Comments on: OfficeMax bids farewell to mail-in rebates
Customer gripes lead office supply chain to dump the lengthy rebate process in favor of in-store discounts.
Most Popular
Latest tech news headlines
- Analyst: Apps the secret to Apple's tablet success
December 29, 2009 9:54 AM PST
- Report: T-Mobile ready for Google phone launch
December 29, 2009 9:31 AM PST
- Garmin adds new wilderness GPS models
December 29, 2009 8:51 AM PST
- See all headlines
RSS Feeds
Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.
More feeds available in our RSS feed index.
- Markets
Related quotes
For example, certain items were regularly offered as "free after rebate". You might have paid $10 + tax for a pack of blank CDs, and then been eligible to file for a $10 rebate. It is unlikely that OfficeMax will now begin handing out packs of blank CDs for free, i.e. with no exchange of money at the cash register. The economics of "free after rebate" worked only because some shoppers never bothered to claim their rebates.
Cranks who want the deals but don't want to do the work (filling out the form legibly, attaching the right proof of purchase, keeping copies, and respecting the postmark date) have spoiled it for everyone.
Yes you may see fewer and smaller discounts than you did in the past but this way everyone will get them instead of just the obsessive.
For example, certain items were regularly offered as "free after rebate". You might have paid $10 + tax for a pack of blank CDs, and then been eligible to file for a $10 rebate. It is unlikely that OfficeMax will now begin handing out packs of blank CDs for free, i.e. with no exchange of money at the cash register. The economics of "free after rebate" worked only because some shoppers never bothered to claim their rebates.
Cranks who want the deals but don't want to do the work (filling out the form legibly, attaching the right proof of purchase, keeping copies, and respecting the postmark date) have spoiled it for everyone.
Yes you may see fewer and smaller discounts than you did in the past but this way everyone will get them instead of just the obsessive.
Personally, I dont like it and trouble with it.
It about time some Retailer get rid of some rebate.
Personally, I dont like it and trouble with it.
It about time some Retailer get rid of some rebate.
Personally, I dont like it and trouble with it.
It about time some Retailer get rid of some rebate.
Personally, I dont like it and trouble with it.
It about time some Retailer get rid of some rebate.
rebate forms, or they'll look for something you missed. It's
ridiculous and should invite more legal scrutiny.
Just as an example, I ordered a laptop for a sister-in-law from
one of the "big" home computer direct-to-consumer companies.
I immediately downloaded the rebate form.
When it arrived, my sister-in-law filled it out and sent it back,
only to receive a postcard saying they couldn't send her the
rebate because the form was missing a piece of information (the
order number) that wasn't even on the form to begin with. I
mean these people have her name - they know who she is
because she's right there in their system.
I called them on her behalf and was given the runaround. They
told me they couldn't dig up her information without the order
number. Then when I realized it was on the shipping label (the
only place I saw it), they miraculously told me they'de send it to
her, which they did.
What a blasted scam. How many people would have just given
up and said "it's not worth it"?
Rebates need more legal scrutiny. It's just one of the many ways
that consumers get ripped off every single day.
Charles Whealton
Chuck Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com
rebate forms, or they'll look for something you missed. It's
ridiculous and should invite more legal scrutiny.
Just as an example, I ordered a laptop for a sister-in-law from
one of the "big" home computer direct-to-consumer companies.
I immediately downloaded the rebate form.
When it arrived, my sister-in-law filled it out and sent it back,
only to receive a postcard saying they couldn't send her the
rebate because the form was missing a piece of information (the
order number) that wasn't even on the form to begin with. I
mean these people have her name - they know who she is
because she's right there in their system.
I called them on her behalf and was given the runaround. They
told me they couldn't dig up her information without the order
number. Then when I realized it was on the shipping label (the
only place I saw it), they miraculously told me they'de send it to
her, which they did.
What a blasted scam. How many people would have just given
up and said "it's not worth it"?
Rebates need more legal scrutiny. It's just one of the many ways
that consumers get ripped off every single day.
