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Fly at Night · 07-23-2013, 06:58 PM

Well, I am sitting here feeling like a real sucker.

A couple of months ago the TV needed new tires. Goodyear was offering a $80 tire "rebate", so shelled out over $1,100 for GY Wranglers all around. I then filled out the online "rebate" application and sent it on its way. GY informed me the "rebate" would arrive in six to eight weeks.

Yesterday's postal delivery brought an envelope from Goodyear. Oh good, thought I, the rebate cheque has arrived!

Ripping open the envelope, I discovered the "rebate" was not a cheque. I was sent a MasterCard (which I don't need or want) pre-loaded for $80.

I feel disillusioned and taken advantage of somewhat. Wouldn't any consumer assume "rebate" means "cash"?

No doubt MasterCard was the real winner in this "rebate" offer.

**DKB_SATX** · 07-23-2013, 07:03 PM

Well, $80 is $80, as long as you don't just let it sit so that monthly maintenance fees eat into the balance. Just buy groceries or fuel or something for the Airstream with it.

AWCHIEF · 07-23-2013, 07:04 PM

That is a common way of paying rebates these days. I used one yesterday at Best Buy to buy a new microwave.

JDS · 07-23-2013, 07:10 PM

Well FaN,

You're not a sucker. The MC is as good as cash, you can use it in the grocery store, whatever, and it works just like cash. You might want to check if it has an expiry date, which they sometimes do. You got your $80, just not in the form you expected.

Happy shopping,

John S.

Drathaar · 07-23-2013, 07:12 PM

I did the same thing with a set of Coopers. Hey, they spend just fine.

**moosetags** · 07-23-2013, 07:16 PM

In recent times, every rebate that I have gotten has been in the form of a debit card. It spends just about anywhere. As a matter of fact, it's easier to spend the card than go down to the bank to deposit a check.

Brian

NJtoNC · 07-23-2013, 07:18 PM

so long as its not a $80 GC for more goodyears - you can buy anything with it, right? so... not cash, but still can be used in place of cash.

m.hony · 07-23-2013, 07:24 PM

I bought a set of four Firestone Destination LEs for the Pathfinder last summer and got the $80 rebate. We spent it on food and gas on a trip. That rebate persuaded me to buy those tires, which I don't like because they hum going down the road. The Bridgestones were quieter.

switz · 07-23-2013, 07:28 PM

This is the move to the cashless society so those in the know can also know about your spending patterns and balances. Cashing a rebate check for cash does not provide that empirical data as to where the money went.

amazongb · 07-23-2013, 07:44 PM

You gotta figure, MasterCard will get anywhere from 1%-3% of whatever you purchase, and my hunch is that they've worked a deal with Goodyear to kick them back. So, the $80 rebate to you may cost Goodyear anywhere from $79.20 to $77.60, which, adds up.

Airtandem · 07-23-2013, 08:02 PM

Menards (similar to HD or Lowes) Has alot of rebates on major brands but the rebates are in the form of a check that is only redeemable at Menards. I like the MC method of rebates.

cwf · 07-23-2013, 09:12 PM

Donate the MC to a local poor group.

Fly at Night · 07-23-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwf

Donate the MC to a local poor group.

Sure. So they can charge up an unlimited amount every month. I'm a bottomless pit!

I might have done that, had they given me the cash.

BTW, I have donated thousands to one non-profit organization, thank-you.

Belegedhel · 07-23-2013, 09:32 PM

Typically these rebate cards are a debit card only. They may be administered by Visa or Mastercard, but you aren't being handed a limitless credit card, just a debit card with a finite balance (of $80 in this case).

My irritation with these rebate cards is that when you get down to $3, it is very difficult to spend. If you try to buy something worth $5, and you swipe your card, it won't exhaust it like it would a gift card, it will tell you that you have insufficient funds for the purchase. So you have to keep track of what is left on it, and make some kind of very strategic purchase toward the end.

cwf · 07-23-2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Sure. So they can charge up an unlimited amount every month. I'm a bottomless pit!

I might have done that, had they given me the cash.

BTW, I have donated thousands to one non-profit organization, thank-you.

Dear FaN,
I meant no disrespect.

**DKB_SATX** · 07-23-2013, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

Typically these rebate cards are a debit card only. They may be administered by Visa or Mastercard, but you aren't being handed a limitless credit card, just a debit card with a finite balance (of $80 in this case).

My irritation with these rebate cards is that when you get down to $3, it is very difficult to spend. If you try to buy something worth $5, and you swipe your card, it won't exhaust it like it would a gift card, it will tell you that you have insufficient funds for the purchase. So you have to keep track of what is left on it, and make some kind of very strategic purchase toward the end.

Know the balance (X), instruct the cashier to ring up X on that card and pay the rest in cash. At Target, you can even do that yourself on their card readers, I'm annoyed every time I have to tell it "yes, charge it all to the one card" in fact.

Fly at Night · 07-23-2013, 11:25 PM

Beleged, I haven't read the fine print - just threw the card back into the envelope.
You are probably right. I thought it was just another credit card. I was annoyed because the idea behind buying the FaN was to downsize the consumerism.

It seems everyone wants to hand you a credit card these days, to say nothing of those "customer appreciation cards" etc. My wallet is full of them. I get tired of lugging the lot around.

Thanks everyone for the reply. I will know what to expect - next time I apply for a "rebate."

Fly at Night · 07-23-2013, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwf

Dear FaN,
I meant no disrespect.

cwf, no problem. Your heart was in the right place.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 07-24-2013, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

That is a common way of paying rebates these days. I used one yesterday at Best Buy to buy a new microwave.

Hi, I get them all of the time; I just used one yesterday to help pay for a new weed eater from Sears.

wahoonc · 07-24-2013, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Beleged, I haven't read the fine print - just threw the card back into the envelope.
You are probably right. I thought it was just another credit card. I was annoyed because the idea behind buying the FaN was to downsize the consumerism.

It seems everyone wants to hand you a credit card these days, to say nothing of those "customer appreciation cards" etc. My wallet is full of them. I get tired of lugging the lot around.

Thanks everyone for the reply. I will know what to expect - next time I apply for a "rebate."

There is an App for that... called Key Chain available for Android, BB and iPhone. For years I had a second key chain with all the little cards on it, rather than carry them in my wallet.

Aaron