Do you trust rebate programs?

[sauce-c]

The title says it all. I know rebates can be make us change our hardware purchasing decisions when we're building parts lists, etc. For example, you might buy a $160 motherboard with a $20 rebate instead of the $140 motherboard with no rebate because it's a "better deal". Over time, and many disappointments, I have lost all faith in rebate programs and no longer take them into account when buying hardware. It just seems like no matter how hard I try they always find a way to not give me my rebate. This has thrown budgets off track for me multiple times. This just crossed my mind and I figured it would be interesting to see others opinions on the topic. 

 

So, do you base your purchasing decisions off rebates when they're applicable? Or do you plan on paying for the full retail price and see the rebate as a bonus if it works out? 

[LtStaffel]

Since I have never had issues getting my rebate money back, I usually get items with rebates if they are available.

[Daveeede]

MSI and Corsair each gave me a hard-time when I tried to get my rebate. But I did get it in the end. Corsair just thought that 11 months was an acceptable turn around time.

EVGA is the best for MIRs, in my opinion.

[sauce-c]

5 minutes ago, LtStaffel said:

-snip-

 

3 minutes ago, Daveeede said:

-snip-

hmmm, interesting! I'm sure it does vary from company to company a great deal. I added a poll, feel free to vote!

[79wjd]

Unless you screw something up you'll always get the rebate back. The one and only time I accidentally forgot something I just contacted Newegg and they refunded the rebate amount. So as long as I'm dealing with a reputable company then I have issues expecting rebates. Although you should count on rebates if you NEED the money.

[porina]

Depends on the size of the rebate (cashback). Small ones waste time, but bigger ones can be interesting. In particular, I've noticed HPE and Dell often have good offers on their low end servers, making them an interesting alternative to build from scratch. However when looking at detail, they are not equal. HPE I find don't require too much pain to claim back, and the times I've used it, got my cash without hassle. Dell and some others use a more cunning method which I'm not going to deal with. They have a strict time limit on when you can submit, along the lines it must me NO EARLIER than 30 days from purchase, and no later than 60. They are intentionally making it more likely for you to forget to claim it at all. Screw that.

[Gargone77]

I haven't had a rebate declined yet, but some of them take a LONG damn time.  I bought my Asus RX480 around Christmas, and just got my $20 rebate 2 days ago....so 11 months.  I had given up.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

I've had issues once or twice before, but NCIX was able to resolve the issue with the manufacturer. 

[Kawaii Koneko]

When it comes to rebate programs, I'm usually the problem. I've bought many items that offered rebates, only for me to forget to redeem them. I've lost hundreds of dollars, maybe even over a thousand because I simply forget to claim them.

[AshleyAshes]

16 minutes ago, Kawaii Koneko said:

When it comes to rebate programs, I'm usually the problem. I've bought many items that offered rebates, only for me to forget to redeem them. I've lost hundreds of dollars, maybe even over a thousand because I simply forget to claim them.

And this is why they have rebate programs.  The programs are legit but since you have to make effort and send something out by mail and you have a time window to do it, less people are likely to take advantage of them even while going 'Ooo, save $20! :O' pushes them to make the purchase in the first place.

 

It's clever really.  You offer free money and then rely on human sloth to keep you from giving out most of the money.

[Kawaii Koneko]

Just now, AshleyAshes said:

And this is why they have rebate programs.  The programs are legit but since you have to make effort and send something out by mail and you have a time window to do it, less people are likely to take advantage of them even while going 'Ooo, save $20! :O' pushes them to make the purchase in the first place.

 

It's clever really.  You offer free money and then rely on human sloth to keep you from giving out most of the money.

If they are relying on my sloth or rather procrastination, then they will rarely be disappointed.