Mail-in Rebates

[apolofmyeye]

Hi everyone!

If it hasn't been so obvious yet, well you see i'm sort of new at this thing called the Mac. But it has definitely caught my eye. (the ibook especially!)

I'm planning to purchase an ibook when i go to the states and i've been surfing the net. I found some good deals but most of them require mail-in rebates to avail of the discount. How reliable are rebates anyway? I read in an article that they are just eye-candy and something to lure customers into thinking that theirs is the lowest price.

Has anyone here purchased a mac using mail-in rebates? If so, were you able to claim them? And how long did it take?

Thanks in advance! And more power to this ubercool site! I just love the community.

[green]

Well mail in rebates do arrive but...

If you're just going there for vacation, you can kiss that discount goodbye. They take forever to come! Might as well look at the price without the mail-in rebates. I once bought a digital camera there with a mail in rebate offer. The check arrived after eight months! Good thing I was able to talk my cousin into giving me the money up front while he waits for the rebate to arrive.

I agree that this is just a marketing gimmick to lure in customers. But I haven't seen a mail in rebate that failed to come in. You just have to wait for a long time but it will come.

My :2cents:

Cheers!

[pipoyg]

Mail in Rebates are reliable enough. You can even track on-line if it has been released or not. But they are a PAIN to collect.

The usual gestation is 8 weeks and they mail you a check at a US address which you have to encash or deposit in a bank. Unless its some sort of e-coupon or e-cash which basically necessitates for you to purchase something else for you to be able to apply it.

If you're just on vacation then I'd avoid the hassle.

[apolofmyeye]

thanks for the prompt reply guys! hmmm, i guess i just might skip that option altogether though its very tempting...

i have a couple other questions, if you don't mind. is an airport extreme card better than the ordinary airport card? i read in another post that it doesn't make much difference especially with the local servers. so should i spend the extra $20 for airport extreme? and internal or external bluetooth device?

i want to hear your views. of course i prefer the cheaper option (who doesn't!) but i also want what will be better in the long run. please help!

[gaol]

I've read that the trick to making sure you get the rebate check (it does take time, as I've also experienced) is to follow rebate instructions to the letter.

If they require you to cut the UPC/bar code from the box and send it to them, do so. If they ask for the original receipt, do so. If you must mail by a given date, do so. Photocopy everything you send. In other words, do not give them a reason not to send the check, because some rebate companies will find the smallest loophole not to.

[penmanila]

think of it this way--you're buying a $1,000+ powerbook, and you're going to skimp on $20???

actually, you don't have a choice: the new ibooks and powerbooks all take airport extreme (the old and new airport cards are sized differently--one can't replace the other). what airport card you get will depend on what laptop you get--the old tibooks and ibooks use the old airport card.

airport extreme base stations are another thing. they'll run at the faster speed if your laptop is also AE-enabled; if you're using the older airport, it will slide down to the slower speed. the older gray or snow airport base stations will obviously run at the old speed, even if you have an AE-enabled laptop.

Originally posted by apolofmyeye
i read in another post that it doesn't make much difference especially with the local servers. so should i spend the extra $20 for airport extreme?

[apolofmyeye]

thanks penmanila! i didn't know that the ordinary airport card was for older models only.

clarification though, i am planning on getting an ibook, not a powerbook. that's why i also need to get an optional bluetooth device. which is better though, an internal or external one? i'm thinking i am going to need this for transferring files between my phone, pc and mac. Or are there other options?

there are so many things i have to add to an ibook but i don't think my budget at the moment will allow for a powerbook. its still a couple hundred dollars difference. anyway i just need it for word apps and surfing and maybe a little lay-outing. so i guess the ibook will do.

um, what else do you think i would need?

[apolofmyeye]

and thanks too gaol! it's got me thinking now if i want to go through all that hassle... :wound: