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CLINTON NEWS

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05/13/2010

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Tips on

handling

rebates
J.V;,
Special to The Clinton News

Rebates offered by manu­

facturers are steadily increas­
ing. They are, in fact, an excel­
lent way to lure shoppers into
buying products.
Consumers generally fail to
receive rebate payments,
either because they do not
apply for them or due to
stonewalling from third-party
rebate-fulfillment firms. This
makes rebate offers attractive
marketing tools for manufac­
turers.
The Better~ Business
Bureau(BB~ng~s­
sippi offers the following tips
to consumers that may help
improve their chances of
receiving rebates:
• Do the math. Is it worth
the hassle to fill out the paper­
work if the item could be pur­
chased elsewhere without a
rebate for nearly the same
amount?
• Read the rules carefully.
• Follow all instructions.
Fill outpaperwork completely.
• Apply for only one rebate
at a time. Original receipts are
usually required, so purchase
multiple-rebate items sepa­
rately.
• Start the paperwork
inunediately after purchase.
• Keep copies.
• Use certified mail This
will verify that your request
was received.
• Watch incoming mail for
disguised rebate checks. They
may looklike junk mail.
Report any problems to the
Federal Trade Commission
(www.itc.gov or 1-877-438­
(338) or the Attorney Gener­
al's office (www.agjimhood
.comor 1-800-281-4418)..