I disagree with Fry's and Outpost.com's rebate policies which seem to be designed to make as few as possible percentage of people claim the rebate. They overcharge, then make the rebate super-huge, and give you a very short period of time to send it in, and throw in other complications - such as the wrong rebate form on the website.
Plus I have had the New Rochelle rebate center refuse a $50 rebate (62.5% of the purchase price) from Fry's before. I sent the rebate out the very next day after buying the product (I believe the requirement was 7 days - ridiculously short!) They claimed the date was missing on the receipt, but never contacted me. I found out about it from wheresmyrebate.com, contacted them, re-sent a copy of the receipt (which was a REBATE reciept and VERY obviously had the date printed on it), and then they "accepted" the submission, but never sent the check. Called back, they said the check would be sent soon. Called back again (this is at least 6 months after initial submission) (why can't these people use email??!!@) - they said I would have to contact Fry's, because the rebate has expired with SMC (WTF!). I contacted Fry's, and after stopping by a few times at the store I purchased it from, and a number of phone conversations (mainly they don't seem to answer the phone very often), I still have not been able to get the rebate... My time is MUCH more valuable than THAT!
If you still want to purchase these products, you have until tomorrow to do so, and PLEASE, only buy if you intend to be VERY persistent in making them pay out the rebate - These products are NOT a good deal if you don't send in the rebate, and make them pay you. If 90% of people claimed these huge rebates, then we as consumers would be demonstrating that shady practices don't pay off.
After contacting
service@outpost.com directly, they emailed me the rebate form:
I have uploaded it here: http://insanediego.com/sek/rebates/3635275-06252004.pdf
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT, PLEASE CLAIM THE REBATE!
Their bogus(?) excuse for why they would post such a huge rebate with the incorrect form:
We apologize for this inconvenience.
We have already contacted our Product Marketing team to have the
incorrect Netgear rebate form removed from our site (it does not start
until 07/01 anyway). I have attached the appropriate form to this
email. Please note that their current offer expires on 07/01/04.
Please note that the rebates posted on Outpost.com are manufacturers'
rebates only. All redemption is done through the manufacturers' chosen
fulfillment company. Please contact the rebate fulfillment center for more
information or to track the status of your rebate request.