Dave Jr wrote:
3 ways to not get your Canon mail-in rebate:
1) Don't follow the qualifying rules or submit incorrectly.
2) Don't keep proof that you qualified and submitted correctly.
3) Don't call the 800 number on the form and demand to speak to a manager if your claim was incorrectly denied.
See, would I steer you guys wrong? With well over 6k posts on this forum, I'm not going to flop out just any info. I can get some nice info from time to time, so I share what I can.
Glad to see something official posted. it's better than nothing that's for sure, but I was hoping to see something like what Canada is getting. Too bad our Canon USA cheese balls won't give us the deals our neighbors to the north.
The differences are amazing and significant. The Canadians even get a discount on the 300 f/2.8 IS, they can combine products to increase the discounts, and apparently don't have to worry about the price of oil or a price increase.
Edited by jamesf99 on May 11, 2008 at 08:53 AM GMT
jamesf99 wrote:
The differences are amazing and significant. The Canadians even get a discount on the 300 f/2.8 IS, they can combine products to increase the discounts, and apparently don't have to worry about the price of oil or a price increase.
It's because the U.S. rebates are "instant" rebates rather than mail-in. Mail-in rebates typically offer much bigger savings. I am now officially disappointed.
Savas K wrote:
My 70-200 2.8 L IS and 5D grip is supposed to arrive this Monday. I will clearly leave it in the box destined for return (pay the return charges) and re-purchase within rebate.
see if the store can do something for you before sending it back. It's insane to make people do that IMO (return goods and repurchase). Wastes fuel, wastes time, wastes money; it's simply nuts...
This means have the store do the paper work, not give up the rebate....
Edited by jamesf99 on May 11, 2008 at 10:08 AM GMT
jamesf99 wrote:
see if the store can do something for you before sending it back. It's insane to make people do that IMO (return goods and repurchase). Wastes fuel, wastes time, wastes money; it's simply nuts...
for $100 it's probably not worth it, but for $475 it is.
I did follow all the rules; why would you assume I didn't? I didn't keep copies, though; having copies of pieces of material is no proof that the originals were sent, in any case...
Serious question/comment: why do Canon have these stupid rebates and why do people get so excited about them?
Why cannot the company simply reduce the price by an appropriate percentage?
I have submitted requests for, and received, rebates in the past on a 1.4TCII and a 100-400mm lens but for the amounts involved and the hassle of all the paperwork I will never do it again. I just aint that broke!
Is this the modern day equivalent of "Green Shield Stamps"?
jamesf99 wrote:
Glad to see something official posted. it's better than nothing that's for sure, but I was hoping to see something like what Canada is getting. Too bad our Canon USA cheese balls won't give us the deals our neighbors to the north.
The differences are amazing and significant. The Canadians even get a discount on the 300 f/2.8 IS, they can combine products to increase the discounts, and apparently don't have to worry about the price of oil or a price increase.
Edited by jamesf99 on May 11, 2008 at 08:53 AM GMT
James, not sure this will make you feel any better, but while the CDN rebate looks good on paper, you're still better off on the bigger ticket items being south of the border without any rebate than we are in Canada even after the rebate.
You alluded to the CDN 300 2.8 rebate. Yes, that was a suprise, but...
the largest(?) retailer in Ontario, Henry's Camera, currently has the 300L f/2.8 priced at $4,749.99. Knock $300 off that price using the double rebate and it's still $349 higher than the current B&H regular price.
Not to mention I'd pay $617.50 in taxes on that lens here (13%). I'm guessing if you buy online from out of state, you pay no tax down there.
Add it all up and you are almaost $1K ahead on that item, with no rebate.
Granted, I can do a bit better if I shop around, but still, not better enough.
And our rebate is a, ugh, mail-in.
While some items are closer in price (40D for example), I'd still rather have your great pricing and moderate rebates, than our good rebates and crappy pricing.
Things could be worse i guess.
We could have to pay European pricing. Yikes.
Greg
Colin Key wrote:
Serious question/comment: why do Canon have these stupid rebates and why do people get so excited about them?
Why cannot the company simply reduce the price by an appropriate percentage?
I have submitted requests for, and received, rebates in the past on a 1.4TCII and a 100-400mm lens but for the amounts involved and the hassle of all the paperwork I will never do it again. I just aint that broke!
Is this the modern day equivalent of "Green Shield Stamps"?
Colin
You've answered your own question better than I could have, but if it's not clear, they have the rebates because:
1. People get excited about them and will buy now because they are "getting a deal"
2. Some folks will not take advantage of the rebates given, thus they get to make the revenue at the "original" price even though they get to advertise the item as cheaper
This is the same reasoning that makes the use of coupons so prevalent. Most coupons are never used, but there's great advertising potential in a "sale". Far more benefit than apparent cost of all the coupons. And more benefit for sure than if they'd just lowered the price of the item.
I did follow all the rules; why would you assume I didn't? I didn't keep copies, though; having copies of pieces of material is no proof that the originals were sent, in any case...
Phone calls were fruitless.
I listed three reasons for failure, I did not state any assumption about which one of the three was the cause in your case, but now we know that it was number two. Phone calls were fruitless because you did not have copies. When you call, if you can provide copies of the original documents by fax you will receive your rebate, without fail, as long as you are persistant.
If B&H, for ex., carries over the rebate, will it be off its actual "street pricing" of 1139$, or from the original list price, which was 1299$, I think? Talking body only.
herve wrote:
If B&H, for ex., carries over the rebate, will it be off its actual "street pricing" of 1139$, or from the original list price, which was 1299$, I think? Talking body only.
It will be off the 'street' price. However the street price may be adjusted at any time. Not saying B&H will change their street prices to coincide with the rebates, but they could. (The same is true of any retailer, including Adorama, Amazon, Buydig, etc.)
