So add "loses value quickly" to rebates other loveable attributes, like "hassle to complete", "take forever to be paid," and "are designed to encourage maximum breakage".
What can you do? Spend the rebate card soon after you get it, or avoid rebated products all together. — FREE MONEY FINANCE
Watch Out for Leaky 'Rebate Cards' [MSNBC Red Tape Chronicles]
(Photo: Getty)
I just hope that most other rebate processors don't follow suit any time soon.
]]>*After $100.00 USD Mail in Rebate (Est $120.00CDN), bundle price only with the purchase of HP Colorblur Deskjet Printer and Microsoft Ergoboard. Vista Home Basic version Only, Monitor Sold Seperately. Must purchase extended warranty for rebate (Not included in list price), only available online.
]]>Walgreen's actually gives you an option -- a rebate check or a gift card with a 10% bonus on your rebate (there are a couple that only give you a gift card option, but it's a small percentage of their deals).
]]>Such shady rebate practices, I've decided that if a business does their rebates/discounts by way of a gift card or something that ties you to that chain, then I'm not going to buy the item. Give me cash/check, so I can do what I want with my money.
]]>Fatwallet and Slickdeals really aren't so much price comparison sites as aggressive deal hunting sites. You see lots of price matching, coupon use, price mistakes and such. But, they also know how to make sure you get your rebate, so they can definitely improve your odds of getting your money.
]]>Side note: In Washington retailers must give you back the remaining amount in cash if it's $5 or less.
]]>In the end it's just one more reason to avoid rebates.
]]>I hate rebates on a gift card because I hate pulling out two forms of payment in line. Also, many places like gas stations will try to hold up more money than necessary which makes it difficult to use fully. Heck, even Amazon puts a $1 charge through when buying their stuff so you can't use the entire gift card/rebate there even if you're buying a gift certificate for the exact amount. Also, many places online will not accept two two credit cards for one purchase.
What I end up doing to extend the time on it is buying a gift certificate from a place where I know the terms are longer, like Buy.com, who does not have an expiration date. I've done this with my last few rebates/gift cards and it's worked out well.
Did I mention that places that do this are evil?
]]>September 2005, when I got my new cell phone and Bluetooth earpiece, the rebates from Cingular were in the form of Visa gift cards.
Now I'm waiting on a $100 "reward" from Rent.com (we signed a lease with an apartment complex I'd found on Rent.com). First, they went through the whole 6-8 weeks (from move-in date) rigamarole, even though we signed the lease almost 3 months ago. AND they're sending one of these stupid cards. If they send it, that is.
]]>Just give me a sale price that is good or forget it.
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