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I understand where you're coming from, but I think it's all part of the same overall factor - customer apathy and laziness.
Although estimates vary widely, it's safe to say less than 25% of rebates are ever submitted.
Sure, there is the odd situation where a rebate gets denied unfairly, but I suspect that there are very few that are not attributable to customer error.
I've been on both sides of the issue, as a consumer, and when I did customer service for a cell carrier.
I was always very damned clear with customers about how the rebate process worked, to the point of making the customer repeat back exactly what they had to submit, and advising they photocopy everything before submission.
We used Young America for processing, and my experience with them was fairly favorable. I never had a problem getting an override on a rebate if in my judgment the customer had made an honest mistake. I'm really not sure how these overrides were accounted for.
On the other hand, I had *lots* of customers who would call in claiming that they never received their rebate, only to find out that they hadn't submitted even the most obvious requirements - like the proof of purchase.
Some customers would swap phones around on their account, then call in multiple times trying to wheedle out duplicate reimbursements via customer service, knowing it wouldn't fly through the rebate house.
Lest it sound like I am defending rebates - I am not.
I think they're cheesy and reflect poorly on the vendor.
That said, we all know going into it that we'll have to follow the instructions explicitly or that check ain't gonna be in the mail.
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