Crazy Way Redux! Make hundreds including FREE PC or shredder at Staples AR. YMMV?

I was one of those who missed out on the last couple "crazy way" free computer deals, but it looks to me like the stars are in alignment for another one. There are lots of rebates out there on Norton and McAfee (I didn't use any CA rebates, but please post if you know of some that would work), and lots of money to be made. This deal is best at B&M because of the Staples promotion giving 20% off "accessories" (meaning all software, printers, etc.) if you buy a computer in store, but can be done online, preferably with coupons, except that they aren't selling Norton Confidential online anymore.

Warning: Not for the faint of heart or rebate amateurs. I haven't checked the details of all these rebates, and you will probably have fun calling Parago repeatedly to get them. As with all rebate deals, YMMV.

Now, on to the deal. Buy a shredder and 12 software programs, make over $300 AR. Or buy a computer and 12 software programs, make as much as $400 AR.

Keep up with the Quick Summary for Google spreadsheet and more details on rebates! Thanks to everyone who's contributing information.

The stuff to buy:
6-Sheet Shredder - $30 OR Compaq Presario SR5210NX Desktop - $400 plus HP D1455 printer - $70
TurboTax Basic - $20
WebRoot SpySweeper - $25
McAfee Total Protection 3-user - $80
McAfee Internet Security Suite 3-user - $70
McAfee VirusScan Plus 1-user - $40
McAfee VirusScan Plus 3-user - $60
Quicken Starter Edition - $30
Norton 360 - $80
Norton Antivirus 1-user - $40
Norton Antivirus 3-user - $60
Norton Internet Security Suite 3-user - $60
Norton Confidential - $50?

Total Purchases with Shredder: approx. $645 +tax
Total Purchases with PC: approx. $948 +tax (B&M ONLY! Make sure you get 20% off accessories!)

The Rebates:

Symantec/Norton rebates are here, McAfee rebates are mostly here, the rest are available through Staples's website.

07-72921: Quicken + TurboTax (ER), $30
06-56152: Norton Confidential + Shredder/PC, $40
07-89258: TurboTax + Shredder (ER), $20
07-88558: SpySweeper + TurboTax, $25
07-88779: McAfee Total Protection + TurboTax, $35
07-88778: McAfee ISS + TurboTax, $40
07-88780: McAfee VirusScan + TurboTax, $20
06-53469: Norton Confidential upgrade, $20
07-75078: Norton ISS upgrade, $20
07-76074: Norton ISS upgrade, $20
07-84558: Norton ISS + TurboTax, $30
07-76073: NAV 3-user upgrade, $20
07-75077: NAV 3-user upgrade, $20
07-87658: NAV 3-user at Staples, $30
07-75077: NAV upgrade, $20 (limit 3 so can be used twice)
07-85940: NAV at Staples, $20
07-84559: NAV + TurboTax, $20
07-75149: NAV + Shredder/PC, $20
07-76072: NAV upgrade, $20
07-84179: Norton 360 + Shredder/PC, $20
07-83878: Norton 360 upgrade, $20
07-64499: Norton 360 + Shredder/PC, $40
07-64635: Norton 360 upgrade, $40
07-76086: Norton 360 upgrade, $20 (xtrabad reports this rebate is no good, YMMV)
3278145: Compaq or HP Desktop (ER), $50
3278411: HP D1455 printer + HP/Compaq computer (ER), $70

McAfee rebates (no offer numbers):
VirusScan Plus 1-user upgrade: $20 for 8/06-12/07, $20 for 9/07-12/08
VirusScan Plus 3-user upgrade: $30 for 9/06-12/07, $30 for 9/07-12/08
VirusScan Plus with PC: $30 for 1-user, $40 for 3-user
ISS upgrade: $45 for 8/06-12/07, $30 for 9/07-12/08
ISS with PC: $55
Total Protection upgrade: $35 for 8/06-12/07, $45 for 8/06-12/07, $35 for 9/07-12/08
Total Protection at Staples: $35
Total Protection with PC: two $45 rebates, two $55 rebates – probably can get at least one of each

Total rebates w/ Shredder: $985
Total rebates w/ PC: $1360 ($100 in McAfee Total Protection rebates are big YMMV so maybe $1260)

Net profit w/ Shredder: approx. $340
Net profit w/ PC: approx. $412 (or $312 slightly less YMMV)

This deal will also work with other/better computers, I just picked this Compaq because there are extra rebates and a free printer on HP/Compaqs.

I haven't actually tried this yet. What do you think, FWers? Will it work? Are there other rebates? What am I missing?

