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Print 26 comment(s) - last by Samus.. on Jan 30 at 3:02 AM
You read that right, Best Buy has eliminated mail-in rebates on laptops and certain PC accessories

Best Buy, a company that PC enthusiasts often claim is one of the worst when it comes to mail-in rebates, has decided to eliminate the unreliable rebate system.  Best Buy will now look for alternatives to mail-in rebates, including an online rebate submission process that lets customers submit rebates online through Best Buy's web site.  In the next couple of weeks, the online rebates will spread to the following items: wireless routers, blank media, cables and several other products, according to the company.

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By spwrozek on 1/29/2006 1:29:31 AM , Rating: 2
They owe my 30 bucks from last May. Soemthing tells me I am never going to see this money. On the bright side perhaps no one else will have to go through that ever again. Or you can just shop at Newegg and never have to worry period.




RE: ...
By ascian5 on 1/29/2006 2:27:12 AM , Rating: 4
This is so-so news. There is no guarantee that the online system or alternative system will be any better than the mail-in one. Also, this applies to store rebates in the specified areas only, not 3rd parties/vendors/etc. and not throughout the store.

The rebate system does make sense for stores as most people do in fact forego the rebate process. This means a LOT more money for companies in an age where pure revenue and margins are of more importance than ever, especially for B&M salesplaces. However there are other perks for them too. I'm sure that money isn't sitting there idle jsut to be had, it's collecting interest and working for the company at the same time. And of course allowing the appearance of a lower price that is in no way, shape or form, guaranteed.

While I have been fortunate for the most part in my rebate situations, I do feel that they are obviously shady and it's a sad state of affairs that companies today rely on them so heavily while making them so difficult, complex, and cumbersome for consumers.

That being said, kudos to Best Buy for listening to consumers, that's a first for retailers in issues like this. Here's hoping the replacement process is at least a little more user-friendly.


RE: ...
By MrSmurf on 1/29/2006 11:12:47 AM , Rating: 2
At least online, you will have a record of it.


RE: ...
By MrSmurf on 1/29/2006 11:20:41 AM , Rating: 2
For example:

"#64056 — HITACHI 160GB INTERNAL HARD DRIVE $40 MIR

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Status: RETURNED
Your rebate request has been declined. Because the product(s) have been returned, they are no longer eligible for the rebate offer."

It's sitting in my comuter now but I have a record of it. Bastards!


RE: ...
By kilkennycat on 1/30/2006 1:37:56 AM , Rating: 2
CompUSA already has on-line rebate submissions. Many other bricks 'n mortar retailers do. Best Buy is very late but very good at blowing their own trumpet.


RE: ...
By Samus on 1/30/2006 3:01:01 AM , Rating: 2
Staples has had eBates for 6 years.


About time
By Penth on 1/29/2006 2:02:00 AM , Rating: 2
At the end of 2004 I read about Best Buy's plans to get rid of MIRs in the next two years. Last year I had $600 in valid rebates that got rejected that I'm still fighting for. The rebate idea is stupid, just sell it for a lower price in the first place.

Also, I expect that other companies (CompUSA, Circuit City, etc.) will follow. Hopefully mail-in-rebates are eventually wiped out all together. I mean a $5 rebate for some pepsi and chips? Come on.




RE: About time
By Brainonska511 on 1/29/2006 2:09:04 AM , Rating: 2
They don't get rid of the rebate process b/c some people just feel that filling out rebate stuff is not worth their time, so that just means more $$$ for the company selling the product (or the manufacturer).


RE: About time
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 1/29/2006 3:01:18 AM , Rating: 4
It's actually more complicated than that. There are two kinds of rebates, the manufacturer ones, and the ones issued by the store.

The manufacturer rebates are kind of a neat trick by the manufacturer to dilute the price of the component to all of its resellers at the same price, without actually looking like that. For example, i might sell a hard drive to BB for $120 and the same drive to Circuit City for $110. Even though I am giving "premium" pricing to CC, I offer a $15 rebate to BB -- solidifying my relationship with both manufacturers.

The other kind, 3rd party, are far more nefarious. A company approaches best buy offering rebates on several of its products. The 3rd party pays BB up front for the rebate, often giving BB as much of the rebate if not more. In turn, when a sale is made on a rebated item, the 3rd party gets the money from the item up front. Then, the rebater invests that money into something while you wait 6 months. If the rebater had a particular good money, you'll probably get your rebate back. If they didnt, you'll see every excuse in the world to not get your money back.

What a sham.

Kristopher



RE: About time
By her34 on 1/29/2006 7:28:00 PM , Rating: 2
can you give an example of the 3rd party rebates you're talking about using numbers? (i.e. best buy sales $100 ati video card, company z does what?)


RE: About time
By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 1/30/2006 12:55:14 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
can you give an example of the 3rd party rebates you're talking about using numbers? (i.e. best buy sales $100 ati video card, company z does what?)

