
When a Rebate Isn't a Rebate-It's a Rip-off, an article posted on Walletpop.com, is about the new form of "rebates" that companies are offering on products you buy. When you buy the product, it might show the "after rebate" price, subtracting the amount of the rebate credit card. The fact is that very few of these "rebate cards" is anything more than a gift card that can only be used to purchase other products from the same company.
The catch that many are running into is that there are small print items that apply to spending the gift card or rebate card, as the companies are calling them. According to WalletPop.com, If you have a rebate card that has $25 on it, you have to spend it on a product that doesn't exceed that amount, leaving money on the table. For example, if you have an item that is $25.01, your card will be rejected. If you spend it on an item for $20, you will likely not spend the other $5 before it is eaten up by the service charges that incur on the rebate gift cards. Many companies have started issuing these rebate cards instead of reducing the price, which costs you real money.
So buyer beware...

