I LOVE mail in rebates but they are sometimes tricky.
First, we have to trust in the Postal Service to get our submission there in time. Secondly, we have to trust that the Postal Service returns our rebate (cash or prize or whatever).
We have to trust that the company doesn’t lose it or run out. We have to hope we did everything right.
Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Foods are both offering a P&G mail in rebate for a $10 prepaid card when you purchase $30 in select P&G products. It could make for some great deals! But here are a few things to consider:
1. My Motto is to SPEND less. I will be spending money out of pocket and hope everything works out for me to get the reward back.
2. Do I REALLY need/want these items or am I just chasing the savings?
3. Do I have all the information? In this case we have the fine print on the companies’ websites to be sure we are buying the right items and in the right amount- but forms still are not printing.
I think I just may skip this P&G rebate offer. It’s a GREAT deal for those who use these products or want to build up their stockpile more. But I’m still paying money out of pocket- hoping to get it back.
My goal isn’t to be an extreme couponer or to have hoards of paper towels to soak up the Atlantic Ocean. It’s fun and amazing and such a rush to see how much we can get for SOOOOO little- but my focus now is to LIMIT my out of pocket expense.
Just something to think about!
If you DO participate in a mail in rebate offer here are some tips:
1. keep copies of EVERYTHING. The form, the rebate and sometimes I even copy the envelope (you can often do this all on one page)
2. Write down how long they say it will take to process and make a note 1 week later in your calendar. Then you can check the status if you haven’t gotten it yet.
3. Keep a record of all rebates sent out and cross them off as you get them.
the companies do rebates in hopes you will buy the product and forget to send in the forms. I got a phone that was supposed ot have a $50 rebate. I got the phone at the store and the clerk even printed out the rebate forms. I went right home and filled it out and sent it in. A month later I got a note saying I didn’t qualify because I was supposed to upgrade the service too. I figured paying for a phone was enough and no one said anything about having to upgrade the plan. A few weeks later I happened to call customer service about something and she asked if there was anything else. So I said well I was disappointed. blah blah and she gave me the refund right then and there. Had a credit on the next months bill. so it pays to ask.
I do rebates from time to time, a lot of times it has turned out I bought the right thing or spent enough anyways. An example of this I was planning on getting deodorant at CVS this week with the b1g1 coupon.. I got 8 of them for free (the coupon was ringing up 3.99 instead of 1.99 and when I pointed it out to the cashier, she said it was fine??). I also got 6 ECB back! Since its over 10, I also qualify for the $5.00 colgate/speedstick brand rebate, so why not send it in?
I also did the p&g 10 wyb 50 right before Christmas because that awesome 8.00/2 covergirl coupon was out. I got enough concealer, foundations and blush for each lady in my families stocking. I had well over 50 retail, spent only a few dollars OOP on stuff I could use and got a $10 rebate! I also did the p&g pink bakeware… I spent about 10 OOP for that but its stuff I will def. use and I just wanted the bakeware!
I won’t do it if I wont use the product or I spend a lot OOP. I debated doing the brita because we do spend a fortune on bottled water.. I would have wanted one of the nicer ones.. not one of the cheap little ones at walmart but I ultimately decided we wouldn’t use it, especially for me to spend 25 something up front for the pitcher I would have wanted.
thanks for those thoughts, I have been sorting through the stuff we USE and that is on sale, but i don’t think it will work well for me either. Think ill sleep on it and determine if the effort is worth the payout this weekend.
When i wrote my list of P&G items that would work for the rebate (HT), many of them are things I do not typically buy. Either they are expensive, or I am satisfied with another brand. Some of them, like the crest toothpaste, I use regularly and am in need of replenishing. I am excited about the prospect of spending $19 now, to get $10 back, and some of the items can be used as a supplement for other items I do use. But, I will have to think about how much this is really worth. Do i really want to buy stuff i don’t usually use just for the rebate and savings, or am I spending that $ just to get the rebate and will it be worth it? Just some of my thoughts. As for the Postal concerns, I can let that rule me. My mom is a post master, and I feel obligated to support her work since they are suffering badly with economic problems. The USPS survives on junk mail and postage.
