Retailers Hate Us

[aero]

Rebates are too a scam.

They use them to collect your info for free for marketing purposes, often to resell to others.

They also bank on the fact that some people will forget or get screwed. I tossed out a UPC on a $5 rebate a few weeks back. I'm therefore fucked. If it had just been an old-fashioned sale, there would be no problem.

Plus they want to keep that money in their stocks as long as possible.

no offense, but how is any of that a "scam"?

99% of retailers already sell your purchase information coded to your credit card number. they have been doing that for decades. Also keeping your money in stock for the stated period is part of the deal you agree to.. They need to do it because of the huge number of people who would try and get a rebate and return the item. There are many rebates, especially stacked ones where a copy of the upc is usable. I myself pay all my bills at the very begining of of my credit card cycle. I have actually changed monthly billing cycles on every utility and recurring charge to match it thereby giving me a two month float. Am I scamming?

Yes there are a few companies, especially certain retailers, with their own rebate plans with attrocious records. I used to love tiger direct but their in house rebate system is now a rip off, but they are not all "scams." They are incentives. I don't bother with $5 and $10rebates, but I got a hitachi rebate for $140, it took me two minutes to fill out, a stamp and I got it in five weeks. I don't feel scammed in the least.

Yes I would pay $50 outright rather than $55 minus a $10 rebate, but for many items, the manufactureres offer these rebates to allow retailers to change prices to fit competition from other manufacturers for items already in stock. Prices often fall so reapidly it is the only way to keep retailers from getting stuck. they don't have another alternative.

[JohnnyCNote]

The gathering of consumer info stated a long time before rebates became popular. The warranty cards that have accompanied products for years almost always asked for demographic and purchasing information that was used for marketing purposes. At least with rebates the consumer gets something back for the trouble. For all the rebates I've received, I can't say I've noticed any appreciable increase in junk mail, spam or telemarketing calls.

Remember rule #1: Individual results may vary.

[aero]

The gathering of consumer info stated a long time before rebates became popular. The warranty cards that have accompanied products for years almost always asked for demographic and purchasing information that was used for marketing purposes. At least with rebates the consumer gets something back for the trouble. For all the rebates I've received, I can't say I've noticed any appreciable increase in junk mail, spam or telemarketing calls.

Remember rule #1: Individual results may vary.

Exactly. people have no idea how long data mining and resale has been going on.

got a supermarket discount card? they could tell your health insurance company if you have been eating a lot of potato chips.

[ViRaL1]

Only if you make the mistake of giving too much information on the app. Most things like SSN are optional. Even then, at best they can only attest to what you buy, now what you eat.