6 Tips & Tricks for Canon Mail-in Rebates

With all the great deals, many have purchased during the current mail-in rebate period (either the lens rebate or the printer bundle rebate). We get good feedback on the new AMEX-giftcard rebate process — most readers are reporting that rebates are processed in three weeks or less! Here are some tips and tricks for ensuring you get your rebate, quickly, and how to get a check or bank transfer instead of the AMEX giftcard. Thanks to reader Al for some of these tips!

See all the tips after the jump.

  1. Pre-submit your rebate before mailing. Pre-submitting is a great idea — you can get real-time updates on your rebate online, it eliminates the chance of someone data-entering your address wrong (and mailing your rebate to someone else), and it checks that your serial number is valid. You can pre-submit your rebate at the Canon Rebates/Promotions page, you’ll need your promotion ID which is 819101650 from the current lens rebate form.
  2. If you are unsure of which bar code to provide, cut the entire thing and send it in. In theory you only need the UPC bar code, but if you want to be certain, cut the area of all three bar codes and send it all to them.
  3. Make copies of everything, and consider using Priority Mail. Copies ensure you can follow up with a second try if they don’t receive your first. A flat-rate Priority envelope is only $5.60 and lets you track it to its destination with proof of delivery.
  4. Check your status online often. Readers report that they aren’t notified promptly if there’s a problem with their submission (like a missing bar-code). If you check your status often you’ll be able to track the progress of your submission.
  5. Get cash or check instead of an AMEX card! Once you get your physical AMEX gift card, call 1-888-872-8539, and ask them to “refund” your AMEX gift card either to check (20 days processing time) or ACH it to your bank account (15 days processing time).
  6. Don’t forget to submit your rebate. This is the number one cause of not getting your rebate! Remember, submissions must be post-marked by February 4th, 2014.

B&H, Amazon, Adorama, and other authorized dealers are still featuring the rebates. They continue on through to the end of the holidays — purchases through January 4th, 2014.


If you purchase something through a link on our site, we may get a small share of the sale (at no cost to you). Please read our disclosure for more info.

51 comments on “6 Tips & Tricks for Canon Mail-in Rebates

  1. Pete
    November 30, 2013 at 11:28 pm EDT

    Didn’t know you could get cash. Good tip!

  2. November 30, 2013 at 11:59 pm EDT

    For pre-submitting – Where do I find the “Primary Product Serial Number: ” (on a 70-200 F2.8L II USM)

    1. December 1, 2013 at 3:10 am EDT

      Casey, it’s on the under side of the lens, just behind the tripod collar.

    2. CanonPriceWatch
      December 1, 2013 at 8:22 am EDT

      It’s also on the box, the last digits of the upper (big) bar-code, and on the warranty card.

      1. December 1, 2013 at 1:38 pm EDT

        Yes, it’s there too, but JUST in case it’s a mix up, I always cross reference the product to the printed.

  3. ken
    December 1, 2013 at 12:00 am EDT

    Thanks for the info. I really dont like the rebate cards. It just makes me spend it right away. Instead of saving.

  4. December 1, 2013 at 3:00 am EDT

    Any fees for requesting cash or check instead?

    1. December 1, 2013 at 9:25 am EDT

      I don’t think so, but definitely ask them on the phone when you call.

  5. Dukinald
    December 1, 2013 at 1:26 pm EDT

    Called Amex today and asked them to credit my checking account. They did not mention any fees and it will take around 15 business days. Will do the same when my next Amex card arrives. This way you can use the fund to pay your CC.

    Thanks for the info.

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      December 1, 2013 at 2:03 pm EDT

      You’re welcome.

  6. Danny
    December 1, 2013 at 2:00 pm EDT

    How do you pre submit if you didn’t receive the gear yet? Without the SN you can’t presubmit. When I get my order delivered than I can submit the info to the presubmit form and submit my info via snail mail. I think the wording presubmit is misleading.

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      December 1, 2013 at 2:02 pm EDT

      Canon’s rebate page calls it “pre-submit”, we’re just using the same wording. It refers to entering it into the online form, prior to submitting (mailing) the rebate.

      You’ll need to receive the goods prior to pre-submitting, unless your retailer tells you the serial number in advance.

  7. Danny
    December 2, 2013 at 11:59 am EDT

    Thanks CPW! I just received my 6D via the Buydig post from last week. Amazing deal, free printer and I saved around $400 from the body only list price.

  8. December 3, 2013 at 2:12 pm EDT

    FYI – I called today to transfer my 2 AmEx cards to my checking account and was first told this could not be done. I persisted and the agent finally agreed to put me on hold to check. I got it done but it took about an hour, so be ready for that!

