Are Rebates a Rip Off?
December 22, 2008 by Karen Weideman
Filed under financial matters
The Wall Street Journal sent five people out to buy five different items at five different retailers. All the products purchased came with rebates. All five people correctly filled out the necessary paperwork to get the rebates. Yet only one person actually got money back. That’s only 20 percent!
Some stores, such as Office Max have eliminated rebates and lowered prices. Some stores offer easy online rebates. I know it’s hard to resist some of these rebate offers, but the success rate is something to consider.
Will you actually fill out the paperwork and send it in? If so, I strongly recommend making copies of all the paperwork before mailing it. This is something that my husband and I do. So far, we haven’t had any problems. :fingers crossed: For larger rebates, you may want to mail them with delivery confirmation.
I know that some rebates are hard to pass up. Then again, is it better to shop the sales for the best bargain or use rebates? What do you think?
I have done several rebates and I have received checks back from all of them. I have never not received my rebate.
Recently I had a Scrubbing Bubbles rebate that didn’t go through. They sent me a letter saying I didn’t include the UPC. In this particular case, I distinctly remember checking, double checking and triple checking to make sure everything was mailed correctly, so I know they got the UPC. I resent the rebate since I had several of this item in my stockpile – we’ll see if it works this time!
I personally hate rebates! I go for the good bargains or the instant rebates.