Garmin's rebate check, a postcard!

[VoltageHz]

First let me say that I am a believer in personal responsibility, if I were to throw out the postcard I would be responsible for not reading it carefully.

 

Today when getting the mail I shuffled thru the normal advertisements, many of them on postcards (casinos in A.C., chimney sweepers, male enhancement, dentist, you name it). For some reason one caught my eye before it landed in the garbage can, the only reason I noticed it was because it said "Garmin" on it and I immediately found it odd for Garmin to send out a postcard to me. After looking more closely I figured it was a confirmation that they received my rebate information. Apparently I wasn't looking close enough because I later saw that it was in fact a check. That's right, a check in the form of a post card, no envelope, no attempt at privacy, just a $50 check out in the open. IMO it's just a dumb idea, dumb is the best word I can come up with, there is no good reason to do it this way other than to save a few cents. Ya know what, I would have gladly taken a check for $49.50 and had them use the extra money on an envelope to ensure my financial situation stays private. Nevermind some type of writing on the envelope showing it's contents to be important, as most bank/creditcard/etc. statements have on their envelopes.

 

Again, it's my responsibility to watch out for dumb things such as this. If you have an ETrex or GPSMAP 60 rebate coming, be aware when shuffling thru your junk mail. And check out all magazines, I occasionally find post cards which find their way inside the pages.

[+El Diablo]

I know what you mean. I got mine today and my wife couldn't believe they would send a check this way.

 

El Diablo

[+CondorTrax]

Just imagine how much they'll be saving when others not quite as observant flip the p'card into the trash.

[+Night Stalker]

Better call the wife and tell her not to throw any of my junk mail away until I get home and have time to check it out.

 

[Suscrofa]

Just imagine how much they'll be saving when others not quite as observant flip the p'card into the trash.

 

Prety sure it is the puspose !

Saving on the processing and BIG saving if thrown !

The guy who got this idea got a promotion I am sure.

[+wyomingwapiti]

Thanks for the heads up! I just sent my paperwork off yesterday so I could receive the rebate. Good to know.

[+BlueDeuce]

Make sure to complain to Garmin.

[+ScoutingWV]

I remember wondering how mine actually made it to my address. I almost tossed it out with the junk mail.

[-Oz-]

most of my rebates come like this now, just a "check" in the mail.

[+DocDiTTo]

Garmin's rebate check is done the same way hundreds of other companies checks are. I can't remember the last time I recieved a rebate check in an envelope, they all come as a postcard now. Complaining to Garmin won't do much, the checks are sent out from rebate clearing houses. Companies such as Garmin pay them to handle the mail and issue the checks.

[VoltageHz]

Garmin's rebate check is done the same way hundreds of other companies checks are. I can't remember the last time I recieved a rebate check in an envelope, they all come as a postcard now. Complaining to Garmin won't do much, the checks are sent out from rebate clearing houses. Companies such as Garmin pay them to handle the mail and issue the checks.

FWIW, this might be the new way that's it's done, but it's the first time I've seen it and I've been getting a couple mail-in-rebates a month for years (yes, I'm a MIR whore).

[+Train_Man]

be pretty sad after spending an hour filling out the confusing paperwork, mailing it out, waiting months, then THROWING IT AWAY. It may not be Garmin's fault but they should see the problem and use a different rebate company.

 

I know it is for sure a money saver thing, but thats quite low quality of them

[+Vegas Gamblers]

Garmin's rebate check is done the same way hundreds of other companies checks are. I can't remember the last time I recieved a rebate check in an envelope, they all come as a postcard now. Complaining to Garmin won't do much, the checks are sent out from rebate clearing houses. Companies such as Garmin pay them to handle the mail and issue the checks.

FWIW, this might be the new way that's it's done, but it's the first time I've seen it and I've been getting a couple mail-in-rebates a month for years (yes, I'm a MIR whore).

 

Wow a whore in NJ...go figure. I just could not pass that up.

 

Back on topic......

 

It's good to know how the rebate is sent because mine most likley would have ended in the trash.

[+Slower Pace]

Yeah, I just got mine today, and I was flabbergasted they would have the amount and all the rest of the rebate info right there in plain sight for all the postal world to see!

 

It's enough to go postal over....

[+Seedillume]

Garmin's rebate check is done the same way hundreds of other companies checks are. I can't remember the last time I recieved a rebate check in an envelope, they all come as a postcard now. Complaining to Garmin won't do much, the checks are sent out from rebate clearing houses. Companies such as Garmin pay them to handle the mail and issue the checks.

This is what I was going to state. I have gotten rebates from OCZ, Linksys, Snadisk, etc. All of them are now in postcard format. They save on paper, postage, and when people throw it away. Due to these types of MIRs, I now have to sort through all of my mail instead of taking the bundle of mail flyers and throwing them out.

 

I don't like having a real check out in the open like that. In the end, it makes me not want to buy something that requires a MIR to get the discount.

[+EScout]

I have received other rebates by postcard. The last rebate I received, for software, came in the form of a Visa Debit card. It had my name and the the $50 embossed on the card. Looks just like any other debit card, but once you use it all, the card is dead and you throw it away.

[+GPS Derek]

How long has the rebate taken to get? I mailed mine late September (about 9 weeks ago) and still waiting. Garmin says they will look when it's past 12 weeks.

[jonners]

Meanwhile, those of us in Europe have to be satisfied with NO rebate at all!

[+Colorado Cacher]

1. I was taught, when working for a company that handles rebates, that an easy 90% of the people buying a product with a rebate won't follow through on it.

 

2. A postcard is usually thrown away more quickly. allowing my company to say "We sent your rebate check, you didn't get it?" thus it's your fault you didn't get your rebate because you overlooked it, not my company.

[Grasscatcher]

What would you do if "they" wrote it on toilet paper?

[VoltageHz]

What would you do if "they" wrote it on toilet paper?

Cash it, what else?

 

What type of answer are you fishing for?

Edited November 22, 2006 by VoltageHz

[Grasscatcher]

Jest couldn't figure out what was so bad about what shape or what kind of paper it came as......if it cashes or deposits,or spends....that's all that counts!

[VoltageHz]

Reasons were clearly given.

Edited November 23, 2006 by VoltageHz