[Stoner]

If you play the 'rebate' game , I can't stress enough how important documenting every piece of paper involved in a rebate transaction, is.
1 year ago I purchased a $100 hard drive with a $40 rebate. All documentation was properly sent in for the rebate. No reply for several months, then I recieved an email from CompUSA claiming I had not sent a valid request. A phone call to the rebate center was made, and CompUSA claimed I sent no UPC label.
I then sent their 'request for further info' form along with copies of ALL paperwork involved in the purchase, including the UPC.
Months go by and I call the rebate center again.
They claim I sent no UPC label. After much argueing, I demand they do a thorough search of my file for my last correspondance. Happy days, they found it and will send a check within 5 business days.

Several months go by. Another call is made to the CompUSA rebate center. They claim there is no evidence of any UPC label being sent, the rebate time period the manufacturer set has expired and there is nothing they can do for me.
I demanded and recieved the address of CompUSA's complaint dept. and sent again all documentation,certified mail-return request reciept. In that letter was the discussion of how the small claims court would view this situation.
Several weeks ago, I recieved my rebate check.
A lot of hassle, but without complete documentation, I would never have recieved the rebate.Have I bought from them since? Nothing requiring a rebate.
Did the manager help me? NO, even though I had made many purchases, including a laptop just prior to this event.

Mistakes happen and communication can break down, but the frequency in regard to this purchase leads me to believe CompUSA[and maybe others like them] are nothing more than discount wholesalers where the buyer must beware!

[buckaroo]

HI Stoner, good advice for anyone doing rebates.....Make a copy of EVERTHING you send in as it's not uncommon to have to document things a second (or third) time. You also did the right thing to take it beyond the rebate center to the company sponsoring the rebate. I do plenty of rebates and never got burned yet. I just got a $60 rebate back from a CompUSA HD deal without major heartburn.

It's also important to carefully follow the instructions....if the rebate requires the original receipt, or the origianl UPC, they won't let you get away with a photocopies.

[videobruce]

You also have to realize that these rebate centers are not the company/store that is offering the rebates! They are sweat shop like companies that pay their slaves (er, workers) minimun wages or maybe a little more.
You get what you pay for!

Reagn-nonmics!