My thoughts are that if I would do the deal anyway and then a rebate is added that’s GREAT! I’m not going to do something simply for a rebate though (unless it’s a big one!). I was going to do the CVS speedstick/colgate deal no matter what (without even realizing there was a rebate). I only paid the $1.05 in taxes and got $6.87 in ECB (added the chocolate at that last minute). I sent in for the $5.00 rebate but if something were to happen and it got lost in the mail or something like that I already made money on the deal so I won’t be that upset. The $5.00 is just an awesome bonus.
At first I thought the P&G deal was great but now that some people aren’t getting it I don’t think I’m going to bother. I’m still going to pick up a few items (Bounce dryer bar, Vicks, and maybe the fabric softener) but I don’t feel like spending $15 to $20 OOP when I may or may not get the $10 back.
Thanks for the thought provoking post Jessie!
We are on the same page here LOL> I did the speed stick too without realizing about the rebate. One reason I ALWAYS keep receipts! I am also skipping the P&g deal although it’s HOT if I needed diapers.
Okay so I was in class so I must have missed something. Are people having trouble getting the rebate form? And while we are on the subject where do we obtain the form? I too felt I didn’t need the P&G products just for the rebate, however I do have a 10wk old so I will be doing the diaper scenario and I still get the $15 vic card amount and the $10 will be icing!
I have heard that the diaper scenario works perfect! the other scenarios are being hit or miss….
Not to just back on the post, but I remember during the box tops promo a few weeks ago I didn’t get my Catalina when I purchased the right about of products. It was after 10pm so I had to go back the next day. HT Customer Service was wonderful and even though it wasn’t their coupon they still give me a “rain check” for the amount I should have received. That said, the one girl at the checkout and in CS said that they were having a few issues with their machines and people not getting the rewards they were supposed to get. I’m wondering if everyone doing the promo should be getting the rebate form but for some reason the machines aren’t working? Just a thought. I know CS said I could contact Catalina’s support but that it’s usually a pain.
I have had a few emails saying that there are “glitches” in their system according to customer service. Sadly many store employees are uniformed that the promotion is even going on!!! So they have no idea who should get it, etc.
I learned the hard way that the employees are often the last to know! My HT is great, but if I’m doing a promo like that I always try and print out the flyer before I go and put it in my shopping binder. It’s hard for them to dispute the print out. Although since this is a rebate print out I’m not sure if there is too much they could do. Hopefully it gets fixed soon. Have you had the same feedback at Lowes?
I went to HT last night and did the diaper deal. I have a 17 month old. I had the flyer and got exactly what I was suppose too. Rang everything up. The 15.00 that is suppose to go to your evic did not work nor did a rebate form print out for the 10.00. The front end manager, cashier and store manager where very sorry and very nice. I gave them my flyer because they knew nothing about the promo. I had them copy my receipt and they told me someone from customer service will call me today (Thursday) to sort this out.
This is my first time with all this, Evics etc..I don’t buy pampers, I buy Members Mark at Sam’s because I get them at .18 a diaper. So, this was going out on a limb for me, 1. first time e-vicer and promo deal, 2. spending a lot more out of pocket then I would ever think of doing…upside to this is really a good deal and I am willing to give a test drive.
I wasn’t upset. I worked for a Grocery Chain for 10 years and for 8 years I was on the other side selling Truckloads to the buyers of these chains and others all up and down the east coast and Midwest. I do have a understanding of how this is all put together between the Manufacturer and the retailer or wholesaler. You think these deals are complicated at store level you should see it at the warehouse level. I will let you know what I find out today. Thanks!!
Let us know! I know that there have been issues with the other deals but those doing the diapers have been getting their promised promos.
I just got off the phone with HT Customer service at their main office. She went in and put the 15.00 on my VIC card for the diaper promo. She mailed me the rebate for the 10.00 when you spend 30.00 in P&G, but you needed to spend the 50.00 plus another 30.00 to qualify for both.In other words you needed to spend 80.00 before coupons to get both promo’s in one transaction. Did I made sense? HT was very nice and I appreciate that. I am not sure I will get the 10.00 rebate through when I send it to P&G.
I know that at least 1 other person got both 😉 You should get your rebate it won’t show the $15 credit on the receipt. PLUS you should have gotten at least 1 if she is correct. Glad they fixed it for you though. I know they have been having issues with this promo