Well one of the reasons for requiring a upc code that pretty much
destroys the box is because there are a lot of folks out there who will
buy an item send in the for the rebate and then return it. There are
also companies who would have all their relatives send in receipts for
the rebates and then would resell the items in their store. In other
words it protects them from paying several rebates on the same item.
The claim manufactures made for rebates was that they could discount an
item aready in stock at a store to the buyer withhout having to give the
seller a huge refund. They also normally only give one rebate per
address so if you buy 12 of them they only give you a rebate on one.
There are pros and cons to rebates just as there are to about anything,
but if you are going to buy the item anyway, a rebate is a nice bonus.
graywolf
http://www.graywolfphoto.com
http://webpages.charter.net/graywolf
"Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof"
-----------------------------------
Jim King wrote:
Rick:
I had a similar experience with my Pentax lens rebate being denied so I
called the customer service folks at the Express Group Rebate Service
Center (not Pentax) about it. They explained that I had send in the
wrong UPC - the one they required was the UPC sticker which was on top
of the UPC printed on the carton. I sent this to them and finally
received the rebate. Since then I have gotten two more lens rebates
from them with no problems.
The requirement for the *sticker* UPC code, not the printed one from
the carton, is not explained anywhere in the directions. Scam? Maybe,
maybe not, but I'm sure that a percentage of applicants give up in
disgust when their initial submission is denied. The irony is that
they probably blame Pentax rather than the fulfillment company and any
marketing benefit to Pentax from the promotion is lost. Why can't the
sponsoring companies see that this kind of negative publicity harms
them and do something about it? Costco is one company that does it
right - you get a rebate form/ receipt when you pay for the item and
only have to fill out your name and address and send it in - no
additional sales receipt or UPC is required.
Regards, Jim
