— Do you enjoy rebates? My inbox is constantly filling up with stories of rebates gone wrong. Let’s continue the rebate discussion from a few weeks ago, and see why many shoppers – including me – are wary of them.

The “restrictions apply” clause is an ambiguous phrase found in a rebate’s terms and conditions. When a manufacturer doesn’t spell out those restrictions, even shoppers who read the fine print can get burned.

Months ago, a reader of my blog posted a great deal on an electronic weather clock. The clocks were on sale for $50, and there was a $50 rebate available from the manufacturer. Who wouldn’t want a free clock that shows the weather forecast? I purchased the weather clock and mailed in the rebate. About a month later, I received a postcard from the manufacturer that read, “Purchase was made outside of the qualifying period.” Meaning, I bought it on a day when the rebate wasn’t valid.

I had a photocopy of my receipt. When I checked it, the date was valid. I called the manufacturer and spoke with a representative who said the rebate was denied because there was no date on the front of the receipt.

The problem? The store where I purchased the clock prints a double-sided receipt with the date of purchase on the back. I asked him to look at the back of the receipt, and the rep replied, “Well, restrictions apply.” I argued that shoppers would have no way of knowing that the purchase had to be made at a store with a single-sided receipt. After that, he agreed to process the rebate.

Another time, I ran into difficulty with a rebate on motor oil. One manufacturer offered a $50 rebate on a case of oil, but this new variety wasn’t readily available at any area stores. We saw that Amazon.com carried the oil, and several of my readers ordered it. When we submitted receipts, the rebates were all denied with the note, “Receipt submitted was from a non-qualifying store.” Did the rebate specify where the oil had to be purchased? No. My readers complained to the manufacturer and posted their experiences on my blog. Eventually, the oil company agreed to honor the rebates, but only if shoppers contacted them to complain.

These aren’t the only issues I’ve had with rebates. Last year, a local supermarket had a mail-in rebate offering a $25 gift card when you bought $25 worth of a certain brand of paper products and sent in a receipt. The rebate was printed in the store’s weekly circular and went out to thousands of households. Free paper towels, napkins and bath tissues? I was in! In fact, my mom, my aunt and I all bought our paper products the next day and sent in our rebates.

About a month later, I received my $25 gift card. My mom also got hers, but my aunt received a note that she would not receive the rebate. The reports that came into my blog and email were mixed; some got the rebate, many did not. People emailed the manufacturer, and this was the manufacturer’s reply:

“[Manufacturer] did advertise this as being a limited time offer: Restrictions apply. There were not an unlimited number of gift cards available to shoppers that chose to participate in this promotion, so not everyone that mailed in a submission was guaranteed an award.”

So here’s my word of warning: If you use rebates, proceed with caution. And keep good records!

 Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.