Winning the Rebate Game
As product rebates have become more common, strong opinions about them have arisen. Some people shop for them aggressively, jumping through hoops, filling out paperwork for bargains. Others mistrust and avoid them, simply buying at the best prices available. And still others simply ignore them all together.
If you plan your purchases by watching for rebates, be wary of "too-good-to-be-true" offers and follow these simple rules to avoid pitfalls and be successful in obtaining your rebate.
First and always, remember future rebates for purchases you make today. Many offers reward you for upgrading software versions or replacing competitor's products. Either way, you must prove that you owned the product you're upgrading or replacing, usually by sending in the product's installation CD or a page from its manual. Since some vendors allow rebates for owning any of their or a competitor's products, don't discard product material until you're sure you won't need it someday for a rebate.
Similarly, save everything that a rebate may require, including purchase receipts and packaging. Some rebates require you to submit original receipts, so if you buy multiple rebate products, put them on separate receipts. And if a product provides multiple rebates, request duplicate receipts to avoid needing to make copies.
File your rebate promptly. Many rebates expire or have specific timeframes within which you can file your claim. Be sure to take note of the deadline before making the purchase in case the rebate deadline has already passed.
Write legibly. If a clerk can't read your information, you may lose the rebate.
Make a copy of everything you send. You may need to resubmit a rebate request and you may need the receipt for other products bought at the same time, for example, to receive warranty service.
Enclose a prominent list of rebate requirements and check each one, indicating that you've satisfied all requirements. It may not make a difference, but I've had good luck receiving my rebates since I started doing this, perhaps because it may indicate to the company that I'm paying attention to the details and may complain if the rebate is denied.
Save copies of paperwork until payment is received.
Consider paying for post office proof-of-mailing and receipt acknowledgments, especially for large rebates.
Record pending rebates and complain to the store or vendor if they're not received when due. Some people use spreadsheets or specialized software but I find a simple file to be adequate.
When possible, submit rebates online. Many stores and vendors print instructions for doing this on their receipts.
Some vendors enable you to check your rebate status online. Doing this can either reassure you that payment is in process or alert you to a problem.
Complain if a rebate is unjustly denied.
Finally, watch for rebates in store flyers. Especially when new product versions are released. Rebates often reduce prices dramatically, sometimes to zero. And always read the fine print.
About the Author
Gabe Goldberg has developed, worked with, and written about technology for decades.