  9. David Corey
    December 4, 2013 at 11:52 am EDT

    the mailing address is a PO box and I didn’t think that Priority mail will deliver to PO box and provide tracking and proof of delivery? Has anyone sent their rebate forms in with proof of delivery and if so was it to the PO box or a different address?

    1. David Corey
      December 5, 2013 at 10:56 am EDT

      I called the Canon rebate center in they indicated that they regularly receive rebates via priority mail. You don’t get a confirm signature just proof of delivery which is fine by me. I sent it off yesterday.

    2. medanielson
      December 7, 2014 at 9:28 pm EDT

      all deliver confirmations are scanned, no matter where they are delivered. It is confirmed delivered to the P.O. box, not the company. The employee has to pick it up then. I work at the USPS

  10. Chris
    December 5, 2013 at 12:58 am EDT

    Thanks to CPW for the idea about getting the money directly deposited. When I called AMEX they, at first, said that it was not possible to have the reward card funds sent through an ACH transaction. The key word to use is REFUND. Tell the person that you want a refund of the card amount deposited into your bank account. Even then it took about 25 minutes to complete the whole process. To me, it seems like they really want to make it as difficult as possible to just get your money. The total time for the rebate from purchase to receiving the rebate card in the mail was 23 days. Be careful to watch for it in the mail. The acbpromotions rebate site still does not show a payment date mailed even though I received the card a few days after the rebate was marked as “Payment Approved”.

    1. Michael Crist
      December 27, 2018 at 11:22 am EDT

      Good information! Thanks!!

      [Canon site says “payment approved” — but “payment sent” still blank!]

  11. Adam
    December 14, 2013 at 1:24 am EDT

    can you get rebate if lens was purchase in Japan?

    1. Danny
      December 14, 2013 at 11:10 am EDT

      Hi Adam,

      The rebate program is only through a few resellers and direct to Canon. Contact the company you purchased from and see if they are running the program.

  12. David Corey
    January 7, 2014 at 1:35 pm EDT

    I also got my three rebate cards in the mail approx 3 weeks after mailing them in using pre-submission. Based on the very helpful posts above, I called Amex and said I wanted the three rebate cards ACH’ed to my checking account … the rep initially said it was not possible, but I told him I had done it before and it WAS possible. The rep relented, put me on hold after taking all ACH information, etc and came back in 2-3 minutes. All total it took less than 10 minutes. Thanks for your help.

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      January 7, 2014 at 1:44 pm EDT

      Excellent!

  13. L Williams
    January 8, 2014 at 10:39 am EDT

    I just called AMEX and asked for a refund of my gift card. They asked for the card number, my name and address. He asked if I would like it mailed to me or ACH to my bank. I said ACH and gave routing number and account number. I was put on hold several times. The man I spoke with was very polite and said he had to fill out some forms. Then he said he had to put me on hold while he deactivated the gift card. I was given a case number. It took 14 minutes. I’m sure with all the fraud that goes on, they have to make sure everything is legit.

  14. Canon Rules
    January 27, 2014 at 10:24 pm EDT

    My god… It took them over an hour to process the prepaid reward card to my checking account for me. Too much waiting and being put on a hold. If I wasn’t multitasking and doing other things there’s no way I would have waited that long.

  15. Rob
    January 31, 2014 at 7:15 pm EDT

    I would suggest you do not call “after hours” as you are likely to get an Indian call center like I just did. Believe me, just call back again the next day in the morning. Hopefully, you will not get a foreign call center. Of course, you can continue with the call and can blame yourself later for wanting to pull out all your hair with frustration. “I apologize…” is the latest phrase the foreign call centers use and after hearing it 20 times you want to reach over the airwaves and yell out “quit apologizing.”

  16. rob
    February 4, 2014 at 12:11 am EDT

    Turns out with these prepaid cards you are going to be forwarded to a call center in India. I had a fellow that refunded all three rebate cards but it took about 25 or 30 minutes.

  17. Olaf
    February 18, 2014 at 2:28 pm EDT

    Just went through the whole phone refunding process with AMEX. I received two cards from Canon. The rep tried to convince me keeping the cards at first, but then he gave up eventually. He put me on hold a few times during the process, but it I stayed on the line. Took 20 minutes altogether.

  18. March 28, 2014 at 11:14 am EDT

    I just called, about a month after I received the card for a refund. Yes you get to the Indian call center I was on hold twice for a while but they took care of it. They say they cancel the card and refund to your checking, 15 business days to appear, thanks for this tip

  19. SAM
    November 30, 2014 at 8:16 am EDT

    I have bought canon printer pro 100 bundle but I have given T5i product serial number while submitting pre_ rebate form. Do I have to re submit the ore- rebate form.

