Why are mail in rebates such a fucking pain in the nuts?

The only worthwhile rebates are at Staples, their rebate system is completely online. No need to mail anything.

Circuit City also has online rebate applications but they still requrie you to mail your recepit in order to get anything.

My system:

Copy everything, fill it in, mail it off.

Take my photocopies, write the check’s ETA on them with a highlighter, and then tape it to the wall behind my desk.

Once the date has passed I start getting annoying.

Kind of a low-tech version of the rebate tracker I guess.

-Joe