articles.latimes.com — Mail-in rebates, as many of us have learned, can be a minefield of sneaky requirements and exclusions. Far be it from me to doubt the integrity of big businesses, but you almost suspect they don't really want people claiming the money they're due. Most consumers might throw in the towel. Not Jon Merritt.
Aug 1, 2010 View in Crawl 4
atlasduggedAug 1, 2010
Great customer service is a competitive advantage...why companies would destroy good will like this makes me wonder what is going on in Corporate America...
samuraighostAug 1, 2010
Shortsightedness. Reputation and customer loyalty is valuable in the long term. But they want their 4 bucks NOW!
diggorelseAug 2, 2010
American consumers have become idiots and have gioven away that advantage. Grabbing the $4 is far better than any profit long-term, as they'd have to sell a lot of beer to make up the $4.
ajajadudeAug 2, 2010
The problem is there are far too many people out there who take advantage of "good" customer service. All you have to do is act like a 2 year old and you'll get what you want. The rest of us end up paying for it when we're not given what we deserve to make up for the other jack asses.
lleuAug 2, 2010
Good customer service goes to good customers. Come into my store acting like a 2 years and insulting my employees then you can gtfo. Come in respectful with an honest complaint and I'll bend over backwards to make things right.
gokingsAug 1, 2010
He couldn't have gotten someone else to fill it out? If the other Jon Merritt could do it, I don't see why he couldn't have just asked someone to do it.
revenger543Aug 2, 2010
It sounded like it was so small it was difficult for anyone to write so small. Not to mention it was probably printed on glossy plastic, where pen is hard to write on.
brettmjohnsonAug 2, 2010
I have found pre-printed address labels work wonders for filling out these tiny forms.
olsoneaAug 2, 2010
Did you read the article? It was all about principle.
gurugangstaAug 2, 2010
$13 for 20 beers? If we had those prices in Canada, it would be CHAOS.
jamsptAug 2, 2010
How? Would you then be drunkenly polite and friendly?
techrocket9Aug 2, 2010
Chaos which way? Everyone drunk or everyone angry about being unable to afford beer?
whodoneitAug 2, 2010
The reason it wasn't good to you is because it tastes like a REAL beer, not 3.5% watered down cat piss.
chrisb62Aug 2, 2010
ya ive never met an american that liked the taste of a real beer.
johnagainAug 2, 2010
@Whodunnit, No, he went to Canada to drink, and ordered bud light. XD
Americans nearly always learn to drink the hard way...
thedudediggsAug 2, 2010
You should see the Beer prices in Wisconsin then. Lowest alcohol tax in America I believe. You can get a case (24 cans) for around $12 including tax when it's not on sale. On sale you can dip below $10. I live in Minnesota close to the border and it's easily around $5 more per case in Minnesota due to the taxes.
gurugangstaAug 2, 2010
Must be nice. In Ontario at least, the lowest legal price is about $1 per beer. If you want something half decent, $38 for a 24 is pretty normal.
johnagainAug 2, 2010
http://www.packerpalace.com/multimedia/Lewis-Black-on-Wisconsin-Drinking.mp3
thraxywaxyAug 2, 2010
I've seen 24s for $24 in Quebec, but no cheaper than that. I'm not complaining about that price though, pretty damn good.
chrisb62Aug 2, 2010
ya quebec seems to be on their own in terms of alcohol sales.
atroaciousAug 2, 2010
USA > Canada sorry its the truth
gurugangstaAug 2, 2010
You get cheaper stuff, we get better stuff. Fair trade.
balthisarAug 2, 2010
When I was on a long term assignment in Ontario, I would purchase my two-fours (that's a 24 pack for us Merkins) of Blue at home in Michigan, and take them back with me to Mississauga. It was US$18 bucks in Michigan, versus CDN$40 at The Beer Store. And Blue is from Labatt, brewed in Canada, and exported to the USA!
timedoutAug 2, 2010
So, some rich stockbroker can't get $4 off of a billion-dollar company, so he gets a full article in the LA Times.