Charles Whealton
Chuck Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com
2) While it used to be a more common thing of manufacturers putting together hoops to fill out rebates, it isn't anymore. As the article states, rebates are a huge customer service resource drain if they're not done with the consumer's ease in mind. At this point, the extra things that need to be done for a rebate (sending in original paperwork, UPCs, etc), is to minimize fraud. Fraud still happens (I've seen the same rebate in the same handwriting to different addresses to which we fulfill), but without this rudimentary checking, it would mean the overall promotion being more expensive, and in turn, less money to the consumer in future promotions.
3) One of the posters was right in that flat discounts at the register = less of a discount than if it was ran with a rebate. Not only will a considerable amount of people not turn in their rebate (thereby passing the savings to the ones that do), there are demographic reports and possible advertising opportunities given to the manufacturer that they'd otherwise have to pay for (which can be very expensive). Even though many opt out of getting future promotions, it's still a big payoff for the manufacturer in the long run, which gives them more of a budget to again pass those savings to the consumer.
4) Then there's the fact that with a rebate, there are flat-out more sales. A manufacturer will get more sales advertising "$80 with a mail-in rebate" than they will a flat $90 (which is a pretty accurate ratio of what they could do with a $100 item). More sales = making more money = a larger rebate given. There are a few retailers and manufacturers that have broken away from rebates, only to come back later because of their appeal.
2) While it used to be a more common thing of manufacturers putting together hoops to fill out rebates, it isn't anymore. As the article states, rebates are a huge customer service resource drain if they're not done with the consumer's ease in mind. At this point, the extra things that need to be done for a rebate (sending in original paperwork, UPCs, etc), is to minimize fraud. Fraud still happens (I've seen the same rebate in the same handwriting to different addresses to which we fulfill), but without this rudimentary checking, it would mean the overall promotion being more expensive, and in turn, less money to the consumer in future promotions.
3) One of the posters was right in that flat discounts at the register = less of a discount than if it was ran with a rebate. Not only will a considerable amount of people not turn in their rebate (thereby passing the savings to the ones that do), there are demographic reports and possible advertising opportunities given to the manufacturer that they'd otherwise have to pay for (which can be very expensive). Even though many opt out of getting future promotions, it's still a big payoff for the manufacturer in the long run, which gives them more of a budget to again pass those savings to the consumer.
4) Then there's the fact that with a rebate, there are flat-out more sales. A manufacturer will get more sales advertising "$80 with a mail-in rebate" than they will a flat $90 (which is a pretty accurate ratio of what they could do with a $100 item). More sales = making more money = a larger rebate given. There are a few retailers and manufacturers that have broken away from rebates, only to come back later because of their appeal.
A company agrees to sell a product at a specific price, but when purchased, requires you to give them more money than that specific sale price in ordere for you to take delivery of their product.
They in turn keep your money, earn more on the daily account balance which YOUR money is earning for them.
Then your lucky if they send it back to you.
Rebates should be discontinued by law!
Great Job OfficeMax.
A company agrees to sell a product at a specific price, but when purchased, requires you to give them more money than that specific sale price in ordere for you to take delivery of their product.
They in turn keep your money, earn more on the daily account balance which YOUR money is earning for them.
Then your lucky if they send it back to you.
Rebates should be discontinued by law!
Great Job OfficeMax.
A company agrees to sell a product at a specific price, but when purchased, requires you to give them more money than that specific sale price in ordere for you to take delivery of their product.
They in turn keep your money, earn more money on their account balance at their bank, WITH YOUR money! What a great deal that is!
AND your lucky if they send it back to you.
ALL Rebates offers should be discontinued by law!
Great Job OfficeMax!
- Rebate Ripoff
- by ntytuld1 November 28, 2006 11:53 AM PST
- Rebates =
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 2 of 2 pages (62 Comments)A company agrees to sell a product at a specific price, but when purchased, requires you to give them more money than that specific sale price in ordere for you to take delivery of their product.
They in turn keep your money, earn more money on their account balance at their bank, WITH YOUR money! What a great deal that is!
AND your lucky if they send it back to you.
ALL Rebates offers should be discontinued by law!
Great Job OfficeMax!