Tuesday, October 27, 2009

2009 Thanksgiving Day Savings and Black Friday Predictions



 
 
 
 
Top 10 Tips for Thanksgiving Day Savings

1. Check to see if your local grocery stores offers loyalty points that can
redeemed for a turkey. 

2. Price compare the dollar stores first before grocery shopping. 

3. Cook with crockpots. They consume less energy (costs about 2 cents an hour).
Check out Cooking.com for some great coupons and deals on crockpots as well as
other house wares. 

4. Shop for grills and smokers before Thanksgiving week. You can find the best
deals in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Check out either BBQGuys or Home
Depot for great deals on grills and smokers. 

5. If you need new tires before hit the road, now is the best time for deals on
standard tires (winter tires are a different story). If you are a
do-it-yourselfer and want to save money, check out The Tire Rack. 

6. If you are flying to your destination for the holidays, flights are usually
cheaper if you come back on Sunday morning rather than Saturday evening. Look
for early booking coupons from discounters like Travelocity, Expedia, and
Orbitz. 

7. Go ahead and lower the thermostat right before people arrive for Thanksgiving
dinner. There is a lot of heat generating not only from cooking but also from
all the warm bodies! 

8. If you buy soda, get two liter bottles (or three liters) instead of cans. The
same idea applies for cranberry, stuffing, and all your other fixings! Just make
sure to compare the unit price before committing to the purchase. 

9. Create your shopping list first, and then check the mailers, inserts, or
CouponShack.com for grocery coupons. Shop only when you see a deal for an item
on your list. 

10. If you are going to have a turkey for Christmas too, go ahead and get it
during the Thanksgiving holidays and freeze it. Turkeys are cheaper during
Thanksgiving than Christmas. 
 
 
 
Black Friday Predictions 
www.blackfriday.gottadeal.com 
 
 Having covered Black Friday extensively for the past six years, we are
in a better position than anyone else to offer predictions for this
year. Over the years we've noticed trends in the deals offered by the
major retailers and can offer a glimpse into what we believe will be
the 2009 Black Friday deals and hot items. We'll also give you some
predictions for the actual prices you'll see these items selling at
this Black Friday based on our research along with some general holiday
shopping predictions for this year.



 Holiday Shopping


2009 is going to be an extremely important holiday shopping
season for all retailers, both traditional and online. Retailers know
this, and they have already started contacting this site regarding
having their sales included as well as purchasing advertising space.
They realize how significant Black Friday will be this year and are
taking steps to maximize their exposure to consumers.


Whether that increased importance will translate into hotter
deals than in past years remains to be seen. While we won't begin to
see a steady stream of new Black Friday ads until October, we are
predicting that retailers will be very competitive this year. Last
year, the deals overall seemed to lack that "wow" factor that they had
several years ago. There were some nice deals, but going by sales
figures as well as the opinions of the die-hard Black Friday shoppers
on our message boards, most stores failed to get consumers excited.



One trend that will continue is the extension of Black Friday from one
day into a prolonged period of sales. There were several retailers that
had "Black Friday in July" sales earlier this year. These sales were
not really comparable to the regular Black Friday sales, but the trend
of using the term "Black Friday" for sales that aren't specifically on
November 27th will likely continue. We expect stores beginning in
October to have Black Friday-level deals in their weekly ads, and we
expect some to even reference Black Friday in some way in those ads.
But the best deals and the largest quantity of them will still be on
the official Black Friday day as always.


With Black Friday once again falling later in the month, and
less than a month from Christmas, retailers will have to get consumers
shopping earlier rather than counting on Black Friday and the few
remaining weekends in December to provide most of their sales. Online
retailers, and brick & mortar retailers with e-commerce sites have
the advantage here as they can quickly prepare and promote online sales
leading up to Black Friday. These sales are fully covered on GottaDeal.com.



Let's have a look at specific items that should prove to be popular this year:



 HDTVs



While HDTVs have been popular Black Friday items in the past few years,
we expect that this holiday season will be the a significant one for
HDTV purchases by the average consumer. Prices have dropped this year
more than any previous year, and with the digital TV transition now
complete, a large part of the general public is looking to get a new
HDTV, either as a primary or secondary television, and this Black
Friday should provide an large number of deals.


