 |  |
| |
|
February 22, 2005
Easy Rebates
This blog seems to continually return to the question of rebates. Why do firms utilize rebates? The four principal reasons given in posts are related to: 1. Promotional efforts. I have no problem with the first three reasons. The last, however, I find troubling. If consumers dislike rebates and if a substantial amount of fraud is associated with rebates, why haven’t these concerns been addressed in the private market? Frank mentions the Easy Rebate program at Staples as a market oriented attempt to reduce uncertainty surrounding the rebate process. This seems, however, a minimal and belated response to a problem in asymmetrical information. Why isn’t there a Housekeeping Seal of Approval of a United Labs for rebates? Certification would enhance the returns to the first three behaviors and reduce the return to the last. What say you? Posted by Ralph R. Frasca at 09:21 AM in Economics
Comments
Shhh, now you have given state regulators another idea! Wouldn't fraudulent rebate programs be something for consumer advocacy groups to tackle? Maybe the answer is that scams affect relatively few people and/or present a minor inconvience when compared with, say, infected food or lottery scam, that garner the interest of private consumer groups. Posted by: David Rossie at February 22, 2005 06:57 PMThere may not be a "good housekeeping seal of approval" for rebates, but the internet is a great means of info on anything, and rebates are no exception. For example, deal site fatwallet has a rebate tracking forum that includes good and bad experiences with rebate companies and contact info of major rebate processing houses. additional thoughts on the subject here Posted by: Mad Anthony at February 26, 2005 01:39 PM |
The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it. -Adam Smith
Our Bloggers
Joshua HallRobert Lawson E. Frank Stephenson Michael C. Munger Lawrence H. White Craig Depken Tim Shaughnessy Edward J. Lopez Brad Smith Mike DeBow Wilson Mixon Art Carden
Blogroll
Search
Archives
By Author:
Joshua HallRobert Lawson E. Frank Stephenson Michael C. Munger Lawrence H. White Edward Bierhanzl Craig Depken Ralph R. Frasca Tim Shaughnessy Edward J. Lopez Brad Smith Mike DeBow Wilson Mixon Art Carden
By Month:
August 2008July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004
Powered by
Site design by |
