According to one company rebate supervisor he confided that he was surprised to learn when he started his job that only an estimated 26% of rebates are payed out. This supervisor worked for a software firm that farmed out the handling of rebates to one of the several large companies--even that is disputable because although they look like separate companies they are really owned by the same group.

The most egregious rebate scammers, in my opinion, is Fry's Electronics. Since the following has happened twice I don't consider it a fluke. Both incidents involved sizable rebates around $100 each.

After purchasing the products I dutifully filled in the forms and made photo copies of everything mailed in. On the first incident it was a fluke that I saved the packaging.

Six weeks passed and a postcard arrived telling me that my rebate didn't qualify. After a few phone calls I was told the rebate was for a different product. That is when I discovered the art of Fry's scam.

The packaging showed a different UPC code than what was printed on the receipt. It was clear that the photocopy of the UPC matched perfectly the missing piece from the container. The store manager confirmed that when the item is scanned a different UPC code appears on the receipt.

People make mistakes and I was willing to accept that it was a clerical error, but when it happened a second time it was intentional--in my opinion.

I have little faith in those rebate companies. Another scam I came across is that the reference code used in the address P.O. Box is wrong. When I called to inquire why the rebate had been rejected I was told that they don't use any such code. After a little friendly talk the rebate rep told me that another company, which they own, use that type of number.

It amazes me that an industrious State Attorney General somewhere doesn't go after these less than reputable rebate companies. I wouldn't be surprised to know that the rebate company makes more money the less they pay out, but I don't know that for fact and only suspect.

Over time you learn to avoid the rebates unless it is given at the register or provided by a box store like Sams or Costco; those rebates I've never have had trouble receiving. As a rule any rebate over $10 is photocopied and if over $30 the packaging is retained until the rebate check is received. Like I said, the rebates as a rule aren't worth it because it is usually old product that they want to move out of inventory and is soon to be replaced with a better product. In the case of software you often get dinged for an upgrade and the money saved on the rebate gets wiped out.