Email rebates are discounts that must be redeemed by mail, not at the time of purchase. They can be greater than in-store discounts, but companies use them to maintain high profits. Consumers should keep proof of submission and follow up if the rebate doesn’t arrive. Rebates may be in the form of cash, gift cards, or vouchers.
An email rebate is a product discount that must be redeemed in the mail, as opposed to instant rebates, which are redeemed at the time of purchase. Products that arrive with a discount mail are usually clearly labeled to indicate this, alerting consumers to the fact that they can receive money back on their purchases if they are willing to go through the process of submitting a mail-in discount. These discounts may also be offered more generally by a store for purchases of a particular brand of product or for purchases over a certain amount.
For consumers, one of the benefits of an email discount is that it can sometimes be greater than an in-store discount. While a discount mail can be a little annoying to deal with, some people also like the idea of receiving a cash reward several weeks or months after the purchase. Companies like these discounts because they make a product appear to be cheaper, and many consumers fail to follow the discount process, allowing the company to maintain high profits while appearing to offer discounts to customers. Instead, an in-store discount for a product will be applied to every sale, so the company can’t afford to offer a steep discount.
When operating a discount, consumers should take some steps to ensure they get the discount. It’s a good idea to copy the Receipt and Refund Form after you’ve completed it and keep them until your discount arrives, as proof that the form was completed and submitted. Most forms state that the rebate will arrive within a certain time frame, and the time window for the rebate to arrive should be noted on a calendar as a reminder.
If a discount doesn’t arrive in a timely manner, consumers shouldn’t hesitate to call the company to find out what’s going on. This is where keeping the Receipt and Refund Form can be extremely helpful, as consumers can provide concrete proof that they have purchased the product and submitted the form, by following the prompts to receive the rebate.
Consumers should also be aware that a discount mail does not necessarily involve a payment by cash or check. Some companies send back gift cards or vouchers for other products in lieu of a cash rebate. The terms of the discount are usually clearly listed on the product packaging, so for people who specifically want a cash discount, the terms should be read carefully.
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