LAC Using an FM Transmitter/MP3 Player: BAD!

[Brett Dikeman]

On Mar 8, 2006, at 1:25 PM, Kenneth Keith wrote:

> (It's
> funny, but I wonder if rebates are a way to prevent returns, since you
> usually give them the UPC barcode to redeem the rebate.

a)prevent returns because retailers usually have a clause about  
undamaged packaging
b)doesn't permanently devalue the product (and hence future versions)  
unlike a "sale".
c)can reward (or penalize by excluding them) specific retailers  
without annoying others (no price war/matching)
d)little loss, since few people bother to send them in, or the store  
doesn't give you enough copies...or terms are constructed to make it  
easy to reject, or the rebates are simply filed in the "circular file"
e)they get your mailing address, telephone number, and often your  
email...which they can sell to data mining companies

I'm sure I'm missing a few...but they're pretty evil.

I never bother with local stores and rebate nonsense.  I can order  
online and often beat a store like CompUSA by a substantial amount of  
money.   CompUSA will happily charge you $179-189 plus tax for a  
Seagate 300GB ATA drive, which I can have from just about anywhere  
online for about $130-$140, shipping included, no tax.  That's almost  
30% off...

Their current pricing is $189, minus a $40 "instant savings" (ie  
$149- still less than online+shipping, and  then there's tax)...and  
what are the chances of you getting that additional $50 rebate...

Brett