Holding your name and address for ransom

[Weird Harold]

When shopping for my new monitor, I noticed a very distressing marketing practice -- "Price after mail-in rebate"

Nearly every place I shopped for a monitor, and almost every brand of monitor was priced this way.

What this is doing, is holding your name and address for ransom. You pay out the "full price" for your monitor/modem/computer/tea cozy/etc and then, if you''re willing to give them your name and address you can get some of that money back. That's just the minimum you need to give them, most rebate offers ask for everything up to and including the name of your first born child so they can tailor the junk mail they want to bombard you with to your lifestyle.

I think this is one of the most despicable marketing practices possible. I DO NOT want every tom dick and harry I buy something from to send me "product update info" or "special offers for our valued customers". Whatever they call it, it's still junk mail.

While I'm ranting about underhanded marketing practices -- Don't put a Shrek DVD in your computer's DVD drive.

I also added a DVD drive to my computer, and bought Shrek on DVD so I'd have something to test it with. After loading the PowerDVD software that came with the drive, I put in the Shrek CD to check things out. It immediately loaded a program called "Interactual" -- A piece of shit HTML based software that is next to useless unless you're connected to the net all the time. It did at least "ask" in the installation process if it was OK to send my system configuration to their website every time I use the program. I haven't found anything other than the "internet links" on the CD that might actually require this extra program to view the CD. I did manage to configure the PowerDVD program as the default DVD player so I don't have to deal with this intrusive piece of garbage to watch DVDs. Since I don't use "interactive internet links" on most CDs I've got, I doubt very much I'll actually need this for any DVDs I might buy.

(BTW,for those interested, the new monitor is a REALsynch .21 pitch 19 inch flat screen. I did look at the SONYs that were recommended, but just couldn't bring myself to pay the extra $150 for the name and .29 dot pitch.)

 

[modest mouse]

I completely agree WH, this is the tact companies took after people realized they didnt need to send in those bogus warranty cards.

I had never thought of it as 'ransom', but the word fits. I wonder what actions the company would take if you attached a long, vehement letter to the rebate card? Denouncing mailing lists and such.

As far as the DVD goes, I am frightened buy the future business model of Microsoft. Whereas one would 'rent' their programs and thus be submitting vast amounts of information to them on a regular basis, such a move would make Linux by new OS.

 

[Weird Harold]

Bump for the afternoon crowd

 

[Gilly Bean]

I never do rebates. Not cause I don't want my info getting out, but cause I am to freakin lazy to do it. So, I pay full price. Unless I am buying something that would save me around $25 or more, why worry? Most of it is for shit like hair dye, new diapers, brand new products, shampoo's, etc.

My Father-in-law does it all the time, to the point of buying products he won't use, or doesn't need, just to get money back. Then, he sends us the stuff (he lives in North Carolina). We get big boxes full of hair color, foods he won't eat, razors, tooth pastes, etc all year around.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

A few years ago stores like Radio Shack and Big 5 Sporting Goods started the practice of asking for your zip code at the check out counter --- ya know, just for demographics and stuff. Now clerks blithely ask me for my phone number, as is it were the most natural thing in the world, "Yes, sir. A pack of four AA batteries? That'll be three dollars and fifty cents. Phone number?"

I stare at these clerks like they're insane. "There's no way I'm giving you my phone number."

To their credit I've never yet had a clerk immediately look ashamed when I say this -- I'm sure they hate asking. Still, the stores foist this on us like it's "normal" now.

And don't get me started on Supermarket "Club Cards" (which you can get without giving away your address or phone number, by the way -- so make sure you ask).

 

[freakygirl]

I do rebates all the time.. I just give them all false information (except for my name) and I use a post office box to receive the check at. Then when I get junk mail.. I put "return to sender" and mail it back.. making them pay the postage


Speaking of Shrek DVD and computers..

My DVD player is a piece of shit... never been used.. and it won't work at all.. I bought Shrek so I could use it on the computer (also bought it for me to watch again *L*).

I have all the current drivers.. but it tells me they aren't there.. grrrrrrrr I'm starting to hate computers.. (ok, I already hate it, but I'm addicted.. what can I say? *L*)

 

[lovetoread]

A few years ago stores like Radio Shack and Big 5 Sporting Goods started the practice of asking for your zip code at the check out counter --- ya know, just for demographics and stuff. Now clerks blithely ask me for my phone number, as is it were the most natural thing in the world, "Yes, sir. A pack of four AA batteries? That'll be three dollars and fifty cents. Phone number?"

I stare at these clerks like they're insane. "There's no way I'm giving you my phone number."

To their credit I've never yet had a clerk immediately look ashamed when I say this -- I'm sure they hate asking. Still, the stores foist this on us like it's "normal" now.

And don't get me started on Supermarket "Club Cards" (which you can get without giving away your address or phone number, by the way -- so make sure you ask).

Goodness they do this at Toy R Us right now. I give mine to them without a second thought. I didnt even know you could refuse.

 

[modest mouse]

Goodness they do this at Toy R Us right now. I give mine to them without a second thought. I didnt even know you could refuse.

I hope you are jokeing.

 

[JazzManJim]

Another reason for Rebates

What rebates allow a company to do is to get the full price and bank it. They gain interest on what's in the bank until they pay back the rebate price. That's usually a couple of months.

Now, how many 50 or 100 dollar rebates will they have earning interest for those couple of months?

Every little one adds up to a whole hell of a lot of money.

This, BTW is a reason the government would prefer to give you a larger tax refund check over just taking less from your paycheck. They can earn interest on what they take, before they have to give it back.

 

[lovetoread]

I hope you are jokeing.

Nope, it just didnt occur to me to refuse. It does explain the personalized ads I get in the mail though.

 

[Mischka]

I've always looked at rebates as a direct marketing approach. If I wish to participate, the company directly pays me for my information through a discount on my purchase. If I choose not to participate, then I pay the normal price and keep my information to myself. I much prefer this type of targeted campaign to the endless string of survey phone calls for products/services in which I have no interest.

I'm also quite the fan of the supermarket discount cards. By keeping track of purchasing trends, the stores have reorganized their stock and store layout to better fit their customers. I don't have the time or inclination to coupon shop, so the tailored discounts for each store are a great match with my shopping needs and save me a considerable amount on my groceries. I've even gotten a free turkey for Thanksgiving and a pair of Monsters, Inc. movie tickets because of my shopper card. In exchange for my name and e-mail address, I'd say that it's been worth it.

 

[OUTSIDER]

when I get junk mail I write on the front "Addressee deceased return to sender", then pop it back in the mail.........usually works.

 

[TigerClaw]

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