(07/19/15) The 11% Rebate Sale is Back at Menards!

I have to say, I'm somewhat disappointed that you can't use them on-line.  I just about jumped on some cars I was eying, then read the fine print and noticed that I couldn't actually use the rebate.  I've never seen a Menards store in person, and being in SE-PA, I doubt I'll be driving to the closest one in Ohio anytime soon.

 

Hi Mark

 

Thank you inform the membership of your great discount. However the near store for me is 3725 ERIE STREET SOUTH, MASSILLON, OH 44646, which is 404 miles away.  I like a great deal like any one else but I have to agree with John on this.

Okay Mark,the only thing Menard's  has done to annoy me is this rebate nonsense which seems unnecessarily  complex and actually penalizes those of us (and i'm assuming it's quite a few) who don't live anywhere near a Menard's store, but as I do,purchase quite a few of your train products. I would much rather see an instant 5 or 10%off a total order of say 150.00 or more for instance. Neat,sweet and encourages purchases of more than one item and is fair to train stuff buyers across the country. After all I assume the object of this retail train enterprise is to attract as many people as possible!  I love the products ,I love the price and quality and the customer service as I have said on this forum! The price rebate deal not so much! Just sayin! Mark,I think we're having our first spat! We'll get through it!

Mark The Menards Train Guy,

I think your company would be better served if your offered a 11% discount on all sales. Forget that walk in stipulation. Your company is trying to build a customer base for your O Gauge trains. A lot of your prospective customers don't live near any of your stores. I suggest you treat everyone the same. It would be better for your company. 

The link to the coupon information on their website says that the coupon does apply to online purchases. 

 

http://www.menards.com/main/c-13180.htm

 

You just print the form and send it in with a copy of your online receipt.

 

I do agree though that an instant discount would be much more attractive that a mail-in rebate. That would probably attract more sales. But at least the 11% rebate applies to online purchases. So one does not need to drive to a store.

Same here, can't use them, what is the good of it?

As I understand it you can earn the rebate for online purchases but the coupon cannot be used online but has to be used in store. So the issue is this really only benefits people who live close enough to a Menard's store to make redemption feasible leaving me feeling like the kid who didn't get picked for the team because he lives in the wrong neighborhood!!

Ah I see now. Yeah that has to eliminate a good 95% of customers. The closest one to me would be 1200 miles away.

Ummmm...  All that means you can get the rebate for an online purchase, but can't use it FOR an online purchase:

 

You guys forget the rebate program overall is designed to drive traffic into the store (where one is likely to make additional impulse purchases,) not away from it.

 

I'm pretty sure model railroad sales are a drop in the bucket for Menards.

 

And no, I don't work for Menards...

 

Rusty

Mark,

 

May not be a quick fix but ask your IT/web site people what it would take to use the 10 digits of the bar code on the rebate credit check and enter it as the Promotional Code (already provided for on your shopping cart).  That bar code is the one scanned at check out in the store and applied to the sale before payment.  From a security standpoint, a verification field for the zip code the rebate was mailed to could be entered or I see you just added to the customer profile a security question.  You could use the security question to verify that the rebate is being used by the customer it was sent to.

 

This could be of benefit to all potential customers who do not live near a store, not just those on the OGRF.

 

Thanks!

 

Larry

I get that Rusty, but why mail it to me in that case as I'm in a state that has no Menards stores.

 

Menards is getting mileage from the train sales in this forum, it's the talk of the town.

 

I have heard of Menards several times on the forum. Do their cars mate up with the regular Lionel and MTH couplers?

If so I might be interested in buying a couple of their freight cars.

 

Lee Fritz

Lee, did you see this thread?

 

Review: Menards Reading Boxcars

 

You can get a close-up look at the boxcars.

Rusty,

 

I am sure that Menards is interested in getting people into the store for the "impulse buy" but the way I have always looked at their rebate program is that rather than send you a bank gift card or check that you could use anywhere, they want to make sure that they are the ones who get the money back that they send you.  I would think that adding the ability to use a rebate for an online purchase could accomplish both.  Anyone been on any other online retailer where you "stumbled" across something you didn't go there to order and ended up putting it into your cart?

 

Larry 

we have been through this before with these Menard's rebates.

 

you can give them to your friends or others who can use them, that live near a Menard's.

 

not saying I like it, just pointing out the facts.

It's just a scam...if Menards wants to make me happy send me a real check worth $$$ otherwise I have a Home Depot nearby 

I don't believe for one minute it 's a scam! I do believe it's an attempt to both reward and encourage buyers of these products, just not well thought out!

Let's say you were visiting your cousin in Texas and you stopped for a bite to eat. When you go to pay, the restaurant gives you a coupon that can only be redeemed at that location. The restaurant is unaware that you are just visiting. The fact is they give coupons to everyone. You can't use the coupon, would you call that a scam?

 

You end up giving your coupon to your cousin because he frequents the establishment. He is grateful and so is the restaurant because they might potentially make another sale.

 

The moral of the story is, there are plenty of forum members that would LOVE to use the rebate check that you receive. Go ahead and sell them, trade them or just give them away and make a friend! I think we all can agree that with or without a rebate, our prices are unbeatable. Rebates are just the icing on the cake!

UGH!! Menards does a good thing and then gets slammed.  I do not see anyone saying Mark please charge me more for the for rolling stock or buildings. Quit whining!! Mark keep up the great thing that Menards is doing for O-Gauge railroaders.