Judging Rebates: Rewards or Ripoffs

Why rebate submission may prove to be a total disaster

Each individual makes some kind of a personal judgment with respect to whether or not a rebate proves to be a reward or a rip off. Sometimes rebate submission can prove to be a total disaster or appears to be what is referred to by many as a rip off.

One must ask "Why?"

If the experience of trying to obtain a rebate proves to be a positive experience, the rebate submission may be considered to be a reward. On the other hand, if trying to obtain a rebate turns out to be a negative experience, it may be deemed to be a rip off.

How a person responds to his or her own personal experience, depends more or less upon his or her personal interpretation of the experience, which may be perceived in a negative or a positive light.

Everyone enjoys receiving the anticipated reward of a rebate.

"Rebates are instant money."

"Rebates are an easy way to get money!"

But, few people respond in a positive way, to what they consider getting taken advantage of or being ripped off. Nobody likes to think that he or she has been victimized with respect to obtaining a rebate, although that may not be what has  happened.

Many rebate submission experiences are rewarding and positive. Seldom does anyone hear about them. The ones that everyone hears about are the negative experiences.

One must ask, "Why do negative rebate experiences happen for so many people?"

"I did everything that I was supposed to do."

"It's not my fault!"

There are a number of reasons why rebates are not a positive experience for so many people.

First, a large number of people do not take into consideration the actual requirements of the rebate, even though they have been advised of these requirements by a person at a retail outlet or a store. Many times, they do not follow the instructions properly, but they may not be able to follow any other kinds of directives well either.

Many people cannot read or properly comprehend rebate submission requirements, guidelines, directions or other instructions, which are written on the rebate form. Rebate guidelines or rules are clearly spelled out or written in clear and concise English or another language. The consumer is expected to read and  follow those guidelines. Many people fail to do so. Many people feel that they don't have to follow anyone's guidelines about anything.

Many people do not read the instructions. They quickly toss out anything and everything that pertains to the rebate submission guidelines.

Most rebate forms, particularly those for mail in rebates, clearly state definite terms and conditions, which must be met by the consumer in order to qualify for the rebate in question. If these terms and conditions are not met, the rebate submission can be disqualified. A lot of people are not aware of this.

"Nobody told me this," is their excuse.

Many people refer to do rebate submission their own way or however they wish to do them, which can turn the rebate experience into a total disaster. Then, they wonder what happened to the rebate.

"I will do it my way," is the attitude taken by a large number of people, who suddenly realize that doing things their own way, may have created problems instead of giving them their anticipated reward or rewards.

A certain degree of arrogance is a part of this general attitude and will never guarantee the success of any rebate submission.

Many other people cannot read well, or comprehend instructions that are written on the rebate form, because their primary language is another language, other than the one in which the rebate instructions are written. They need assistance in order to comprehend the directives. Rebate submissions may be difficult for them, even though they are fully entitled to receive the rebate.

Literacy versus non-literacy is a major issue with respect to mail in rebate submissions.

While many people can purchase something that has a rebate on it, in spite of the fact that they cannot read and write, they may or may not have the skills to fill out the required paper work needed in order to obtain the rebate. They need assistance to obtain the designated rebate reward.

In every country of the world, non-literacy of the population is a major concern with respect to communication of needs and desires and not just with respect to rebates.

Many people feel that if they call the store, customer care or the rebate processing company, they can get around or avoid the directives or guidelines that have been given to them with respect to submitting and receiving the rebate. They feel if they argue long enough or hard enough, they don't have to do what is required of them. Someone else can and will do it for them. Unfortunately, that may not be the case. They may find that the rebate is voided completely.

It comes down to this attitude.

"Those guidelines only pertain to others, not to me."

Many times this has to do with the financial status a person has in society. There is a serious problem when people assume that the guidelines on the rebate form only apply to the other guy and not to them.

Note that the instructions and directives written on the rebate form apply to everyone, not just to the non-wealthier segments of society. There is nothing on any rebate form that states or guarantees that the rich can bypass the guidelines for rebate submission or the terms and conditions thereof.

There are also those who expect to receive an immediate rebate, because there are other kinds of rebates that give immediate gratification. Take for example, an in-store discount. In this case, the rebate is immediately taken off the purchase price, at the time of purchase. The rules for this kind of a rebate do not apply to every other rebate, but people think that they do, for some odd reason.

Frequently time frames are not taken into consideration. Most rebate forms will state clearly, how long it will be before the consumer can expect to receive the rebate. Invariably, there are those who demand immediate payment of the rebate, because another rebate was received within an earlier time frame. Processing does take time and allowances must be made for this reality.

These are only a few of the reasons why rebate submission can be perceived in a negative light and turn into a total disaster.

Avoiding this kind of a disaster with respect to obtaining potential rebate rewards requires a positive effort on the part of the consumer. Rebate submissions do not need to become a disaster and more than likely will not, if instructions, directives, guidelines and requirements are followed properly.