Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates? - Gizmodo Comments

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

jennyfur — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:38:32 EDT

I buy stuff with rebates all the time. I'd prefer not to, but typically can't get as good a deal any other way. I don't see what the big deal is with sending them in either. It takes, what.. five minutes of effort? I mean geez, I'm a lazy bastard, but even I can handle that. I make copies of everything I send in, and keep up with the deadlines and when I should be getting my payment by. I call if I don't receive my check by the expected date. So far, in all the years I've sent in rebates, the only one I didn't receive payment from was when the company went out of business before I could get it.

jennyfur

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Cerixus — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:42:20 EDT

I pay other people to send mine in.

Cerixus

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

chillywilly — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:00:50 EDT

I really try to purchase products that don't require rebates. I've had my share of rebates I sent in that I never got (most from CompUSA).

Office Max is the best place to get stuff as they normally have a really good price and NO REBATES. Staples is a good place to go if you want to do a rebate, since all of their rebate processing takes place online and you get the rebate back in less than a month, which is an excellent track record.

chillywilly

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

-Core- — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:45:34 EDT

I don't like rebates. But I do send them in if I get enough of a break and don't have to jump through too many damn hoops.

Personally I would rather just buy a product without the rebate. Just give me a good deal from the get go, and good product quality. That will make a return customer out of me.

I guess its kind of Random, but I really like Newegg.

-Core-

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

LastAndLeast — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:19:18 EDT

I used to buy stuff with rebates...then I realized that I'm a lazy forgetful bastard. Now I don't buy stuff with rebates unless I'm willing to pay the full price.

LastAndLeast

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Barcard — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:50:58 EDT

Samsung took the longest - over 8 weeks for my rebate on an LCD monitor. The monitor is still good 3 years later.

I've noticed that Amazon will occasionally advertise mail in rebates on products - when you get the product and paperwork, the rebate deadline has expired.

Barcard

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

MeMikeYouNot — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:21:32 EDT

I try my best not to buy anything that requires a mail-in rebate. I'd like to smack the asshole who invented them.

MeMikeYouNot

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

FinalValgas — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:50:01 EDT

You bet your sweet booty I send my rebates in. They'll take their friggin time sending it to you anyway, might as well send it ASAP.

FinalValgas

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

dukemang — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:25:09 EDT

I'd really like some uppity state to pass a law requiring that all rebates be honored at the register. Rebates are nothing more than a company getting earn interest on money they promise to give you only if you pass a test more rigourous than the bar examine.

dukemang

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

aesopbx — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:48:42 EDT

i am filling one out right now for an external hard drive i just got.

aesopbx

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

discounteggroll — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:27:33 EDT

discounteggroll's rebates procedure guide (typed up a few days over a consumerist posting)

there are 2 types of rebates out there in my opinion. Staples Easy Rebates (SER) and all the others.

with SER I just register it (the majority of which is all online, sometimes I have to mail in a UPC if its a rebate from another company but through staples).

Then there's everyone else. I keep scanned copies of the receipt with UPC on one JPEG, filled out rebate form on other JPEG, and name them both the same thing with 1 and 2 after each name

if after 3-4 weeks I don't get a notice that my rebate's been processed or I get an error message in the snail/e mail that there's a problem I simply refer to my e-file and BAM! Problem has been corrected SER comes hassle free every time, so I don't need to worry about those.

This is just my methodology/experience and SER's absolutely kick ass. Keep identical records of everything you mail out and if it's worth your time and aggravation, you'll eventually get all the other rebates* (albeit it won't be pretty)

*Tiger Direct, CompUSA, and Radio Shack rebates do no count, and although and old long running joke, I still participate in their rebates knowing there's a really good chance I probably won't see my rebate check back from them any time soon, if ever

discounteggroll

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

drtigerlilly — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:01:05 EDT

I won't buy a product with a rebate unless i can fit the up front price into my budget. I guess i don't trust i'll actually get the rebate, i do send them off though....so if i do get them, i see it as a nice surprise.

So basically a mail in rebate won't make me more likely to buy a product.

drtigerlilly

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

CSlim — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:38:09 EDT

@bosskev: Pssh... I used to have a lot of faith in the online tracking systems until CompUSA screwed me over big time with theirs when I bought my laptop. Even after filing online it said my rebate couldn't be tracked.

CSlim

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

JBanister — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:41:34 EDT

I used to do rebates with limited success. Then I heard a news story about Young America Corporation. I don't do rebates anymore, and I'm happier, because I get to spend my valuable time doing other things instead. Sometimes I'll still participate in rebates if the merchant will process them for me.