With HDTVs, quality can vary greatly from the cheaper to the
more expensive units. In many cases, the lowest-priced models on Black
Friday are stripped-down models made exclusively for that retailer's
sale. In many cases they lack features and the quality components used
to manufacture higher priced models. That doesn't necessarily mean that
these deals aren't great - it's just a case of "buyer beware" as you
should not expect $2,000 performance from a $500 HDTV.


The two primary types of flat panel HDTVs in the Black Friday
ads will be LCD and Plasma. Plasma HDTVs tend to be cheaper going by
cost per inch, but that is not always the case as there are some very
high-end, highly rated plasma models out there. The maximum resolution
of an HDTV is also something that you'll see in the ads. Most HDTVs
will either be 1080p or 720p. These numbers represent the maximum lines
of horizontal resolution that the TV can display at once. 1080p is the
native resolution for things like Blu-ray, some video games and other
sources, and being higher resolution means that these models will cost
more.


LCD HDTVs can come with different refresh rates. As of a
couple years ago, most models were 60Hz. Newer models are 120Hz or
higher. Most consumers won't notice the difference between the
different rates, although on some source materials such as movies shot
on film, it can be somewhat noticeable. Newer technology such as
LED-backlit HDTVs has hit the market, however it will likely be another
year or two before these models get the full Black Friday discount
treatment from retailers.


On to price predictions. We fully expect to see 42" plasma and
HDTVs in the $399 to $499 range this year. During the last few months
on GottaDeal.com,
we've posted deals for 42" HDTVs for under $600 in a few cases, so it's
completely realistic to expect at least one retailer to have a deal
under $400 on a lower-quality model. These cheaper HDTVs will likely be
720p and will lack features found in more expensive models. We expect
prices on 50" plasma and LCD HDTVs to also fall this Black Friday,
perhaps to somewhere around $599 to $699.


Stepping up to the full 1080p resolution will cost a little
bit more, but in most cases it will be worth the extra cost when you
factor in how long you will be using this HDTV and how most sources in
the future (television, movies, video games) will be in native 1080p
resolution. On GottaDeal.com
we've posted 42" 1080p LCD HDTVs for under $700 recently, so it would
not surprise us to see a 42" 1080p LCD HDTV in Black Friday ads for
$499 to $549. 46" and 50" versions should be available for around $649
and $799 respectively.


Deals on smaller HDTVs (and standard TVs with the new digital
tuners) will also be plentiful this year. 32" LCD HDTVs will be had for
$299 and 37" models will be $399 or less. For those looking to replace
smaller bedroom TVs with HDTVs, expect great deals on both smaller LCD
HDTVs as well as standard tube TVs that now include the new digital
ATSC tuners. Stores these days tend to not stock as many of these
because of size constraints, but they will often make one-time
purchases for Black Friday, so expect something like a 20" TV with
digital tuner in the $79 range. We expect to see a 19" LCD HDTV for
around $99 this year as well, so it should be a great year to outfit
your entire home with HD-capable displays.


While Black Friday is a great time to buy the loss-leader,
lower-end HDTVs, if you are looking for a deal on a higher quality,
name-brand HDTV, the best time to buy is typically in early to
mid-December as retailers ramp up the deals to get those last minute
sales before the holidays. And even if you miss those deals, the
pre-Super Bowl TV deals are also very attractive.



 Laptops and Desktops


One of the biggest hot Black Friday ad items traditionally has
been the ultra-cheap laptop. However times have changed drastically in
the last few years. Back in 2005, the thought of a $399 laptop made
grown men drool with anticipation. However as component and
manufacturing costs have dropped, it's common to see a $399 laptop in a
Sunday ad any week of the year, or offered at online retailers such as
Dell.


The recent surge in popularity of a new wave of "netbooks" -
stripped down, mini laptops with 7-12" screens - has also had a big
impact on the overall laptop market and the deals we can expect on
Black Friday this year. Desktop computers, while still popular, are not
as "sexy" as they've been in the past. They have become almost
disposable because of price drops and the fact that it doesn't take
much in terms of features to handle what 99% of the general public uses
a desktop for in their daily lives.


If you are considering purchasing a laptop on Black Friday
this year, we can't stress enough how important it is to decide what
features you need and what you will be using the laptop for. There will
be cheap laptops, but if they don't fit your needs, as good of a deal
they may seem on the surface, you will end up disappointed soon after
you purchase it. Questions to consider: what size screen do you need?
Is weight an important factor? What about battery life? Do you need to
be able to burn DVDs on the laptop? Some parts of the laptop (such as
RAM memory) can always be upgraded later on, but other components such
as screen size, battery life and processor are usually permanent.


