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In February 2003, I purchased a Toshiba laptop which came with a $150 mail in rebate. To make a very long story short, in April 2003 I contacted CompUSA about not receiving the rebate. They told me it had been denied because the purchase was not within the allowable time frame (February 2003). After re-faxing the printed receipt to them, which had the correct dates, they said that the rebate would be processed and paid. Another 30 days goes by and still nothing. In late May 2003 I called them and they said again, it was not within the allowable timeframe. I argued some more and after faxing the receipt a few more times, they said in 21 days the rebate would be processed. In mid June I had still received nothing. Determined to get an answer, I called them and they said they couldn't read the fax I had sent them and thus, couldn't verify the product SKU. They suggested re-faxing it. WHAT !??!

Well - I wasn't going to refax it and I asked to speak to various managers. After leaving many, many voice mails I began calling their 1-800-COMP-USA number once an hour every day until I got resolution. Since I'm unemployed I have all the time in the world to irritate them :) FINALLY in early July I got high enough up in the management food-chain to get apparent results. I got an upper-level manager to verify that the rebate WAS setup for payment and will definitely be paid - but not for 30 days. So, hopefully in August 2003 I'll finally, have my $150 rebate.

My advise - the $150 rebate isn't worth the time it takes to pursue it when it undoubtedly is denied (for no logical reason). Also, the people ho answer your initial call do NOT have the power to activate any rebate - it takes an upper-level manager. Unless you have a lot of free time to pursue rebates, and a strong conviction not to be 'taken', shop elsewhere. I suspect that companies make a LOT of money denying valid rebates to persons who just give up the pursuit. But I'm too cheap to just give up $150 :)

UPDATE: On 7/11/03 the rebate check arrived!