The Rebate Runaround

Answer 1

I normally don’t base a purchase on the existence or size of rebate. But this past week I placed an order online with a large companystrongly influenced by a $40 rebate when purchasing eight boxes (a years worth) of contact lenses. I could have purchased four boxes for $89 with no rebate or eight boxes for $159 with a $40 rebate bringing the total to $119. Seemed like a no brainer, right? Until I started to fill out the included rebate form. Let’s see…I need to fill out a short rebate form and include original sales receipt. So far so good. But then I need to cut off the lids from five of the eight boxes and include those with the receipt and rebate form. I wonder how they came up with the number five? I figured maybe it made sense since that’s one more than $89 “four pack” but they would already know that if they’d look at the “original” receipt that’s required. So now I have a years supply of contact lenses stacked in my bathroom cabinet with five of the eight boxes gingerly positioned so they won’t spill out of their lid-less boxes and into the toilet. I’m convinced companies make the rebate process as painful as possible know that a percentage of people will just throw in the towel.