I am not new to BF or rebates, but I haven't done many, so I was wonder who to avoid (which stores have sucky rebate practices) and who have good rebates?

My experience - only with Staples. I had a few rebates last BF, and got them within 2 months. It seemed kinda long time to wait - but at least I didn't have to send anything in - all done over the internet.

Well, unless its a manufactures mail in rebate, as far as I know Best Buy won't have any rebates.

CompUSA's are notorious for never coming.

Everyone else seems to be dead even IMO.

Best is Staples, it's so easy.

OM is one of the worst. They take forever to mail out the rebates.

Meijer took MONTHS to get my rebate to me! I bought on Thanksgiving day and I received the rebate in early March.

Best is Staples, it's so easy.

OM is one of the worst. They take forever to mail out the rebates.

If OM follows their current advertising scheme, they won't have any rebates this year.

In my experience, Office Depot is the worst. I waited 5 months for my rebates on my 26" LCD TV and 3 months for the other rebated items we bought from them.

I agree, Staples makes it a synch! You don't even need to waste money on stamps.

I agree, Staples makes it a synch! You don't even need to waste money on stamps.
CostCo has been doing that for a while and it definitely rocks :)

If OM follows their current advertising scheme, they won't have any rebates this year.

In my experience, Office Depot is the worst. I waited 5 months for my rebates on my 26" LCD TV and 3 months for the other rebated items we bought from them.

I agree, Staples makes it a synch! You don't even need to waste money on stamps.

What's OM's scheme? I have no idea since I haven't bought anything from their since summer of 2005 when I had $10 off $10 coupon.

What's OM's scheme? I have no idea since I haven't bought anything from their since summer of 2005 when I had $10 off $10 coupon.

http://omximages.officemax.com/images/slot_images/0908_topslot_p1.gif

OfficeMax bids farewell to mail-in rebates
By Erica Ogg
Published: June 30, 2006, 4:09 PM PDT

Citing overwhelming customer dissatisfaction with its mail-in rebate system, OfficeMax said it will eliminate the program beginning this weekend.

After a year of working with suppliers to implement the change, the office products retailer decided to do away with mail-in rebates in favor of in-store discounts.

The decision was the culmination of almost uniformly negative feedback regarding the lengthy and often-frustrating process of mailing in a rebate form and proof of purchase, followed by weeks of waiting for a check, a company spokesman said on Friday.

"Rebates were the No. 1 customer complaint we were getting," said Ryan Vero, OfficeMax's chief merchandising officer.

Customers would often call the company or question store staff as to the whereabouts of their reimbursement checks, Vero said. Because OfficeMax has no control over rebates--they come from the product manufacturers--the company decided it "needed an easier way to do this."

Vero said the decision will benefit customers because the new discounts will make shopping simpler and will apply immediately.

"In our stores, they'll be able to save that money right at the register; they don't have to pay taxes on that or wait four to six weeks," he said.

In 2005, Best Buy announced it would end its rebate program in two years.

Go here too: http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=42512&highlight=officemax

http://omximages.officemax.com/images/slot_images/0908_topslot_p1.gif



Go here too: http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=42512&highlight=officemax

That's good, but I don't think that'll bring me back to OM. And did BB really end their rebates? even the MIR or just their store?

Staples (http://Staples.com). I hate rebates!!!

staples is best, i hate the rest

BEST: Staples
WORST: CC

Staples any rebate I have sent in always came quickly. CC they lie, if it says a 20 mir it really means two $10 rebates or four $5 rebates not one simple form and they never come.

~*~Jess~*~

Ok, my feelings (which I have never changed regarding rebates)....it doesn't take the store 8-10 (or more or less) to take the money from you be it check, cash, credit card, etc. so why do we customers have to wait for them to process our rebate???!?!!? They should do strictly INSTANT rebates during the holiday shopping season. It, in my opinion, would certainly draw more customers into the stores therefore resulting in higher sales.

I am sooooooo against rebates! I just don't shop at a store that makes me send in something to get my money back....just my $0.02 worth!

Speaking of rebates... Home Depot just messed me over...

4th of July sale--paint rebates. $20.00 of 5 gallon of Glidden, Behr and another paint. So, Home Depot gives me the form then--I send it in with the UPC and receipt. I just got a letter yesterday saying it was not valid. Home Depot had given me the wrong form. Of course, now I can't do it, as date is long passed. We bought two 5 gallon buckets from them. I am a little more than ticked off.

