Utilize Product Rebates

By Joel Craig, NEWS 9 Contributor

OKLAHOMA CITY – It's hard to believe, but we're already well into the Christmas shopping season, and many places are fighting for your business with sales with rebates, but you need to know what to look for if you want to save money in the end

Christmas is coming - the Sunday paper is getting fat, and there are many rebates in it already.

Rebates are popular especially in the world of electronics. Rebates allow a retailer to advertise a low price without actually having to sell the product to you at that lower price. While this annoys the consumers there are economic reasons for them. At the bottom of the list of reasons is some states, like Oklahoma, have laws against selling products below cost.

Last Saturday morning Walmart had an Internet advertised special sale. You might have found some items ringing-up at a higher than advertised price, because they couldn't sell them in Oklahoma below cost. Using rebates allows the retailer to show a lower price and stay within the law. The bigger reasons are manufacturers don't have to lower the cost to retailers as much as they would if the retailer was to sell an item at the lower price in the store. The manufacturer gets a higher price, the retailer charges you a higher price and they're betting you don't submit for the rebate.

The product's manufacturer typically subsidizes sale prices and sponsors the rebates. If you don't submit they get a better profit margin, and the industry knows exactly how many of you won't submit or won't follow the instructions thereby allowing your claim to be denied. Watch online retailers. With some you have to print the rebate form when you order the item or you won't receive one. Be sure to read the directions carefully.

Submit all required information and proofs of purchase within the time limit and keep a copy of what you submit. Although rebates are a way of saving money they are only good for you if you can lay out your money for the typical two to three months before you get it back - of course not including the additional sales tax you paid.