APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM

The Curse of the Hanging Chads and other Republican misadventures continues on in Florida in the administration of the Appliance Rebate program. It has the paw prints of their political philosophy writ large on its operating procedures. First there is the requirement, not overly advertised, that in order to participate in the program you have to be Computer Literate and have access to the On-Line function of a computer. This, in order to obtain a printout of the appropriate rebate application form as well as a priority number which marks your place in the electronic maze for a share of the available funding. The ordinary working stiff who may not be so fortunate and his people are left out. Several days prior to the start date of April 16 my wife and I went out to reconnoiter the possibilities of purchase of an energy efficient appliance under the terms of the program. At one of the appliance stores I questioned the sales person as what provision was made for those who do not have online access. She heaved a sigh and suggested that they might be able to try applying on the computers available in the Public Library. How thoughtful. Prior to setting out to buy on the start date of April 16 I brought up the appropriate Rebate program web site and noted that the program system would be down from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM to prepare for the onslaught of purchasers making application. Fair enough, but following the cited 11:00 AM start tune it took almost two hours more before the system cleared to operational status and it became possible to obtain printouts of the above cited forms. Then there is the, again unadvertised, mode of payment of 20% of the purchase price, as well as the $75.00 reward for giving up the replaced appliance for recycling. This will not come in the form of a check or a direct deposit to an applicant's checking account. It will come in a Gift Card issued by American Express with the rebate and recycling fee amounts imprinted therein. When credit cards or Gift Cards are used to purchase items the full purchase price returned to the vendor is always several percentage points short. This constitutes a service fee to the issuing entity. When you consider that thousands of Floridians will take advantage of the Appliance Rebate program this amounts to more than a tidy windfall for American Express. This last can be charged off to standard Republican concern for the well-being of large corporations. Cautionary note-Gift Card Issuers service fees are sometimes higher than standard credit cards. As a result some vendors are reluctant to accept them. Finally, the Rebate Application Form, when filled out is to be mailed to a Post Office in El Paso, Texas. I'm glad it is going to a Post Office Box-I wouldn't want it to get lost in those Texas Bushes.

John L. Lowe

ewollnhoj@AOL.COM