Mark's Notebook


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Retailers on the hook for rebate delivery

San Jose Mercury News

Friday 18 March 2005, 10:55 am
Keywords: Computer Topics , News Articles

By Mike Langberg, Mercury News

Mail-in rebates, the dark underbelly of consumer electronics and computer retailing, is finally falling under the harsh light of government scrutiny.

In a little-noticed action announced March 11, the Federal Trade Commission took a hugely important step by saying -- for the first time -- that retailers could be liable when manufacturers fail to honor rebate requests.

Mail-in rebates are particularly epidemic in the closely related categories of consumer electronics and computers.

When rebate forms are too complicated to fill out, or manufacturers somehow ``forget'' to honor your rebate request, we're being defrauded.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/11170430.htm