JBanister

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

nutbastard — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:13:28 EDT

ah drunk posting is makes hard finish sentences grammar nazis be nice

i can haz nother bere?

nutbastard

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

nutbastard — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:12:33 EDT

too many horror stories, plus the fact that the whole idea is retarded and designed to screws the consumer. You know what, buy.com? Why don't YOU send in the fucking rebate. I'm not all about some company earning interest off my money while i wait for them to settle the bill.

Honestly, if i sold something privately, and i was all like "alright, ninety bucks. give me $90 and i'll give you $30 back in like, uh, whenever i get around to it.

nutbastard

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Sora57 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:16:14 EDT

I always send them in, and keep copies just in case. Never had a problem getting the dough back. Must have sent in about a dozen over the years.

Sora57

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

dhlt25 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:11:00 EDT

I always try to avoid rebate at all cost. But it's a stellar deal or i product I have to buy, i always send in the form and always get my money back. maybe i'm lucky

dhlt25

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

purdy — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:59 EDT

I think the problem is that mail-in rebates just take so damn long and customers fail to read the fine print. I worked at Canada's largest electronics chain for about half a year and the problem was that most of our "sale" items were a mail-in rebate and not an instant savings. We would always get complaints about customers never receiving their money and that it was somehow our fault and not the manufacturer. The head honchos finally got so fed up of this nuisance that the company itself decided to outlaw mail-in rebates completely and have everything instant in-store savings. Mail-in rebates are a pain in the ass for the consumer, which is why companies still issue them. There are always going to be that 5-10% that are just too lazy to do anything about it, which in turn saves the company money. And the "hardcores" that send them in either a) don't receive the money half the time or b) by the time they do get it, said product is already obsolete and they are already looking at purchasing an upgrade which itself probably has a mail-in rebate as well.

purdy

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Lizard_King — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:10:54 EDT

@CutePuppyz: Yup, copy all the documentation that you have when sending in a rebate as well as have Delivery Confirmation added to the envelope. In my most recent case, Newegg, conversations with them led to a direct address in Tempe, AZ. where I sent copies, and everything was rejected because it wasn't an original UPC.

Don't be so arrogant to think that "the rebate follows through" everytime, or the customer is at fault. I can name three times I have not gotten a rebate, most from distributor based rebates (as opposed to manufacturer). One rather large one from 4 tires for my car was a nightmare.

I fill out every rebate form I get...it's like free money, if it comes.

Lizard_King

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Cyborg28 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:02:52 EDT

I have to say that OCZ has never gone wrong for me. 8+ Ram kits $25-35 back each time. Can't beat 2GB DDR2 for $30+25%tax.

Cyborg28

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

QuailRider — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:59:03 EDT

Lets not forget that they charge you sales tax on the full price, not the sale price. Bastards! "The only way to win is not to play".

QuailRider

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

CutePuppyz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:54:28 EDT

To everyone who says that the company refused your receipt&rebate.

A) Make copies of your UPC, receipt, the stamped envelope, and rebate all together. Simple as that. It's your "proof" that you sent it in.

B) Make a video of you mailing the goddamned thing.

C) MAKE COPIES!

I have never had any problems getting any rebates. $5 or $100. A-Okay. And if the rebate center starts beef with me, I would just wave my copies at them.

People are just too lazy to read the rebate carefully and then more than 1x. If they did all that and followed proper instructions and got it out ontime then the rebate follows through.

You can get a ton of free stuff and save hundreds.

I got a free Canon Color Copier/Scanner/Printer with a rebate. Saved me $100. Sure you have to wait 6-8weeks. But in 6-8 weeks, you'll have your $100 back and a free printer. Then spend that $100 towards something you really want like a PSP, PS3, 360, Wii or whatnot.

CutePuppyz

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

lordargent — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:17:32 EDT

I always send mine in.

Except that I got dicked over by sears once n a 'free delivery' rebate because I thought I needed to send something (like a serial number or something) from my fridge when it was actually delivered.

My back ordered fridge.

My backordered fridge that didn't get delivered until two days after the end of the rebate period.

The rebate that I could have sent in the same day that I had put in the fridge order.

The rebate that they wouldn't honor, even though the end of one rebate period was the start of another rebate period with the EXACT same terms (but a different rebate number).

