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From: terryl@tekcrl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.flame,net.misc
Subject: Re: Coupons and Rebates-- Flame
Message-ID: <249@tekcrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 14:13:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekcrl.249
Posted: Wed Sep 11 14:13:06 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Sep-85 05:18:18 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.consumers:2967 net.flame:11916 net.misc:8582

> 
> 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?

     It's a matter of simple economics, really. Manufacturers realize that
most people won't bother to send in the coupons, applications, etc. to get
a rebate, so it's financially beneficial to the manufacturer to do this.
If they just lowered the prices, then everyone would be participating in
the "rebate program", and it would cost the manufacturers more.