March 2007
Rebates: Get what’s coming to you
Illustration by Carl Wiens
Rebates move merchandise and promote new products, so manufacturers like them--especially because they so seldom have to pay
out: Four of 10 people who are eligible for rebates never collect. But consumers can find them frustrating.
Peter Kastner of Boston-based Aberdeen Group, a technology research firm, says rebates go uncollected because consumers forget
about them, miss the deadline for sending documentation, or don’t send all they’re supposed to.
To be sure, rebates make you work. You must gather the serial number, sticker or label, original receipt, UPC code, and box
top; fill out (letter-perfectly) an official rebate form; and do all of this by a deadline. The last requirement is patience:
It can take 8 to 12 weeks to get your check. Companies say that fraud is a big reason they make you jump through hoops.
The good news is that some companies are streamlining the process. Best Buy, Circuit City, and some other stores let you apply
electronically and check your rebate’s status online.
CR’s take. To better your chance of getting a rebate:
- Read and understand requirements, including deadlines, before buying.
- Copy rebate materials and put them in a folder, in case the company rejects your claim or loses your submission. Record the latest date you expect the rebate.
- If the rebate form is available online, print it immediately after buying the product. The form might be removed from the Web site after a promotional period.
- Don’t wait until the deadline. If the company says something’s missing, you’ll need time to get it.
- Keep an eye out for your rebate check, which might resemble junk mail.
- If the check seems late, contact the company. If you’re left unsatisfied, file a complaint with your state’s attorney general or the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357.