/wants my $69 back, not that $69 is a lot of money to me. But it's the principle of the thing (plus an xbox 360 game).

lordargent

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Faforce — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:06:53 EDT

The departments that take care of rebates are mean, and forgetful, or at least have been in my experience.
If any, they should make them completely online. Mailing things stinks.

Faforce

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

fussnfeathers — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:02:43 EDT

Mail in rebates are designed NOT to be sent in. Tons of rules, steps to take, waiting time, all that jazz. Companies hope that you won't send in the rebate.....that way they get you into the store for the sale, but don't ever actually have to give you the sale price.

Staples here has a better way of doing it, the rebate is processed right at the store, you just mail in a second copy of your receipt. You can even scan and email it if you choose.

That said, I don't go looking for rebates, but you can be assured I send mine in every time.

fussnfeathers

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

strider_mt2k — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:53:37 EDT

If something has a rebate I follow it to the letter and keep copies.
I don't go looking for them but I'll do it if it's necessary.

I got burned by Palm on my wife's M130 PDA and didn't have a copy of the original UPC they said I didn't send in.

After that I vowed that I'd cover my ass on that stuff.

strider_mt2k

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

FuzzyPlushroom — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:41:58 EDT

If the rebate's the only reason I buy something (rare) then I always send it in.

If it's not back in two months, and there's no apparent reason for it, then that's the last product I buy from that company with a MIR.

FuzzyPlushroom

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Kingteddybear — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:33:10 EDT

I always send them in but no longer bother searching for them. I have gotten to where if the rebate is the only thing that make a "bargain" a bargain I'll take a pass.

Kingteddybear

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Oldbrass — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:28:46 EDT

I hate them with a passion.

All a MIR really is, is an interest free loan to a large corporation. Think about it. You buy something for $500 with a $100 MIR. Even if you remember to send it in, they hold on to your money for three months, which they use to make more money.

I will ALWAYS buy the item with out the MIR, just on principal. I'm sick of getting jacked around by companies and their "deals". If they can sell the item for $400 bucks, then they should do that. Not hose me for an additional $100 and pay me back at their convenience.

Oldbrass

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

brownboyinbc — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:59:27 EDT

I have been sending mine in, when I do get the items because of rebate, for more than 15 years and only one company has ever paid and that is OCZ. I find this amazing, I never received a rebate until I left the U.S. and moved to Canada 2 years ago. HHHmmmm!

brownboyinbc

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Cordfucious v 2.0.1 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:55:36 EDT

@miwahall: but its not free.... its basically the markup on a product thats either being d/c'd or a stock slash to make way for a new model. Retail markups always go away in the forms of clearance, rebates, and closeouts... thats why BIg Lots exists

Cordfucious v 2.0.1

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Arvin Bautista — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:39:41 EDT

I've never been screwed on a mail in rebate. The only times I'd been screwed is when I wasn't ready to send them in by the deadline.

Nowadays I almost never entertain a mail-in-rebate offer unless it's a huge discount, and if/when I do, I send it in immediately. Worked great for my 24in widescreen monitor I got from Office Depot on Black Friday (130 dollar rebate).

Arvin Bautista

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

o0adam0o — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:36:41 EDT

Im way too lazy for MIR...i had one for $100 dollars i totally forgot about last year. Yup... $100 buckaroos. Im so lazy i would be willing to pay someone to do the stupid MIR process for me.

o0adam0o

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

miwahall — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:35:26 EDT

I just turned in a rebate for a $2.39 jar of salsa. I'll take free money wherev I can getit!

miwahall

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

JBKing — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:33:29 EDT

A long time ago, In a galaxy far, far away...
I used to work for a retail auto parts store. The oil companies were famous for having rebates, or footballs, or hats with logos, with a reciept and upc from the case. Well, we could print out rebate reciepts when the customers bought a case, and take the UPC's off the cases when we broke them down for indivual bottles. The employees would use friends names and addresses so not to have duplicates and split the loot. It felt good to get back at the system. I didn't do it myself of course.

JBKing

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

MyPetFly — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:29:16 EDT

I don't buy much since I'm po' white trash, but when I do buy something with a rebate, I generally send it in. Only got screwed once, but it WAS my fault, by missing the deadline by a day or two. Although I suppose they COULD have honored it anyway.

MyPetFly

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

92BuickLeSabre — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:54:44 EDT

I mail them in solely because they are offered with the expectation that I won't.

