The Great Rebate Rigmarole

Imagine this scenario: You go to the store to buy something—let’s say a printer—and you find just the one you want. But then you see a great deal—a printer that’s $199 but offers a rebate of $100, making your grand total just $99! You go for it. And once you get home, you tell yourself you’ll take care of the rebate in the morning. But you don’t. You keep putting it off until eventually you realize that you’ve paid $199 for a printer you didn’t really want.

Forgoing a rebate is a common scenario that gets played out in a number of unintentional ways: not purchasing the item within the required time frame, waiting so long to mail in the rebate that the deadline expires, forgetting to include the bar code, making a mistake on the paperwork, failing to make a copy of the paperwork and proofs of purchase. 

Lots of people regard rebates as a hassle—and they are—but they’re designed that way. The reason that companies can afford to offer them is because most people never redeem them—and the companies want to make sure that the fewest number of people possible get their money back. That’s why the requirements are so stringent—and often frustrating. I can’t tell you how many times my dad has not bought something just because there was a rebate attached to it. He’s had the worst experiences with rebates – it’s a little funny actually.

But there are things you can do to ensure that you get any rebate due to you – they’re actually no-brainers if you ask me:

 

1. Don’t procrastinate. Fill out the forms and clip the bar codes as soon as you get home. Don’t get immersed in the new product you’ve just purchased before you take care of business.

2. Look at your offer carefully—very carefully! Read all the small print. If you make a mistake at this stage of the process, the company can deny your eligibility for a rebate.

3. Make copies of everything before you drop the envelope in the mail. Whatever you’re required to send to the company—box tops, receipts, bar codes, coupons, letter—make a copy of each item in case you’re denied the rebate. With copies, you can appeal the company’s decision.