Comments on: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Rebate?

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:26:23 +0000

@James | Tech for the Masses,

James,

You hit the nail on the head—the extra money never hurts!

Thanks for commenting.
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Three Things I Never did to Fix My Finances

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:25:30 +0000

@kosmo @ The Casual Observer,
Kosmo,

Yes, that is probably one of their “techniques” to not lose so much money on these things. That and also counting on the fact that a lot of people simply forget to send them in.

Sometimes, the follow up needs to get a little “animated” so to speak, but I have yet to be denied one.

Thanks for sharing–and you have a nice blog by the way…
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Three Things I Never did to Fix My Finances

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:22:55 +0000

@me in millions,

You know, that’s exactly how I felt at first. I just wouldn’t fool with them.

But again, its all about organization and having a system. Most rebates involve single purcahses, and believe it or not, usually your first born isn’t a requirement (LOL).

I just checked what I made in 2009 from these rebates, and I was shocked at how much it was.. A lot were used as gifts and other purposes. Even if you add up all the time that I spent cutting out UPCs and so forth, I think it still works out in the end.

Thanks for commenting
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Three Things I Never did to Fix My Finances

By: James | Tech for the Masses

James | Tech for the Masses — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:38:58 +0000

I’ve passed on a lot of these rebates for the same reasons as you. Now thinking about it, its the same as leaving money on the table. I think Ill start taking the time by filling out the rebate. Extra money or usable items never hurts!
James | Tech for the Masses´s last blog ..Cloud Computing Nirvana

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:46:13 +0000

Craig and Justin,

Thank you for commenting. There are lots of rebates out there, you just need to find them. Circulars, online, walking into retailers, they are out there.

Stay organized with how you file them, make copies of everything, and follow up and you should be just fine.
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Change Your Thoughts on Change

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:39:59 +0000

Craig

If you stay organized, keep track of them, and follow up, you usually don’t lose out.

I have yet to have a problem with one.

Thanks for the input!
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Change Your Thoughts on Change

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:39:04 +0000

@Justin,
As far as I hav been able to tell, its just an all around good deal. You can get great deals on a variety of software applications at mot of your retailers (Office Depot, Staples, etc.) just by stopping by.

I am not bombarded with junk mail.

Never really thought about why they do it, I just take advatnage of their offers.

Thanks for commenting
David/Yourfinances101´s last blog ..Change Your Thoughts on Change

By: kosmo @ The Casual Observer

kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:48:44 +0000

@Justin, Mostly, they benefit because you buy the item. Rebates are better than simply lowering the price, because a surprisingly high amount of people simply neglect to fill out the rebate, even after having it play a pivotal role in the purchase.

Menards has a whole section at the front of the store for rebates. I think the receipt says something like “you need rebate 78″m then you go to to front of the store and grab the form from bin 78. They are the more rebatorous store that I’m aware of.
kosmo @ The Casual Observer´s last blog ..Interview with Kelly Whalen of The Centsible Life

By: kosmo @ The Casual Observer

kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:54:37 +0000

I’m impressed that you’ve only had 2 of 38 bounce back to you for some reason. My fail rate is higher than that, and it’s almost always a matter of the rebate center making a gross error – such as stating that the purchase was outside of the specified date range, when that date on the receipt is very clearly within the range.

I’ll take advantage of a rebate when one applies, but I don’t go out of my way to buy something because of a rebate.
kosmo @ The Casual Observer´s last blog ..Hall of Fame Reactions

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:55:08 +0000

I really haven’t gone out of my way to deal with rebates. Like you said intimidated you, just too much paperwork and takes too long for most to work in your favor.
Craig´s last blog ..Big Impact Savings Strategies and Advice