On the other hand.... For buying 5 items of Fruit of the Loom, they offered $10.00 GC. We bought 10, so sent in for two GC. I just got emails from them the other day saying they were mailing them out.

So, don't necessarily trust Home Depot, but you can trust Kmart of all places... Just my experience.

Mine was probably when CC claimed that software was FAR and when I applied for it I could only claim one rebate rather than the two required for it to be free. Beware of CC.:no:

I used to work for HD and the best way to handle it is to call the rebate company and explain the situation, they usually will cave.

Speaking of rebates... Home Depot just messed me over...

4th of July sale--paint rebates. $20.00 of 5 gallon of Glidden, Behr and another paint. So, Home Depot gives me the form then--I send it in with the UPC and receipt. I just got a letter yesterday saying it was not valid. Home Depot had given me the wrong form. Of course, now I can't do it, as date is long passed. We bought two 5 gallon buckets from them. I am a little more than ticked off.

On the other hand.... For buying 5 items of Fruit of the Loom, they offered $10.00 GC. We bought 10, so sent in for two GC. I just got emails from them the other day saying they were mailing them out.

So, don't necessarily trust Home Depot, but you can trust Kmart of all places... Just my experience.

I think our Best Buy is really tops! When we buy something the person at the register highlights the Rebate amount, what you need to send in, and the rebate address. It really helps the customer. The one thing I hate about rebates is cutting the UPC Code off of the item bought. I wish they could make it easier for the customer. We usually receive the rebate in 4-6 weeks.:g_dance:

As long as you are methodical and organized, you shouldn't run into any problems, although a bit more work may be necessary to get your money. I implemented a system after I was 90% sure I got ripped off by some Office Max rebates (wasn't 100% sure because I had filled out dozens of them in like a 2 month span).

Here's my system:
-Keep a spreadsheet summary of all the rebates, including:
Store
Product
Amount
Type (if more than one on a product: manufacturer's, store's, store's electronic, etc...I have had up to 3 rebates on a single product and there needs to be a way to distinguish)
date submitted
where to status check (phone number/website/etc)
WHEN to check status (very important...these windows are often way in the future and short)
a place to check off when it arrives

-Make copies of EVERYTHING. This process thankfully became alot easier for me this past year. I use my computer's scanner and a program called pdf995. It lets me keep pdf files of my scans instead of getting buried under an avalanche of paper copies. When all the rebates for a product come in, I can simply safely delete the relevant files.

I would guess in the 3+ years I have had this system, I have submitted well over 100 rebates (maybe over 200). Since I did this, the only company I have had issues with was newegg (I did get my money though). Of the rest, Staples is very easy, and CompUSA seems to be heading in that direction as well (I haven't had a paper rebate with them in a while). OfficeMax is the only one I have ever flat out not received, although they made up for that once by fulfilling a manufacturer's rebate when the manufacturer went out of business. I know CompUSA gets a bad rap in general, but I have had no issues with them over the past year, and I probably have done at least 30 rebates with them in that time. Should a dispute arise, just make sure you have evidence to back up your claim. Any of the large retailers should not give a problem after that.

Here's my system:
-Keep a spreadsheet summary of all the rebates, including:
Store
Product
Amount
Type (if more than one on a product: manufacturer's, store's, store's electronic, etc...I have had up to 3 rebates on a single product and there needs to be a way to distinguish)
date submitted
where to status check (phone number/website/etc)
WHEN to check status (very important...these windows are often way in the future and short)
a place to check off when it arrives
Maybe you should take a look at this:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,8341-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

Best is Staples, it's so easy.

OM is one of the worst. They take forever to mail out the rebates.

OM does not have rebate anymore. I wonder if there is any good deal on BF still.

CostCo has been doing that for a while and it definitely rocks :)
I believe RiteAid was actually the first one doing online rebate submission.

Circuit City last BF was the worst!!!! I literally had to mail in over 20 different rebates, make copies of receipts & upc's, etc...... What a pain in the a** that was. Then when they came in I was trying to check them all off. Still don't know if I got all of them.....:(

Honestly I hate dealing with rebates and shy away from buying something that has them. I realize in the long run they may be good, but Im the kind of shopper who needs the savings now. Don't have the money to wait until I get some back. So I usually only buy items that have instant savings

Well, unless its a manufactures mail in rebate, as far as I know Best Buy won't have any rebates.

CompUSA's are notorious for never coming.

