We’re getting the usual questions about the Canon mail-in rebate, due to the blockbuster bundle deals at Adorama and B&H.
Three years ago (and again last year) we wrote an FAQ on the Canon mail-in rebate similar great deals. We’ve updated it in this post to reflect the latest knowledge and advice. There have been some changes to how Canon does its rebate cards (switching from AMEX to MasterCard).
Click through to see the full post.
Is the mail-in rebate real? Since switching rebate processors five years ago, Canon has had a very reliable mail-in rebate program. There’s an online submission tracking feature, and the rebate processor can be contacted easily. I’ve personally called several times to seek clarity on rules and policies and have found them to be very responsive. Readers have reported that a quick call usually clears up issues, ranging from a rejection due to error or lost mail.
What form is the rebate in? It’s now in the form of a pre-paid MasterCard, that you can use as a credit card, anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Unfortunately, you are no longer able to refund the balance to a check or transfer to your bank account. You’ll have to spend the balance (think gas, or groceries)!
How long does it take? The rebate form mentions it could take up to 6-8 weeks, but our readers report that it usually takes 3-4 weeks to receive the prepaid card. You can use the card right away after receiving it.
Can I do more than one mail-in rebate? You are limited to one printer mail-in rebate per rebate period per household address. (The current rebate period runs November 1st – December 31st.) The address that they check is the billing address on your official receipt, not the shipping address.
Do I have to buy the rebate-eligible products at the same dealer? For the printer mail-in rebate, the printer, paper, and camera need to bought on the same day and with the same billing address, but they can be purchased at different authorized dealers. Only brand new items at Canon USA authorized dealers are eligible.
How do I minimize the chance of problems? Make sure you photocopy (or photograph) everything, including the UPC cutouts, prior to submission. Pre-submit on their rebate portal prior to mailing everything in, so you’ll be able to check the status of your rebate — check it often. This is the best way of knowing if there was an error or mistake in your submission. You will be given a grace period to correct any errors, but the onus is on you to check and notice it. You can use your copies to help in any re-submission. The rebate processor is extremely responsive by phone (866-668-9861) and will work with you to resolve issues. If you’re planning on selling items, don’t do it until the rebate clears. Don’t throw out boxes until the rebate clears. If there is a problem (like a lost submission) the rebate processor may require you to have physical access to your items and boxes as proof-of-purchase.
How about the clause that blocks rebates on “products packaged together and sold for one price”? This has not been an issue in the past, but the official receipt from the dealer will itemize any bundles, to ensure you are eligible for the rebate. In the slight chance it’s not — you can ask the retailer for this. They’d be happy to oblige.
When do I have to submit the rebate? You generally have up to one month after the conclusion of the rebate to post-mark your submission. The current rebates end on December 31st and you have until January 31st to mail (post-mark) your submission. Many people mistakenly believe they need the item in-hand at the end of the rebate period to be eligible. This is not true; your order can ship after the rebate period. As long as your official sales receipt is dated within the rebate period, and you mail your form in before 30 days after the rebate period, you are eligible.
How do I sell the PIXMA PRO-100 printer? Don’t sell the printer in its entirety. The heavy weight of the printer (50+ pounds) makes it very cost-prohibitive to ship, and your local market may not be large enough to sustain the steady sale of a niche pro photo printer. Instead, there are consumable components of the printer that represent most of the value of the printer, and they’re small and easy to ship. The print head fetches about $90 when still sealed (eBay Completed Sales, Amazon Listings), and the full ink tanks fetch about $95 (eBay Completed Sales). After shipping and seller fees, you can expect to net $140-$150 for these printer parts. Unfortunately, the remaining “carcass” is almost worthless (as horrible as that is for the environment).
How do I enjoy the PIXMA PRO-100 printer, without spending a fortune on ink and paper? This is a really great wide-format printer that is definitely a joy to use. The Canon Direct Store has offered in the past obscene amounts of free paper when buying ink cartridges, or buy-1-get-19 paper deals. We’ve also heard good things about Precision Colors Ink Refills.
Does the printer come with full ink cartridges or “starter” ink? The PIXMA PRO-100 comes with full ink cartridges. This has been well-studied by weighing full and empty cartridges; the “with printer” cartridges are identical in weight (both full and empty) to retail cartridges.
Any other tips for fellow readers? Put them in the comments below!
I use Precision Colors inks two years now and I am very happy with the quality of their product, profiles and service. Not a good idea if one plans to sell their prints (possible longevity issues compared to the OEM inks) but a very good alternative for personal use. At a fraction of the price of OEM inks…
As far as the remaining Pro-100 “carcass” is concerned, it can always be recycled.
Is anybody else having trouble pre-submitting this rebate on the linked website? I don’t get any vendors in the drop-down autocomplete, and I did type the promo ID without copy/pasting anything and hit tab or enter after entering it. It happens even without any browser cookies or plugins in both Chrome and Edge so I’m at a bit of a loss to figure out what is going on…
I’m having the same problem with the pre-submit site that you are Rich. The vendor drop-down only says “No Retailer Found”. It doesn’t matter what letter combinations I try.
I just called the canon rebates office. They confirmed that the website is broken. They could not give me an ETA on when it would be fixed. Their recommendation was to submit the paper form without the online entry. They said they if you have questions about the status of the rebate you can always call and they will give you an update on the phone. It was a very short wait when I called today. Hopefully that is the experience I get in the future.
I was just able to use the pre-submission form this evening, so I think they fixed the issue. Just in time as I was about to submit a handwritten form. I suspect the barcode will make the whole thing go faster.
I received my $200 Mastercard debit card about four weeks ag and are having trouble using it. It seems to be declined at every place I tried to use it. I called Mastercard and they said it can only be used where the sales person can run it manually. It will not work at a stand alone payment machines, such as gas stations, self check out devices at stores and such. I have never had these problems before with Canon Rebate cards. Does anyone else have these issues.
Whats the solution ? Thanks
It doesn’t work for me at gas stations, but it has worked everywhere else including vending machines, grocery store self-pay, etc.
I think the gas stations do an extra check based on billing zip code, and since you don’t actually have an account with the bank in this case I suspect that is what messes that up. That is just a guess though.
Otherwise my Canon-branded debit card seems to work fine.
Did you read the paperwork that came with the rebate? If you want to pay for gas you have to pay inside. Pay at the pump won’t work.
Pre-submission worked for me. From the date I mailed in the forms to the date I received my MasterCard was exactly 4 weeks. Activation was easy. It looks like the rebate center fudged the “payment mailed date” – there’s no way it took USPS 10 days to deliver an envelope. No other complaints though. I read some of the rebate horror stories online; I’m convinced most (all?) of them happened because people can’t read instructions.