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Too_Many_Tools
Guest
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 Posted:
Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Rebates are Hell |
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The costs of actually having to process rebates has forced companies to
set up the websites where you can file the rebate information. In some
cases, the rebate mailings we have sent in went from the mailbox to the
trash can to "lower processing costs".
The other reason why companies in the electronics industry do rebates
is because ir allows them to gather considerable information on their
customer base....which in turn they sell to other companies. Ever get
an "offer" from a company that you have neither heard of nor have
contacted before...well it is liikely that your personal information
was sold to this company by another who retrieved your name, address,
phone number and buying habits from your rebate trail. After the "Do
Not Call" list was put into effect, this practice has increased.
I should also point out that asking for ones phone number at the time
of purchase coupled with your credit card information gives the
retailer an enormous amount of information on you and your buying
habits and shapes what rebates will be offered in the future at that
store....why offer a rebate if they know that you will be buying that
product again?
Nothing is ever free....and neither is a rebate.
TMT
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jm
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:
Re: Rebates are Hell |
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"Too_Many_Tools" <too_many_tools@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1127748854.796525.319740@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | The costs of actually having to process rebates has forced companies to
set up the websites where you can file the rebate information. In some
cases, the rebate mailings we have sent in went from the mailbox to the
trash can to "lower processing costs".
The other reason why companies in the electronics industry do rebates
is because ir allows them to gather considerable information on their
customer base....which in turn they sell to other companies. Ever get
an "offer" from a company that you have neither heard of nor have
contacted before...well it is liikely that your personal information
was sold to this company by another who retrieved your name, address,
phone number and buying habits from your rebate trail. After the "Do
Not Call" list was put into effect, this practice has increased.
I should also point out that asking for ones phone number at the time
of purchase coupled with your credit card information gives the
retailer an enormous amount of information on you and your buying
habits and shapes what rebates will be offered in the future at that
store....why offer a rebate if they know that you will be buying that
product again?
Nothing is ever free....and neither is a rebate.
TMT
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With all due respect to your points made - valid (I'm sure) - I will say -
if I get a rebate and they sell my info, I don't really care. WHY? Well - if
the rebate is going to net me any amount of cash back, that is money in my
pocket. As for them selling my name, shit - many places have already done it
anyway which I "didn't" get a rebate offer from. So, if I in essence am
going to be paid for it, what the hell! My trash can takes all that I care
to feed it - both real and computer......... I get spammed on here - from
places I didn't buy from or check out - i.e. pain relievers, viagra and
similar products, stocks, bonds, etc.. Phone numbers I could care less
about - I'm on a do not call list and I have caller ID as well. I get tons
of calls a day by many so I always check the ID before answering. I get NO
calls at present from "retailers". I give out only what I feel they need to
know - nothing more. Bottom line - whether we choose to take a rebate or
not. these "sleeze ball" companies who love to spam - are going to do it
regardless. Lets face it, it's been around for a long time. Circulars in the
mail for you to shop stores - IS not asked for. They're just sent out -
PERIOD! That practice has been going on for YEARS. It has just gotten worse
since the computer age.
jm |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:27 am Post subject:
Re: Rebates are Hell |
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| Quote: |
Well, Mark, the point is that instead of having YOU cut out UPC codes
from boxes and send them in by mail why not have the retailer give you
the cash right at the register and then let them get the money from the
manufacturer if it is the manufacturer's rebate. It many cases it is the
retailer's rebate which makes it even more stupid not to do it at time of
purchase. Also once you have cut the UPC code off of the box you cannot
return the product (in 14 days with Best Buy) unless you pay a restocking
fee.
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I would like it to work that way too, but as others noted, companies use
the sales numbers for inflating their stock earnings, and fudging other
statistics, and they count on people not cashing in the rebates. Those are
crappy reasons to you and me, but they are valid, and understandable.
If a person can get $300 worth of rebates on a computer, they still have
the choice of not bothering, or waiting two weeks before turning in the
rebates. No one has to use them, and no one has to buy a product because
of the rebates....
We cannot argue how dopey it is, because I agree with you :-) but in the
end, its either put up with it, if its worth the while, or just throw the
money in the trash. I sure don't want my government getting involved.
Teddy Kennedy is too busy drinking and killing young women, to be
babysitting businesses who offer rebates.....
John
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