Rebates scare me. I lost big with a Sage rebate a while ago and just don't trust these things.

well, when you learn how to fill a rebate in correctly, you will get the rebate

I'm sure they reject any rebate forms not filled out correctly. I also believe they reject forms filled out correctly as well. Long ago I bought a Saphire motherboard with two rebates. They rejected both. I called or e-mailed (don't remember) and they immediately sent me payment for one. They knew they were filled out correctly. Gave up on the second as it wasn't worth my time. They bank on that.

Social networks give you viruses, just like in real life.

I've lost one rebate out of dozens only because the company went out of business.

The secret is to make sure you make a photocopy of EVERYTHING you include in the envelope. Then, if they send a rejection note, you call them, email them a copy of your copy, and they always approve.

A previous poster is right, many times they assume you won't follow up.

Only do rebates through reputable rebate houses (see mailing address to ID them), then factor if you fill it out correctly and meet the terms, 5% of those submitted will be rejected. Do you want the product for the price, if the rebate were 5% smaller?

That's what it boils down to, risk/loss averaged out over time, though I agree with a prior post that often contacting the rebate house with copies will succeed, further reducing the 5% factor.