Mad about at Macy's BF Rebate

[3boymthr]

So I got out the mini-donut maker I bought for DH on BF at Macy's tonight to wrap it. I had forgotten that it had a rebate on it. The rebate is for $10 half the out of pocket cost of $20. I only bought it because DH loves fresh donuts and the cost was advertised as $10 - just right for something that if it turned out the donuts weren't good or if it was a pain to use might only get use a few times before it ended up at a yard sale . Well, I'm reading the rebate form as I get ready to wrap the present. Doesn't it figure, the rebate requires the ORIGINAL UPC and must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the purchase date. Well, 30 days after the purchase date is the day after Christmas, which is a SUNDAY!! They had to know that most people wouldn't be able to take advantage of this rebate. The rebate was a BF special and the item had to be bought during the early bird special period on BF to get the rebate form. I cry foul!!!! If it weren't for the fact that I don't have time to run back to the mall between now and Christmas I'd take it back.

 

[MsLeFever]

Why not just cut the UPC off of the box before you wrap it? DH will understand a slightly mangled box if it means you saved money right!

 

[clh2]

I would be "slightly" irritated too. Ok - more than slightly irritated. Enough that I wouldn't give it to DH for Christmas. Since I hate being in malls before Christmas - I wouldn't take it bake this week anyway.

I would take it bake...no doubt about it.

 

[Shelby5514]

Why wouldn't you be able to take advantage of the rebate? Since you haven't wrapped it and it's not the 26th yet, you still have time to mail it in with the proper postmark.

I have learned that when it comes to rebates you HAVE to read the fine print and I immediately fill it out and send it in. If I wait, I either forget about it or end up missing the deadline completely. I don't think this is a Macy's problem, a lot of rebates lately have a short time frame.

 

[3boymthr]

Why not just cut the UPC off of the box before you wrap it? DH will understand a slightly mangled box if it means you saved money right!

Yeah, he would and I thought about doing that, but if he doesn't want it at all then I won't be able to take it back.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Why not just cut the UPC off of the box before you wrap it? DH will understand a slightly mangled box if it means you saved money right!

Thats what I did with one of mine.

 

[3boymthr]

Why wouldn't you be able to take advantage of the rebate? Since you haven't wrapped it and it's not the 26th yet, you still have time to mail it in with the proper postmark.

I have learned that when it comes to rebates you HAVE to read the fine print and I immediately fill it out and send it in. If I wait, I either forget about it or end up missing the deadline completely. I don't think this is a Macy's problem, a lot of rebates lately have a short time frame.

I won't be able to take advantage of it because it's supposed to be a Christmas gift (it's a surprise) and the rebate requires I mangle the box. If for some reason it turns out DH doesn't want it then I can't return it and will be out $10 for an item he won't use.

What I find so frustrating about the whole thing is that they were advertising this and all their other mini-baking irons as a "Great Gifts at a Great Price" (the flyer was in the bag with the item and the rebate form) so this was very definitely deceptive advertising on their part as far as the final price was concerned.

 

[2disneyboys]

I personally was pretty annoyed this year with all the BF deals that "required' a rebate to actual get the good deal. I know why they do it (most people just don't make the effort to redeem rebates or just forget, or miss the deadline, etc. It just annoyed me of a lot of the bf deals "rebates". Seemed to me there were more of them than usual for BF. Oh well...

 

[IDoDis]

I already had to send in the paperwork for a BF item from Kohl's. I mailed it on Wednesday, which was the deadline. Not much time they gave to redeem the rebate!

It was not a big deal to cut out the UPC code from the box though. I cut just the top layer of cardboard, so the box is still intact. I made a copy of the UPC code before mailing it, so if I have to return the item, I have the UPC code.

My beef with Kohl's was that the rebate said I had to send in the original store receipt. Well, I bought it online, so I hope they still give me the rebate. I sent in a copy of my order. Also, what if I did buy it in the store, but needed that receipt for other rebates? I have one more rebate to claim from that same receipt, but it's not due until the end of December.

 

[undertheradar]

Many stores had the rebate offers this season. The Macy's ones were well marked in the ads.

 

[SandrA9810]

I hate rebate forms. As I was looking through the ads, I just glanced over any that mentioned anything about a rebate. Totally turned me away from wanting it.

 

[kydisneyfans]

A PP mentioned what I did, carefully cut the UPC off the box, but copy it first just in case it needs returned.

Some big city main post offices have a Sunday postmark, but those are very few and far between.

 

[libraryfreak]

If the item was on sale for $20, and you mail in the $10 rebate, then your cost becomes $10.

Would Macy's, or Kohls, or the other places that did the same thing - if you return the item would they give you the $10? I would be satisfied with that. Or will they give you nothing back since the UPC is missing.

 

[sam_gordon]

What I find so frustrating about the whole thing is that they were advertising this and all their other mini-baking irons as a "Great Gifts at a Great Price" (the flyer was in the bag with the item and the rebate form) so this was very definitely deceptive advertising on their part as far as the final price was concerned.

