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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!vax135!miles
From: miles@vax135.UUCP (Miles Murdocca)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.flame,net.misc
Subject: Re: Coupons and Rebates-- Flame
Message-ID: <1177@vax135.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Sep-85 11:27:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: vax135.1177
Posted: Mon Sep  9 11:27:20 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Sep-85 04:23:14 EDT
References: <243@mot.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 17
Xref: watmath net.consumers:2929 net.flame:11866 net.misc:8558

> 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?

By using factory rebates, the seller can charge a markup on a larger base
price.  If the end price was reduced instead, it might not be worthwhile
for the seller to devote shelf space to the product.  Also, some rebates
come out AFTER the product has been sold to the stores, so the rebate
helps the product to move (as a manufacturer's afterthought).

    Miles Murdocca, 4B-525, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Crawfords Corner Rd,
    Holmdel, NJ, 07733, (201) 949-2504, ...{ihnp4}!vax135!miles