Deal of the day: Sony Ericsson Walkman phone

For those of you who love a bargain, but are lacking the time and energy to wade through the sea of online deals, CNET News.com is now highlighting just one great offer on a daily basis.

What: Sony Ericsson W600 Phone (requires Cingular activation)
How much: $0 (after rebates)
Shipping: free
Where: Amazon.com (via dealnews.com)
When: now through Nov. 30
Click here for product overview.

[Riphly]

NOT a rebate!

The $100 Cingular 'Rebate' is not a rebate.
First, you do not get a cash refund nor a cash-redeemable
certificate.
What you get is a very temporary (120 day) Visa Reward Card
god for UP TO $100 on OTHER PURCHASES. You can not use the
card to withdraw cash from any dispenser.
Therefore, the 'rebate' is not a rebate as such, it's a kind of
shopping certificate. You will not see your paid-out $100 again.
In addition, the $150 Amazon 'rebate' is not a rebate either.
First, you have to pay out, in addition to the $249 initially laid
out, ANOTHER $40 for an Amazon service subscription (Total
outlay now: $290). So, the statement in the article:
How much: $0 (after rebates) is NOT TRUE.
While Amazon will give you back $150 after you sign up for at
least the minimum service, you'll surely be out the other $140,
so you better have that much cash to throw at obtaining a new
phone.
A little more honesty in such articles would be greatly
appreciated.

[Riphly]

About that $0 .. it prevents 'rebate'

How much: $0 (after rebates) is NOT TRUE.
If the potential for this $0 was true, then there would be no
'rebate' from Cingular since the Cingular rebate elegibility rules
state:
"Mail in rebate is not available if DISCOUNTS provided at the
point of sale bring the sale price of the device TO or BELOW $0."
(Caps mine)

[eman_super]

Cingular's "rebate"

Cingular, like many other rebate issuing companies, uses the term "Rebate" in the broad sense. From a strategic business aspect, this tactic is often used by companies who know, statistically, that customers will assume "cash rebate" and won't inconvenience themselves to read the very fine print of the rebate contract. It is unfortunate these companies could not be more up front about the type of rebate they are issuing. Whether Cingular meant to do this or not, it sure leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who made the assumption.

[heystoopid]

Hmm,

As always with All Sony offers, no such thing as a free lunch! Probably comes complete with a free lameduck unwanted DRM rootkit anyway!