How Mail-In and Manufacturer Rebates Work
A rebate gives back part of the price after you buy, at the register or by a later claim; the FTC says ads should make the upfront cost and the timing clear.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
A rebate is money paid back to you after you buy something. Stores often show it as a lower "after rebate" price. This page explains, in our own words, how rebates work and what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said about them. The terms of each offer are the ones that apply, so read the rebate form before you buy.
Instant rebates and mail-in rebates
| Type | When you get the money | What you have to do |
|---|---|---|
| Instant rebate | At the register or checkout | Usually nothing beyond buying what qualifies |
| Mail-in or online rebate | Weeks after the purchase, by the time the offer states | Send a claim with proof of purchase before the deadline |
A manufacturer rebate is paid by the brand that makes the product, not by the store, even when the store advertises it. A store rebate is paid by the retailer.
An example of an instant rebate: Samsung's terms for a 2026 multi-product offer say that between April 1 and December 31, 2026, buying two or more eligible Samsung products in the same transaction at participating retailers earns an instant rebate taken off at the time of purchase, with no more than two products per subcategory.
What the FTC says sellers should show
The FTC's business guide on fine print, written about rebated computer deals, says ads that lead with an after-rebate price should also state, prominently, the price before the rebate and the rebate amounts, so shoppers know what they will actually pay upfront. It adds that rebate promotions should spell out the terms and conditions shoppers need to know, including how long it will take to receive the rebate, and that key cost terms should not be buried in small footnotes, obscure corners or pop-up windows.
When a rebate is late
The FTC has acted against companies that did not pay rebates on time. In a 2009 case, it charged a phone distributor with deceptive marketing after it promised rebate checks of $5 to $50 within eight weeks, while tens of thousands of shoppers waited longer, some for a year or more. The settlement barred the company from misstating when rebates would be mailed and required it to pay each rebate within the time it stated, or within 30 days if no time was given. That order applied to that company; it shows how the FTC treats broken rebate promises.
How to claim a mail-in rebate
- Read the form first. Note what proof it wants, the claim deadline and the time it promises for payment.
- Keep copies of the receipt, the form and anything you cut from the box before you send them.
- Submit before the deadline, online if the offer allows it, so you have a record.
- Track the claim with the reference number or website named on the form.
- Follow up with the company running the rebate if the stated time passes. If that fails, you can report it to the FTC at ftc.gov.
The real price to compare
When you compare offers, start from the price you pay at the register. A mail-in rebate lowers your cost only once the money arrives, and only if the claim is accepted. For other ways prices are shown, see list and was prices.
Sources
Big Print. Little Print. What's the Deal? and FTC order bars firm from failing to provide timely rebates, Federal Trade Commission; Offer program terms, Samsung.