92BuickLeSabre

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

hakubak — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:53:59 EDT

I like rebates because they're magic money. I get the mail each day. I get the checks. I cash the checks. My SO never sees the money. Yeah. I'm as pathetic as that sounds.

hakubak

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Lizard_King — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:50:33 EDT

I don't include MIR values in with cost of the product - a product at $79 with a $20 MIR is not $59. I have gotten burned too many times in the past. I'd say 80% of my rebates come through.

Most recently, I got some Corsair memory from Newegg with a $30 rebate. After two months of waiting I give a call, I find out they "never received" the form, I send them my copies of receipt and UPC and two weeks later I got a letter stating I was ineligible because I submitted copies, not originals. I'm thinking that the original forms were never last in the first place.

Lizard_King

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

klew — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:48:30 EDT

I always send them in, and I've gotten all of them except for one worth $5, when the instructions weren't clear about which UPC code to send in (the one from the first item or the one that becomes free after rebate), so I sent them both in. Got a card back saying I didn't send in the correct UPC and was invalid, when I sent the only two it could possibly be.

klew

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Torley — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:43:01 EDT

I've sent in a few MIRs, but on the whole, they've proven to be an inconvenience and too much trouble for the time saved. :\

I've had a couple unpleasant experiences (including one with BFG, whose graphics cards I otherwise like) where rebates weren't honored despite having all the proper documentation and being postmarked before the deadline.

Torley

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Johnny.Shitbox — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:36:35 EDT

what does "other" imply ?

Johnny.Shitbox

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Megan Fox Iz Hot! ^-^ - ph15h — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:36:22 EDT

If it came with it, I send it.
If I have to find it online, I sometimes do.
If it was an e-rebate, of course.

Megan Fox Iz Hot! ^-^ - ph15h

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

CutePuppyz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:30:49 EDT

I send in for rebates on everything. 2gb Sandisk SD cards? $8 after rebate. Sony Ericsson cellphone? Free AND I got $10 back after rebate. Why be lazy? It's savings, and who doesn't want savings now that the US is in a recession?

CutePuppyz

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

emdy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:25:59 EDT

i've gotten rebates from a certain phone company, all on debt/credit like cards. we had like 8 of them, each needing a different pin number with every use, and some places had a minimum charge rule, so the card was basically worthless after you went down to $8. when we called to complain, they had expired. great.

emdy

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

stonefry — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:24:17 EDT

I have probably made a couple dozen rebate purchases in my life. I have always sent them in and I have always gotten the money (eventually.) If you can't afford to wait for a rebate, don't use them.

stonefry

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Monty — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:17:33 EDT

@Sean: Great poll today. I apologize for the D- grade I gave you yesterday. We are not worthy of this fantastic poll.

@Monty: I am harping on you today, buddy. '... their clipping rebates' ?? Duh. It is '... there clipping rebate', retard. Geez. Go home and hang out with your family why don't you.

Monty

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

ShinySideUp — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:16:10 EDT

What it should say is "How lazy and forgetful are the scumbag companies that handle rebates"? Rebates are from the frickin devil...

ShinySideUp

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Monty — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:11:48 EDT

I despise rebate forms since the concept stays alive solely based on people who do not submit them, or companies that refuse to honor them. It is also annoyance with the way that companies will advertise the price and then in small letters put 'after mail-in rebate'.

Maybe I just need some happy pills and then all will be right with the world. I can sit their clipping rebates and singing in the rain all the way to the mailbox.

Nah. Screw that. Rebates suck.

Monty

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

discounteggroll — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:11:47 EDT

rebates are my bitches, as are price matches to other stores/price reductions. sometimes I don't buy a gadget unless I can finagle both into the purchase

discounteggroll

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

innout3x3 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:11:33 EDT

@SeattleTed: Same bastards at T-mobile pulled that shit on me too. They said I was too late to send the rebate. I sent it months before the due date. (This is when I had time to send rebates)

innout3x3

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

SeattleTed — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:08:41 EDT

I don't do rebates since Sprint still owes me $100 from 4 years ago. Originally they said they didn't have the info, then it wasn't available until after the contract (2 years). I eventually gave up -I hate wasting life energy on such issues and chalked it up to a life-lesson. I'm now with the Deathstar phone carrier.

Fuck Sprint

SeattleTed

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

bosskev — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:08:35 EDT

@diverguy: "Any company that has "a sale" that involves a mail in rebate to take advantage of the sale doesn't get my money at all."

