How to Manage, Remember and Follow-up On Rebates

Free After Rebates! Great deal, isn’t it? Many websites, supermarkets promote products as FAR (Free after rebate). As a customer, this is an attractive offer to us and we buy the product. Now its time to submit the rebate and to do a follow-up till you receive your expected rebate. But many times we forget to submit the rebate, and if we do submit it, we forget to reply the postcard (you receive if rebate is not valid!!). Here is a simple trick to get your rebates

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Create TODO list using a notepad or a computer
• Calendar for follow up

1. Here, I am assuming that before you buy any product, you read all the fine prints. Once you buy the product, make sure to keep the receipt. Based on the company, rebate forms are different. E.g. Rite Aid, Walgreens, Staples provide an option to submit the rebate online where as other vendors ask you to send the UPC bar code (proof of purchase), Photo-copy of the receipt and original rebate form.

2. As soon as you buy the product and reach home, make a note in your TODO task notebook about sending the Rebate form or submitting the rebate form in next 2 days. Put proper reminders if you have any electronic reminders.

3. Let’s assume that you need to send the rebate form via mail. So first print the rebate form which is available online. When you buy a product in store, you will get the rebate form along with receipts e.g. Staples, Pep Boys etc.

4. Fill the rebate form, collect the UPC bar code and send the rebate form at the designated address. Do not forget to take photo copies of all documentations. As soon as you dispatch the form, mark this task as complete in your TODO list.

5. Prepare a follow up list in computer with following columns.
   1. Store name
   2. Purchase Date
   3. Rebate Amount
   4. Rebate submission date
   5. Follow-up date
   Fill up data in all the columns for your rebate. Tip for column # 5 – Put a date 4-6 weeks after the send date. Make a habit to review excel on weekly basis.

6. If you don’t have a computer, you may have a wall calendar at home. Mark a date on your calendar after the send date. E.g. if you send the rebate in last week of April 2009, put the follow-up date for 1st or 2nd week of June 2009.

7. On the day of follow-up, open the rebate documents. If they have provided a web address to verify your rebate status, do so. Else call the phone number provided on the rebate form.

8. Based on the first follow-up response, set the second follow-up date.

9. For any reason, if you receive the postcard stating rebate is invalid or asking for more supporting documentation, take required action in next 2 days or first coming weekend.
   
   Once you receive the rebate, mark that task as complete in your TODO list and you won’t have to do any follow-up.

Tips & Warnings

• Take photocopies of all documentation
• Read the fine print of every rebate form