[indymike]

Rebates are usually legal in the US, but go to the distributor or the final buyer. I used to sell huge amounts of computer hardware at a small loss, and a month later would be making 15-20% profit once rebates were paid to my company.

Bribes are paid by (or directed to be paid to someone else by) the person who is buying (or a sales representative selling) and their employer never sees the money. That's why direct incentives to salespeople (spiffs) should be authorized in writing, by the employer. An example of a bribe would be a purchasing agent requiring me to donate 5% of the deal value to their church to get a deal.