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The holiday buying season's quickly approaching and all of us are always
looking for ways to stretch our budgets and get more for our money...and
rebates continue to be one of the most common techniques used by retailers out
to make a sale, but are they worth the hassle? Joining us with a
definite opinion about this is our consumer watchdog and Dallas Morning News
columnist Benjamin Dover.....
Well Ben, judging from your column in this morning's paper, you're not much of
a fan of rebates, are you?
Answer #1: Nothing makes my
blood boil faster than being jerked around by retailers that fail to pay
consumers rebates in a timely manner. I'm still waiting on a $100 rebate check
for a new computer monitor I bought last April...and the most irritating thing
about this? I broke my own rule about biting on rebate offers.
Question #2: What rule did
you break?
Answer #2: I broke Dover's
#1 Rebate Rule: "Don't buy a product based solely on post-rebate
price." Let me clarify here...I'm referring to
"smaller" merchandise-electronics retailers seem to use rebates more
than just about any other product category. Rebates on bigger ticket
items like autos or even homes aren't usually a problem to cash out-since the
dollars involved with these transactions are usually pretty substantial and
frequently "rebated" (or applied) at the time of purchase.
Question #3: You can get
rebates when you buy or sell a home? That's a new one...and I'll get
back to it in just a minute, but why are you such a non-fan of rebates?
If a big retailer's offering me some cash back as an enticement to buy a
particular brand of merchandise, they've got to pay, don't they?
Answer #3: Sure, they're
supposed to pay and if you're aggressive about pursuing what you're owed, they
will. But the main reason I've soured on rebates is because of the
hoops many retailers force us to jump through, exacerbated by other assorted
rebate-related games they play...and to help everyone get what they're owed if
they do decide to bite of the "rebate bait" this holiday season,
I've put together a list of tips that'll increase your chances of getting paid
what you're owed in a timely manner.
Dover's 8
Rebate Rules
#1 Read rebate requirements before you
buy...
...Or as soon as possible after you've purchased the
product to make sure you meet eligibility requirements and mail-in deadline
dates. (Last year I lost out on $80 of rebates because I missed a deadline by
two days.)
#2 Download (or print) on-line rebate
offers immediately!
If you're buying a product and the rebate offer is online,
download and/or print the rebate immediately. Many online sites remove rebate
offers as soon as the promotion is over.
#3 Make great copies of everything you mail
in.
This is good advice no matter what...papering your trail's
essential, especially when you play the rebate game...and make sure you keep
great notes, period.
#4 Make sure they can read your writing.
Always complete all information requested on the rebate
form in legible handwriting. (If you're a doctor or write like me, get someone
else to fill in the blanks for you.) Also consider writing in "all
caps" to lower the potential for errors on the rebate fulfillment
center-side of the transaction.
#5 Always give them what they've asked for.
Make
sure to provide all documents requested on the rebate form. If they
specifically request original receipts and UPC bar codes (trust me, they
will), give them exactly what they're asking for-or prepare to have your claim
summarily rejected.
#6 Paper your trail!
If the amount of the rebate owed is large enough, mail your
paperwork via Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. You'll have to be the
judge of what dollar amount's worth the extra hassle and expense, since these
extra services will add an additional $4.42 in mailing costs.
#7 Organize your paperwork and get out the
calendar.
Keep all rebate documentation and copies in a safe place
and follow up on the dates they're due. Computer and mark these due dates on
your calendar, and be prepared to call their toll-free number after the
deadline's passed without a check. Companies are required to send rebates
within the time frame promised; if no time is specified, within 30 days.
#8 Scrutinize your mail!
Consumers have been known to mistakenly throw rebate checks
away. Why? Because "in the name of containing costs and saving money for
the retailer" some rebate checks are in the form of postcard-checks.
Oops! It looks like "junk mail" and gets thrown away...creating a
resulting "net" cost of zero to the retailer. (Imagine that!)
