Originally posted by EddieWan
Most people I know don't think rebates are worth the effort and just don't bother. I always do mine, but it is a pain when months later you get the rebate and no longer know why you got it. I had a 50 dollar rebate once that I never heard from again. Since then I'm very leary of buying anything just for a rebate. I only buy things with a rebate now if I was already planning on getting that item. I think main reason companies do rebates is so when you look at the sales paper you see something that's normally 100 dollars listed at 50 dollars with the small print telling you 100 - 50 = 50 final price. It's a gimick to get you in the store.
A big reason for doing REBATE or COUPON prices is that they are using a loophole in advertising laws and don't have to provide a rain check.