Stupid mail-in rebates

[bszopi]

You know, I'm really starting to hate these things. I'm convinced they are all scams!! Let's just say I've missed out on almost $200 just in the last year. Sure, its mainly due to my stupidity, but still...

My most recent one was from Sears. I bought a DeWalt chopsaw ($220). DeWalt has something going right now (or maybe Sears?) that when you buy a stationary or tabletop piece of equipment, you get a free corded drill, valued at $60. Did I really need a corded drill? No, but its always nice to have one. But here is the catch... You first have to BUY the drill, and then do the mail-in rebate crap to get the $60 back. Ok, so no big deal. I had all the receipts and such. Brought the chopsaw home (this was like 3 weeks ago) and started using it. Finally got around to fill out the forms today to get my $60. After reading the fine print, I also needed the stupid UPC from the chopsaw box. Yeah, like I thought about that back then! So needless to say, I just lost out on $60.

Stupid mail-in rebates!!

[RidgeRunner]

Man, don't you know that they always require UPC codes for rebates?

[firechiken]

Your not alone, dude. Thats why they do this shit...a large percentage of people don't remember or bother to send them in. They got you to buy a drill. A drill which cost them about 4 bucks to make. So you helped them pay one of the few people who sent the damn thing in.

[JasonZ34]

Re: Stupid mail-in rebates

After reading the fine print, I also needed the stupid UPC from the chopsaw box. Yeah, like I thought about that back then! So needless to say, I just lost out on $60.

Stupid mail-in rebates!!

should have gone into the store with a box opener and cut one out of another box.

[patgizz]

now that they send them in the form of a check-postcard deal, i've never gotten one back, i think the a-holes that work in the back of the post orifice steal them.

they took about $300 worth of rebates from when i built my computer. i sent them all in the day after i bought the stuff, with everything requested(copy of receipt, ups), and nothing ever arrived.

[RidgeRunner]

I thought Shuttle had failed to send mine, but the $60 check finally showed up almost six months later.

[bud36light]

yeah ive had rebate stuff take a real long time to get here. sometimes 3 weeks sometimes over 6 months. of course by then you have totally forgot wtf its for. Seems more worse on computer stuff to me.

[Anonymous]

I did one for an engine degreaser that I bought, it said it was free after rebate. 2.99$ bottle, and you called the company, and they sent you out the bottle for free. You didnt buy it at stroes, u just got the card with the phone #. If u bought the bottle in the store, it was 2.99. Thing is, they charged 2.99 shipping and handling. Wow that's fair...

[pocket-rocket]

I bought a new 7 hp 60 gallon air compressor from Menards last weekend (reason number two why I won't have headers at the meet, a swimming pool is number one, lol) while it was on a special sale that was going to be up on the 4th. Paid about $2 more then a standard 20 gallon compressor for this beast, plus it has a $40 rebate. The catch on it? You get the rebate back as a gift card to be used at Menards. At least they printed out a barcoded reciept for the rebate, and don't need a UPC from the box, because there was no friggin box!

[kanchou]

take the Clark Howard view. The rebate they offer is what they think your personal information is worth.

I think of it this way. Any time you see a mail in rebate, just think to yourself "thats how much mark-up margin there is on this product vs cost." A trip to sites like www.froogle.com can save the wallet(or purse).

[pocket-rocket]

take the Clark Howard view. The rebate they offer is what they think your personal information is worth.

I think of it this way. Any time you see a mail in rebate, just think to yourself "thats how much mark-up margin there is on this product vs cost." A trip to sites like www.froogle.com can save the wallet(or purse).

If anyone here carries a purse vs a wallet.... Nevermind, I don't want to think about it, lol.

[kanchou]

what, no women here at all?

but anyways, back on topic, check out what froogle gives for Dewalt:

http://store.yahoo.com/tylertool/dewdw14chops.html

edit: oh and free ground shipping.

[bszopi]

That's the cheap one.... I got the middle one:

http://store.yahoo.com/tylertool/dwheavdut14c.html

Ok, its $30 cheaper that what I got it for. If I would have done the mail in rebate, then that would have been about the same cost.

[kanchou]

explains the free drill, then.

This company also sells some refurbished for $10 off. Hopefully you'll get some use out of Froogle later?

The only reason i'd buy from a local store was if it was something big, like a washer, or fridge or projection tv, and I got an extended warranty. Only one good reason for me, if it breaks, i dont want to -move- it.