The "classic" Black Friday laptop the last few years has had a
15.4" widescreen LCD display, a dual-core processor, 2GB of memory,
160GB hard drive and usually a combo CD-RW/DVD drive, along with
standard features such as WiFi, modem and ethernet port. Laptops like
these have been available all year long from retailers such as Best
Buy, Dell and Staples for as low as $349. Therefore we predict we'll
see this level of laptop in Black Friday ads for around $249 to $299
this year. We'll also predict an upgraded model with a faster Core 2
Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, DVD burner and larger hard drive for $349,
and maybe less.


As for netbooks, we expect those to be very popular and
heavily discounted on Black Friday, as retailers will use the ultra-low
prices to "shock" the average consumer who still isn't aware that these
models even existed. We've posted deals on GottaDeal.com
during the year for these netbooks for as low as $149. As with regular
laptops, these mini machines vary greatly in specs and features. We
expect to see the cheapest of these netbooks for around $99 this Black
Friday, but there will be deals on models with better features. Realize
that these are not meant to be your primary machine. They are great for
light tasks such as web browsing and e-mail, but the small screen size
and smaller keyboard make long-term use uncomfortable in most cases.


Desktop computers will continue to sell, however we're
reaching the point of diminishing returns as any budget desktop bought
last Black Friday will be just as good as most advertised this year.
For 99% of daily tasks (internet, e-mail, homework, office work), it
doesn't take more than a low-end desktop to handle these tasks. This
year we expect a mid-level desktop (dual core processor, 4GB of RAM,
320GB hard drive, DVD burner) bundled with a 19" or 20" LCD monitor to
be in the $299 range. Upgrade to a faster quad-core processor, more
RAM, bigger hard drive and a 24" monitor for $100 to $150 more.



 Computer Peripherals


We predict computer peripherals to continue to be very popular.
Expect very hot deals on LCD monitors as prices have dropped lately .We
are expecting 19" monitors to be in Black Friday ads in the $69-79
range and 22" models for possibly as low as $99. 24" models should be
around $149 as well. A recent trend is to include HDTV tuners in
computer LCD monitors to make them dual-purpose, but the cheaper models
included in Black Friday ads will not have these advanced features.


As with every Black Friday, expect a lot of deals on things
like external hard drives, flash drives and mice/keyboard sets. These
items always sell well on Black Friday and we expect those trends to
continue this year. External hard drives have become very popular
recently and we're expecting 1TB external drives to be around $79.
500GB external drives around $39 and the smaller, portable 320GB drives
for around $49 this year. 4GB flash drives could be as low as $5. 8GB
flash drives should be around $15 and 16GB versions should be $25 or
less. Storage is very cheap these days and that fact will be reflected
in the ads this year.



 GPS Systems


GPS navigation systems were huge the last two years during
Black Friday and we expect much of the same this year. There hasn't
been much new innovation since last year, but prices have continued to
drop as new models have been released with incremental feature upgrades
such as updated maps, traffic and weather capability and improved
displays. Garmin and TomTom have been the cream of the crop as far as
sales and popularity this past year, with brands such as Magellan and
Nextar in the next class.



We've posted deals all year long on GottaDeal.com
for GPS systems well below $100 and therefore we expect to see a budget
GPS system with 3.5" LCD display for $49 this year on Black Friday, and
more name-brand, feature-loaded models from the manufacturers just
mentioned for under $100. Larger models with 4.3" displays, Bluetooth
and real-time traffic service should be around $129-149 this year. Last
year, some of the best GPS deals on Black Friday were found at
retailers not normally associated with electronics, so be sure to check
all the ads this year.


With GPS systems, we recommend reading as many reviews as
possible from current owners before choosing a model. You'll also want
to investigate if it is possible to update the maps on the device, and
what that will cost you. Many of the budget, no-name models will not
have this ability. With GPS systems, we firmly believe that if you are
willing to pay an extra $50-75, you can get a lot more features and
you'll be much happier with your purchase down the line.



