2007: A Rebate Odyssey

I'm always looking for ways to save money in my gadget shopping, which means I routinely subject myself to the prolonged ordeal of waiting for a rebate check to arrive. Here's how my most recent experience went:

11/6/06: I order a new computer online

11/9/06: The computer arrives.

11/20/06: I mail out the completed rebate form and its supporting paperwork. (Cutting the UPC bar code out of the computer's box always makes me nervous; what if it gets lost in the mail?)

12/19/06: E-mail confirmation of the rebate arrives: "We have received your rebate and are processing your claim. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing."

1/18/07: The check is in the mail

2/15/07: I finally deposit the check.

Considering the troubles I've had in the past with rebates on electronics purchases, I can't complain much about the process this time around, besides how long it took me to cash the stupid check.

Got any gadget-rebate war stories to share? The comments are yours...