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pomme de terre
from obscure body in the SK System on 2005-03-15 17:14 [#01534510]
Points: 11941 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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Let's discuss mail in rebates. Any messages NOT related to this particular topic will be lolled at by me.
[_] I love mail-in rebates, they really influence my purchaces.
[_] I use mail-in rebates when I can, but I believe the whole process needs to be simplified.
[_] I hate mail-in rebates, what is the point?
[_] What is a mail-in rebate, woofie?
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virginpusher
from County Clare on 2005-03-15 17:58 [#01534611]
Points: 27325 Status: Lurker
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[x] I use mail-in rebates when I can, but I believe the whole process needs to be simplified.
I have used them in the past but the times i have used them have been very few and far between. I mean why not just knock off the extra bucks at the register and save me the trouble.
I am more prone to love your company that way.
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horsefactory
from 💠 (United Kingdom) on 2005-03-15 18:01 [#01534620]
Points: 14867 Status: Regular
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SURPRISE BAT ATTACK
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qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-03-15 18:02 [#01534621]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator
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[X] What is a mail-in rebate, woofie?
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qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-03-15 18:03 [#01534623]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to horsefactory: #01534620
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I'm sorry, chihiro has sucked my "zaniness reservoir" completely empty, the little vampire.
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ambsace
from canaDUH. on 2005-03-15 18:03 [#01534624]
Points: 6326 Status: Lurker
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i work for a money-grubbing evil empire bent on world dominatin via mail-in rebates. i feel filthy just walking up to our doors.
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redrum
from the allman brothers band (Ireland) on 2005-03-15 18:06 [#01534627]
Points: 12878 Status: Addict
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what's a mail-in rebate?
a rebate is like a refund of money isn't it?
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pomme de terre
from obscure body in the SK System on 2005-03-15 18:18 [#01534644]
Points: 11941 Status: Moderator | Followup to redrum: #01534627 | Show recordbag
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A product can be sold from a certain amount, with the offer of a mail-in rebate to get some money back in the form of a check from the company.
I just bought a router for 80 dollars, but there is a mail-in rebate offer for 20 dollars. So, I have to fill out forms, include a copy of the receipt and clip the bar code off the box and mail it all in. Then, in 7 to 39 weeks, I get a check for 20 dollars in the mail.
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qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-03-15 18:23 [#01534652]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to pomme de terre: #01534644
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so the retail-price really is only 60 dollars, but they stick on that 20 bucks to make it look as if you're actually saving some money, if you bother to do the whole administration.
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ambsace
from canaDUH. on 2005-03-15 18:28 [#01534659]
Points: 6326 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01534652
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and if they bother to ever send you your check. i got screwed when i built my computer a little over a year ago. my $150 never came.
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thecurbcreeper
from United States on 2005-03-15 18:44 [#01534671]
Points: 6045 Status: Lurker
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[_] I love mail-in rebates, they really influence my purchaces.
[_] I use mail-in rebates when I can, but I believe the whole process needs to be simplified.
[x] I hate mail-in rebates, what is the point?
[_] What is a mail-in rebate, woofie?
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pomme de terre
from obscure body in the SK System on 2005-03-15 18:45 [#01534674]
Points: 11941 Status: Moderator | Followup to ambsace: #01534659 | Show recordbag
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yes, there is a 50% chance your rebate never comes.
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evolume
from seattle (United States) on 2005-03-15 18:49 [#01534677]
Points: 10965 Status: Regular
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the corporations love rebates for 3 reasons: 1 they can advertise a lower price. 2 most people do not mail in the rebate 3 they collect the money up front, then while the rebate is processing, they are collecting interest on the difference.
in all cases, the consumer is being taken advantage. but i still like mailing in rebates. i especially like when the check arrives 8 weeks later and i had totally forgot about it and it's like, $100 or something and i use it to buy drugs!
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thecurbcreeper
from United States on 2005-03-15 18:51 [#01534680]
Points: 6045 Status: Lurker | Followup to evolume: #01534677
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let's not forget the business now has confirmed customer information.
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qrter
from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-03-15 18:53 [#01534682]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to thecurbcreeper: #01534680
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bonus!!
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evolume
from seattle (United States) on 2005-03-15 18:53 [#01534684]
Points: 10965 Status: Regular
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gift cards also work in the corporations advantage is a similar way.
1 you buy a gift card. the company puts your money in the bank and begins collecting interest and reporting profits immediately.
2 you give the gift card to your buddy. he carries it around in his wallet and perhaps forgets he even has it. the company continues to collect interest
3 your buddy remember he has the gift card. he takes it to the store and usually buys something for more than the gift card was worth. the store now recieves even more money than the gift was originally worth.
4 your buddy forgets to mail in the rebate. the company now collects even more money after tricking your buddy into thinking he was getting a good deal on that new sewing machine!
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evolume
from seattle (United States) on 2005-03-15 18:54 [#01534685]
Points: 10965 Status: Regular | Followup to thecurbcreeper: #01534680
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ah HA!
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r40f
from qrters tea party on 2005-03-15 21:02 [#01534760]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular
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[x] I think mail-in rebates are ok, they sometimes influence my purchases.
[x] John D. Rockefeller built an empire on them.
[x] I hate big corporations and steer clear as much as possible, but sometimes there's no avoiding them and their foul tentacles that are wresting my cash from me, so what is the point?
[x] Check here if you like Moesha.
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steve
from chicago on 2005-03-15 21:48 [#01534777]
Points: 1156 Status: Lurker
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i purposely avoid buying items that give you a mail-in rebate [x] i hate mail-in rebates. however, i did buy a router and adapter recently and when checking out, the best buy clerk told me i have fifty dollars in rebates due me. i still havent mailed them in and i might not. i will feel like a sucker either way. i might go ahead and mail the shit in so at least ill be a sucker with a fifty dollar check.
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mimi
on 2005-03-16 15:29 [#01535402]
Points: 5721 Status: Regular
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[x] Check here if you like Moesha.
I just got a postcard from Canon regarding my $100 mail-in rebate for my camera that I bought about two months ago. They said that they couldn't process my rebate because my UPC was invalid (WTF it was cut out from the box) and I didn't include the body/lense number (another WTF it was on the copy of the warranty card I sent in). So....moral of the story is that you get fucked. I'm getting my money if I have to drive out to Arizona and hunt down the people who own PO Box 4046 and kill them.
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xf
from Australia on 2005-03-16 20:52 [#01535775]
Points: 2952 Status: Lurker
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you realise the statistics on mail-in rebates are something like only 10-20% actually do it, maybe less?
there's a reason why they're offered instead of making the initial product cheaper.
there's a scheme here in australia called "cashback" or something; companies sign up to offer their customers the service. what happens is the service costs you (the company) $50 or $100 or something per customer you offer it to, and then you offer the customer the $1000 back in 18 months if they buy your service. if they go for this, you give them a coupon, and they need to send it in at exactly 18 months to this cashback company to get their money (or something along those lines).
the service is supposedly completely legit, but the reality is most people end up either losing or misplacing the form, can't find it when they need it, forget about it completely, etc - i think the figures were something like only 3% actually sent the coupon back.
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