I bought a HP Printer, in part, because of a $50 rebate offer. If I bought the HP 8250 printer and a digital camera together, I would get a $50 rebate.
STEP 1. I sent in all the required materials, receipts, etc. To the rebate address. I waited over two months and heard nothing, so I called the rebate number on the HP website. They told me they had no record of my paperwork.
STEP 2. I faxed all the materials to the fax number provided by the person I spoke with. I waited 2 more months. I checked the website to see what was happening with my rebate. It had (they claimed) been sent to me, but THE ZIP CODE ON MY ADDRESS WAS WRONG. I never got it. I called HP again and explained their error. The woman apologized and said it would be sent to the right address.
STEP 3. A month later, I checked the website again and it said the rebate had been sent to me. The address was correct this time. I waited for two more weeks; it never came. I called HP again. The woman told me that the rebate actually WASN'T SENT because THE OFFER HAD EXPIRED! I calmly told her that the previous person had told me that it would be sent and that I was going to contact the Attorney General's office. She then turned me over to a supervisor, who also told me the offer had expired. When I mentioned the AG office again, he said they would make an exception "this time" and send it to me. I finally got my rebate!!
My point is that I almost gave up at each step and I wonder if this ordeal is actually a calculated program wherein a certain percentage of customers quit pursuing their rebate at each step. They may whittle down their number of claims at each obstruction.
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