Rebate Junkie

I am a sucker for rebates. Especially if it basically ends up to be free! Earlier this month, I bought some anti-virus software that had two rebates that would cover the entire cost. So I proceeded to send in the rebates and triple checked that I had everything that I needed in the envelopes. On Saturday, I got two little postcards saying that both of my rebates were incomplete because they were missing items...at which point they say that if you can send in the stuff that's missing they can then process your rebate. Hello!!! I checked a million times that I had the right info in the right envelope with whatever, and I no longer have part of that info because I sent it to them! So, I called them this morning and basically just had to talk to the guy. He said, "Hold on for one moment while I check on something.....Ok, I have it all worked out and your rebate will be processed and sent to you in 4-6 weeks." I said "Thanks, what about my other rebate?" He said, "Let me check on that one....hold on a moment....well, it is missing the originial UPC but since you are a valued customer, I'll go ahead and process this one for you too." WHAT??? 5 seconds ago you are telling me you don't have what you need and now you're just going to process it? It makes me think that they send out these dumb postcards just so they don't have to process people's rebates. I almost just got annoyed and didn't call about it, and thought, 'oh well, guess i actually had to pay $70.' I wonder how many people just throw the postcard away and say "fuhghetaboutit." Sneaky, sneaky...