Everyone else seems to be dead even IMO.

Couldn't agree more! I had the biggest problem with CompUSA last year. They rang some stuff in wrong, so I had to go back to have them fix it, but the rebate place didn't accept the returned receipt. It wasn't worth the hassle.

Every rebate I've gotten from Staples has come in pretty quickly. I much prefer the online versions!

I personally have never had a problem with any. At least not yet. I just always make sure to make a copy of all of them and keep them in a file in case I don't receive one.

Well, unless its a manufactures mail in rebate, as far as I know Best Buy won't have any rebates.


The only rebate I ran into last year at BB was the rebate for Norton Systemworks. For that you had to mail in proof of an older copy of Norton or another anti-virus system.

Syntax Olevia is by FAR the WORST!!!!! No one can come close to them. I purchased a 37" LCD HDTV on 11/08/05 and the rebate came in September, after 10 MONTHS. Can anyone beat that?

Staples is the best, as others have mentioned, but ONLY on items in their Easy Rebate system. Most software is NOT and you have to go through the same process as every other store.

AVOID CIRCUITCITY !!:chairshot cc rebate is a big joke

I purchased a tivo from their store and in the same week mailed in the rebate. 2 months later they claim that the rebate had expired in a postcard. IF YOU WORK OR SAW THE DEALS POSTED YOU SHOULD KNOW THE REBATE WAS FROM OCTOBER UNTIL FEBRUARY:fedora: . I purchase it in NOVEMBER , WAAY BEFORE THE EXPIRATION . I STILL HAVENT RECIEVED MY 100 DOLLARS REBATE. Never again . NEVER AGAIN!:mad:

Tigerdirect.com. I bought my son a monitor on Thanksgiving last year for Xmas. Had 2 rebates, 1 manufacturer, 1 tigerdirect. I received the manufacturer one in good time (it was the larger one) but never did receive the tigerdirect.com one:no: they say they guarantee their rebates, but you have to send it certified mail etc for it to be guaranteed!! It would've cost me the $25 to mail it to get the $25!!! Oh well, leason learned. From now on, I'll buy elsewhere!:mad:

My worst rebate experience was actually with Staples but it wasn't an easy rebate. I mailed in two rebates totaling $100 on two Canon printers. I waited a few months and hadn't heard from them so I called them and they said they hadn't received the rebates and they told me to resubmit them. I resubmitted them and waited again for a few months and called them back and the said they didn't receive them this time either so I was given an email address and told that I could submit them there, waited about a week and still nothing. So I reported them to the Better Business Bureau and I got a call from Staples a few days later. The lady that called was really nice and she apologized for my trouble and she seemed really upset that this could have happened to me so many times. I faxed her my rebates and received a $100 check in about a week. So it all turned out fine but if I hadn't filed with the BBB I don't think I would have ever gotten them.

So far ACE is the place. Fast

Actually the best place is the state of Rhode Island. That have a state law that says retailers must give you the rebate on the spot. You do not have to mess with MIR, or On_line rebates. It doesnot matter what store it is, the store MUST give you the rebate about instantly and the store is responsible for submitting the rebate to recover their losses.

still waiting on a rebate from Cingular.... sent it to them in May.... when I call they keep telling me aother 5-7 business days. I've called at least 8-9 times

Lately the worst rebate experience has been with Office Depot rebates.

I have yet to get my Compusa Emachines rebate!!!!!!!! So I will never be buying anything from them ever again.

Actually the best place is the state of Rhode Island. That have a state law that says retailers must give you the rebate on the spot. You do not have to mess with MIR, or On_line rebates. It doesnot matter what store it is, the store MUST give you the rebate about instantly and the store is responsible for submitting the rebate to recover their losses.

That sounds like the best way. More states should do that!

I've had problems with CompUSA. I love it when they tell you to send in the original UPC and then they say they never got it. Of course you cant send them another one!

Between that and the pushy salespeople, I'll never shop at CompUSA again.

If OM follows their current advertising scheme, they won't have any rebates this year.

In my experience, Office Depot is the worst. I waited 5 months for my rebates on my 26" LCD TV and 3 months for the other rebated items we bought from them.

I agree, Staples makes it a synch! You don't even need to waste money on stamps.


I agree with Marcster. Office Depot was PAINFULLY slow on all of the rebates from the computer they had last BF. We did not get our final one in until March or April and that was the big one.