Yeah, glad to see they're still publishing relevant articles.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
rambomcflyAug 2, 2010
Did you feel that wind over your head? That was you missing the point.
ajajadudeAug 2, 2010
I read the author's article on CVS's coupons and the guy seems to blow things up bigger than they need to be. Such as how it's so HARD to remember to hang onto your coupons for when you go back to the store. I believe he used the word "schlepping" when referring to carrying around a coupon, which completely overshadows the real issue of his CVS coupon piece.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
timedoutAug 2, 2010
Do you ever wonder how articles like this wind up in a publication? Think about it for just a bit, and then get back to me with your conclusions.
remeloxAug 2, 2010
The bigger problems with CVS were that you had to use it in 60 days and that you lost everything over the purchase price if you had more rewards than your total purchase. I'd be tempted to take my ten dollar or whatever rewards and calculate the exact amount of items I needed to owe them a penny for my purchase.
jackoftherealmAug 2, 2010
I am assuming after he made the second call he got his $4, article seemed to stop abruptly.
brasolisAug 2, 2010
The secret is that there is a second page to this article....
eurynom0sAug 2, 2010
reading iz hard man, u cnat accpect sum1 2 try that hard
moderngeekAug 2, 2010
The man in the article did. Must be a generational thing.
revenger543Aug 2, 2010
I didn't find the second page either.
williemainAug 2, 2010
I love contacting companies because it almost always means free stuff. I hate being the douchebag that complains about s**tty restaurants like Chili's and Applebees, but on two separate occasions I have wrote angry emails after bad experiences and gotten like $30 in coupons in return. Free, s**tty food is waaaaay better than overpriced, s**tty food!
williemainAug 2, 2010
'written angry emails'...I make myself sick, much like the s**tty food at Chili's and Applebees, sometimes.
antdudeAug 3, 2010
Better than fast food restaurants though!
kareemosmanAug 2, 2010
That was quite a boring end to the story. Sounded quite interesting at the beginning. But hey, it's about principles, and he did what I would of done.
ajajadudeAug 2, 2010
Would have spent over an hour of your time making phone calls rather than having someone fill the rebate out for you?
rizzosbackAug 2, 2010
Or they don't mind paying out to the 10% of people who take the time to file the rebate. Thus rewarding people like me who take such things seriously, since the discount is generally far larger than that which could be offered at the register.
hybridleAug 2, 2010
I don't see how this is poor action on the part of the company. They had a standard coupon, he was unable to fill it out, and they figured out another way to let him submit it. Sure it took a few calls, but as gokings said, it would have been easier to just have someone else fill it out. I'm all for getting my torch and pitchfork for poor company policies, but I think I'll leave them in the closet on this one.
pyros7Aug 2, 2010
Only grumpy old folk would raise such a stink over $4. Calling the company 4 times? Bringing it to the attention of the LA Times??
Miller wasn't exactly trying to screw him, any sane man would have just asked someone else to help him fill out the form. But no, old folk have to play the "it's us against the world card" every time. I'm surprised he didn't file a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act accusing Miller of discriminating against old people who can't write small.
Closed AccountAug 2, 2010
Some people go out of of their way for things they want;
http://i.imgur.com/DuesL.gif
antdudeAug 3, 2010
Bah, I would nibble on that hot reporter. ;)
dball48Aug 2, 2010
I would kill my first born.
shodanxAug 2, 2010
how far ? I'd say a bit less than 4$ or effort, or about 7.5 minutes minus the different in value between 4$ and a 4$ rebate only exchangeable for beer
eurynom0sAug 2, 2010
I can see why some might criticize this guy as caring too much about the $4, especially since he's well to do, but I do feel that certain things are worth fighting on principle and I think this might be one of them. Also, consider that for a good number of well-to-do people they got there by being very financially disciplined; the part of this guy's personality that makes him think this is a worthwhile fight is probably the same part of his personality that got him rich in the first place.
ajajadudeAug 2, 2010
He could have easily had a friend or family member fill it out for him. In the long run, the time he spent making phone calls was probably worth more than the $4.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
tech42erAug 2, 2010
Had he submitted the coupon only for Miller to come up with some bulls**t excuse, I could see fighting for principle. But honestly, complaining that the rebate is really small? What are blind people supposed to do? It's nice that the company was willing to help him out, but I wouldn't call this fighting for a principle.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
brklynmarkAug 2, 2010
I hate to say it but:
Cool story, bro
raydeenAug 2, 2010
It was MGD. He still paid way more than what it was worth even with the rebate.
