Prime Peripherals CompUSA $30 rebate ripoff -CompUSA, Office Depot, & OfficeMax ..they should stick to instant rebates

I bought a Prime Peripherals CD-Rom drive at CompUSA and immediately sent in the $30 rebate form on 2/6/01. Contacted TCA Rebates, who were supposedly handling this rebate offer, on 4/12/01 to follow up on rebate. Their representative, named Shante, said Prime Peripherals rejected the rebate request and that I would need to contact Prime Peripherals directly. An email to them resulted in a reply from Julie Jurgilewicz at Prime Peripherals on 5/4/01 advising me that they intend to honor all valid rebate requests and that they were currently in the process of resolving all outstanding rebates with TCA Rebate Co. and asking for continued patience. I have sent several more emails to Julie asking for updates, but no reply has been received since 5/4/01.

Apparently I can kiss this rebate goodbye and will not make any future purchase decisions based on promised rebates. CompUSA, Office Depot, and OfficeMax should take note that if they want to offer special promotional deals, they should stick to instant rebates that are taken off the product price at the register. Who wants the hassle of dealing with mail-in rebates that may never come?