nsumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savingsLast summer, OfficeMax announced that it would no longer offer its familiar mail-in rebate programs. Their decision to pull the program was made when customers overwhelmingly expressed frustration with the lengthy process. In an interview with News.com, Ryan Vero, the company's chief merchandising officer, revealed that rebates were the top complaint they received from customers. He explained that the stores actually had little control over the rebate process and that was why they chose to eliminate them.

Best Buy made a similar announcement the year before about getting rid of their mail-in rebates, and soon after shifted the company's focus to its RewardZone program. Other retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings

interview with News.com, Ryan Vero, the company's chief merchandising officer, revealed that rebates were the top complaint they received from customers. He explained that the stores actually had little control over the rebate process and that was why they chose to eliminate them.

Best Buy made a similar announcement the year before about getting rid of their mail-in rebates, and soon after shifted the company's focus to its RewardZone program. Other retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings

process and that was why they chose to eliminate them.

Best Buy made a similar announcement the year before about getting rid of their mail-in rebates, and soon after shifted the company's focus to its RewardZone program. Other retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings

ther retailers are now following suit, looking for ways to ditch their rebate deals and find more cost effective ways to draw consumers into their stores.

Both retailers have the intent of saving both time and money for consumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings

nsumers—replacing those mail-in rebates with in-store rewards and coupons for instant savings. While rebates may have been frustrating to many, they were also a source of substantial discount. As opportunities for rebate savings quickly fly out the window, consumers are searching for new ways to stretch their dollars.

In response to the lack of opportunities for savings, Michael Bernstein founded MutualWin (www.MutualWin.com), a website that functions as an open market where people can post and search for refer-a-friend deals. “MutualWin's goal is to make people aware that another way to substantially save money on purchases is through refer-a-friend deals,” Bernstein says. It's free for shoppers to use and its use is growing rapidly among smart shoppers who know that referrals will give them more cash back than coupons or in-store deals.

Bernstein says he wanted to solve the main problem with referral deals, which is that most people don't know anyone who they can refer. “For instance, if you live in an apartment that offers a $500 bonus for referring new tenants, you can post that deal on MutualWin, where peopl