I am SO with you on this one, with a slight variation. I will ONLY make a transaction that involves a rebate IF the rebate is for a minimum of $50.00 (to be worth my time in dealing with it) AND I get a sense that the rebate will be handled fairly (such as there is an online tracking process I can check in with). Yup, that pretty much means I won't accept a deal involving a rebate.

bosskev

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

dagamer34 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:07:04 EDT

Looking at the results, I see a slight ordering bias, as if people aren't actually reading the choices!

dagamer34

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Darkest Daze — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:06:53 EDT

Crap, you guys just reminded me I have a rebate to send in.

Darkest Daze

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:05:38 EDT

@shamoononon: eek, grammar

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:04:38 EDT

@diverguy: Why are you such a pushover? I would have paid the extra 500 to fly down their and shove the rebate up their arse.

Realistically, I really would have just written a nasty letter to somebody higher up threatening to never buy their products again... that usually works.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Step666 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:04:08 EDT

They're nowhere near as common over here in the UK.
About the only things I've found that use rebates are mobile phone contracts.

But, on the odd occasion that I do purchase something with a rebate, you can be sure that I get my money back.

Step666

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

TehBoj — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:58:39 EDT

horrendous

TehBoj

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

PunkGeekWannabe — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:57:45 EDT

I mail in for all rebates I come across and I get all my checks. You see the thing is, I work at a rebate processing company, so I know how important it is to read the fine print and pay attention to every detail. I'll tell you, in most cases, people screw themselves out of rebates for not following the directions 100%.

PunkGeekWannabe

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

innout3x3 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:57:29 EDT

@Totalfixation: Of course! I read giz while I use my "companies dime" while I run my HPLC and report chromatographs. I meant I don't have time outside of work to mail those rebates. I start work at 6 AM end work at 10 PM then go to sleep. That is why I don't have time to mail rebates.

innout3x3

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Jamez — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:57:07 EDT

Main in rebates are the worst thing you could ever have. Ever. EVER.

Why? Half the time you don't get the rebate back but because it takes anywhere between 12 weeks to the end of time, you won't ever know or remember. And in the off chance that you remember, it'll probably be years later when you realize that whatever you bought is useless now and think "hey, mail in rebate..."

Mail in rebates are only useful for stores that supposedly offer them but have a problem, so they just give it to you for the lowered price. But that doesn't happen nearly often enough.

Jamez

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

diverguy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:55:52 EDT

About 3 years ago I tried to use the $50 mail in rebate for an ATI video card. I sent them the rebate and the receipt.

Then they sent it back saying the receipt wasn't included. So I took the receipt back out of the envelope and stapled it to the front of the voucher and send it back.

Then they sent it back saying that only half the receipt was found. The reason being is that they'd cut the whole thing in half when they opened the envelope with a knife. So I took the remainder portion of the receipt and voucher (that was still int the envelope I'd sent originally) taped it back together and sent it back.

They sent that back saying they couldn't accept the receipt because it had been modified and wasn't original. So I took the whole thing back to the store I bought the video card from and they were able to reprint a new receipt. So I sent in a bunch of new paperwork.

ATI sent the whole thing back saying that the voucher was no longer valid because the promotion had expired.

So I really don't bother with mail in rebates anymore. Any company that has "a sale" that involves a mail in rebate to take advantage of the sale doesn't get my money at all.

diverguy

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Papsky — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:55:11 EDT

I usually buy stuff with rebates but then i usually push off sending them in till they are a few months past due.
thats what i did with the "free" printer rebate for my canon XTi.
i still have all the forms right next to me on the floor.

Papsky

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Joseph — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:52:10 EDT

I'm pretty adamant about getting my rebate, but I hate rebates. I usually try to steer clear if I can.

Joseph

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

rdldr1 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:48:00 EDT

I'd rather go for a deal without the rebate (like at Newegg). Before I started shopping online, mail-in rebates were the way to go. The one time I didnt send in for a rebate, it was for $5. The higher the rebate return, the more likely I'll send it in.

If I ever see that rebate money back is another matter.

rdldr1

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Totalfixation — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:46:53 EDT

@innout3x3:
but you always have time for gizmodo?

Totalfixation

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

Totalfixation — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:46:23 EDT

I usually manage to send mine in on the very last qualifying day. At times, i would miss it and take it as a lost. I would say it would be 4/5 times.

Totalfixation

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

innout3x3 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:46:00 EDT

Lazy? I don't have time for rebates. I don't even have time to read a magazine.

innout3x3

Question of the Day: How Lazy are You With Mail-In Gadget Rebates?

smegz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:44:58 EDT

...and then I get back some money...eventually.

smegz