[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Are Mail-In Rebates Headed for Extinction? here

[ctllimey]

TurboTax did more than eliminate rebates; they also made you pay to file the return, adding $14.95 to the cost. Come to think of it, that was a rebate, too.

[silvergeek]

I am in full agreement! I was taught to not use the word hate...but with rebates it is fully warranted. I think it had a part in taking CompUSA to the skids and Fry's wasn't so bad in the past but now they are on the band-wagon. I refuse to use rebates any more. I watch until the product I want is priced right without a rebate, buy most of my stuff from Computer Geeks, etc. The only way to make rebates fair is to redeem them at the cash register with the merchant pushing them up the line to the manufacturer, that way we get 100% rebates. Now quoting Mr. PR Guy, "I don't think it's clear at all that customers hate rebates. There's a dedicated group of customers who fill out their rebate forms and send them in," Baker says. Give him the idiot of the month award! Just because people fill out the form doesn't mean they love it-give them the choice of an instant refund or coupon and see which one they take. The whole issue is skulduggery, smoke & mirrors, bordering on full-fledged scam!!

[Psallo]

I am sorry that the big deal made by the few will lead me to lose the advantage of using rebates. That $10 off of $40 will not now go to everyone. It will go to nobody, just as Baker says. And for those that everyone gets at the register, they will never be as large as those one must put a little effort into in order to get. It is only because most people are too lazy and the mfg can bank on not giving a rebate for every item sold that the rebate amount can be as high as it is. So, all you cranks who never bothered or who do not want to put in the effort, you are ruining the great savings those of us who do not complain and put in the effort would have had. But isn't that the way of envy? If I can't have it then I don't want anybody to have it. Thanks for all your belly-aching. One more case of media hype distorting an issue and ruining a good thing.

[CBolton47]

Rebates have become a bait/switch for companies to use. I do a lot of rebates and keep precise record copies of my mail-ins. Too often I have been told I sent in the wrong material, or did not mail in a certain form, etc. - and only through argument or faxing them a copy of what I mailed in did I receive the rebate. I have found certain (well known) companies are worse than others. Imagine a company not fulfilling several thousand rebates per year/per different items - the profit is enormous!! Many people I have talked with said they did not pursue their rebate (after it was rejected) - and that is what the company is counting on.

[rp48ct]

Symantec has a new rebate program you should know about! After a purchase from their web site, I submitted my $20 USD rebate form with all necessary info as requested on or about 4/5/07. About a month later I got a postcard informing me that an purchase invoice was not included in my submission, (not the case). A customer service call resulted in a voice telling me the problem would be corrected, but that it would probably be another 6 weeks to get my rebate.Three weeks later I received an envelope from Symantec containing a $20 ECOUNT Visa debit card with instructions on how to use my new account and plastic. Also included were a series of informational leaflets indicating that Ecount and my account were now owned by Citibank, N.A.. Most importantly, there was a 4 page "terms and conditions" policy. After multiple phone calls to both Symantec and Ecount, I had come to learn that an "account" was opened in my name, without my consent or knowledge. Both parties insisted t

[Topkick]

I am one that hates rebates but you are probably right....ending rebates will not lower prices...However, you can still get price breaks on TurboTax at places like Sam's and Costco...

[Topkick]

You can still get price breaks on TurboTax at Sam's and Costco

[mjd420nova]

After many failed attempts from Fry's, Best Buy, Circuit City and many others to get the rebates they used in their advertisments, I never buy anything with a mail in rebate. It has to be an instant rebate or I'll find another retail outlet with a lower price and NO rebate. Too many of the rebates were refused for one reason or another. Missing sales receipt or wrong UPC are the most often excuse. Even after I know the proper paper work was supplied but was refused, I might have been better off saving the postage. Many require you send the ORIGINAL receipt, then claim it wasn't received, now what, you sent the original and don't have another. I usually copy everything I sent but it won't convince them you sent them the proper paperwork. Another said I had the wrong UPC from the package, when I cut it off the box and taped it to the paperwork. I just see it as a way to get you to buy without any intention of honoring the rebate. Shop around and find the best price without the rebate scam and save yourself the hassle.