Best Buy will phase out mail in rebates in 2 years!

[budz]

I thought this was a interesting article regarding Best Buy eliminating mail in rebates in the next 2 years.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7357071/

[kenmasters83]

its about time mail in rebates are BS to begin with its all just a scam its one of the reasons why i dont bother to go into officemax circuitcity or bestbuy when i can go to newegg.com without a stupid rebate and still pay half of what either one of those stores charge...for that specific item.

[JohnnyCNote]

There are 2 important clues in the article:

Boyer said the phase-out would happen over the next two years, as Best Buy shifts its promotional spending to programs like its “Reward Zone,” where customers pay an up-front fee but earn points toward future discounts.

and

The company also said it would convert all of its U.S. Best Buy stores to its “customer centricity” model of focusing on certain customer segments within three years — faster than previously planned. Chief executive Brad Anderson said 170 to 220 stores would be opened or converted to that format during fiscal 2006.

The first one suggests that instead of a check which one can cash and spend however one pleases, the "points" would probably only be valid at Best Buy. Personally, I'd rather get a check.

Second, the “customer centricity” thing is a plan to identify "problem" customers, like those who never buy their service plans, who place "excessive" demands on their customer service, and who otherwise don't alow the store to make maximum profits. For more info check out BestBuySux.org....

[verchad]

There are 2 important clues in the article:

Boyer said the phase-out would happen over the next two years, as Best Buy shifts its promotional spending to programs like its “Reward Zone,” where customers pay an up-front fee but earn points toward future discounts.

and

The company also said it would convert all of its U.S. Best Buy stores to its “customer centricity” model of focusing on certain customer segments within three years — faster than previously planned. Chief executive Brad Anderson said 170 to 220 stores would be opened or converted to that format during fiscal 2006.

The first one suggests that instead of a check which one can cash and spend however one pleases, the "points" would probably only be valid at Best Buy. Personally, I'd rather get a check.

Second, the “customer centricity” thing is a plan to identify "problem" customers, like those who never buy their service plans, who place "excessive" demands on their customer service, and who otherwise don't alow the store to make maximum profits. For more info check out BestBuySux.org....

I have been in their rewards program for awhile now and it's okay. Certain things I need to get I will go to Best Buy for, when they are on sale or when they send me coupons in the mail. I have also used the rewards certificates for purchasing gifts for others.

[bmwracer]

Two years?? Why not right now??

That's why I don't shop there... What a racket.

[hech54]

So how are the same rebates for the same exact product better at Circuit City or CompUSA? If it is a manufacturers rebate (like 90% of the rebates I see) you get the same amount OFF wherever you purchased the item from.
A $20 rebate that you need to mail into a company(lets say HP for a printer) to get a check from HP for the $20 is valid wherever you bought the HP printer from as long as you have a receipt(proof of purchase).
You not getting your rebate FROM HP in a timely manner has NOTHING to do with the retailer.
Now don't get me wrong....advertising the price of an item WITH the rebate price in mind IS a very stupid business practice...but it is also stupid at CompUSA and Circuit City.
Many people wait for shipping discounts from rima.com or supermediastore.com to buy their blank media and proudly post such discounts here....what is the difference?

If you don't want to play the game(the rebate game) that a manufacturer plays.....then don't.

[snafu099]

While I don't like the rebate situation any more than the rest, Staples IMHO has atleast taken a step in the right direction with it's ezrebate program. Submit it online, no worry about not doting all the i's or crossing the t's or other crap that allows denial of rebate.

It is not perfect and does not always work, but it is easy and the rebates com from Staples not the product vender