We're updating the kitchen in our new place. Getting some million year old countertops and we're replacing the appliances as we come across a good deal. The current ones were installed when the house was built in 89'(19). I guess it would have been easier there to just type 1989, but I digress ...

So, being so tight that Bapu can hear my arse squeak in Missouri, all the way from California, I go searching for a deal.

I got a high end Bosch glass cook top that someone returned because the guts of it hung too low and it wouldn't sit flush on their counter top.

It was $900 marked down to $499 and I got them down to $450. The salesman says, "Oh ... the computer says there's a $50 rebate as well." Sweet.

I fill out the online form for the rebate, I use my handy dandy little cell phone to scan the invoice and upload it to Bosch.

I've been checking the rebate status online and I noticed today that it said 'On Hold' because the serial number was wrong. So I go check, and sure enough, the serial on the invoice is different than what is on the cook top. It gave me a link to click that said 'Update Serial Number', so I did. I checked back again just now and it says, 'On Hold' due to no invoice being submitted and it gave me a link to submit the invoice ... and the serial number. I already submitted the invoice, and it didn't ask me for it when it told me the serial number was wrong.

They offer these rebates and make it near impossible to get them. Then they jerk you around until you miss the deadline to submit a valid claim, which is exactly what's going on here. If I remember correctly, the cutoff for submitting the rebate is today.

I've noticed this with other things too. For example, I've tried to cash in on several rebate offers on video cards, motherboards, and other appliances, and I think over the years, out of all them, I maybe had 2 rebates actually go through and be accepted. And the ones that were, were a special deal where you take 5 dollars off what they offer and they guarantee you get your lesser rebate in 2 ~ 4 weeks, otherwise it's 4 ~ 6 months.

It's all a scam.

I wouldn't call it a scam, so much as a scam.  They always make it as hard as possible to get rebates, the theory being of course that any offered discount will result in more sales, yet only a certain % of buyers will actually jump through the required hoops to get the money. I always get a rebate when I buy contact lenses and I have to fill out all sorts of crap and have it signed and stamped by the optician and cut out box tops to send them (the exact right part of the box tops mind you, otherwise it's no cigar). Then about 4 months later they send me a branded debit card on which I can spend the money (just not at gas stations or on the internet). 

yep.  rebates are nothing more than a way to intice people to fall for their crap and they know that at least 50% of them will never be used either because of the customer waiting too late or hoops they have to jump thru like you describe or some other stall tactic.

Yep! Gotta agree with the Reece.  

I usually avoid purchasing stuff with rebates. 

But anyway Bub it's good that you reminded us --- yep rebates programs usually do suck! 

I have had varying success with rebates,  even following very carefully the you must fold the envelope sideways requirements.

Also those class action lawsuits you see in the paper or magazine section. Who keeps their receipt from 6 years ago for an LCD monitor thats long gone, anyway.

Another thing that cranks my tractor are the "extended warranties" offered at the time of sale.. Those are SPIFS for the salesperson...

MEH on it all.

They hope you forget to file the rebate..... then if you do it must be "letter perfect" and comply with all the mouse type in the agreement..... 

Stick with it because $50 is $50 and they will send it eventually. 

In the past I have had a few "returned" for various reasons, but I resubmit them and they get paid. 

Until you wonder if they raised the price to make it look as if you were getting a rebate in the first place.

It's a bit like "guaranteed or your money back." The marketing effect of the guarantee is actually worth more than any losses they'll incur by people demanding their money back, especially on low priced goods, because the vast majority of people won't make the effort of sending their purchase back to the manufacturer to get their money back.