Rebates generally require a purchaser to submit a rebate form, receipt, and/or UPC barcode from the product in order to receive a discount for that item. Payment of the rebate is dependent upon the purchase of a specific item, in a specific amount, from a specific place, and between a specified time frame.
Rebates are used to offer a price incentive for a customer to purchase a specified item without the negative psychological effects that often accompany a sale in which a price is temporarily lowered and then raised again.
Rebates are good for your business because during the time it takes for the turnaround, your company can continue earning interest on that money. If this turnaround time crosses into the next fiscal period, the offer can be used to inflate your sales for the current period.
Rebate forms are sometimes printed in store flyers, available at the store counter, printed at the cash register, or available on the Internet.