[MW Forums]

Newer Technology has set up a new iBook and PowerBook battery rebate program that aids users in the proper disposal of their old batteries. more

[OM_user]

I think this article should note that NewerTechnology is only accepting batteries that were originally purchased from them, not just any old Apple laptop battery. So, you can't return your old Titanium PB dead battery for a $19 rebate on a new one from NewerTech.

[jldinsdale]

HUH? Nowhere on the website does it say that the old battery has to be a Newer battery. The only I see is that it only offers a rebate IF YOU PURCHASE A NEWER BATTERY.

[OM_user]

Ah, I see now. My mistake. I misunderstood the text on the site. I stand corrected.

[Grendelmon]

Why don't both of you actually read the NewerTech website about the rebate program. It CLEARLY states:

In reply to:

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To be eligible to receive the rebate, you must have purchased at least one NewerTech NuPower Laptop battery within 60 days of the current date (09/30/2005).

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[omahajim]

Let's review the rebate text:
"Thank you for joining Newer Technology in our efforts to ensure the proper disposal Laptop Batteries. To be eligible to receive the rebate, you must have purchased at least one NewerTech NuPower Laptop battery within 60 days of the current date (09/30/2005). For each qualifying NewerTech Battery you have purchased, you can receive one $19 rebate for the return of a battery for the same laptop as our NuPower model was purchased for. Although you may return additional batteries for proper disposal, the maximum rebate is the $19 per NewerTech battery purchased. Please follow the steps below and have the serial number(s) of the NewerTech NuPower Battery(ies) purchased available. A Rebate Return Label will be generated at the conclusion of these steps and must be used for your battery rebate return. "
The text shown above, which is linked from the Macword story, is quite ambiguous. Depending on how you read it, it might sound like the rebate is only valid on NewerTech brand like-for-like replacements within a certain time period. However, if you click around to their News section, you find this:
http://eshop.macsale...battrebate.html

"The new program allows customers to send in their old Apple or third-party PowerBook or iBook batteries and receive a $19 rebate for each NewerTech replacement battery purchased. The battery type sent in for rebate must be the same type as the battery purchased. If the customer wishes to return additional batteries, NewerTech will see they are properly disposed of even though the rebate will not apply."

So it does appear that you can send in non-NewerTech brand batteries to be eligible for the rebate. However, it goes on to say:

"Visit http://www.newertech.com/rebate to take advantage of the program."
So, clicking through, you come to the same page that was quoted in the Macworld story. To process your rebate, you have to first enter the number of batteries being returned. Then you are asked for "Enter the serial numbers of the batteries you purchased from Newertech:". One might assume that is the serial number of the battery you JUST purchased, the "new" Newer one that you are buying to replace your old Apple battery. But, if you just enter any old number to see what will happen, like 12345, you get:
"Battery 1 This battery does not meet the rebate criteria. [?]
We're sorry, none of these batteries meet the criteria....."
They are somehow checking the date of sale to see if the new battery was bought in a certain timeframe to meet the 60 day requirement? Or are they telling us that the OLD battery I am trying to replace isn't eligible?
I say this is just poorly worded and executed all the way around. Sure turns me off buying anything from them.

[OM_user]

I agree. My initial confusion with this was based on your exact experience in clicking through the process. When I came to the part where I was asked to enter a serial number for the battery, it clearly stated that it needed to be a NewerTech battery serial number. That's why I thought it was only valid for previously purchased Newer batteries, which didn't make much sense to me.
It was only after looking through it carefully and slowly that I can see it's really asking for the serial number of the battery that they assume you just purchased from them to replace an older (Apple) battery! So, yes, it's very poorly worded, and I'm sure I'm not the only person that got confused by this. I suspect they are going to turn off a lot of potential customers who might otherwise qualify for this rebate.

[OWCLarry]

We sure didn't mean to make this confusing.
The Rebate is for customers who have purchased a NewerTech battery from a participating retailer.
For each NewerTech NuPower iBook or PowerBook battery purchased you can receive a $19 rebate when you return your old battery to NewerTech. To qualify, the old battery must be for the same machine type as the new NuPower Battery that was purchased.
Also allowed are up to 3 additional batteries that NewerTech will handle disposal of. But, you only receive rebate of $19 based on quantity of NewerTech batteries purchased.
To Rebate is available within 60 days of a customer making the purchase. Meaning - if you buy a battery today, you must attain the rebate authorization by January 30th, 2006.
We're not making people jump through hoops, etc - tried to make this an easy process - and based on some early feedback have already made updates to the site to improve the clarity of the process.