Last Days for Documents to go Premium: $9.99

[Griff]

Amazon is offering Documents to go Premium for only $14.99 after rebates. You must purchase DTG for $64.99 on or before February 23rd to be eligible for the $10 Amazon mail-in rebate. On top of that they have a rebate from DataViz for $40.

Then, if you use one of the codes below, you can get an additional $5.00 off. Combine all of this with supersaver shipping and the result is DTG Premium for only $9.99. OK, OK, $10.73 after two stamps, but still an awesome deal!

Amazon codes:
MAPAMEXDELTA
MAPAMEXCBLUE
MAPBANKATM35

You have to order by tomorrow though to get the $10 rebate. I used one of the codes above and it worked fine for an additional $5 off, but you cannot use all three on the same order.

[sebring]

Alternately, you can buy it direct from Dataviz for $29.99 and avoid the rebate ripoff.

Thanks for the tip Griff.

[Griff]

I'd rather save the $20 and send in my rebates...buy you're right, alot of people don't keep track of them and let them expire.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by sebring
Alternately, you can buy it direct from Dataviz for $29.99 and avoid the rebate ripoff.

Thanks for the tip Griff.

Man, I hate them blessed rebates, personally I think they should be outlawed:mad:!

[tanker_bob]

I'm not fond of rebates, but I've used them successfully a number of times. I just received my $20 Sandisk rebate for the 128MB MS today. :)

[tifosiv122]

About 2 years ago rebates were really bad...now they have gotten much better...

They usually have toll free #'s to call and check...
Live people to talk to if you have a problem...
And websites that can also check status.

Its real easy now, just copy everything before you send it out.

During Black Friday I got over $250 worth of rebates from items I bought at Staples. I have the full amount, with no rebate issues.

I am still waiting for $150 worth of rebates from several years ago though...

Erik

[sebring]

Originally posted by tifosiv122
About 2 years ago rebates were really bad...now they have gotten much better...

They usually have toll free #'s to call and check...
Live people to talk to if you have a problem...
And websites that can also check status.

Its real easy now, just copy everything before you send it out.

During Black Friday I got over $250 worth of rebates from items I bought at Staples. I have the full amount, with no rebate issues.

I am still waiting for $150 worth of rebates from several years ago though...

Erik

There is no such thing as a rebate without rebate issues, except rebates granted at the point of sale. Even rebate you eventually do get.

1) If sales tax is involved, you pay tax on the pre-rebate price.
2) The maufacturer is using your money, interest free for usually a minimum of two months. Can I borrow some money from you for a couple of months without interest.
3) Rebate promote flagrantly false advertising. Most sellers advertise the price after all rebates, even though many purchasers don't qualify for all of the rebates, like upgrade rebates.
4) Unless you wait to submit your rebate material after the return period expires, you also likely surrender your return rights, since rebates require you to deface the packaging.
5) The conditions of the rebate always have outs built into them for the rebate issuer. I had one denied by Microsoft because they refuse to sent it to a PO Box, which is the only place I receive mail. I had another one claim the UPC code wasn't included in my submission. Even though I had kept photocopies of all the materials I submitted and still had the box with the UPC code cut out. They just ignored me.
6) The only reason a manufacturer would use rebates is because they fully expect to be able to avoid paying enough of them to, not only pay for the administration of them, but to also be profitable. Otherwise, they would just lower prices.
7) I have better things to do with my life than keep up with who still owes me rebates. Keeping copies of documentation, etc. When I purchase something, I want the transaction to be over then, unless for some unexpected reason I need to return the product.

As long as people have your attitude, we are all going to be stuck with this rebate fraud. The only thing that is certain is that the government will never do anything to clean up this fraud.

[tifosiv122]

sebring - I won't respond to all your comments, I will just act as you seem to...lazy.

If it is that difficult to keep track of a few rebates and check every month or so, then your beyond help.

All manufacturers will provide service and support even if the box is missing the UPC code...(Thats why you copy it). {Yes, I did need service on one item, and yes it did get fixed}

Ohh and the interest...well since my account is checking I get 0.0% interest, so it basically doesn't matter to me.

Honestly, if you don't like rebates, sorry, but the amount of rebates have at least doubled in the past few years so you are obviously in the minority. Those of us who can keep track and take 10 mins to fill out a piece of paper will get the item at a lower price.

Erik

[sebring]

Originally posted by tifosiv122
sebring - I won't respond to all your comments, I will just act as you seem to...lazy.

If it is that difficult to keep track of a few rebates and check every month or so, then your beyond help.

All manufacturers will provide service and support even if the box is missing the UPC code...(Thats why you copy it). {Yes, I did need service on one item, and yes it did get fixed}

Ohh and the interest...well since my account is checking I get 0.0% interest, so it basically doesn't matter to me.

