Lex -
No, I had already used the $20 coupon, so I just paid the full price...can't say whether the coupon would have an effect or not. As for my submission, I sent mine in on the 16th of June, I believe.
WLJ -
I'm sorry to hear that. Given that the rebate form asked for only the UPS barcode, I think if Gage dishonors your request they are in the wrong. Unfortunately, given that they (like all rebate processors) reserve the right to change the deal at any time, I'm not sure what your recourse is.
To all of those who have either been screwed on this or think they are in the process of being screwed -
Beware - LONG ADVICE/RANT FOLLOWS!!!
My professional life is rather closely tied to the PR and marketing efforts of big companies like HP and IBM. I can only tell you that these companies live in terror of having major rebate snafus. Nothing is more likely to piss a customer off than to have a large rebate rejected. If climbing on the management of Gage does not get your your rebate, I would ask for the appropriate PR/marketing contacts at both HP and eStamp. I can assure you that any rebate program has to have a responsible party at any and all companies who are taking part in it (a legal requirement). I would BITCH up a storm and threaten everything you can possibly take the time to deliver on. I can only offer the following example as proof that bitching DOES work as long as you are willing to take time to do it right...
My sister bought an HP computer bundle for her kids last christmas. She got one of those $250 rebates that HP has for buying mulitple HP components in one point of purchase sale. Anyway, to make it short, they tried to screw her out of the rebate on a technicality involving the barcodes that she submitted. Again, HP had an outside fulfillment agency for this rebate, so it wasn't HP themselves doing the screwing.
After trying to get the rebate out of the management of the fulfillment firm and getting no love there, she contacted the person at HP who dealt with that firm. After an additional 6 weeks of some serious bitching (threatening to report them to the BBB, the state tax authority - rebates give companies tax breaks if you didn't know, the computer editors at some major papers, the chumps at ZDTV - who love crap like this, and on and on), HP apologized for the terrible way in which she had been treated and gave her a check for the full $1499 she had paid for the system!!
Why would they do this? The same reason companies do rebates in the first place. To gain brand recognition and customer loyalty. If a company screws you out of a rebate, make sure it is worth more to them to pay you than it is to screw with you. Remember, if all else fails and you are absolutely not going to get your rebate....take a few hours and draft e-mail to a few syndicated computer columnists, the local and state BBBs/tax boards, the public PR contacts at the relevant companies, and any other relevant people you can think of. If they are going to keep your $175, make it cost them a hell of a lot more than it cost you....