Do you bother with mail-in rebates?

[DisneyAddict_M]

I just bought the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory DVD for $12.99 after a $7 mail-in rebate. I'm going to send for the rebate, because hey...$7 can buy a few gallons of gas! I was just wondering if other people bother with those rebates. I got one a couple of years ago for my cell phone...that one was a $30 mail-in rebate.

I know companies offer these because they're counting on people not taking the time to fill out the form, throw it in an envelope and mail it in.

So what do you do?

 

[Briarmom]

Where did you get that?

 

[TEENEE]

I send them in. By the time the check comes in I have forgotten about it so it's a nice surprise.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Usually we do. It depends on how involved the rebate is (e.g. we don't bother with the ones that involve buying 3 other things, cutting out those proof of purchases, etc....)

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Where did you get that?

FYE (For Your Entertainment). I'm not sure if it's a chain store or not.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I do send them in if they are more than what the stamp would cost me. For $7 I would, for $0.50 (net $0.13 to me) no.

 

[CheshireVal]

I will if it's $5 or more. Maybe even $4, but I'd rarely bother for something less than that.

 

[LindaR]

I hate doing the paperwork for rebates BUT we do them. Here's what I do. DD16 takes care of all the paperwork and when the rebate arrives, she gets to put that money into her college fund. Soon we will be receiving $150 rebate on the laptop we just purchased. It's hers.

 

[Cantw8]

Dang, thanks for reminding me. I bought DH a new cell phone last weekend, $30 rebate....

 

[ead79]

It depends on the amount for us. I just bought a new computer thing with a $100 rebate, so that is well worth it to me. I hate it when rebates are super complicated though.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I hate doing the paperwork for rebates BUT we do them. Here's what I do. DD16 takes care of all the paperwork and when the rebate arrives, she gets to put that money into her college fund. Soon we will be receiving $150 rebate on the laptop we just purchased. It's hers.

What a great idea!

 

[monarchsfan16]

My mom does. Well, actually I fill out the paperwork, she gets the money We usually get a decent amonth back from school shopping. Lately we've been doing the school shopping at Staples, and they run some good rebates in July and August.

 

[SeeDisney]

Yes, if it's more than $5.00 I do.... and I don't bother with the buy the three of the same kind.

 

[SC Minnie]

We do if it is a couple of dollars or more. We consider it 'found' money because we would have purchased the items anyway. The rebate money goes into our vacation fund.

 

[missypie]

DH does. He puts them in the kids' savings accounts.

 

[Feralpeg]

I always do the larger ones. If it is for something like $2, it just isn't worth my time to fill out the paperwork, get the proof of purchase, etc. Of course, that is exactly what the companies selling the items are counting on.

 

[pixiemomma]

Yes I do. I'm guessing you bought WW at FYE or one of its other stores? When we returned from our cruise Monday I had $40 in rebates from them waiting in my mailbox. Hey, every little bit counts.

 

[mickeyfan2]

My rebate money becomes "Mickey Money" and goes toward our next trip.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I throw the rebate money in the trip jar, too! I will usually do rebates at night when everyone is in bed and I am watching a favorite show on tv.

 

[christinadei]

I do. I love getting rebate checks, it's like free money. I also put it in our trip jar, along with all of our change. We use that as "extra" money on our trips. We don't budget it in and it's just extra spending money so we can have a good time and buy what we want.

edited to add: it's not that hard of work for me now that I have the hang of things. some things require the upc and I used to always forget and fill out the rebate once the package was thrown away. now I cut it off as soon as I get home and put it with the receipt and rebate form so I have everything. other than that, it only takes a second to fill out the form and put it all in an envelope. I usually do it when I'm writing out bills and it doesn't take much longer.