  20. Navn
    December 11, 2014 at 1:02 am EDT

    I have bought from ADORAMA CAMERA INC on 12/2/2014

    Canon EOS Rebel T5 DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens – Special Promotional Bundle

    SKU: ICAT5KZ

    Reflects a $350 Mail-in Rebate

    What would be the PRIMARY PRODUCT in this CASE? The Promotion ID is 8191324.
    Should I give the Primary production serial of Camera or Canon PRO-100.

    I am selecting the promotion information products as …
    Product(s): Canon PRO-100 and Rebel T5 and SG-201

    is this correct for the purchase that I made above? Appreciate your immediate response as I want to post it as soon as I can

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      December 11, 2014 at 1:15 am EDT

      The printer is the primary product for a printer bundle rebate.

      1. February 28, 2015 at 9:41 am EDT

        on the latest rebate do they just want the UPC bar code of the camera and printer or the lens and paper also?

  21. John
    December 22, 2014 at 1:12 pm EDT

    I have bought a bundle of Canon 6D and Pixma Pro-10, and thus qualifies for the stand-alone and combination rebate. I wonder, for actually pre-submitting the rebate, what do I put as the primary product, the camera or printer? Thanks!

  22. Ryan
    December 29, 2014 at 2:50 pm EDT

    How long does it typically take before the pre-submission and tracking website shows they have received the forms in the mail? I mailed them back on 12/6 but there is no indication they have been received yet. Should I just be more patient or give them a call? I made copies of everything before sending it, so hopefully I’m covered if it got lost in the mail. Thanks!

    1. CanonPriceWatch
      December 30, 2014 at 2:02 am EDT

      I’ve heard they’re backlogged by a week or two, but it never hurts to call and ask.

  23. Ben
    March 13, 2015 at 11:53 am EDT

    I just was approved for a refund in form of a check for two Canon Rebates from the past camera promotion. You have to specifically ask for a refund of the rebates, they ask either check or ACH deposit. They put you on hold for about 10minutes and bam give you a case ID. Easy

  24. May 13, 2015 at 4:00 pm EDT

    Called today. They said they stop to refund the Rebate Card.

  25. Rick
    June 8, 2015 at 5:50 pm EDT

    Can’t the AMEX Refund card be used like any other credit card (except that it draws from the balance on the card) ? I figure I’ll be using it to buy ink for the printer for which I’m getting the rebate. 🙂

  26. K
    August 20, 2015 at 9:35 pm EDT

    Processing a refund and receiving a direct deposit into my checking account was a slam dunk – thanks for the tip!!

  27. Ra
    January 21, 2016 at 11:36 pm EDT

    The first time I called Amex they declined my request. The second time I called, I said I wanted to “refund” the amount on my Amex gift card and they were processing my request.
    Thank you for this awesome tip, and remember to use the keyword “refund” while calling Amex.

  28. Whitney
    February 15, 2016 at 7:40 pm EDT

    Greetings, is this rebate only for lense? I purchased the Canon Eos T6i creative record kit from Best Buy. Can I do the rebate on these items? Also, if pre-submitting what would be the promo id? Would the lense promo id 819101650 be the one I use to do the rebate? Thanks the info was very help.

  29. Sam
    February 27, 2016 at 2:35 am EDT

    Hi, I recently purchased a Canon 6D with EF 24-105mm Kit with Canon Pixma Pro 100 printer and LU-101 photo paper bundle. The promo ID is 8191376. Should I submit the UPC from camera box as well or just the printer box is sufficient? Thanks in advance!

    1. March 23, 2016 at 6:30 pm EDT

      I had the same question Sam as it seems that the pre-submission form is asking just for the printer and luster paper. I would rather not make a whole in the 6D box if we don’t have to.

  30. April 21, 2016 at 7:30 pm EDT

    I have ordered Canon T6i I live in NJ so I’ve shipped it to my friend in PA as Adorama charges tax in NJ. Now my receipt has PA address am I eligible to get the mail in rebate to my address in NJ.

  31. May 22, 2018 at 1:42 pm EDT

    Hi cpricewatch,
    Too much informative article mate you should write daily basis .thanks

  32. November 16, 2018 at 12:48 pm EDT

    Canon rebates are no longer on AMEX cards that can be transferred into a bank account. Now they are Mastercard pre-paid cards, and the rebate processor will not issue a paper check or transfer/refund the pre-paid balance to a bank account. Caveat emptor!

    1. Michael Crist
      December 27, 2018 at 11:28 am EDT

      Thanks for the “heads up”!

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