Florida’s appliance rebate Web site down, but should be up by 11 a.m.
The Web site for Florida's long-awaited appliance rebate program was down this morning, but state officials said it should be up and running by 11 a.m. when consumer can start reserving their rebate funds.
The state's Web site is www.rebates.com/florida.
An alternative site consumers can check out is www.myfloridaclimate.com. The myfloridaclimate.com site contains information about the program and how it works. However, consumers cannot place reservations for rebates at that site. State officials strongly urge the reservations because it is a first-come, first-serve program until the money runs out.
The 20 percent rebate for appliances kicked off today amid the kind of retail buzz that usually accompanies high-tech gadgets rather than clothes washers.
Sears and Best Buy opened stores at 6 a.m. for early-bird shoppers. Lowe’s and Home Depot also promoted the rebates to their shoppers.
The $17.5 million rebate program, funded by federal stimulus money, will provide the rebates to Florida residents purchasing select Energy Star-rated appliances. Those are refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, tankless gas water heaters, and room air conditioners.
Shoppers have been asking about the program for the past month, said Tom Crosby IV, owner of Crosby & Son Appliances on the Westside.
“We’re a third-generation business but I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said Thursday.
His store opened an hour early at 7 a.m.
State officials expect the rebates will be enough for 68,000 appliances and all the rebate funding could be sucked up by purchases made the first day. Appliances must be purchased at Florida stores. Online purchases won’t qualify.
After buying the appliance, the next step will be to go to the state’s Web site, www.rebates.com/florida, and reserve rebate money for your purchase. The Web site will start taking reservations at 11 a.m. The site will keep a running tally of how much rebate money is left.
Consumers will then mail in rebate forms that can be downloaded from the state’s site. The state doesn’t have a phone number for the program.
david.bauerlein@jacksonville.com Courtesy of http://jacksonville.com
