[mythtv-users] OT: Seagate 200gig IDE, $60 -- REBATE FRAUD

[Brad Templeton]

On Sat, May 14, 2005 at 11:36:34AM -0400, Donavan Stanley wrote:
> On 5/14/05, Dean Collins <Dean at collins.net.pr> wrote:
> > Yep same here on a pioneer dvd burner.
> > 
> > Don't believe the hype, they're a scam.
> 
> I've heard this a lot..  On the flip side I've done coutless rebates
> and never had a sinlge issue.

I have done many rebates and gotten the money, and also done a few
where I didn't.   Recently I bought a series of Seagate drives, all
different, and got most of the checks but they actually mailed a card
saying I had done something wrong -- but not saying what the something
was -- and that I could submit again (though of course I did not bother
to copy some of the things I sent so I can't really.)

Estimates suggest that 40% to 60% of rebates are not redeemed.

This is "good" for you if you redeem your rebates, because it means the
company can offer a rebate twice as big as a pure discount with 100%
redemption, at the same cost.  

However, to make this work, they have to discourage people from redeeming
and make it hard.  Making it hard both directly denies money to people
and scares them in the future from bothering.  Though if you scare them
too much they will just not view the rebate as an incentive to buy.