Office Depot rebates are a nightmare for me. My husband keeps buying the tax programs and anti-virus things there that are supposed to be FAR. I get denied at least one every year. My best experience was with Costco. I bought Money 2005 in Sept of 2005 and lost the receipt. I just found it last month and the rebate doesn't expire until Dec 2006. I filled out the form online and got my check in 10 days. I was very impressed.

I haven't had any problems with CompUSA - as long as it is an erebate that you can submit online. The paperless rebates like those are the best!

Well, I am glad that I started this thread, b/c there's a TV/DVD combo on sale on BF that my MIL wants to get my dd at CC - and after reading all of these replies, I am really starting to rethink it. Bummer! I thought it was going to be a great deal - but I HATE dealing with slow rebates or rebates that don't come. The only upside to this is it's only $20 and it's my MIL's dime. (I am buying it and she's paying me back) She'd probably tell me not to worry with it - but the TV is only $5 more than a 13" TV/DVD combo at WM that she wants to get my dd. I'd pay $5 more for a 20" TV (and for ones that's a non-character one), but not $25 more.

The only rebate I ran into last year at BB was the rebate for Norton Systemworks. For that you had to mail in proof of an older copy of Norton or another anti-virus system.

You know what I totally forgot about that from last year and was checking it out for this year. Not now though! Thanks for the reminder ;)

I always make copies of everything I send. The few times I've gotten a postcard or email saying I didn't send something, I head right out to the store with those copies. Ask at customer service "What did I do wrong?" and they have always given me the $ on the spot!!

Well, I am glad that I started this thread, b/c there's a TV/DVD combo on sale on BF that my MIL wants to get my dd at CC - and after reading all of these replies, I am really starting to rethink it. Bummer! I thought it was going to be a great deal - but I HATE dealing with slow rebates or rebates that don't come. The only upside to this is it's only $20 and it's my MIL's dime. (I am buying it and she's paying me back) She'd probably tell me not to worry with it - but the TV is only $5 more than a 13" TV/DVD combo at WM that she wants to get my dd. I'd pay $5 more for a 20" TV (and for ones that's a non-character one), but not $25 more.

I had about 20 rebates last BF; several from CC. I kept a list, was very careful to do everything EXACTLY as it said in the instructions, and made copies of each rebate I sent in. I got every one back. Some took a long time, but none were much longer than the amount it said on the form.

I think most people who don't get rebates back actually mess up a tiny detail. Maybe I'm wrong, but I am very detailed and have never had a rebate lost.

However, if you don't have the full amount, I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want the $20 sitting on a credit card for 2-3 months while you wonder if your rebate is coming back. The interest costs cut into the amount you are getting back, and the stress is not worth it.

We got BF stuff from Ace a few years back that had rebates and they were great. Came within a reasonable amount of time and no hassles. Then I bought some stuff at dept. store( I cannot remember their name. They are in the Robinsons-May family) and never recieved the rebate. They wanted my original reciept which I was not thrilled about. What if I needed to return those things or others that I bought on the same reciept?

Tigerdirect.com. I bought my son a monitor on Thanksgiving last year for Xmas. Had 2 rebates, 1 manufacturer, 1 tigerdirect. I received the manufacturer one in good time (it was the larger one) but never did receive the tigerdirect.com one:no: they say they guarantee their rebates, but you have to send it certified mail etc for it to be guaranteed!! It would've cost me the $25 to mail it to get the $25!!! Oh well, leason learned. From now on, I'll buy elsewhere!:mad:

$25????? Last I checked with the post office it was 39c for postage and 3.75 for registered mail with electronic return recept. Bringing the total to $4.14.

Verizon no doubt about it.
Still waiting for a rebate from May 2005 on a phone purchased. I have called 14 times totalling nearly 5 hours of phone time, 2 visits to the nearest store location totalling 96 miles. Still waiting and tired of the runaround.

I usually send 4-6 rebates out per month for various items, with no problems at all, until these idiots came along.

CC is definetly the WORST! I am still waiting on 1 of the 2 rebates from my computer purchase in JULY! They are HORRIBLE! The customer service is horrible as well.

COMPUSA will be in the top list..no one can beat them....

Best Buy refused to honor a rebate after BF a year ago. I had all the documentation and sent it multiple times to BB and they still welshed.

Even if they don't have rebates any more, they will never see another dime of my money. Check the reviews at reseller ratings - Best Buy has the lowest rating of all the big box retailers.