Honestly, if you don't like rebates, sorry, but the amount of rebates have at least doubled in the past few years so you are obviously in the minority. Those of us who can keep track and take 10 mins to fill out a piece of paper will get the item at a lower price.

Erik

Perhaps you didn't read my post.;)

[tifosiv122]

Originally posted by sebring


Perhaps you didn't read my post.;)

Alright, then i'll respond to another point you made:

Fraud: A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.

Originally posted by sebring
5) The conditions of the rebate always have outs built into them for the rebate issuer. I had one denied by Microsoft because they refuse to sent it to a PO Box, which is the only place I receive mail.

As long as people have your attitude, we are all going to be stuck with this rebate fraud. The only thing that is certain is that the government will never do anything to clean up this fraud.


The rebates state no P.O. Boxes, and they won't send it to one. If you do not follow their rules, they aren't responsible to send the rebate to you. P.O. Boxes are an easy way for a customer to defraud the company. Fraud would be if they don't say they won't send to P.O. Boxes and then they don't send it. In your case, your out of luck if you only have a P.O. Box.

Erik

[sebring]

Originally posted by tifosiv122


Alright, then i'll respond to another point you made:

Fraud: A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.



The rebates state no P.O. Boxes, and they won't send it to one. If you do not follow their rules, they aren't responsible to send the rebate to you. P.O. Boxes are an easy way for a customer to defraud the company. Fraud would be if they don't say they won't send to P.O. Boxes and then they don't send it. In your case, your out of luck if you only have a P.O. Box.

Erik

No PO Box is an unreasonable restriction and in the Microsoft case, the rebate coupon was sealed in the box and nowhere on the outside of the box was there any indication restricting rebates to no PO Box. Software is not returnable after you open the box.

Your definition of fraud makes my point.

Your comment about "lazy" is unjustified by anything I have stated. If anyone is "lazy" it is those who are unwilling to fight abusive business practices, but rather takes the easy way out and simply complies with unreasonable demands.

I fail to see how anyone can defend rebates other than those that engage in and profit from this fradulent practice, of which I assume you are one.

[tifosiv122]

Originally posted by sebring


No PO Box is an unreasonable restriction and in the Microsoft case, the rebate coupon was sealed in the box and nowhere on the outside of the box was there any indication restricting rebates to no PO Box. Software is not returnable after you open the box.

Your definition of fraud makes my point.

Your comment about "lazy" is unjustified by anything I have stated. If anyone is "lazy" it is those who are unwilling to fight abusive business practices, but rather takes the easy way out and simply complies with unreasonable demands.

I fail to see how anyone can defend rebates other than those that engage in and profit from this fradulent practice, of which I assume you are one.

If in the microsoft case you were not notified out of the box, you are correct in saying it is fraud, however microsoft now puts all rebates outside their box...proving my point that rebates have changed.

Why should I fight something that has been good to me? I'd rather pay the $9.99 after rebate then the $29.99 your willing to pay without one.

Erik

[LaStigmata]

If a software company is discounting there software why must they do it in the form of a rebate? Why do they not just take the amount off of the purchas price at the time of sale? This to me would seem like a reasonable thing to do. The only reason for the rebate that I can see is to capitolize on those who have lost there recipt or one of the other 20 pices of documentation that you have to send in with the rebate in order to prove that you bought the software. And if the rebate is given online (which most palm software is) this to me is only a ripp-off. For there is no reason they can't discount the software right then and there.

[iebnn]

Originally posted by sebring

7) I have better things to do with my life than keep up with who still owes me rebates. Keeping copies of documentation, etc. When I purchase something, I want the transaction to be over then, unless for some unexpected reason I need to return the product.


Which is why I will buy a product from a store that has a rebate or during a time that it has a rebate over a store that doesn't have a rebate on the product when the price otherwise is similar, just send the rebate in the same day, and forget about it (I will think of the purchase as if it cost the full price without rebate). Then, a month later, I get a surprise check in the mail for $10 or $20 dollars to use for something :) And it's not really like they're borrowing your money, since the "Borrowed" money would have been sent to them as part of the cost of the product without the rebate. They gain that $10 or $20 either way for that month or so -- if you use a rebate, they have a bit of time to wait before sending you the money... if you don't use a rebate, they still have that bit of time with that money, but they never have to send it to you (so it's no longer a "bit of time").

[iebnn]

Originally posted by LaStigmata
If a software company is discounting there software why must they do it in the form of a rebate? Why do they not just take the amount off of the purchas price at the time of sale? This to me would seem like a reasonable thing to do. The only reason for the rebate that I can see is to capitolize on those who have lost there recipt or one of the other 20 pices of documentation that you have to send in with the rebate in order to prove that you bought the software. And if the rebate is given online (which most palm software is) this to me is only a ripp-off. For there is no reason they can't discount the software right then and there.

They know that people forget to send in rebates -- that is the only reason they have rebates. And what do you mean by rebates given online? Those are just sales or coupons.