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From: frodo@wcom.UUCP (Jim Scardelis)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.flame,net.misc
Subject: Re: Coupons and Rebates-- Flame
Message-ID: <550@wcom.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 12:48:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: wcom.550
Posted: Wed Sep 11 12:48:31 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 12:31:56 EDT
References: <243@mot.UUCP>
Organization: Warner Computer Systems, Inc., Saddle Brook, NJ
Lines: 37
Xref: watmath net.consumers:2954 net.flame:11888 net.misc:8574

> 
> Can anyone explain to me the marketing purpose behind coupons and
> rebates? Why do manufacturers want people to do the idiot-level
> work of cutting out and organizing coupons, or, worse yet, filling
> out rebate applications and sending them in in return for little
> checks in the mail?  WHY DON'T THEY JUST LOWER THE %&##@! PRICES?
> How stupid and idle do they think people are?  How much time is spent
> in this country in the utterly non-productive non-creative activities 
> of clipping, handling, processing, mailing, etc. these stupid pieces of paper?

> Alan Filipski, UNIX group, Motorola Microsystems, Tempe, AZ U.S.A

	Two major reasons:

	1) Coupons - can be used for market research to determine the
effectiveness of the newspaper/magazine ad the coupon appeared in.

	2) Rebates - rebates are very profitable to the company, because,
they typically have sold the items to the dealers several months before
the rebates start coming in. During this time, they get to keep the
money that will be rebated in an interest-bearing account, making lots
of money. That's why alot of rebates take 8-10 weeks to get to you, too.

   Therere are a couple of minor reasons, too, psychologically, people
like coupons, because they feel as though they're getting a bonus that
other people aren't. 

     By the way, there are some companies out there that have started
putting coupon dispensers in stores. My local A & P has one. You put in
*any* magnetic-stripe card, choose which coupons you want, and they are
printed on-the-spot.
-- 
					Jim Scardelis
					SA, wcom
Usenet: {vax135|ihnp4}!timeinc!wcom!frodo

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