Everywhere else has been pretty decent, although a Trend Micro rebate out of Miami is claiming there was "no UPC" (so I have to send them a xerox of it - ALWAYS copy everything)

Syntax Olevia is by FAR the WORST!!!!! No one can come close to them. I purchased a 37" LCD HDTV on 11/08/05 and the rebate came in September, after 10 MONTHS. Can anyone beat that?

Staples is the best, as others have mentioned, but ONLY on items in their Easy Rebate system. Most software is NOT and you have to go through the same process as every other store.

Yeah, the Hawking broadband booster had two rebates on it. the second came in late last month! This was a Compusa deal from the last black friday!:eyepoppin

I've never bought anything on BF that needed a mail-in rebate except the boardgame one last year. If its not an instant rebate I don't do it. Luckily I haven't had to deal with electronics or office supply stores on BF that usually has them

Comp USA always sends me a card telling me they would not honor my rebate because it was not received in the timeframe. But the funny thing is that I receive this card back from them before the rebate deadline. Last year I had rebates on computers for $100. Needless to say, I never received. Just the postcard. I avoid CompUSA now. Radio Shack has a quick rebate return.

I am not new to BF or rebates, but I haven't done many, so I was wonder who to avoid (which stores have sucky rebate practices) and who have good rebates?

My experience - only with Staples. I had a few rebates last BF, and got them within 2 months. It seemed kinda long time to wait - but at least I didn't have to send anything in - all done over the internet.

Not reading this whole thread so If someone else mentioned this sorry!

Beware of one per customer Rebates. Last year we picked up memory cards from best buy, for the digital cameras , 2 of them . They gave me the forms and receipts to send in for the
rebates, i think 35 a piece, but the second one never came!

Mine was probably when CC claimed that software was FAR and when I applied for it I could only claim one rebate rather than the two required for it to be free. Beware of CC.:no:
If it's advertised as FAR and the rebates look like you can only submit one, then you should call the number on the rebate forms to see what's up because there is likely a typo. When there are multiple rebates, one takes the original UPC and the other(s) take a copy or something else. I've done lots of CC rebates and I know that for the software stuff both rebates are ALWAYS possible (and if for some reason it really is not, complain to the manager and ask them to pay you for the bogus rebate).

Many inexperienced rebaters will misread the forms and THINK that the other forms are asking for the original UPC or not notice that they are looking for something different like the proof of purchase tab or box top (and yes, I have seen many posts like this on a different deal site, especially for Norton rebates). I read a complaint at Ripoffreport.com where some guy said that he had bought stuff at Circuit City (twice!) with 2 rebates and both times decided to send both rebates in the same envelope. Needless to say, he did not get the second rebate (either time) Well, the odds of both rebates going to the same place are very slim so clearly he did not read the forms. And you almost NEVER are instructed to send different rebate forms in the same envelope.

That said, my current "worst" rebate experience is with Toys R Us, where their corporate customer "service" person is arguing with me over a $10 rebate I am owed. They are lying about what is on the form and saying there is nothing they can (read: will) do. I just filed a complaint with the BBB after my local store manager told me I'd have to call corporate customer service.

Even if they don't have rebates any more, they will never see another dime of my money. Check the reviews at reseller ratings - Best Buy has the lowest rating of all the big box retailers.

Everywhere else has been pretty decent, although a Trend Micro rebate out of Miami is claiming there was "no UPC" (so I have to send them a xerox of it - ALWAYS copy everything)
Best Buy stores are always busy so there must be plenty of satisfied customers. I don't believe the online ratings for big chains. The only people who go there are people who are unhappy so they are not real numbers. They're certainly not perfect but they are far from the worst. I was actually pretty happy with their own rebates (mailed to Calais, ME).

And Trend Micro "out of Miami" is actually Parago and if you call the number on the rebate form they will generally validate it over the phone.

Beware of one per customer Rebates. Last year we picked up memory cards from best buy, for the digital cameras , 2 of them . They gave me the forms and receipts to send in for the rebates, i think 35 a piece, but the second one never came!
Very few rebates are NOT limited to one per customer. Read the form before mailing to make sure you can file more than one. If you feel you want to submit both, send it to a friend or relative and by all means do NOT buy them both on the same receipt.

By the way, what did the rebate house say when you called to ask about the second one?? You did call, right? I find that most customers I read about in these "I hate rebates" articles say "it never showed up". But no one ever bothers to follow up. Make copies of everything, track your rebates online, and call if there is a problem.

