Apple Rebates Made Easier

[SFStateStudent]

Remember when the rebate redemption required that you cut the corner of those beautifully sculptured boxes? Well, "give the scissors and stamps a well-deserved rest!"

Bought my new MBA, w/SuperDrive, Ethernet Adapter, USB Hub, and iPod Touch 32GB and my rebate of $299 was handled in-store. I rushed home thinking I was going to cut the corner of my gorgeous MBA box, but to my surprise the Apple Rebates Receipt said "Your rebate will be mailed to: Name, Address, Phone Number and Email Address" "Your claim is approved! Your rebate will be mailed within three to five business days. You will receive an email once the rebate is mailed." Also gave a rebate claim number, and AppleCare's email address and 800 number...

 

[conshok26]

I just got my MBA last week and picked up a printer with a $100 rebate. Very easy to submit and I got the check on Monday. Why is it so hard for other rebates?

 

[SFStateStudent]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)

This is the first rebate taken care of in-store for me, and honestly I'm relieved. All that waiting "to get MY money back" really sucks. I was scurrying around trying to get the box cutter ready for the dirty deed, then I read my rebate receipt and almost started crying like a big baby. LOL

 

[.product]

I just got my MBA last week and picked up a printer with a $100 rebate. Very easy to submit and I got the check on Monday. Why is it so hard for other rebates?

I think usually rebates aren't handled by the vendor themselves, but rather through a third party promotions company. In the 4-6 weeks that most promotions take, that 3rd party is probably earning interest on your money, which reduces the overall cost of the rebate promotion.

 

[swiftaw]

Also, companies want you to have to go through hoops to get your rebate because they are hoping that a certain fraction of people who are eligible for the rebate will not claim it.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Why can't we just buy something without the brutality of a rebate. Apply it to the sale price and poof, we're out the door. I think Fry's and BestBuy are the worst with rebates, but I guess the consumer is just screwed while they collect interest on our monies...

 

[macdot]

They just want you to forget to mail it in, that's the purpose of MIRs.

 

[SFStateStudent]

They just want you to forget to mail it in, that's the purpose of MIRs.

I agree, back when the rebates were flying for purchasing a cell phone with a bluetooth, you got the rebate paperwork for $50, but the trick was sending it in two days after I bought the phone and BT, but the sales rep didn't mention the deadline...

 

[rdowns]

If I'm not mistaken, rebates are preferred for accounting reasons. If they give you money off the purchase, they are reducing their selling price and margins. A rebate is a sales promotion so an expense. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Kudos to Apple for making this process much easier.

 

[.product]

Good point, I'm sure there's a tax writeoff somewhere in there.

To be fair Apple has an unfair advantage over other companies when it comes to rebates simply because they collect more information up front. When I buy a Canon printer from BB, Canon knows nothing about me until I send in the rebate coupon, whereas when I bought my MBA, my email address links me to my .mac/MobileMe account and instantly they can see every Apple product I ever bought/registered.

When you think of it that way, this thread is really celebrating something that is long overdue given the informational advantage Apple had over other manufacturers offering MIRs.

 

[kockgunner]

When did this method of rebate take affect? I had to cut up my iPod touch, Canon Printer (I don't care about this one), and my iPod touch box . That's gotta hurt resale value

 

[dibara2003]

When did this method of rebate take affect? I had to cut up my iPod touch, Canon Printer (I don't care about this one), and my iPod touch box . That's gotta hurt resale value

its been some time. when i purchased my air in feb., it was up.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Yep, when I bought my first MBA in Feb '08, they were offering a printer that I didn't need, so my MBA box was spared. That's just what I needed, another printer to go with my other two printers (NIB) that are worth about $20 each and stored in the garage...

 

[SFStateStudent]

UPDATE: Received my $299 rebate in the mail TODAY!

Gawd, I just got the email that it was in the mail on Friday morning, August 22, '08, and as I rummaged through my mail there was an envelope from Apple Rebates with a check amount of $299. Ran to the bank and deposited that bad boy, then ran out of the bank and left my Bluetooth on the counter. Got home and figured out that my BT was gone and by the time I got to the bank it was long gone! Went to Fry's Electronics and picked-up the Motorola BT H12 (AGAIN!) but got it for $65 v. $99 due to a sale. So, my rebate monies = $228.31 after I purchased the new BT...

 

[qpid]

Why can't we just buy something without the brutality of a rebate. Apply it to the sale price and poof, we're out the door. I think Fry's and BestBuy are the worst with rebates, but I guess the consumer is just screwed while they collect interest on our monies...

In their defense, Best Buy has not done mail in rebates in almost 2 years. Check their ads, they are all instant savings.

 

[NC MacGuy]

Also, companies want you to have to go through hoops to get your rebate because they are hoping that a certain fraction of people who are eligible for the rebate will not claim it.

I am part of that certain super lazy, procrastinating fraction! Hate going through their crap to get a rebate. Remember buying Office 2004 so I could get a free Office 2008 and guess what..... Well don't need to guess. The damn coupon is still sitting in my "to do" basket and it's expired. Now I'll procrastinate on throwing it away.

 

[SFStateStudent]

In their defense, Best Buy has not done mail in rebates in almost 2 years. Check their ads, they are all instant savings.

In my defense, I was referring to ALL electronic devices/printer rebates and not just Mac/Apple rebates (If they exist, I've never purchased anything Apple from BB).

The damn coupon is still sitting in my "to do" basket and it's expired. Now I'll procrastinate on throwing it away.

Yup, I purchased the Motorola KRZR and they gave me a $50 music download card in the form of a rebate coupon and I lost it ten minutes after I walked out of the store...

 

[alphaod]

What I hate are AT&T rebates; they give this stupid debit card that is neither transferable nor can you withdraw the money. Plus the thing expires in a month!

 

[NeoMayhem]

I still have not received my apple rebate. I think it has been 3 weeks now.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)

I still have not received my apple rebate. I think it has been 3 weeks now.

That's way too long. You did the rebate form on the mac at the Apple Store right?

 

[TEG]

Apple keeps everything well documented in their computer systems so it is easy to take care of this.

I do know there are some states where rebates must be handled by the store and reflected at checkout. It would be nice if this were true in more places, as then more rebates would be honored.

TEG

 

[nights013]

Does this method of no box cutting only work when purchasing IN-Store or can you do this online after you purchase from the online store with an apple account?

 

[SFStateStudent]

Does this method of no box cutting only work when purchasing IN-Store or can you do this online after you purchase from the online store with an apple account?

No more box cutting for Emeryville (Bay Street) or San Francisco (Stockton Ave) Apple Stores and the rebates are processed before you leave the store. You'll receive the receipt and a copy of your rebate receipt as well. Give Apple Store a call or Apple Support for online rebates.

 

[jeffuwee]

im hoping to get blackbook soon maybe after tomorrow's alleged updates and i was thinking. if i buy blackbook online with the ipod rebate and printer rebate. can i just go into my local apple store (located in cupertino, CA near SF ) and just ask them to set it up for me?

 

[SFStateStudent]

im hoping to get blackbook soon maybe after tomorrow's alleged updates and i was thinking. if i buy blackbook online with the ipod rebate and printer rebate. can i just go into my local apple store (located in cupertino, CA near SF ) and just ask them to set it up for me?

I don't see why not. The rebate process is so much easier, everything was done online at the Apple Store and they scanned the barcodes of everything that I bought, so it showed up on the actual receipt (emailed to me) and on the copy of the rebate form, which they handed to me. If you have any doubts, give the Cupertino Apple Store a ring and they should be able to set-up an appointment for you. Congrats on your future Mac purchase...