Struggling with your monthly house payment? You
might not have to if you take this shot of Dover Mortgage-related Common
Sense! Especially for Texans (God bless the intelligent
voters that allowed Proposition 6 to pass last month), homeowners over the age
of 62 in Texas (other states age-limits will vary) can eliminate their monthly
house payments if they know where to go. Oh yeah... here's
where you can find more info on how to stretch those fixed-budgets.....
Bait-and-switch is such a common landmine for
consumers trying to finance (or re-fi) a mortgage. Don't get caught
in their expensive traps--but take the Dover-proven route to stress-free
finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low
levels! Interest rates are still lower
than they were a year ago, so
read what the big shots are saying about the future of those (still)
incredibly-low interest rates. And
since we're on the topic of good timing, what
are you waitin' for? Cash
in and lock in the lowest rate in decades
by re-financing your current mortgage and cut 10 to 15
years off your term! It's easy to get educated about the process first...and
the price is right! (Free!) Everything
you need to know can be found on-line; get your own copy of Bens'
2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.
Now that you're motivated to buy a house, or trade-up
from your current home...how would you like to get
some cash back on your next home purchase (or sale)? (I'll
show you how.) Click here.....
Okay, so you're about to move; it's time to go
down your "things to do" checklist: Moved
your phone service and utilities? [Check!]
Put in your change of address on your mail?
[Check!!]
Have all of your belongings held hostage by some rogue
movers? [Check...not!!!]
Do your homework (first)
and choose the right moving company!
Ben's
Moving Tips will save you time, money and lots-o-heartache.....
Don't get taken in by radio-commercial
claims from car leasing companies out to get you hooked and then set to wear
you down and beat the emotional (and maybe financial) daylights out of you!
Check out Ben's free Smart Car Seminar automotive
acquisition tips right
here!
Here's the first and last automobile leasing company
you'll ever need to deal with, no matter where you live: Ben's no-brainer
choice is Texas-based Manufacturers
Auto Leasing: They have loyal
clients across the entire state of Texas and around the nation. Why? Because
they'll take care of you better than anyone else out there!
By the way:
If you're facing one of those upside-down scenarios (car business term meaning
you're financially buried), or maybe you simply want to bail on your current
vehicle and need someone to get creative on your behalf, Manufacturers
Auto Leasing is the best in the
business. Period.
Time to get off your butt and start making travel
plans for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! (You're on the clock and it's now
21 days away):
Stretch your travel budget and get your Thanksgiving or
Christmas-time travel planning handled now. Check out Ben's no-brainer
choice for hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.
Still looking for a cool birthday (or other special
occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long?
Then give 'em a subscription to the Dose
of Dover...the most
reliable source of insights and no s*** ideas available on the planet. (You
can afford it...it's free!) Time to share the wealth! Sign-up
for a subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right
here!
Got credit problems? (Know someone who does?) Wanna
know more about the inner-workings of that black hole known as the credit
reporting bureau? You can get a digital copy
of Ben's 1993 (#5) bestseller Life
After Debt on-line, right now. Read
how right here.....
Wanna buy your first home...or a bigger
home...or just re-finance? Interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low
levels: Ben's no-brainer choice for any/all
of your mortgage needs? Easy...do it all on-line
or on the phone with the official mortgage company of
www.benjamindover.com
and your first (and only) stop:
Speaking of Thanksgiving...wanna be a hero this
year for a change? Instead of
showing up at someone's house with a cheapo bottle of wine that either nobody
will drink or it'll end up being "re-gifted" somewhere down the
road, bring something that's sure to set you apart! Screw-off tops or canned
cranberry sauce can be the quickest way to be de-invited for future events so
spend a few bucks and do a little planning today to bring beautiful flowers,
direct from Hawaii with you. Ben's
affordable choice? Tropical
Colors. Order on-line or give 'em a call toll-free (remember
to call after 1p ET/12n CT/11a MT and 10a PT because of the
time difference): (800) 965-9732.
Still
looking for a cool birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on
giving, all year
long? Then give 'em a subscription to the
Dose
of Dover...the most
reliable source of insight and no s*** ideas available on the planet.
(You can afford it...it's free!) Time
to share the wealth! Sign-up for a
subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right
here!
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