Hefty rebates are worth time and effort

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By Elaine Morris Roberts, Staff Writer 9:40 PM Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Rebates often seem to come in small increments, making them more trouble than they’re worth. I’m the first to admit I’m not motivated to fill out a form and stick a stamp on an envelope for a $1 check as a thank you for buying a five-pack of pens.

Lately, though, companies are offering larger rebates on all sorts of items to garner new customers and raise awareness and interest about new products.

Some companies still offer checks, but the prepaid Visa card is becoming more and more common.

While cashing a check feels like you’ve gotten your money back, don’t shy away from the Visa card concept too quickly. If you know you can spend the rebate somewhere useful — say the grocery store — to cover necessary expenses you’d have anyway, then it’s a good deal.

There are rebates available on everything including skin care products, contact lenses, cell phones and kitchen appliances, with some rebates being substantial.

To find rebates, check company websites to find any available offers. Be sure to read the forms carefully and follow the instructions exactly. And make copies of your completed forms in case the rebate processor loses yours or refuses it for some reason.

The newest skin care products from Neutrogena, Aveeno and Roc that promise to work by sending an extremely low-pulse electrical current through your skin are all offering substantial rebates.

The technology claims to stimulate collagen production, which slows as we age, creating sagging, wrinkled skin.

All three are offering $20 rebates on the purchase prices of around $39. (Coincidentally, all three brands are owned by the Johnson & Johnson Co.)

Find the forms at aveeno.com, rocskincare.com and neutrogenaclinical.com.

If you decide you want to try Neutrogena and purchase by Sunday, July 18, the company is offering a rebate for the entire purchase price up to $40. The form must be mailed by July 30.

And if you buy skin care products at Rite-Aid through July 24, you may qualify for an additional store gift card on top of your rebates. A $25 skin care purchase may make you eligible for a $10 Rite Aid gift card while a $50 purchase may bring a $25 gift card. Most major brands and some store brands qualify.

Rite Aid also offers a list of products on their website currently offering rebates.

Until September 30, Acuvue is offering rebates of up to $100 for new and existing contact lens wearers. Larger rebate amounts require fairly substantial purchases — up to 24 boxes with various count sizes — but there are still some good deals available.

Complete details can be found at acuvue.com.

Cell phone retailers are always offering rebates on the newest models to entice all of us to buy the latest and greatest, while switching service providers. Most providers are offering rebates of up to $100 on various smart phones.

And, if you decide to switch, ask your potential new provider if they will offer additional credits for switching and see if they’ll price match. Retailers like Walmart often advertise phones at crazy low prices which can save you even more money.

General Electric is offering a rebate of up to $1,000 on eligible kitchen appliance purchases from the company’s various lines. Rebates are higher for professional appliance purchases.

Specifics can be found at retailers or online at products.ge appliances.com.

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This is the kind of informative news I like. Helps me save money or get money. Need more of these kind of articles. There are alot of places on the web that we may never get to, to know that they have a rebate. Telling us in the paper is helpful!

Debbie
8:31 AM, 7/14/2010

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