tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post6205182081805105674..comments2024-03-27T17:55:18.260-07:00Comments on Perfume Project NW: WEEKLY RANT: MAIL-IN REBATESDoc Ellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08376377441504529063noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-49221836277364506862012-07-20T22:50:16.457-07:002012-07-20T22:50:16.457-07:00Undina, You're right that the consumer's i...Undina, You're right that the consumer's interests have nothing to do with the reasons why those mail-in rebates and rebate/"gift" cards exist. I really hate anything that makes life more complicated than it needs to be.Doc Ellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08376377441504529063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453792360015486892.post-38542473430744838522012-07-20T17:54:47.461-07:002012-07-20T17:54:47.461-07:00All those mail-in rebates are nothing more than a ...All those mail-in rebates are nothing more than a sales hook: people tend to believe those huge letters $3.99 and disregard small pring "after $5000 mail-in rebate". So they base their purchasing decision not on a real price but on a perceived one - even though they hadn't mailed any rebates on previous occasions. So in the end most companies are making money on those "rebates" and even on regular gift cards.<br /><br />About the rebate cash cards: the person you spoke to was right, you do not need to cancel anything, you cannot be charged anything beyond the amount you have on that card. But there are some caveats with those stupid cards. For example, you shouldn't try using it at a restaurant because their processing software usually tries to request additional 20% from the card - to make sure you have enough credit for tips. And returning money back to these prepaid cards is a hussle. Also, the card might be declined if the requested sum is higher than you have on it, so unlike it happens with gift cards where the amount is deducted and you can pay the difference, at least some of these cards will decline the complete transaction unless you specify the exact sum to be taken from it.<br /><br />I hate those cards and try not to deal with them if possible but I completely understand why it's done this way. Yours and my interests weren't a part of the consideration, I'm positive ;)Undinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05292100499371921334noreply@blogger.com