 Audio & Video


Blu-ray is the standard next-generation format for movies, and
therefore we expect some nice deals on Blu-ray players and movies on
Black Friday. We fully expect Blu-ray players to appear in Black Friday
ads for as low as $99, and we wouldn't be shocked to see a major
retailer like Walmart offer a stripped-down Blu-ray player for $79 in
their ad this year if they are able to secure enough quantity. While
extremely cheap DVD movies have always been a staple of Black Friday,
Blu-ray movies have been slow to follow suit, however we expect this
year's ads to include some very low prices on Blu-ray movies,
especially those that have been out for some time.


Along with Blu-ray, home theater systems will also be popular
as retailers attempt to get those consumers who are purchasing a new
HDTV to make it a complete home theater by adding a receiver and
speakers. Budget 5.1 channel home theater systems should be listed in
Black Friday ads for as low as $49. Get one with an integrated DVD
player for as low as $69. As with most electronics, you get what you
pay for with these systems. In most cases you are better off using the
built-in speakers in your TV instead of buying one of these cheap home
theater systems.


iPods and MP3 players are always a hot seller on Black Friday.
Apple may be introducing new versions of their popular iPods. In most
cases, retailers cannot advertise iPods at prices lower than the
standard MSRP, so expect to see promotions such as free accessories,
free iTunes cards or free store gift cards with the purchase of these
music players. Accessories for iPods are also expected to see big price
cuts. This includes items such as alarm clocks, docking speaker
systems, automotive accessories, cases and headphones. Deals on MP3
players from manufacturers such as SanDisk, Creative, Archos, Samsung,
Sony and others should be attractive as they continue their difficult
attempt to gain market share from Apple.



 Cameras, Camcorders & Digital Frames


While a few years ago digital cameras were a huge Black Friday
item, these days nearly everyone has one and so it takes more than just
a cheap price to get people to open their wallets. As one of the most
popular online deal sites, we believe digital camera deals are usually
better during the year than they are on Black Friday. While going
through the ads each year, we always notice cameras on "sale" for
prices much more than they can be ordered online. So if you are
considering a digital camera, we suggest you follow our online deals 
instead of relying on Black Friday for the best deals.



Digital camcorders are becoming a little more popular as features are
added and both prices and sizes are reduced. The new wave of compact
HD-capable camcorders are very popular, but we expect prices to keep
them from being a big hit this year. You can expect to see entry-level
pocket HD camcorders in Black Friday ads this year for around $79, but
we'd strongly advise against getting one of these cheaper models as the
quality will not be acceptable. Highly-rated units such as those
offered by Flip Video and Sanyo should be popular this year. Standard
MiniDV camcorders will be in the ads starting at around $129 for
name-brand models, and those would be a better choice until name-brand
HD camcorder prices drop.


Digital picture frames hit mainstream a few years ago and it
seemed like every store had at least one in their ad, regardless of if
they were an electronics store or not. Prices on these have fallen
drastically as well. We've posted deals on GottaDeal.com
during the last few months for under $20 for digital frames. In the ads
this year we expect 7" frames for $25 and 10" frames for $50. The
matching digital photo viewer keychains will also be advertised,
probably for as low as $5. Again with these, you get what you pay for.



 Video Games


For the first time in several years, video games should be huge
this Black Friday. While there are no new consoles being released, the
combination of price drops on existing consoles along with a great
selection of new games being released should lead to high sales on
Black Friday and for the entire holiday shopping season.


Recently announced price drops for both the Sony Playstation 3
along with the Xbox 360 should help drive sales this year as those who
were initially put off by the higher price tags ($399 or more) have a
chance to get a system that not only plays video games but is a
complete home entertainment hub for $299 or less. While no price drop
is anticipated for the Nintendo Wii, the great selection of new games
should keep it popular for yet another year, however we don't expect to
see the shortages that plagued previous holidays.



 Additional Hot Items


As for what will be hot this year, it's always tough to say.
It's likely going to be a combination of the same types of items that
were popular last year - HDTVs, laptops, GPS systems and home items,
particularly kitchen items (appliances, etc...). Video games should be
much stronger this year due to price drops for some of the main
consoles as well as many new highly anticipated games being released
this fall. Computers, including laptops, netbooks and desktops, should
get a boost this year because of the new Windows 7 release as many
consumers will feel the new Windows is a good opportunity to upgrade to
a new model if they've been putting it off.


