[geeks] [rant] New rebate "checks"

[Lionel Peterson]

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 9:41 AM, Sandwich Maker <adh at an.bradford.ma.us>
wrote:
> " From: Patrick Giagnocavo <patrick at zill.net>
> "
> " Lionel Peterson wrote:
> " > I've bought a few "after rebate" deals, and more and more often,
instead
> " > of sending me a check for the rebate amount they send me "debit cards"
-
> " > WTF?
> " >
> " > It is annoying to find ways to get rid of $10 charge cards, for
example,
> " > unless I go to a restaurant and can ask the waitress to just put $10 on
> " > the card...
> " >
> "
> " Has not happened to me, I would probably just use them at gas stations.
> "
> " Remember they are sending you the debit card because when you use it
> " they get additional marketing info about where you shop.
>
> i wonder if they're good at atm machines?  or if your bank could
> 'unload' the card?

They can not be used at an ATM (I've not tried it, but the documents
warn against it, maybe to avoid ATM fees which would make a $10 check
equal $8 in my pocket?)...

My frustration is that most retailers don't like to aggregate several
cards (restaurants are the one example I've seen, but their tolerance
ends at 2 cards, in my experience, as in split the check evenly over
these two cards).

I am saving for a new MacMini, I've got a pile of gift cards and
rebate/debit cards to pay for it - I can't pile 14 $10-30 rebate debit
cards and a couple gift cards on the counter - they can't handle that
many payment sources...

Dell allows two credit cards (which always struck me as odd), and
actual retail stores can ususally handle multiple "store brand" gift
cards and one credit card for the rest, but those only get me so far
with a rebate debit card.

Maybe I'm just being picky, but I hate handing a waiter a "debit card"
and saying take $10 off this, and put the rest on my regular debit
card...

I'll admit to being old and cranky, but how are these cards cheaper
for the Mfg? I guess if folks don't fully draw them down, they get to
keep the random change at some point, but these can't be cheaper than
paper checks, can they?

And I'm always amazed when a postcard check arrives at my house.

Lionel
--
Lionel Peterson
lionel4287 at gmail.com