Have Camera ... Need Memory
The great thing about buying a digital camera is that you free yourself from film. The drawback is the sudden need for memory cards and batteries. After purchasing my digital camera, I knew I needed more memory (it only comes with a 16 MB CF card, enough for about 15 pictures at the highest resolution). Especially given the then planned trip to Spain (where I wouldn't have a computer handy to upload my pictures.
So, during one of my many visits to FW, I noticed a decent looking Dell CF deal. It was in the SB (Small Business) division (a drawback as they charge tax). There was a $20 rebate available for the 256 MB CF cards (regularly priced at $52.95. The great thing was the rebate had a limit of 5 (instead of a more common 1). The Subtotal for 5 CF cards was $264.75. The next positive issue was the presence of two available (and stackable) coupons - one for 20% off, and another for 10%. I had received a 10% off coupon, but not the more valuable 20% one. Someone at FW posted his 20% off coupon, and off I went to make the purchase. The stacked coupons provided for a savings of $74.13, shipping was $5.50 and tax was $16.67. The total came to $212.79, before rebates, and $112.79 after. As I got to the final confirmation screen to place my order, Dell pops up a notice, that the coupon in my cart was used. Doh!
Well, heavily frustrated, I returned to FW to try to find another 20% off coupon. Eventually I found one, threw it into my cart, checked out ASAP, and was on my merry way.
Or so I thought. While I received my order confirmation on the day of the order (6/25/03), Dell didn't get around to processing the order (and creating an order date) until 7/1/03. This would have been fine by me, except that the rebate was only valid for June purchases. I called Dell to try to resolve the situation, spoke to many, many people, in many different departments. I had to fax the rebate to them, call them some more, email them occasionally, until finally they agreed to credit me.
Not only did they credit me $100 for the rebates, but they credited the tax on $100, too, for a total refund of $108.50.
Having an order date in July was also useful for qualifying for a new $15 rebate (limit one) on the CF cards. So I sent in one rebate, which qualified. So, for those counting beans, the final cost of the 5 CF cards was $212.79 - $108.50 refund - $15 rebate - $5.71 FatCash - $1.04 CC cash back = $82.54, or $16.51 each!
Oh, by the way, we took nearly 500 pictures in Spain, using 4 of the CF cards. Maybe I should E-bay that 5th CF card...