If it's free, it's for me! Or is it?
Written: Feb 10 '01
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The Bottom Line
Use it for free items only--those items with a 100% rebate--and only then if you can wait 4 months for your rebate.
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I had to wait 4 months to write this review, and it wasn't because I'm lazy. I purchased two items from Cyberrebate.com in late October, 2000, and received the rebate check in early February, 2001. Yes, the items were reduced in price, and I did indeed pay less than I would have for both items in stores. Was it worth it?
Cyberrebate.com has a pretty strange selection of merchandise. Lots of dolls and knickknacks, toys and kiddie journals. I've spent hours combing through their merchandise without finding something I could justify purchasing. On the other hand, in October of 2000, I found myself strangely desirous of purchasing new kitchen appliances. I had recently moved, and my toaster and can opener, both purchased over 10 years ago, were begging to be replaced.
At Cyberrebate.com, I found a Proctor-Silex Can Opener for $89.99 (free after rebate) and a Proctor-Silex 4 Slice Bagel Smart Toaster for $69.99 ($19.99 after rebate). This was the only brand they carried for these types of items, and while the prices before rebate were absolutely ridiculous, I couldn't argue with $19.99 for these two appliances. This is where Cyberrebate.com usually gets you, and where you have to be careful: many of their items are in fact not less expensive--even after rebate--than buying them elsewhere. In addition, they're often wildly overpriced. The can opener I purchased, for example, can be purchased elsewhere online for around $22. Is anyone else shocked at the huge difference between $22 and $90? It's this way with many of the products on sale at Cyberrebate.com. At any rate, they do offer free shipping, and the items came promptly and were in good condition. So far, so good.
Next, the rebate process: you'd better excel in attention to detail. They stress on the forms (which you print from the site) that if one thing is wrong--for example, your papers aren't stapled--they will reject your rebate, and you won't get the money back. This would be disastrous for most of their products because, again, the mark-up is so insane. So, heart palpitating, I spent about an hour filling out both forms, both envelopes (you must use one envelope for each rebate), and attaching the various UPC codes, receipts and other accoutrements they require. Each envelope must be addressed to a recipient with 6 lines (no kidding); you even have to print additional information in the return portion of your envelope. Folks, when I said you'd better excel in attention to detail, I meant it.
What's troublesome is the fact that rebates take 10 to 14 weeks to process. Not up to 10 to 14 weeks, but from 10 to 14 weeks. Why does it take so long? I suspect that it doesn't, and that somehow, some way, the way Cyberrebate.com makes it money is tied up in how long it keeps your money....well, tied up. They say they are able to do it because they ask questions, on the rebate forms, about what informed your decision to make this purchase, and that this research is "very valuable" to them. Perhaps they're in tandem with credit card companies? They know that most people will pay for these items with a credit card, and that most people do not pay their credit card bills in full. Given that, it is safe to assume that most people will charge this money, and that it will simply get added onto their balance, as it did with me. The bottom line is that rebates don't take this long, so their business model must connect with the amount of time they make you wait to receive your money.
Overall, I'm happy with my purchases and I think I got a good deal, but I do go back to Cyberrebate.com from time to time, and I don't see many good deals. Rather than using it for items you specifically need--and running the risk of being ripped off in an astounding fashion--I suggest perusing the site occasionally and buying only what really stands out. My other advice is to only buy items with a 100% rebate (you can search using that criterion only), to avoid any chance of feeling duped later. For me, on this one occasion, it was indeed worth it, but I have yet to make another purchase there, primarily because I don't like having to wait 4 months for a refund that could be credited back to my Visa instantly.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Katherine DePasquale
Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 17 members
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