Young America Corporation
Young America Corporation is a major rebating center and clearinghouse with locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and India. The corporation handles mail-in and paperless rebates, gift cards and pre-paid cards, sweepstakes, targeted sampling, premiums and merchandising, CRM, loyalty programs and business process outsourcing for a number of major clients.[1]
As of 2008, Young America Corporation is the world's largest processor of rebates, processing over 80 million rebates per year worth over $2 billion USD.[2]
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[edit] History
Originally named Dile Corporation, Young America began in 1972 as a three-client promotion fulfillment company out of Plymouth, Minnesota. In 1973, the corporation relocated to Young America, Minnesota, and took on the name of the town.[3] Since then, the company has expanded greatly, with locations in five countries, and becoming the world leader in rebate processing.
[edit] Locations
In the United States, Young America has 7 locations across the country, including the Headquarters in Young America MN (from which the company gets its name). Other locations include Edina MN, Green Bay WI, Phoenix AZ, Chicago IL, and St. Louis MO. The Canadian division of the company, Young America Canada, had two call centers for general questions and concerns regarding any of the offers handled by the company in Chatham-Kent, ON.
In April 2008, Young America announced the scheduled closure of the call center in Thunder Bay, ON, transferring all call handling services to the Chatham-Kent center.
[edit] Criticism
On November 7, 2005, officials in Massachusetts filed suit against Young America demanding that they submit an audit for $43 million in uncashed rebate checks. Young America answered back saying that they keep the money in return for charging lower fees to their clients, stating that it is easier for Young America to keep the money and charge lower fees than sending the money back to the clients and in return having it returned to them as part of the fees. In response to questions from Business Week, the CEO stated "Young America receives the same fees whether a submission is valid or invalid." Massachusetts officials characterized the check retention as a conflict of interest nonetheless.[4]
A similar suit was filed in Iowa in 2006, with officials again demanding an audit for money the corporation is supposedly withholding from the uncashed rebate checks.[5]
Strict guidelines for rebate submissions are intended in part to combat fraudulent submissions. As of 2005, the corporation supposedly had over 10,000 addresses that they monitor for bogus submissions.[4]
As of February 12, 2010, the lawsuit against Young America Corporation was dropped, as the retailers in question were held liable under Iowa state law.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Young America
- ^ Odell, Patricia (March 1, 2008). "What Rebate?". Promo (magazine). http://promomagazine.com/opinions/unclaimed_rebate_pile_0301/. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Rebate processor still works hands-on". Minneapolis Star Tribune. March 3, 2003. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_text_direct-0=0FAFFBB974E01E30&p_field_direct-0=document_id. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ a b Grow, Brian (November 23, 2005). "The Great Rebate Runaround". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2005/nf20051123_4158_db016.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Iowa Sues To Reclaim Rebate Money
- ^ "State Treasurer and Attorney General Settle with Sprint over Iowans’ Uncashed Rebate Checks". Iowa Department of Justice Website. http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/latest_news/releases/feb_2010/Sprint_rebate_checks.html. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
