Retro Housewife Survival Guide - Rebates?

I hate rebates. But that's just me. Why do I hate rebates? Because I get suckered in by the offer of cash back and savings or a free this or that, and then I never turn in the rebate form to get my savings.

Well, You are a dodo, you might say, and I would have to agree with you. I don't know why I never manage to redeem my rebates - maybe I don't have a stamp, or I intend to download the rebate form off the web and then I forget, or I lose the receipt or it's Friday or maybe all of the above.

A Rebate!

But the truth is, there are many dodos like me out there! In fact, companies count on a good percentage of their customers being dodos when they create the rebate offers in the first place. Have you ever wondered why rebate offers typically offer much larger savings than any "instant discounts" offered? A good percentage of us out there fail to turn them in!

What can we conclude from this? (See if you can pick the correct answer!)

1. That the Dodo is not really extinct after all
   
   
2. Flightless birds do far more shopping than bears
   
   
3. There is a lot of money to be saved by using rebates - if you are disciplined enough to do the busy work required to claim your rebate.

If you chose option (3.), you are correct! (If you chose options 1 or 2, you are probably a Stanford grad.)
The trick is to "Know Thyself" as somebody famous and important once said. If you are fastidious and organized and are not afraid to jump through the occasional hoop, then rebates are for you. If not, Hands OFF!

(I know you won't listen to me - I never do.)

RH

Daily Coupons: - How about some rebate offers! (This is part of the test...)

1. KitchenAid Rebate: RECEIVE A $40 PREPAID DEBIT CARD PLUS 2 BONUS GIFTS By mail when you purchase a select KitchenAid® 6-Quart Stand Mixer*. Between January 1 and March 28, 2009.
2. Acuvue Contact Lens Rebate: Get up to $30 back on select Acuvue contact lenses. - See site for details. Expires 6/30/09. Oooooh the savings....
3. GE Appliance Rebate at Home Depot: Receive up to a $500 rebate with purchase of 2 or more eligible GE Appliances at homedepot.com
4. Kodak Cash Rebate: Buy Any EASYSHARE Camera, Trade In Your Old Digital Camera For A Cash Rebate!
5. Rebate Offers at WolfCamera.com
6. Ciba Vision Contact Lens Rebate: $40 rebate on Ciba Vision brand contact lenses. Offer expires 4/30/09. See site for details.
7. Save 20% on all photo merchandise, including Cards, Calendars, Prints and Photo Books at Kodak Gallery! Use coupon code: SPRING2020 at check out. Ends 3/31/09.