In the toy genre, there is some buzz on our message boards
about the Leapfrog Zippity. The various Twilight-related toys should be
huge, especially with the new movie coming out in November. Disney is
going to be releasing toys from their popular Wizards of Waverly Place
TV show for the first time, and those are also causing some buzz.



 Online Black Friday Deals


We can't stress enough that to get the best deals on Black
Friday or any other day of the year, you have to check online first. At
GottaDeal.com we post hundreds of new online deals each week and our forum
 
members post even more every day on the message boards. On Black Friday @ GottaDeal.com,
we'll have a continuously updated list of Black Friday ad items that
can be purchased online at Black Friday ad prices. Look for this list
in mid-November. We urge our visitors to order as many ad items as
possible online before leaving the house. It'll save you time, hassle
and space in your trunk.


We do expect online retailers to continue to offer amazing
deals this quarter as well as they compete with the brick and mortar
retailers. Expect big sales and online-only coupons from retailers such
as Amazon.com, Overstock.com, Buy.com, Walmart.com, Dell.com and many, many others. 
And to keep track of these deals, just bookmark our home page at GottaDeal.com where 
we'll keep you updated on the latest deals throughout the day, every day of the year.
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Couponers, meet the bar code of the future


www.goerie.com
Readers have noticed a change in the bar codes on some coupons and wrote to ask about them.

Q - I have used coupons for many years but I notice that most coupons now have two bar codes on them. Why are there two?

A - The two sets of bar codes on manufacturer coupons have been in place for a while. However, in the months ahead you'll see coupons going back to a single bar code.

What is going on? If you like, grab any manufacturer coupon and follow along. The bar code you see on the left of a manufacturer-supplied coupon is the traditional, GTIN-12 Universal Price Code that has been in use since 1974.

This code revolutionized supermarket shopping and coupon redemption, because it allowed cashiers to automatically scan products and coupons at checkout time versus manually entering prices and coupon values.

The bar code at right is the newer GS1 DataBar. The GS1 bar codes started appearing on coupons in 2007 alongside the traditional bar codes. In 2010, a phaseout of the traditional 12-digit UPC is planned and once it's complete we'll no longer see the old-style bar codes on coupons.

Why the switch? The newer system offers more features for stores and manufacturers to track and monitor sales. With the current UPC, coupons are limited in the values that can be assigned to them. The old bar code doesn't offer enough ways to configure data to offer the widest possible variety of redemption amounts. The new system will allow customized coupon values in any amount up to $999.99 (which would be a very valuable coupon, indeed.)

The new bar code also contains the expiration date for the coupon, a valuable tool for stores and cashiers who previously had to verify expiration dates manually. Current bar codes do not validate the expiration date, so this is an improvement to help reduce coupon fraud for retailers.

Additionally, the GS1 DataBar carries a wider range of information specific to the product that the coupon is to be used for. The older UPC uses a system of "family codes" to help the register determine which item or items the coupon can be scanned with.

However, this system has been abused, both accidentally and intentionally, by shoppers. With the old family codes, the register notes if the product purchased falls into a matching family of products made by the manufacturer.

In many cases, more than one product may be recognized as a "match" if the product also happens to be part of the same family. This left the door open for coupon abuse. Let's say you have a coupon for a box of cereal "16 ounces or larger." When you get to the store, you grab the 12-ounce box by mistake, use your coupon and it scans just fine.

Whether you intended to or not, you've committed coupon fraud, using a coupon on an item it wasn't specified for. Mistakes like this do happen.

Where UPC family codes become a real problem, though, is when people intentionally determine what other (often unrelated) products they might be able to use a coupon for. One of the most flagrant abuses was detailed in a popular coupon blog. People supposedly used $10 coupons for teeth-whitening strips to buy baby diapers. The same company made both products and the coupons for whitening strips scanned through when diapers were bought instead. If shoppers successfully slipped their coupons by unsuspecting cashiers, they fraudulently enjoyed huge savings on diapers instead of whitening strips.

The new GS1 DataBar will eliminate this kind of "off-label" coupon use, since the new bar code carries detailed information about the type, size and variety of product the coupon is good for. It can contain information about what geographical region the coupon is to be redeemed in, even limiting use to a specific store.

