Mail-In Rebates

Growing up, my family always purchased Peter Pan peanut butter. To this day, it's remained my favorite. It seems to have more peanutty taste and doesn't taste as dry as other peanut butters. Therefore, I was sad and disappointed to learn that Peter Pan peanut butter was pulled from the shelves in February 2007 due to salmonella poisoning. It's been almost six months now, and while I haven't gone peanut butterless, I do miss my Peter Pan.

I purchased the latest release of Disney's animated Peter Pan DVD in March 2007. Unfortunately, due to pre-packaging, the DVD was released with an offer from ConAgra Foods (the producer of Peter Pan peanut butter) for a $3 rebate when you purchased a loaf of Wonder Bread, the Peter Pan DVD, and a jar of Peter Pan peanut butter. ConAgra said ON THEIR WEBSITE they would honor the rebate if you downloaded their "special" rebate form and purchased the first two items and ANY jar of peanut butter, despite the pulling from shelves of their own peanut butter.

I normally don't buy Wonder Bread anymore (as I'm no longer an 8-year-old kid and prefer heartier varieties of bread), but I chose to buy it since it would be like I was getting it for free once I fulfilled the obligations of the rebate. I got everything together and mailed off my rebate. Two months later, I get a notice that I did NOT fulfill my obligations. I thoroughly examine the evidence and, in my haste, apparently enclosed all the original receipts for the (circled) items, but not the Peter Pan DVD proof of purchase. It was at this time that I debated whether or not the $3 was worth it anymore since I had by now spent about 80 cents in postage. I mailed it in, though, and awaited my $3 rebate check.

A month later (today), I receive another letter saying that I STILL have NOT fulfilled my obligations. I reread everything again and I had submitted everything as instructed the second time around. I don't know what else to do. I'm dumbfounded and completely irritated at the scam. Obviously, ConAgra is trying to recoup their losses by not honoring the rebate, hoping everyone will just drop their efforts. Sadly, this is not the first time I've run into this problem with so-called rebate promises. Many, many different companies have done the same thing to me, even though I've taken the time to gather and send all the necessary proofs of purchases, receipts, and whatever garbage or proof of life they request. I would invite them to my home to see the actual items, but then they'd probably just tell me that I stole them. Congratulations, ConAgra. Please...enjoy my $3.