Read the Fine Print (a mini-rant)

Naturalist wrote in post #5403621
What a bunch of HACKS at that store!!!
I'd be damned if I bought anything from them ever again.

They said it was a REBATE not STORE CREDIT.

Uh, isn't this a manufacturers rebate

doidinho wrote in post #5406141
Uh, isn't this a manufacturers rebate

Yes it is.

Again, I don't want to create any suggestion that K&S was out of line. The rebate was what it was, and I didn't read the fine print in the offer. I do believe the clerk who waited on me could have explained it better, but there's no guarantee he understood it either.

For the record. K&S is a good store, and I think they are honest and fair-dealing, at least at the management level. I am not going to stop shopping there. I only wanted to give you all a 'heads-up' that not all rebates are exactly the same.

Many rebates, though they are manufacturers rebates, are special deals with retailers.
Large retailers like Staples, Office Max, Circuit City and the like will approach the manufacturer and ask for a special deal because they are able to sell large volumes. The manufacturer will then offer a rebate for that retailer only, the same rebate will not be offered through competing stores at that time.
The rebate could be cash back or gift cards good anywhere. The retailer benefits by making the original sale fueled by the rebate. As a double bonus for the retailer the rebate could be a gift card for the specific retailer who then benefits twice because of the future sale fueled by the rebate.

I hate rebates. Pain in the a$$. A bunch of trouble and don't always come through. Oh yeah, and you have to pay sales tax on the rebate twice.

Skip Souza wrote in post #5406331
Many rebates, though they are manufacturers rebates, are special deals with retailers.
Large retailers like Staples, Office Max, Circuit City and the like will approach the manufacturer and ask for a special deal because they are able to sell large volumes. The manufacturer will then offer a rebate for that retailer only, the same rebate will not be offered through competing stores at that time.
The rebate could be cash back or gift cards good anywhere. The retailer benefits by making the original sale fueled by the rebate. As a double bonus for the retailer the rebate could be a gift card for the specific retailer who then benefits twice because of the future sale fueled by the rebate.

I hate rebates. Pain in the a$$. A bunch of trouble and don't always come through. Oh yeah, and you have to pay sales tax on the rebate twice.

How so?

runninmann wrote in post #5409660
How so?

Because you pay sales tax on the total of the original purchase amount, not the amount discounted by the rebate. You get the rebate and buy something else with it and also pay sales tax on that amount... again.

I would prefer a check. The pre-paid VISA is only good for 4 months and the documents that came with mine said you could use it to buy gas, but you could not use it at the pump, you had to go see the cashier. The web page says you "shouldn't" use it at the pump. So, I bought a $100 amazon gift card. This way I won't have to worry about how much is left on the card.

Pinto wrote in post #5409897
Because you pay sales tax on the total of the original purchase amount, not the amount discounted by the rebate. You get the rebate and buy something else with it and also pay sales tax on that amount... again.

What Pinto said

This is just me and my personal sense of ethics, but it shouldn't have to be "hidden" in the fine print. If it's not crystal clear how something will be done, and the traditional term "rebate" has always historically implied a check that one can deposit into their bank account, then it's deception, IMHO.

Menards, a regional home improvement store here, does something similar with their "rebates", you get a gift check good at only their stores. But, they at least never expire, IIRC.

Pinto wrote in post #5409897
Because you pay sales tax on the total of the original purchase amount, not the amount discounted by the rebate. You get the rebate and buy something else with it and also pay sales tax on that amount... again.

Use it to buy food at the supermarket. That's not taxable.

I don't consider the situation you describe paying sales tax twice on the rebate.

Uhland wrote in post #5397305
I dont do rebates.
Wana give me a discount? Do it before I pay not after.

You got that right..

A new perspective.
Imagine 8% sales tax on a car. OK , now get a $5,000 rebate on a Bigass honking 4X4 crew cab. The manufacturer gives you the $5K to reduce the price after the sale. You still pay $400 in sales tax on the $5k.
Second scenario. Discount the truck by the same $5K and you save yourself $400 in sales tax.
Give me the discount, not the rebate.

Skip Souza wrote in post #5416878
A new perspective.
Imagine 8% sales tax on a car. OK , now get a $5,000 rebate on a Bigass honking 4X4 crew cab. The manufacturer gives you the $5K to reduce the price after the sale. You still pay $400 in sales tax on the $5k.
Second scenario. Discount the truck by the same $5K and you save yourself $400 in sales tax.
Give me the discount, not the rebate.

Your scenario doesn't work, Skip. I already have a truck.:p

Well, since they are not going to give me the discount i'll take the rebate!

Scott

PM720 wrote in post #5417820
Well, since they are not going to give me the discount i'll take the rebate!

Scott

The rebates are there to make the manuf money since the odds are greatly in their favor that most people either dont take the time to send them in, or they somehow dont send in everything they are supposed to and the rebate is interestingly enough refused....imagine that..

Uhland wrote in post #5397305
I dont do rebates.
Wana give me a discount? Do it before I pay not after.

Rebates = scams.

i think it's 50-50. the canon mail-in rebate a couple years ago was a scam....or i should say they scammed a certain percentage of participants including me for potentially $700.

but with a few phone calls i finally got my money.

the same company, young america, i believe also handled the recent sandisk rebates. they also said i did not send in the UPC and therefore would not approve my rebate. for $40 i did not even try to get my money. "mission accomplished" on their part.

i recently got my double epson rebate ($150) without any problems and last year NEC sent me a $100 rebate quickly with no problems.

the bottom line is i am leery of ALL rebates and i expect to get hassled or cheated....but i would not say that ALL rebates are a scam .

ed rader