And most junk mailings disguise their sales intent by not using envelope logos--another sure giveaway.
Another mail scam was discovered recently when the addressee accidentally opened a white bulk-mailed envelope with only the post-office box, city, state and zip code in the sender corner.
Just another equity-loan pitch, of course. Much to the addressee's surprise, however, the envelope contained a check for $30--a rebate applied for after purchase of a computer sound card 73 days earlier.
The addressee had forgotten about requesting the rebate. But even if he hadn't forgotten, he certainly would have expected the rebate to arrive in a letter mailed with first-class postage.
Then it hit: Businesses must count on customers forgetting their requested rebates after almost 2 1/2 months and then throwing away what looks like junk mail without realizing a rebate check is inside. Voila, the business saves $30.
There ought to be legislation requiring a rebate to be made within two weeks of the request date and mailed to the requester with first-class postage in an envelope clearly identifying the corporate sender.
Want to bet that that sound-card company doesn't have uncashed rebates still on the books?
Junk the junk rebates.(25 APR 1999)
