REBATES

Most businesses realize that it is not easy to get customers to purchase their products without some type of incentive. Because of competition, businesses must dangle a carrot in front of prospective customers. Some offer lower prices on products such as Walmart. There are other discounters that have been able to find a niche in the market. Some offer extra services with their sales. Some offer free samples.

This shows that the market place is a place of service, not coercion. Those who best serve the customer are going to be in business in the long run. One of the items that auditors look at when auditing a company’s financial records is does the business have a future? Is this business a going concern? Businesses must keep up or else they will be left behind and be out of business because someone else is serving the customer better.

Customers are looking out for their own best interests. So are businesses. This means that the both are seeking what is best for themselves. At some point, both of these interests are brought together into one and a sale occurs. Nothing occurs until a sale is made. A business can have all the products in the world and yet if they have no demand for their products, they will be forced out of business. There must be a demand for a businesses’ products.

Customers are relentless. Demand is never ceasing. Supplying this demand requires exertion and the removal of obstacles. The customer has it easy. He is waited upon by others. The business must put forth the effort to meet the customer’s needs and to the customer’s satisfaction, if the businessman desires to have repeat business which is a business’ lifeblood. Having an established clientele helps to ensure that a business will keep its doors open.

An incentive used by many businesses is a rebate. A rebate is an abatement in the price of a product. Rebates have to be applied for by the customer. Rebates are not given at the time of purchase. Some effort is required by the customer to receive a rebate. It would be interesting to know how many people actually take advantage of rebate offers. My guess is that it is a small percentage because effort is required to get it.

Those who are frugal will take advantage of a rebate offer. They will go through the effort of applying for the rebate. Recently, I purchased contact lens for my daughter. Her contacts came with a $40 rebate offer. To get the rebate, I had to enclose the required information and mail it off before a set deadline. It will take four to six weeks to get the rebate. To some people this is just too much effort. To me it is easy money. For the time and effort, I was being paid more than any job I work. Take advantage of rebate offers because that is what they are there for.