I noticed today that starting tomorrow (9/23/07) Comp USA e-rebates are switching from PlusNet Marketing to Ohana Companies. Everyone will need to re-register on the new site to submit rebates for purchases from 9/23 on. A press release about this can be seen here

Interesting that the press release mentions that other major retailers on waiting in the wings to use this e-rebate system too (hopefully OD & CC). I'm not sure how this new rebate system will be different from the old one, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

The company's web site is:

Everybody Wins

Also accessible here:

Ohana Companies

Thanks for the information. I guess only for Store Sponsored rebates, not Manufacturer's rebates. Unlike Staples EasyRebate.

roy7736 said:I found that one change they made is that they will be sending out Visa debit cards (like Symantec does) instead of checks. Probably not a change for the better.Yes, I just noticed that. Definitely NOT good news.

Here is one of the first of the new erebates, and the form does NOT say that it is paid via Visa Gift Card. Should be interesting to see what happens when people start getting those instead of a check.

BedBugEddie said:I tried it today. Love it!

Never heard of Ohana, but all retailers should adopt this approach!What do you love? Being able to submit the rebates online is nothing new, CompUSA had that under their old processor. And Staples does it as well. I do agree that everyone should do it this way, but you still won't get away from mail-in rebates unless the retailers can convince the manufacturers to use their system for all of their rebates (as Staples has done to some extent with non-software stuff).

BedBugEddie said:I love the idea that I no longer need to mail-in a bunch of stuff to qualify and now I can use my rebate $ right away with a Visa card.
Not sure about the switch from old processor.
Does anyone know if it's all rebates or only a hanndful?Unless they have changed (and looking at the print server on sale this week I don't think they have), typically it will be at best 50% of the rebates, and many items will still have two rebates, one of which (the manufacturer's piece) has to be mailed.

Also, you're not going to get your money back right away. Don't be so naive and believe their press release. I'm sure it will take at least a month since they have to make sure you don't return the stuff.

GTFan said:You have to be quick to use those Visa debit cards - Cingular (now AT&T) rebates come that way and they expire in 120 days. If you put it aside for a while, you could lose the money on the card (I almost did until I remembered mine this month). And we all know fixed amount debit cards are a pain in the butt to cash in at a lot of places.The secret (as is being discussed in another thread) is to use them in full, quickly. They should work at most places but you are much better off emptying them completely by using them to pay a portion of a utility bill, or to buy a retailer's gift card. At least with the retailer gift card if there is not enough money on the card to cover the purchase it handles it properly and empties it and lets you pay with another form. With these debit Visa cards, you have to find a cashier who knows how to do a split payment, and it's a pain.

That is why I do not see getting rebates on a Visa to be a good thing. I'd be ok with Paypal (or at least better).

poohbie said:So I take it there's no easy way to convert a prepaid debit card into cash?
I use it to reload my WalMart gift card.

I just got a rebate back from Radio Shack. It was a Visa with no fees but it expires in 01/08 (120 days) It's $40 and I plan on using it. My thought is that if I spend it this month I really don't care about the expiration date and there's nothing left to charge fees to, etc.
Am I missing something? Thoughts?

So the new processor is definitely sending Visa debit cards, according to the rebate status for a purchase I made this week. I just sent the following email to CompUSA:

It appears that your new erebates processor is sending
out Visa debit cards instead of checks (or so it says on
my rebate status). Your ad does not say this, and the
rebate form does not say this. I find this to be
completely unacceptable and will be filing a complaint
with my local consumer affairs department and the NYS
Attorney General if I do not receive a check. I STRONGLY
suggest that you change your ads or your rebate practice
or I am sure that others will file similar complaints.

Perhaps others would like to send similar complaints.