Edit: Thanks to muoot for pointing out this Kaspersky deal, which could get you another $40 or so, B&M only.

Dear god...not again.

Green anyway, even though I promised myself that I would never sacrifice this many hours to filling out rebates ever again.

I have no comment as to if this would work or not but the Compaq has a $75 rebate if you purchase an epson product (probably printer) and the cheapest epson printer is $85 then with 20% off it'd be $68 and then after rebate it'd be -$7 + tax on $68.

JeebusSaves said: What am I missing?

The extra 12% at Staples next week w/ the customer apprecation coupon!

I might try it this time around. Will have to look into all the rebates before jumping in. BTW, Where are the promotion details about 20% off accessories?

I would have to change my phone plan for all the call I will need to make to follow-up on those rebates.

I'm in.

ktg said: Dear god...not again.

Green anyway, even though I promised myself that I would never sacrifice this many hours to filling out rebates ever again.LOL. It should be easy now that you know what to do. I got in on the 2nd one of these in mid August. Just got the very last rebate last weekend. For that one, I paid $1319 for a laptop and a ton of software, and got back a total of $1705 in rebates. The laptop was given to my father in law as a gift, and the extra $ I got was payment to me for doing the deal. Lots of work, make sure you use a spreadsheet to track rebates mailed and checks returned, but worth it if you've got the time and don't mind emailing rebate places to get rebates validated (CA was the worst for initial invalidations, but the quickest to validate after an email).

MISTERCHEAP said: JeebusSaves said: What am I missing?


The extra 12% at Staples next week w/ the customer apprecation coupon!

True, but some of the rebates are this week only (haven't run the numbers to see whether it's better next week), and I'm not sure they'll let you combine the 12% off with the 20% off on accessories. Isn't that also not good on computers? (On the software, sure.)

dealcather said: I might try it this time around. Will have to look into all the rebates before jumping in. BTW, Where are the promotion details about 20% off accessories?

I haven't seen anything about it online, but my local store has a sign next to the computers saying if you buy 3 or more accessories you get 20% off all of them. Ask your store manager/employee about it. They've had that promo for at least a few months.

lostdude said: A lot of the Norton 360 (and potentially others, I haven't read the fine prints) rebates will be rejected due to requirement for original UPC.

Nice effort though..

I've heard you can send a copy of the UPC and they'll reject it, but validate after you resubmit. YMMV on that, but it has worked once for me.

JeebusSaves said: lostdude said: A lot of the Norton 360 (and potentially others, I haven't read the fine prints) rebates will be rejected due to requirement for original UPC.

Nice effort though..

I've heard you can send a copy of the UPC and they'll reject it, but validate after you resubmit. YMMV on that, but it has worked once for me.Sending a copy has worked for me a few times. I didn't even resubmit them. What Parago does is scan the documents you send and then sends the electronic copies to India for processing. All you have to do is email and say you sent in copies of everything and you don't understand why it isn't validated, and they'll email back telling you what a valuable customer you are and that it's now valid. That was my experience in doing the crazy rebate stuff a couple months ago at least.

reuv said: Oh man, it's too bad I have final exams right now, otherwise I'd be on this deal like a fat kid in a candy store.
A fat kid in a FAR candy store!
One hand stamping envelopes, the other cramped around a pen, and a mouthful of... candy?

Thanks for the image.

SJester said: reuv said: Oh man, it's too bad I have final exams right now, otherwise I'd be on this deal like a fat kid in a candy store.
A fat kid in a FAR candy store!
One hand stamping envelopes, the other cramped around a pen, and a mouthful of... candy?

Thanks for the image.

Maybe it's a good time to try printing your own postage for the rebate envelopes?

Checked my rebate list from the last "crazy" deal by offer# and found none I already sent in. I'm good to go. Any laptop deals to sub for the desktop machine?

if one store doesn't have all the items, can they be on different receipts?

Is there any laptop can be combined with this deal?

I had a blast with all this last time and think I will be jumping in again! I think my sister's address will do just fine.

I don't mind doing the rebate stuff and have seriously considered setting up a service to get a cut of the rebates for doing the forms...

tax is gonna be a killer in deals like this.

I'm a chemist, and I sure can appreciate all the research that went into this post. Don't know if I'll jump, though. Green for sure.

Any kind soul to help a FW brother out? --- I mailed in the copy of the UPC for all my Norton 360 rebates and I just found out I needed to send the Proof of Purchase for couple of them! I have already thrown the box out and they said I can fax the POP to them.

Can someone share a copy of the Proof of Purchase?? Thank you very much for your willingness to help!

isurf123@gmail.com