Originally posted by Corbett:
Originally posted by Christian:
Also rebates and special pricing generally tend to apply only to 'new' items.
Items that are either 'open box' or 'ex-demo' are generally not applicable for rebates as YOU are not the first owner of the NEW system.



How do the rebate processors know if you are the first owner of the item or not? That does not make any sense. As long as you have the upc and the rebate receipt, its fine.



Because when you purchase a system like this it is not sold as new ... so your receipt should show this. Things like the words 'used', 'refurbished' and the like will appear on the receipt/invoice.

It's all about representation of the sale, and covering your ass.
If you just enter it as 'item' then it is presumed to be new. If you sell a new item, generally, you are bound by certain restrictions and have to provide certain rights to the purchaser.
Items which are sold 'used' in any way, often circumvent this, and the seller does not have to offer the same rights.
For instance...say I sell a new laptop to a guy, he walks out the door, takes it home, turns it on and it's dead. He can bring it back to me and I have to replace it, as the unit that I sell him HAS TO BY LAW match up to the specifications, operability and functionality of their description. If it's no good ... he's paid for something he didn't want to buy, ie crap! Warranties also come into play, from the point that the system is sold (first time).
I can do the same for say an 'open box' system, but if a guy buys it and takes it home and it is broken ... I can weasel my way out of honoring it. It is no longer considered 'new'.
Obviously when 'I' sell something that is used, opened, or ex-demo then I do not want to be held responsible, and thus liable, for problems that may result from it's previous use. In this respect I will stamp 'USED' or something similar on my sales invoices/receipts.
Also...another point... most places that hold demo products receive substantial rebates on them. For instance I sell Viewsonic Monitors, and I just got a 19" TFT which has a $100 demo rebate on it. Now, to claim this I have to submit the serial number. Nearly all manufacturers offer this type of program to companies, however often it's restricted to larger businesses.
Anyway back to the point...this is recorded at the manufacturer ... it is also represented within the company (accounting 101 - tracking stock). When it's sold, it has to, again, be reflected in the paperwork. Sometimes the manufacturers will offer an extension to a warranty to ex-demo ... so there is yet another chance for it to be seen as not new.

Generally yes ... as long as you have the UPC & receipt you are fine...but I doubt you have tried this with an 'ex-demo' product. I would largely suspect that you would not be able to claim a mail-in rebate on such a product ... maybe someone could volunteer to try this.
Come to think of it, I should ask some of the manufacturers about this myself.



Just remembered another place that the serial might be tracked ... when applying for reseller spiffs!

Last edited by Christian; 01/17/05 05:09 AM.
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