auburntigersAug 2, 2010
MGD is by far the best domestic in that price range, (MHL, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Lite, Coors Lite, Coors Banquet..etc)
raydeenAug 2, 2010
Ugh. The only Miller I can drink is the one with the lime flavor and that's because it covers up that 'Miller taste'. But, to each his own I guess.
jdenzerAug 2, 2010
My wife prides herself on getting every rebate we have claimed, with the exception of one that I filled out. And we have gotten some from $100 to $2. And yes she has gone so far as write a letter to the rebate company to get a $5 rebate.
treshnellAug 2, 2010
I pride myself on getting rebates I've never claimed...I just got a $20 check in the mail for some beer I never bought or saw!
Apparently, my gf's dad fills out multiple copies, one for himself, and one for me. I usually use it to buy him another pack, but he doesn't care if I just keep it, heh.
scabnabbitAug 2, 2010
"He said an assistant to the CEO promised that someone would get back to him. A week passed. Nothing."
Old news. For anyone not-in-the know, the typical handling of this is to have a nearby rep take the call and claim some BS title.
What's so funny is the cost in phone reps > rebate.
jackoftherealmAug 2, 2010
holy s**t I am retarded.
Closed AccountAug 2, 2010
I can't digg this up enough.
treshnellAug 2, 2010
I'll help!
Closed AccountAug 2, 2010
Budweiser should make this guy a real american hero
libertyprimeAug 2, 2010
If it comes with t**s being shaken in my face then yeah I'd pay for a $4, other than that no way in hell I'd pay for a $4 beer.
patman21Aug 2, 2010
sounds like you've had a bit too much of it...
treshnellAug 2, 2010
He stopped reading the title at beer, took a drink, and commented.
smacksawAug 2, 2010
As if the taste alone wasn't enough to discourage you from drinking Miller Genuine Draft, there's the rebate sham.
Advertise all you like with the MGD guys helping the common guy and taking beer away from rich dudes. Now I know it's true and it's not as funny in real life.
auburntigersAug 2, 2010
Those commercials are for Miller High Life, which tastes like watered down cat piss, MGD on the other hand is pretty solid.
smacksawAug 2, 2010
True and true. But MGD is like being the smartest moron in Millerland.
heavyj1970Aug 2, 2010
If he drank actual beer he wouldn't have this problem. You pay a little more but you get what you pay for and the little guys need the business, much better customer service when dealing with a craft brew or microbrew company, these big 'beer" companies don't care about you. It's all about the money.
cyrockerAug 2, 2010
Leffe Blonde Ale is a great beer
gorftronAug 2, 2010
Get a magnifying glass, idiot.
resistoonAug 2, 2010
That won't hep with trying to write your info on the coupon, when there is not enough room to do so.
marogerAug 2, 2010
Class action suit? Or just depending on the fact that once the beer was gone so would the receipt.
fredpilotAug 2, 2010
No other mentions on the beer drinking, just mindless jumble about $4.
resistoonAug 2, 2010
I have the same issues with the tiny print on these rebate coupons as the guy did in this article. It's ridiculous that these companies get away with using so small a print and not enough room to write the info they require on the coupon.
ranon20Aug 2, 2010
So, you give this guy's full name and say that he works for a Wall Street firm in LA, and then decline to name it!!.
I bet that he is already on facebook or linkedin and can be easily found.
blackstaffAug 2, 2010
"To Infinity and Beyond!"
schrutefanAug 2, 2010
Mail-in rebates should be outlawed.
Closed AccountAug 2, 2010
What I don't understand about rebates is that Miller could sell a 20 pack for $9, which I'm sure is not their cost. Why don't they just price them at that from the get-go?
josephballinAug 2, 2010
$15 for a 6-pack of Hoegarden in BC at any private (non-government run) liquor store.
bookellyAug 2, 2010
This is why I never buy a product with a mail-in rebate. If the company decides they want to take this route, they automatically will not be purchased by me. Capitalism FTW.
buckrogers1965Aug 2, 2010
I was using rebates from office depot a lot a few years ago. It seemed like they denied about 90% of the rebates the first time around, and I had to fight to get most of the money at all. Several times I took a product back and got a refund when they absolutely refused to honor the rebate they had promised.