry on a website form and I’ve gotten the check for every one I’ve submitted within 2 weeks.
There are still ones like this though: I received an email this morning from a large web retailer who shall remain nameless, offering me enough rebates for a well known antivirus program so that the program would be free after rebates and of course the $0.00 was prominent in the ad. It also touted the fact that there was free standard shipping–there was just one little hitch–the rebate offer expires tomorow! I passed on that one.
i also will not do any more “after rebate” buying.
i did lots of them on black friday and am sure there will be many more this coming black friday.
i will try not to buy any more of those. the wait is too long, sometimes one loses out on the rebates, for any of the reasons. one waits too long to mail it in, or one forgets to cash the rebate..not worth the hassle.
i for one will not buy any more ” after rebate” products.
but i know there are too many suckers who will buy.
I enjoy getting my rebates. I only buy what I intended to buy and then send in the rebate forms immediately. No problems so far. To date I have received over $2000 in rebates this way.
Frank (above) mentioned a rebate that he passed on because the offer expired the next day. Silly boy… the offer generally only applies to the purchase by date. I have done many of those and still had in some cases a month or more to send it the rebate forms. Just make sure what the mail in by date is before you buy.
I think rebates are cool for stuff you need.