Rebates For Better or Worse

While most Gripe Line readers seem to share my dislike of rebates, there are those who actually seem to enjoy chasing down their wayward rebate checks. Even when they do encounter a deadbeat rebate, such readers always seem to find a silver lining. "Have you been getting complaints about rebate programs getting worse?" one reader wrote. "I frequently buy software with rebate offers and I'm generally quite partic

While most Gripe Line readers seem to share my dislike of rebates, there are those who actually seem to enjoy chasing down their wayward rebate checks. Even when they do encounter a deadbeat rebate, such readers always seem to find a silver lining.

"Have you been getting complaints about rebate programs getting worse?" one reader wrote. "I frequently buy software with rebate offers and I'm generally quite particular about meeting deadlines, clipping UPCs and the like. Recently, I've received a spate of rejections, including ones claiming that I failed to include a UPC, which I know I included. Offending companies have included iolo (System Mechanic), Nuance (Naturally Speaking), Ahead (Nero) and Corel (Paint Shop Pro Photo). It just seems as though the rebate houses are working to raise their rejection rate. Even if you do save your documentation, how many people are going to run off another copy, and send another letter in the faint hope of collecting their $20 - $50 rebate? And what's the downside for the rebate house? There's no penalty; they just have to send out the check that they should have sent out in response to the initial submission. The only real recourse that I see is to complain to the software publishers themselves. I should add that there are vendors with whom I have never had any trouble whatsoever -- Microsoft, Adobe and Kingston come to mind."

Another reader provided a window into the seamier side of the rebate business when he had trouble getting a $32 rebate from Gigafast. OnRebate.com, itself the source of many rebate gripes we've heard in the past, sent him a message explaining all Gigafast's fault:

"We regret to inform you that the above rebate claim has not been funded by the sponsoring manufacturer, Gigafast Inc., and therefore cannot be paid. Gigafast Inc. contracted with OnRebate.com Inc. to have OnRebate.com Inc. process Gigafast Inc. sponsored rebates but, in violation of the terms of this contract, Gigafast Inc. has not funded disbursements for several months and has not responded to our many funding requests or other attempts to reach them. As a result rebate disbursements to customers who purchased Gigafast Inc. products have not been made. At this point your rebate claim is being cancelled but your rebate details will be kept on file in the event that you are able to contact Gigafast, Inc. and get them to fund your claim.