Best buy sells an $80 video card for $100 plus a $20 MIR. Best buy gives the 3rd party company $18 or so, the 3rd party company invests the money and after making a nice return sends you back $20.

In theory everyone kind of wins, (best buy makes a couple extra bucks, you get your $20 "discount" and the 3rd party has some extra liquid cash for 2 months or so). Also, there is the whole "promotional" thinking behind the rebate that got you to buy the video card in the first place. Of course, theory and reality don't line up all that often either.

Kristopher


Here's an idea...
By Bonesdad on 1/29/2006 10:48:08 AM , Rating: 2
how bout just having a SALE and eliminating rebates? But I guess that would be a boon to customers, and they don't want THAT.




RE: Here's an idea...
By Larrymon2001 on 1/29/2006 12:52:04 PM , Rating: 2
I guess that'd be too difficult, since that means that the company wouldn't be making money off tax. Mail-in rebates here in Canada that are big usually mean more money coming off tax.


RE: Here's an idea...
By mindless1 on 1/30/2006 2:26:52 AM , Rating: 2
You fail to understand rebates. A majority of them aren't paid out whether it be failure to comply, failure to mail in, failure of rebate house to honor or failure to receive or cash the check.

The bottom line is that if a $200 hard drive had a $80 rebate(s), but instead they did away with the rebates and just put it on sale, it'd likely cost $160 or more on sale rather than $120 AR. If that's what you want to pay, nobody is stopping you, there are online vendors that sell for less than local stores w/o a rebate.


What a sham
By DukeN on 1/29/2006 1:16:42 PM , Rating: 2
Worstbuy posted news of 'eliminating' rebates a while ago. Now they just 'switch' them over to online rebates, which is what Staples has been doing for a while.
Jeez, customers are so gullible.




RE: What a sham
By shoRunner on 1/29/2006 7:00:32 PM , Rating: 2
have u ever checked their adds? they are eliminating MIR, the online submission is just a temporary relief. all of their memory and hard drive deals are without rebates, as well as most of their laptops.


They should only do instant rebates
By Christopher1 on 1/29/2006 8:12:20 PM , Rating: 2
The best thing for Best Buy to do, would be to offer ONLY instant rebates. No more of this mail-in, internet rebate bull, just take the 10 or 300 dollars off the price INSTANTLY.
That's what one store near my home is doing, taking the rebate off the price when you go to the counter, then telling the company sponsoring the rebate how many rebates they cashed, and how much money the company owes them.




By dblagent on 1/29/2006 10:19:46 PM , Rating: 2
If you would read what was posted - There are NO MORE rebates on laptops at all. They ARE getting rid of rebates, like what was posted earlier if you look at an ad the rebates are going away totally, the internet thing is a stopgap it appears until they are done converting over.

Now if only all other companys will follow, including internet sellers. I really hate mail-ins on an online purchase - NewEgg please follow suit!


About time...
By killerroach on 1/29/2006 1:44:57 AM , Rating: 2
Best Buy is highly unreliable with their rebates, but if this helps out... I'm all for it.




Copycats
By ketchup79 on 1/29/2006 7:59:42 AM , Rating: 2
Sounds like BB is copying Staples on this one. Staples has been doing online rebates for over a year, and I really like it. Rebates come back in about 3 weeks.




RE: Copycats
By MrSmurf on 1/29/06, Rating: 0
RE: Copycats
By chrisg22 on 1/29/06, Rating: 0
I hate rebates.
By CurtOien on 1/29/2006 10:11:06 AM , Rating: 2
My experience with rebates has been good with Best Buy.

I don't even like to shop at Office Max because of rebate experiences.

I HATE REBATES!!!




I hate rebates in any form
By zombiexl on 1/29/2006 5:42:54 PM , Rating: 2
They are a good gimmick for stores, but are useless to many of us who forget to mail them, or jst dont care. I wish there was some truth in advertizing though. They shouldnt be able to publish an after rebate price in ad's.

While I hate rebates i've had far more problems getting rebates from tiger direct than best buy.




FraudBuy!
By aspartame on 1/29/2006 6:40:22 PM , Rating: 2
Even if they dont eliminate, they should stop advertising after rebate prices. They advertise a laptop at $500, but when you go to register you pay $800+tax. All labels at BestBuy are reprinted with after rebate prices, where the customer never nows exactly how much he is paying at the register. I think this is decent fraud and BestBuy should be punished by law enforcement authorities if the rule of law still exists in this country.




notice the trend?
By Samus on 1/30/2006 3:02:07 AM , Rating: 2
anyone else notice that the recent circulars this year dont have many rebates in them. last week was a 59.99 no rebate 120gb wd hard drive, not its 59.99 no rebate seagate 120gb hard drive.

not bad.




"Nowadays you can buy a CPU cheaper than the CPU fan." -- Unnamed AMD executive









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