Are rebates designed to hamper participation?

[meangreen01]

Rebates are pretty heavily discussed around these parts. So my question focuses on one aspect of submitting a rebate- the mailing address. Is it just me, or does the addresses seem intentionally long? Is the intention to cause errors during the submittal process thus giving a reason to reject them? The cities are almost always obscure, sometimes with odd spellings. Address numbers, PO boxes, and zip codes are always extremely random instead of, for a lack of a better term, even and rounded. Like a PO box of 59271 rather than 50001.

I personally believe these occurrences aren't accidental and they are intentionally put in place to increase the chance of errors, either by the person applying for the rebate, or USPS. Or, to just in general increase the difficulty level just enough that a person says screw it.

Opinions?

 

[eljefino]

I figure there are large clearinghouses and each new promotion gets a new PO Box.

I've noticed many boxes very close to Mexico, and figure they truck unopened mail south of the border for processing.

 

[dwcopple]

if they are, it works for me. I can't stand MIR. I avoid them now unless the deal is too good to pass on, and there hasn't been one of those in many many moons for me.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
if they are, it works for me. I can't stand MIR. I avoid them now unless the deal is too good to pass on, and there hasn't been one of those in many many moons for me.


Fifty-three cents, plus tax, on five quarts of QSUD is too expensive? Or free (other than tax) for G-Oil is too expensive? Depending where you are, getting paid $1.25 for five quarts of PP is too expensive (and in other areas, paying less than $1 per quart)? I'd love to know how you find oil cheaper than that on clearance.

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I figure there are large clearinghouses and each new promotion gets a new PO Box.


Possibly. But if so, then why the extremely long address name.

I guess that gets me to the impetus behind this post. I got in on the Peak Synthetic deal at F&F yesterday. $10 back on purchase of 6 qts. Today, I addressed the envelope- Peak Synthetic Motor Oil Rebate, Dept. 606. Is all that really necessary if they have dedicated PO boxes for each rebate? Why not just Peak Synthetic? Or even just Peak for that matter? Some rebates I've done are even longer! It actually becomes difficult to fit it all on an envelope without writing so small you'd need a microscope.

Originally Posted By: eljefino

I've noticed many boxes very close to Mexico, and figure they truck unopened mail south of the border for processing.


Funny and easily imaginable. I've noticed AZ has become the hot spot of rebate processing.

 

[fdcg27]

Rebates are a cheaper promotional tool for marketers than BOGO or simple retail price deals.
If you comply with the terms of the rebate carefully, you'll get your check.
They are cheaper for a marketer in that many never submit them.
So far this year, I've gotten plenty of free or near free after MIR G-Oil, PU and QSUD.
I'm not complaining.

 

[urchin]

I don't think it is any accident that they make it time consuming and a multi-step procedure to collect, the deal breaker for many is that you must mangle or remove items (eg UPC bar code) from the product container or box itself thus if you have a defective item it will be almost impossible to return it. Lots of folks here buy items that they won't use for a year or more....

I hate MIR...unless they are very generous I don't buy the product .

 

[Propflux01]

Simple answer...YES!!

 

[UncleS2]

Yes!

 

[Kestas]

I've read that only a quarter of the rebates that qualify ever get submitted. Some simply don't bother, others lose the receipt or screw up with the submission, and still others forget or let it lapse beyond the expiration date.

 

[Papa Bear]

It gives meaning to the term "Jumping through hoops"

 

[Nick R]

I'v only ever submitted two MIR. They were from the same purchase. A XFX Power Supply, and an XFX graphics card. $50 and $25 MIR.

 

[Drew99GT]

I can understand rebates for higher priced items, but motor oil? Come on...

 

[Nick R]

MIR are a pain in the rear for sure. I had to include like 5 different proof of purchases. UPC tag, Newegg Invoice page, order confirmation email, purchase history page... It was ridiculous. And because it was two different items I had to do it all twice.

 

[L_Sludger]

I've had success with about 40% of all of the MIRs I've tried. Most of the time they simply don't come back. So I always ignore the price after rebate and simply shop based off of the up-front out-of-pocket rate.

 

[91344George]

Are you listening manufacturers ...How about just lessening the discount a bit and making it an INSTANT rebate, OK?

Bottom line is you're [censored] off MOST customers most of the time with this nonsense.

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: 91344George
Are you listening manufacturers ...How about just lessening the discount a bit and making it an INSTANT rebate, OK?


But if they did that, they'd be unable to collect a valuable piece of data: YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

That's why I haven't done a MIR in many many years. MIR's are just a way for you to get spammed. Not to mention that half the time I never got my money anyway.