My brilliant idea

[Jahira]

So I work at Best Buy in computers. (Note: Pretty much all Best Buy computer packages have mail-in rebates on them) So I am talking to this guy about his 250 dollars worth of mail-in rebates that he would get with a package. In a joking way, he proposed I give him 200 dollars in straight cash and he give me the rebates. I do the work and wait, but I get 50 dollars profit(ok a little less because of mailing). I know from working there for almost 2 years about 90% of the people who come in hate the mail-in rebates and would gladly give up a percentage of the money to get straight cash today.

Now if I found a way to open a business that did this but with all mail-in rebates all around the country, I could be in the cash.

Now here are the problems I have come up with so far. First, you only can have one mail-in rebate per address. So I would have to find a way to get multiple addresses for each rebate. Second, I don't know if this is technically legal. Third, I know rebates don't always come back, but if I could find a way to make this work, I think a ton of people would take advantage of it.

[Edited on 1-13-2005 by Jahira]

[Soulpieced]

Second, I don't know if this is technically legal

.

If it's not illegal, I believe it would be considered unethical.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Jahira
First, you only can have one mail-in rebate per address. So I would have to find a way to get multiple addresses for each rebate. Second, I don't know if this is technically legal. Third, I know rebates don't always come back, but if I could find a way to make this work, I think a ton of people would take advantage of it.

Fourth, unless you're standing at their point of sale waiting to handle the rebate, it doesn't save them any work, and they won't use the service.

However, I agree rebates suck. I'd be more likely to buy something $200 cheaper than with a $250 rebate any day of the week.

Jorddyn, hates filling those things out

[Mistomeer]

I sold the last mail-in rebate I got. It was for a Replay TV (10X better than Tivo) and it was a $50 rebate I sold to a friend for $20.

[kheldarin]

I must've lost 200 dollars by not filling out those fuckin rebate forms.

[kheldarin]

Oh, by the way, does Best Buy pay good?

[CrystalTears]

I always have turned in my rebates. I was going to get the item anyway, may as well get some cash back for it. Only takes a few minutes of my time, I really don't know what the big deal is. I mean it's still money.

And so many people not doing them is why putting them in is great. They know that most people won't take advantage of it and yet still make happy those who do partake in it. I think it's great.

Although to the original poster, I wouldn't engage in that, if I were you. It's just asking for bad joojoo.

[SpunGirl]

I think it's a great idea, but unfortunately, I don't think the computer companies would like it. I'm sure they count on a certain percentage of those rebates never getting sent in.

-K

[Sean]

Originally posted by Jorddyn

Fourth, unless you're standing at their point of sale waiting to handle the rebate, it doesn't save them any work, and they won't use the service.

However, I agree rebates suck. I'd be more likely to buy something $200 cheaper than with a $250 rebate any day of the week.

Jorddyn, hates filling those things out

I don't know about that. I'd use such a service depending on the turnaround time. Part of the reason I hate rebates is because I don't like waiting 6 weeks+ to get my refunded money. If I could instead waiting a day or two for a check to be sent I'd be much more willing to deal with the paperwork. But thats just me.

[Nakiro]

Its perfectly legal, just make sure you get the necessary UPC information when you buy the rebate.

Car salesmen do this all the time with factory rebates.

[SpunGirl]

Originally posted by kheldarin
Oh, by the way, does Best Buy pay good?

I think Jenisi posted about how it sucked to work there, and Tsa'ah made a thread about how they sucked at customer service. Maybe they could help you out.

-K

[Stunseed]

I work for a rival company, and have had many offers of exactly what you're proposing, Jahira. The only real issue is using the same address for your rebates. In your case, I'd wager 75 to 90% of the rebates are bundled. 250 in mail-in rebates, would be 50 from the printer manufacturer, 50 from the monitor manufacturer, and 150 bundle rebate from Best Buy. Best Buy keeps those rebates databased, so I would think over time a paper trail would lead back to you.

For me, it violates my ethics as well as the company I work for, clearly written out in the whole "Welcome to..." video. I certainly do understand the want for extra money, but also is the fact that rebates aren't 100% guaranteed to be qualified. So you could also screw yourself over that way, too.

[Nakiro]

Its funny that people are concerned with violating ethical standards when it comes to rebates.

Rebates themselves could be seen as unethical since they are designed and advertized knowing people will consider them a discout but only a fraction will actually cash in on them.

That and the information gained from the rebate itself is later sold off for advertising purposes.

[Stunseed]

I'm so ethical, when people tip me for taking their merchandise out, I donate it to Gifts in Kind, my company's charity.

Call me lame, I know.

[Fengus]

Even if you do take advantage of the rebate its still good for a buisness, cause they have your money, and you are asking them to give it back. There was a class-action lawsuit against Iomega a few years back because they kept rebate for 6 months or more. A rebate is like a revolving 0% loan for a company, as long as they get enough sales, they have X extra amount of money indefinately.

As for wether this is legal, you'll have to read the rebate rules, and then consider wether that can hold up in a court of law. This one per address sounds flaky, and may have been written in for just such an occasion.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Stunseed
I'm so ethical, when people tip me for taking their merchandise out, I donate it to Gifts in Kind, my company's charity.

Call me lame, I know. Not lame at all... that's a pretty stand up thing to do.

[Nakiro]

Originally posted by Stunseed
I'm so ethical, when people tip me for taking their merchandise out, I donate it to Gifts in Kind, my company's charity.

Call me lame, I know.

I think that is less about ethics and more about charity.

But its a noble gesture either way and one to be applauded.

[Jahira]

Actually, I wasn't just talking about doing it to my store. I was talking about making it like one of those cash in advance places that give you money before you get your next paycheck. Do a little advertising. Get the name out there, and I am pretty sure it would take off.

[Tsa`ah]

Originally posted by SpunGirl
I think Jenisi posted about how it sucked to work there, and Tsa'ah made a thread about how they sucked at customer service. Maybe they could help you out.

-K

Gift card still sitting in the ash tray of my jeep to.

My problem was with the rebates and how they were used as a selling point.

Here's the problem with your idea.

Fine print. You should read it, and anyone selling the product should be familiar with it and how the rebates work. Most companies do not handle their own rebates, they out source those jobs to companies specializing in rebates.

The fine print on most rebates state 1 rebate per product type, or brand per household per time span.

So in my case it was memory sticks and other upgrades. I purchased things that had rebate offers, as was the selling point of the guy behind the counter and best buy in general.

I've stepped foot in BB twice since then. Once to drag the wife out and once to get a price comparison on a TV and check for WOW.

http://forum.gsplayers.com/viewthread.php?tid=9407&page=2

Originally posted by Jahira
Actually, I wasn't just talking about doing it to my store. I was talking about making it like one of those cash in advance places that give you money before you get your next paycheck. Do a little advertising. Get the name out there, and I am pretty sure it would take off.

i like your idea. i am sure there is a way to make it work ;)

[Lavastene]

Originally posted by SpunGirl

I think Jenisi posted about how it sucked to work there, and Tsa'ah made a thread about how they sucked at customer service. Maybe they could help you out.

Their customer service is the worst. I have had too many encounters with their customer non-service helping my parents with their laptop.

- Matt