Beware of Rebates!

The come-on line sounds good: Free after rebate! (Or really cheap.) Yes, it might be a good deal, IF....

I used to go for these deals all the time, but I am much more selective now. Here's the scoop. It takes a lot of paperwork. You must meet every qualification exactly, or your rebate is null and void. You must do exactly what the rebate form says, in the time frame that it says to do it in. Then, you must keep a copy of everything you've sent, in order to hold the company accountable.

I have a theory -- based on experience. I believe, in some cases, companies don't send your rebate until you call and ask where it is. This has happened to me several times. You need to put the copies of the rebate papers somewhere where you will be reminded to check into it if you haven't received it yet (like a tickler file). They count on the fact that a huge amount of people never file for a rebate at all, and most of the ones that do don't keep track of it. You also have to be willing to wait anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to get your money back. Oftentimes, the check is on a postcard, so watch your mail carefully.

BUT...if it's something you're going to buy anyway, and you're willing to do the work...go for it! I've gotten some really good deals.