Comp USA always sends me a card telling me they would not honor my rebate because it was not received in the timeframe. But the funny thing is that I receive this card back from them before the rebate deadline. Last year I had rebates on computers for $100. Needless to say, I never received. Just the postcard. I avoid CompUSA now. Radio Shack has a quick rebate return.
CompUSA's own rebates are now submitted online (like Staples) so they are among the best. And the odds are that the rebate(s) you had problems with were from manufacturers, NOT CompUSA. So you're only hurting yourself avoiding CompUSA.

And of course here we have another story of someone who got a rejection and apparently did nothing about it.

$25????? Last I checked with the post office it was 39c for postage and 3.75 for registered mail with electronic return recept. Bringing the total to $4.14.

Certified mail for rebates (unless they are really large) is a terrible waste of money. The allegedl expert who suggested that in a column should be fired. The vast majority of rebates that don't show up are rejected because of an error (real or imagined) on the form, and certified mail is useless for that. And for the small number that the claim never showed up, I've only had one situation where they refused to take a photocopy.

And yes registered mail is very expensive but it is never needed for stuff like rebates.

Best Buy stores are always busy so there must be plenty of satisfied customers. I don't believe the online ratings for big chains. The only people who go there are people who are unhappy so they are not real numbers. They're certainly not perfect but they are far from the worst. I was actually pretty happy with their own rebates (mailed to Calais, ME).



Your analysis about only disgruntled customers posting ratings on that site (reseller ratings) dooesn't explain why other stores have higher ratings (some MUCH higher). With 300 million people in the country you can treat a bunch like dirt and there will still be others who have not yet (with yet being the operative word) been subjected to rude and/or incompetent BB employees. Like PT Barnum said...

I have yet to get my Compusa Emachines rebate!!!!!!!! So I will never be buying anything from them ever again.
And what's the status of it when you track it online?? And is CompUSA paying it or Emachines?

Last BF I had a problem with Radio Shack. I bought the Sirius radio & home kit. I sent in rebates to Sirius and to Radio Shack. I got the Sirius one back no problem, but Radio Shack sent me a postcard saying that the rebate was not valid on that UPC!?! I bought the exact product in the ad that the Radio Shack employee gave me when I asked for it. I called the store I bought it at, the manager apologized and said he couldn't see why I didn't get the rebate (he looked up my purchase and details on their computer system). He contacted the rebate center, had it all straightened out, and I had rebate in hand about a week later.

I am very careful about sending in rebates, since each one seems to ask for something different. My "trick" is to take each rebate, write the submission address on an envelope, and then on the inside flap of the envelope write what is required to be sent in (i.e. original UPC or copied UPC, original receipt or copied receipt, etc.). That is the best way I have found to keep everything straight.

Office Depot rebates are among the worst these days. It takes forever for the rebates to show up on their tracking site, and then they are frequently marked as invalid for bogus reasons.

CompUSA's own rebates are now submitted online (like Staples) so they are among the best. And the odds are that the rebate(s) you had problems with were from manufacturers, NOT CompUSA. So you're only hurting yourself avoiding CompUSA.

And of course here we have another story of someone who got a rejection and apparently did nothing about it.

I prefer submitting online rather than mail. But my purchase was last Christmas and there was not an option for online submission. This is not he only rebate problem I have had with CompUSA. And who are you to know that I did not do anything about it. Opinion were asked and I gave mine. I am glad you have had such good luck with CompUSA, but I have not. And after reading this thread, there are others out there who also have had problems.

We avoid buying anything with rebates because of some rebate houses just rejecting for no reason, having to "give" the money to the store to use for months before returning it....sort of like an interest-free loan on my part to them, etc.

In our experience, OM was always the worst with denying rebates for any reason at all, usually incorrectly. But, our local OM manager always made good on any rebate submitted and rejected. But OM rebates were just too much of a problem to continue to use them.

The stores with the best rebates, at least for us, always had been Best Buy and Circuit City. CompUSA did pretty well, too. Staples was usually good with theirs and OD was fair at best. TigerDirect was and is dismal at fulfilling theirs. Fry's usually comes through with theirs but can be slow as molasses in winter.

Had never been turned down by BB or CC on a rebate. But since most of BB's products the last two years are without rebates, we prefer to shop there despite the fact that the product may be a few dollars more. I'd rather pay a little more up front instead of waiting months for a rebate that may be rejected, have to be resubmitted, etc. Rebating is just not worth the problems anymore.