3COM Mail-in rebates.

[qgyu]

I filled out a form for sampling their new NIC/Modem combo card and all I got is this stinking e-mail. Maybe some of you guys can use it. The catch is that you need a valid tax ID. Since some of you might have set something up recently for that flooz/Acer deal, you might have a tax ID already. I read through the page and couldn't find anything else weird about it. Good luck.

http://www.3com.com/promotions/en_US/connect_for_cash/index.html

Mail-in rebates for $20, $75, and $100 on select PC Cards.

Mail - In Rebates on
select PC Cards:
June 19, 2001 - August 31, 2001

Mail - In Rebates on
OfficeConnect® PC Cards:
June 19, 2001- August 31, 2001

[qgyu]

Oh, one more thing. Only the first 2700 items will be awarded, so hurry!

For example, get the cardbus Type 3 dual connector PC card at buy.com (just an example) http://www.us.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10255146&loc=14577 for 190.95. I'm sure there's some other rebates you can use from buy.com.

Get 100 bucks back from 3Com and it ends up costing 90 bucks or less. I remember we used to pay like 350 for those things from Xircom (they are 168 now).

[anakha]

I wonder if it would work if you claim to be a sole proprietor and just put in your SSN (which a Federal Tax ID essentially is if I'm not mistaken). Kinda doubtful, but if you're buying one of their products anyways, probably wouldn't hurt to try.

[qgyu]

I really think pretty much any household should have a company of some sort set up. If nothing else, it comes in handy at tax time. You wouldn't believe how much of your hobbies can be written off as company expenses.

Frankly, that's not unethical either since we spend ungodly amount of time and money on developing something new that might have market potential. If you think about it, if anything of value does come out of your hobby, you have created a product, and certainly that R&D had been business expenses and should be tax deductable.