Staples recently established its Easy Rebates program in which customers can submit most of their rebate applications online for products purchased over the Internet, through the catalog, and in Staples stores. Customers may also submit several rebates at once and receive e-mails about the status of their rebates at every stage. In addition, Staples claims the rebates are processed much faster than those of other companies.
Do you think the Easy Rebates program will increase the number of rebates customers actually submit? Why or why not? Do you think other firms will follow with similar programs?