the.com/rebate
a discount that makes you pay full price now and chase your own money later
means A partial refund of money you've already paid, usually offered to lower the effective cost of a purchase.
from From Old French 'rabattre,' to beat down or reduce, built from 're-' (back, again) plus 'abattre' (to beat down) — the same family that gives us 'abate.' The image is literal: a price knocked down. English took it in via 'rebaten' in the late medieval period, and the financial sense of a sum returned grew naturally from that idea of an amount struck off.
- redemption rate
- up to 40% of rebates never get claimed
- on purpose
- breakage profits assume you forget to mail it
- the math
- sellers price in the cash you won't bother collecting
- hostage form
- requires receipts, barcodes, and your last shred of patience
- origin
- used since the 19th century to juice sales
mortgage interest tax rebate — us homeowners deduct up to $750,000 in mortgage interest annually on federal taxes
manufacturer mail-in rebate — best buy and retailers offer $50-200 cashback on appliances and electronics after purchase
electric vehicle tax credit — us federal ev rebate up to $7,500 on qualifying electric vehicles as of 2024