A business group lobbies to stop legislation that would limit how mail-in rebates could be used.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce opposes the measure (SB 560), saying it would prevent consumers from potentially saving lots of money. That’s according to the group’s director of legislative relations, R.J. Pirlot.
“The bill effectively bans mail-in rebate programs,” he says, “We just don’t think it’s right to ban a legitimate business practice and deny these sorts of options for Wisconsin consumers.”
Senator John Lehman (D-Racine) explains his legislation, saying the advertised price of any product, including discounts, must be the price a consumer pays at the time of purchase. He says it’s misleading to require consumers to use mail-in rebates to get that advertised price. Pirlot says those rebates save consumers money, and people know how to use them.
“It hasn’t been hard for consumers to understand and it really shouldn’t be for lawmakers to understand, either.”
Pirlot says mail-in rebates are popular with consumers, retailers and manufacturers, and this bill effectively bans them. Lehman says many consumers forget or simply decide not to mail in their rebates, something many companies rely on. The bill had a public hearing earlier this month and is scheduled for a committee vote on Wednesday.
Jackie Johnson report 1:31