Stores are now moving to the new system. Having both sets of bar codes on coupons ensures coupons will scan, during the transition, at the register.
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Saturday, October 24, 2009

KFC Grilled Chicken Giveaway Monday Oct 26- NO coupon required.

 www.tcpalm.com


KFC is giving away free grilled chicken again, but this time without Oprah Winfrey and coupons.
On Monday, customers who stop by KFC locations will receive a free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken. No coupon is required.

This will be the third time in six months the chain famous for fried chicken is offering a giveaway to promote its Kentucky Grilled Chicken that debuted nationally in April.

In May, Winfrey promoted a printable coupon on her show for a free two-piece grilled chicken meal. The public demand was higher than anticipated and many KFC locations nationwide ran out of the grilled chicken. KFC ended the promotion early and offered coupon-carrying customers a rain check for a free meal later.
This time KFC promises “no hassle and no paperwork,” according to a news release.

KFC Website
Grilled Nation Declares Monday, October 26 “UNFry Day”
All of us can attain citizenship in Grilled Nation this Monday, October 26, when more than 5,000 KFCs from coast to coast are giving away FREE Kentucky Grilled Chicken during Grilled Nations’ UNofficial holiday, “UNFry Day.” Potential Grilled Nation citizens are encouraged to stop by KFC throughout the day on Monday, Oct. 26, and receive a FREE piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken.*


“The coast-to-coast success of Kentucky Grilled Chicken has proven that America really does have good taste,” said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC. “We hope that the United Nations recognizes the growth of Grilled Nation as proof that 60 million people deserve some delectable international diplomacy. And that UN employees deserve a break for a KGC lunch.”
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Coupons For Kohl's Stores - Top Ways To Search For Kohl's Coupons Online



By Zoey Zabien-Thomas

Kohl's is an American department store chain headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, which is a suburb of Milwaukee. Having Kohl's coupons can really come in handy when shopping at Kohl's department store. With over one thousand stores in forty-nine states, it's no wonder why Kohl's is so popular. But how do you find Kohl's coupons so that you can shop cheaply at a Kohl's department store?

The traditional way of finding Kohl's coupons is by checking your mail or looking in the local newspaper. However, with the Internet being as big and popular as it is, you'll find that it is far more effective to begin your search for their coupons online.

There are two places on the Internet that you want to search for Kohl's coupons. Let us discuss these two places.

The first place you want to check for Kohl's coupons is on their own official website. You will be able to sign up and receive email notifications whenever they are having sales and discounts. This is a good and easy way to find Kohl's coupons online.

You may also be able to find printable coupons on their website that can get you an immediate savings. All you have to do is print out the Kohl's coupons and take it down to your local Kohl's department store. With all of the clothing for men, women, and children, you are bound to find some coupons that you can use to your advantage.

A second way to find Kohl's coupons online is to search for other companies out there that are offering special promotions and discounts. These companies will offer things, like free gift cards, in exchange for a little bit of your time.

Why would these companies offer you free Kohl's coupons and gift cards? Its simple. They need something from you in return and that is your time. For answering and filling out a few surveys, you'll find that companies will be willing to pay you in the form of Kohl's coupons or gift cards.

Yes, thanks to these companies, along with Kohl's, we can shop at a Kohl's department store but not spend a lot of money because of the Kohl's coupons. It's always good to have a helping hand in saving money when going shopping at a Kohl's department store.

About the Author:
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The 6 biggest retail rip-offs you're probably falling for


By COUPON SHERPA - http://www.couponsherpa.com/


sunhearld.com
A bad economy hits the retail and grocery market just as hard as it does any other sector. What used to be a neutral, safe zone for thrifty shoppers has evolved into a web of tricky gimmicks. No doubt you typically buy eye-level grocery goods (the most expensive row in the store) and those end-cap deals, never on your shopping list, always weasel their way into your cart. Retail stores are becoming even more ruthless in their pursuit for a buck. So shop offensively and don't be afraid to ask questions before zipping the credit card. Be especially cautious of these offers.

1. Liquidation Sales
You've seen the obnoxious, yellow signs plastered over furniture and home goods stores. If the place is going under, there must be some good deals, right? Perhaps, but most likely not. Before gigs like Circuit City and Linens & Things bit the dust, they marked up merchandise far above competitor prices then "reduced" the price by an increasing percentage each week. The customer pays more for the liquidated product than they would on any non-sales day at another establishment. If you can't help yourself, at least take a smart phone with you to check prices online before falling for a dud.