I'm guessing if you go back and look at the flyer again, there's an '*' or something next to the price that points you to the fine print. Many stores say '$10' in large type, then 'after mail in rebate' in smaller type somewhere. In fact, I just about guarantee it's there somewhere.

Sorry, this one is on you. You should have noticed you needed a rebate by:
1) looking at the flyer/posted sale price
2) noticing when the item was rung up, it came up as $20.

So, if you know there's a rebate, you know there's a form you have to fill out. You get the form when you get the item, so you've known for 3 weeks now what you need to do to get the rebate. You could have taken the item back in that time, mutilated the box and sent in the rebate, or even given hubby the gift early to see if he wants it.

 

[Sugardimples]

This is a lot of fuss for $10!

 

[TEK224]

I bought something in years past thathad the rebate where you had to cut the UPC. Fine if it was for me, but not if I was giving as a gift (I didn't like that I had to cut the box, in case the person didn't like it).
It was an annoyance I didn't want to deal with, so I don't buy anything that's "on sale" that requires a rebate. I'll keep looking until I find it in a price range I'm comfortable with.

 

[azdizzymom]

What stores return items with the UPC code cut off? I have never seen one. IF OP needs to return the item and cuts off the UPC code, she will get the refund...thus making $10 after she returns the ITEM. Macys will be out the money because they won't be able to sell the item at full price with the UPC code cut off. Maybe I am totally wrong but this makes sense. Other option is Macy's to return the item at price minus rebate amount since OP would get that amount in mail.....

If it is that huge of an issue return the item and don't cut off UPC. I wouldn't chance not being able to return it. If you keep and hubby doesn't like then donate it to the women's shelter or someplace that can use it.

OR GIVE IT TO HUBBY AS AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT...simple. Macy's probably didn't set up rebate policy...had to be the manufacturer and they probably didn't think or did this so people wouldn't send it in.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm not mad about the fact that there was a rebate. I knew there was a rebate when I bought it. It was posted in the sales flyer, at the table and the salesperson told me about it as he put the form in the bag with the item. Many rebates require the UPC and many require the original receipt (this one does both) that doesn't bother me. It's one of the many quirks of rebates.

I'm mad about the deceptive advertising which is going to cost me money -I took a $24,000 pay cut this year and I'm trying very hard to be budget conscious in my Christmas shopping. For some people $10 may not seem like much but when you lose that much of your income even $10 is a lot of money. $10 is the new trashcan that I have to buy as mine broke on Friday.

I read the rebate form at the time even but it just didn't dawn on me that 30 days was the day after Christmas. Even if I had realized it was the day after Christmas (mind you I bought this at 6AM after having gotten about 1 hour of sleep ) I know I wouldn't have realized that the 26th was a Sunday.

They adverstised it as a great Christmas gift at a great price. They didn't post the details of the rebate forms/details anywhere near the item only that there was a rebate. The details were only handed out after you paid for the item. They made it difficult to figure out at the time of purchase that if you gave the item as a gift without mangling the box beforehand (which I was always taught was incredibly bad manners and I just can't get past this it's ingrained) you probably would be paying the full price.

Don't get me wrong I could take it back (and I'm seriously thinking about doing this). I just feel betrayed and used.

 

[azdizzymom]

Don't get me wrong I could take it back (and I'm seriously thinking about doing this). I just feel betrayed and used.

Seriously????

You have had the item almost a month and just got around to reading the fine print. That is your issue not Macy's. You can give it as a gift early. Saying you feel betrayed and used is just idiotic. Wish my only issues at Christmas were stressing about a rebate...I have one for a Kohl's item I am giving my MIL and I am cutting the UPC off before giving it to her. No thoughts about it.....made sure digital frame worked when we downloaded pictures.

People are not getting XMAS presents...kids aren't getting stuff from Santa and you feel betrayed and used over a rebate terms. A friend who teaches told me about her student who just wanted a bed for XMAS. He sleeps on the couch. He is in 2nd grade. I wrote a letter to the radio station in town where they live....got a call on Friday this little boys is receiving a NEW BED and BEDDING. Brought tears to my eyes .....this boy just wanted a bed. No mention of toys...PS3, XBOX, Video games,etc. Just a bed!!! Family is also getting $250 for food. When friend told me about boy who has same name as my older son it hit me. I took 15 minutes and wrote a letter never expecting to get this wish granted...they receive 100's each year. This along with losing my best friend to cancer has put Christmas in to perspective for me. Be thankful you have money to buy that donught maker. Be thankful for your health and family and what you have. Don't say you feel used and betrayed by a store...that is ___________________!!!!!!!!!!:

 

[disneyofcourse]

Just cut the thing off the box. IF he doesn't like the gift your out just $10. Just sell it at a yard sale this spring and I'm sure you could get at the minimum $5-8 for it.