Mail In Rebating, anyone?

[NYCDiane]

I know we have a lot of couponers on this forum (myself definitely included!) but does anyone do mail in rebates? I've done them a couple of times in the past but it's just not something I do on a regular basis. I know the "Coupon Queen" (Susan Samtur) has practically supported her family on couponing and rebates (getting like $200 worth of groceries for maybe $15).

I would love to start rebating on a regular basis. Does anyone else find that the manufacturers make it intentionally difficult to do the rebates? For example: all items must be purchased in the same shopping trip and you have to send in the UPCs from all items along with original store receipt. Okay, if you have to buy, say 15 items, what if you can't buy them all at once? I understand they want the UPCs, but why make it where you have to buy everything at once?

Anyway, who here rebates? Have you got any tips for me?

Thanks

 

[StephMK]

We have not had good luck with rebates. Either they vanish unless we send with extra confirmation postage or they claim we did not meet requirements. Miller Lite just rejected one saying they all had to be on the same receipt & since it was only $8, we didn't save copies to verify but DH does not remember that being a condition. It feels like we get scammed more than rewarded by rebates. Luckily, we only do stuff we'd buy anyway.

Hopefully someone can post tricks to make it more worthwhile.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

If I use the product and don't mind complying with the conditions, I will do the rebate.

Sometimes I have to buy a larger quantity than normal, but if it has a long shelf life......I will do it.

We probably do rebates of some sort about 8-12 times a year.

None of mine have gotten lost or denied over the past several years.

Always photocopy all materials submitted.

 

[dsny1mom]

I just did two rebates recently.

Home Depot had a $5 rebate for each gallon of Behr paint. I did the rebate on line using the receipt number and it was really quick and easy. Recieved my $40 check a few weeks later.

I am sending one in for Jewel Foods (Super Value is the parent company) this week. The deal was purchase $25 of Kraft products (in one transaction) and get a $20 rebate. The register spit out the rebate form and all I had to do was circle the Kraft items on the receipt, fill out the short form and mail it in. You also got a $5 off your next shopping order making the $25 of Kraft products free.

The best part of the Jewel deal, for me, was I had a free $75 GC that was sent to me by Jewel for a small mishap at one of their stores. So with the $75GC, the rebate and assorted coupons I got $135 worth of groceries for .13. Actually I used the $5 off coupon the next day for a $4.99 purchase and they gave me .01 back in change so the $135 in gorceries only cost me .12. LOL

dsny1mom

 

[mrsklamc]

Track diligently. Make copies before you send it in, keep it in a binder and write on your calendar when you should get it back so you can make a fuss if it doesn't come.

I've even seen form letters to send to companies stating which laws they are violating and that you will contact your state AG as well as theirs if they don't mail your rebate as agreed. I've never used one but I bet that could be a useful tool if necessary.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I know we have a lot of couponers on this forum (myself definitely included!) but does anyone do mail in rebates? I've done them a couple of times in the past but it's just not something I do on a regular basis. I know the "Coupon Queen" (Susan Samtur) has practically supported her family on couponing and rebates (getting like $200 worth of groceries for maybe $15).

I would love to start rebating on a regular basis. Does anyone else find that the manufacturers make it intentionally difficult to do the rebates? For example: all items must be purchased in the same shopping trip and you have to send in the UPCs from all items along with original store receipt. Okay, if you have to buy, say 15 items, what if you can't buy them all at once? I understand they want the UPCs, but why make it where you have to buy everything at once?
Anyway, who here rebates? Have you got any tips for me?
Thanks

I do a handful of rebates. I typically don't do the $1 or $2 ones. Stamps are up to what 43 cents. Can you tell I buy the 'forever' stamps? LOL I do send in some of the larger ones though. We just got back a $5 one from Pennzoil which we had to buy anyway. And I did do the one for $10 from Kelloggs. I must say that one was a pain because it was 10 items and they did all have to be purchased on the same receipt. Luckily Acme had all the ones I wanted for this one on sale. So with using mfr coupons when purchasing, I did very well. Once I get the rebate back the stuff would be free or slightly better.
Truthfully, I don't have any advice to offer, but am interested in seeing what others suggest. Only thing for me would be don't forget about postage costs and the value of your time if it's a small rebate and lots of work.
Best of Luck to you

 

[Maureenmouse]

I like BJs because they have automatic rebates on items most months and they take manufactirers coupons along with their store coupons. I just did one for Kelloggs products that took $7 off for purchasing 4 items and I had coupons for those item also. Staples had sweveral free after rebate items just last week. I did them onlin. Still waiting to see if I get the checks or Visa cards back.
I used todo rebates a lot. Now I don't see as many around, but when I do, I know to make a copy of everything.

 

[oldbay]

Like others have said, I only do rebates if I use it anyway and is a good deal. If you get denied in writing, try calling customer service. This happened with the Pepsi Super Bowl rebate/coupons and I remembered specifically doing it correctly because of a mishap at my store. They (Pepsi) fixed the problem and sent me the coupons anyway. It doesn't hurt to call.

Also, don't do the Organix shampoo rebate (if it is still out there) never got mine and many other internet couponers reported the same thing. It has soured me on their product entirely, even though it was decent stuff!

 

[cinnamon-sugah]

Also, don't do the Organix shampoo rebate (if it is still out there) never got mine and many other internet couponers reported the same thing. It has soured me on their product entirely, even though it was decent stuff!

Ditto on the Natural Dentist rebate. I finally got mine after 2 phone calls and 4 emails. I probably wouldn't have gone through all of that but it was $10 (and the principle of the thing). If I had not had a copy, I wouldn't have gotten it at all.

 

[NYCDiane]

I remember doing the Walgreen one once (they have that "rebate book" every month or so). Well, of course, most of the rebate got denied for some unknown reason and I KNOW I followed their directions to the letter.

I did the Pepsi one a few times and never had a problem.

I did a couple of others that took a very long time to get back.

If I decide to start "rebating", I know (from all the responses here) that I'm going to have to:

keep copies of everything mailed
keep a journal of dates mailed and expected return dates
mark calendar w/expected return date
call Customer Service if I'm given a hard time about the rebate


Oh, and I agree with a previous poster about BJs. They give you the Kellogg's rebate right then and there. It's in their monthly sales/coupon/magazine they send out and it tells you what you need to buy and how much you'll get back. BJs does this with a lot of items.

 

[Kion10]

I have just started doing a lot of rebates. I currently have about 40 out that I am waiting on.

I don't keep any type of copies or anything. I just send them on a wing and a prayer. I usually just send them on things I was buying anyways.