as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
system
why do stores and manufacturers use mail in rebates? a scam, or is there a way to use them effectively?
user
chiming in with other answers that incriminate market segmentation attempts, i would like to offer this seth godin video where (among other things) he speaks about breakage, the art of making coupon redemption so difficult that most people get it wrong and do not redeem them. oh, and when comparing/deciding which/whether to buy, i always use the up-front price. don't want to encourage the wrong behavior.
assistant