Example of a rebate insert, mailed with utility bill, fine print on website With Earth Day coming and Spring in the air, some Utility companies are again offering Rebates for certain products. The big push this time is on energy saving appliances and rechargeable cordless yard tools.
Some of us may have put off buying an Eco-Friendly Weed Trimmer or a new lawn mower to see what Rebates would be offered. Any savings, either from the manufacturer or utility company always helps. Yet, does the wait for the rebate really help save us the most money and our environment?
When considering the benefits for our environment as well as our wallet, the answer is NO.
The reasons are based on the amount of time we could have already been saving money and our environment, along with the fine print stating the qualifying rules to receive the rebate.
Allow me to break down some issues:
To wait until next year to see what rebate may or may not be offered for a rechargeable lawn mower to replace an old gasoline mower, is a gamble. The odds are no rebate will be offered and yet, we can be saving money, oil, gasoline, noise and energy for a year ahead of time.
One current $40.00 rebate for a rechargeable lawn mower is also elusive. The fine print will state something like “Up To $40.00” and using a rechargeable lawn mower for a year prior will probably save that much in gasoline and oil alone.
Another caveat in the fine print will state that the product had to be purchased in the last 45 days! The rebate program wasn’t previously announced and the ads mailed out with the utility bills are really just for PR (Public Relations) work that aim to receive a favorable public opinion about the company’s so called concern for helping the environment.
Bottom Line: That rechargeable lawn mower under the Christmas Tree, doesn’t get a rebate. Neither does the one purchased on the President’s Day sale in February, because the rebate program started in April and 45 days ago also disqualifies that purchase.
Additionally, if we run out upon receiving the rebate notice and buy a rechargeable lawn mower, that too does not qualify, because of the wording stating, “Purchased WITHIN the last 45 days.”
How sincere is a rebate program that doesn’t give advance notice and when notice is received, the time to qualify has already concluded?
Don’t wait for the rebate!
Let us start saving on our own as soon as we can.
This is up to us. Our environment is not going to be saved by a corporation, politician, government, organization or celebrity. Each one of us is the superhero.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
Some of us may have put off buying an Eco-Friendly Weed Trimmer or a new lawn mower to see what Rebates would be offered. Any savings, either from the manufacturer or utility company always helps. Yet, does the wait for the rebate really help save us the most money and our environment?
When considering the benefits for our environment as well as our wallet, the answer is NO.
The reasons are based on the amount of time we could have already been saving money and our environment, along with the fine print stating the qualifying rules to receive the rebate.
Allow me to break down some issues:
To wait until next year to see what rebate may or may not be offered for a rechargeable lawn mower to replace an old gasoline mower, is a gamble. The odds are no rebate will be offered and yet, we can be saving money, oil, gasoline, noise and energy for a year ahead of time.
One current $40.00 rebate for a rechargeable lawn mower is also elusive. The fine print will state something like “Up To $40.00” and using a rechargeable lawn mower for a year prior will probably save that much in gasoline and oil alone.
Another caveat in the fine print will state that the product had to be purchased in the last 45 days! The rebate program wasn’t previously announced and the ads mailed out with the utility bills are really just for PR (Public Relations) work that aim to receive a favorable public opinion about the company’s so called concern for helping the environment.
Bottom Line: That rechargeable lawn mower under the Christmas Tree, doesn’t get a rebate. Neither does the one purchased on the President’s Day sale in February, because the rebate program started in April and 45 days ago also disqualifies that purchase.
Additionally, if we run out upon receiving the rebate notice and buy a rechargeable lawn mower, that too does not qualify, because of the wording stating, “Purchased WITHIN the last 45 days.”
How sincere is a rebate program that doesn’t give advance notice and when notice is received, the time to qualify has already concluded?
Don’t wait for the rebate!
Let us start saving on our own as soon as we can.
This is up to us. Our environment is not going to be saved by a corporation, politician, government, organization or celebrity. Each one of us is the superhero.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
