New Parago / RebatesHQ subterfuge: Turbotax/Quicken rebate

[Xtempore]

Got my rebate for the Turbotax/Quicken deal that’s offered almost everywhere. I almost threw it away.

Looked like a postcard survey, the kind that you get after having your car serviced at a dealership. Several questions on the back from Parago: Were the rebate instructions easy to understand? Y N …

I looked more closely because I was curious as to how they expected to get it back. Addressed to me on one side, survey questions on the other side. Did they expect me to chip in a stamp and envelope?
Then it hit me: “Whoa! It comes apart. My $40 check’s in here!”

Watch out. Next they’ll stick a Domino’s coupon in with your check and mark the envelope “VALUABLE OFFERS INSIDE”.

[woodbutcher]

Yes, rebateshq in my opinion is a shady outfit.
They send most of there rebate checks back in the form of a flimsy "postcard".
I had to let my postman know about these type of checks so he would not think it was a type of ad and stick into my local ad paper.
Funny, every other rebate company sends a pull apart check but not with these people. Perhaps there hoping you will mistakenly toss it in the garbage can as a piece of junk mail.
I almost did the first time I recieved a rebate from them, thoght that it was another ad card.

WB

[angrywithchicken]

Parago makes over 3 million dollars in uncashed rebate checks each year, because of this tactic. Also every time you register for a rebate with them your personal information and buying habits are recorded and then, Parago advises manufactures and retailers of your buying habits and brand prefrences, so they can target you with direct-mail. Just thought you should know.

[osprey4]

They are not the only ones who send out these "postcard checks". Staples does the same thing.

And the fact that companies are using this information for marketing? I mean really, is that not immediately obvious?

[angrywithchicken]

Staples is Parago's largest client, so of course they send out the postcard checks. Yes it is obvious that your information is sold to third parties but without your permision it is illeaglal. Parago has been hammered by the FTC a few times over this, so in the fine print of your rebate or survey you will find the disclaimer "..buy signing this form you are permiting us to use your information for future use.." I may sound it, but I am not bitter about it, I just think that other rebate companies like CPG and Young America do a much better job in the rebate business. But, I digress.

[John Prophet]

Parago is shady? lets be honest, most of the corporate world is shady...money has lots of power to corrupt.

Parago isnt the only rebate company to try to rip me off, they just do it more consistently.

the peeps in Scottsdale Ariz tried it also....gave me this line "were not handling rebates for logisys monitors anymore"..hehe I had the rejection email in my hand saying I had another week to resubmit it...had to call officemax to get it straight..lady also refused to let me speak to her supervisor and told me I couldnt get blood from a turnip, lol.

JP

[Buymychicken]

Parago is not a dishonest company. I guess you could call me an insider, as I used to work for them. They run an honest business. Every company in that business uses your information to sell to target marketers. Parago is not unique in doing so.

If you're not smart enough to follow the directions to get your rebate, that isn't Parago's fault, either. "Oh, but I don't like the way they package my checks." Waah. Feel free to take on their shipping costs, and then see how you would do it differently.

I've gotten plenty of rebates from Young America and from Parago, among others, and every time, it takes several weeks and filling out paperwork. It doesn't matter who is processing the rebate.

Regardless of whether or not you think the rebate business is a pain, or what you think of their check packaging, Parago is an honest company that goes to great lengths to make sure everyone gets the rebate they're entitled to. What the customer does with it after that is beyond Parago's control.

[angrywithchicken]

You used to work for them? Which office? My uncles work(ed) for them. One does, the other was let go cause I heard they were on the brink of going out of business. What dept. did you work for. I don't hate parago, I was just trying to be a devils advocate

[Buymychicken]

I worked in Coppell R&D. I left on my own and on very good terms with them, and have nothing but good things to say about the people who work there and the people who run it.

[angrywithchicken]

That R&D building was pretty cool. I remember seeing pictures when they opened it. Was it true they had fresh cut flowers in there every day? My Uncle Scott worked in there for about 2 or 3 months. He wasn't with the company that long. My other Uncle worked with them since the inception of Shoppingwave.com to How2hq.com to how2.com to parago. He did something with the mailers or something, his employees designed the rebate coupons and stuff. It is funny cause we were just talking about his shares of how2.com stock and what not last weekend.