Coupon Ethics

We've written on here several times about how we like to play the coupon game.  While we try to be frugal, we do not go to the extremes some people go to.  Some people take advantage of money-back guarantees, even if they like the product, just to get their money back.  Some people eat their entire meal at a restaurant, then complain that they didn't like it, just to get their money back.  Some people skimp on tips when out in public.  Some people keep a McDonald's cup in their car so they can get free refills whenever they want.  A perusal of money-saving websites will produce examples of people boasting about these very tactics.  We believe, as I'm sure you do, that these practices are unethical.  It is OK to walk out of Walgreens with a bunch of free products, for example, if you follow Walgreens' rules, but it's not nice to abuse the system to save money.

On a related note, we saw this coupon in the Sunday paper recently.  On its face, the coupon looks like a money-back guarantee offer; try the product, and if you don't like it, we'll give you your money back.  I would not send this in unless I tried, and hated, Red Baron Pizza by the Slice.

But if you look closer, the coupon describes it as a "rebate offer."  In a rebate situation, you buy the product, send in proof of purchase, and they mail you a check.  A rebate is open to everyone, and it is a lure to get you to buy the product.

So we're not sure what this is, and whether or not we should send it in.  Three factors, however, lead us to believe it is indeed ethical for us to send this in:

1. The inclusion of  a rebate form.  I've never seen a money-back guarantee form in the Sunday paper.  Usually, refund information is provided in small print on the side of the package.  By putting this form in the paper, Red Baron is saying one of two things: "We're so sure you won't like this product that we're giving you an easy-to-use refund form" or "This is a rebate; go buy our product!"
2. The inclusion of a $1 off coupon next to this form.  It is common to see combinations of coupons and rebates.  That's how extreme couponers like us make money.  I wouldn't expect Red Baron to distribute a coupon along with a money-back form.
3. The inclusion of a deadline.  Rebates always have deadlines to purchase a product, and deadlines to mail in the rebate form.  Money-back guarantees are usually available at any time.

In conjunction with the ambiguous refund/rebate language on the form, these reasons suggest to us that this is, in fact, a rebate form, and we are going to send it in with clear consciences.  What do you think?