2. Mail-in Rebate
Marketers for small electronics are geniuses. They jack up the price of a product and assume that most customers won't cash in on the rebate, which is true. Most rebates require that you cut out UPCs, send receipts, and include copies of your social security card and birth certificates to discourage you from collecting. Plus most stores don't return items without a UPC, so your chances of completing an exchange or return are nil. You'll also surrender your personal information so they can harass you mercilessly via mail-outs and eDeals. If you aren't willing to pay the full price sans rebate, walk away.

3. Container Changes
Conspiracy theory has some value, especially when it comes to grocery stores. No, you aren't losing your mind. Your favorite peanut butter brand has a new container. And it isn't larger than the one you're accustomed to buying. Look on the bottom of cans, yogurt jars, and other items packaged in containers. Most of them have a high dome on the bottom carving out significant amounts of food. Many companies have started to do this and there's not a good way to retaliate. Know that you have the right to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection if the advertised ounce amount is incorrect.

4. Rain Check Denial
Some grocers have sunk so low as to not offer a rain check for their too-good-to-be-true deals. Which is just what they are, since offering five items at a steal gets you in the door without guaranteeing the advertised special. Most customers won't take the time to file a complaint with the authorities, so stores will continue to take advantage of false advertising. Grocers must prove they stocked enough of their product to accommodate for their sales or they are required to compensate with a rain check.

5. Mislabeled Price
How many times have you collected your cart of future belongings, hauled it to the front, and waited half an hour in checkout only to find that your merchandise isn't ringing up the listed price. Your choices are: A.) risk the evil eye and audible sighs from every shopper behind you should you demand a price check; B.) pay the price listed; C.) surrender your item. Most likely you'll fork over the extra which is why this happens so frequently. If a sign is posted in the store advertising a specific item's price, you are guaranteed to pay that price.

6. Faux Sales Sign
Red is eye-catching. Red means warning. Red = discounts. Simply because a sign is listed in red with a "wham-o" bubble around it doesn't mean it is discounted below what you'd pay for it regularly or at another store. Look for signs that imitate sales ads just to tickle your fancy and ignore them.
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Monday, October 19, 2009

6 tips for organizing your coupons


The Coupon Queen, Susan Samtur, revels in sharing that she saves as much as 97 percent on her grocery purchases with coupons. Before you guffaw and humph, some of the items she purchased probably weren't exactly on that week's dinner menu. But true bargain hunters know when it pays to stock up on hugely discounted essentials.

I won't lie to you. Shopping with coupons is a big hassle. All those minute scraps of papers stuck to the fridge or floating through the junk drawer just add clutter and always seem to expire too soon. Don't fret, newbie couponer. This saving money business is rewarding and will only get easier with time. You need to start from square one before reaping the gargantuan savings of Ms. Coupon Queen.

1. Input advertised sale dates into your electronic calendar.

Most of us have an electronic calendar that can be coded for specific categories like work, home, travel, etc. Make one of those entries a "sales" category to log any major advertised sales. When visiting the bookstore or baby supply store ask when the next major sale is (or do your own research online) and plug it into the calendar. Set it with a specific reminder tone and you won't have to worry about missing rock bottom sales. It also helps to make a list of sale items you would want to purchase before going to avoid impulse buying.

2. Get a physical binder.

If you want to get serious about clipping coupons, you'll need to get a storage facility for them. Ladies, this does not mean dropping half your paycheck at Franklin Covey. Something innocuous and simple will do the trick. What needs the most consideration is the layout of your coupons in the binder or accordion. Do you mind sifting through your deals pocket-style or would you rather have plastic page-protector inserts to help you see them better? I personally like the page inserts that hold business cards so I can fold the coupon with the product name showing and quickly browse my collection.

3. Select an organization style that works for you.

Every brain ticks differently. Maybe you are an alphabet guy and can easily sift through with the product name sorted. Or you might prefer categories that make it easier to browse in your preferred grocery store. Some might like keeping the coupons based on expiration date. If you opt for the store category title, allow me to suggest using: produce, meats, breads, dairy, canned goods, baking products and spices, beverages, condiments and sauces, pet supplies, baby needs, paper goods, and laundry/cleaning supplies.

4. Always keep it up to date.

Don't be bummed by an expired coupon after you've already wheeled it to the front. Each time you add several coupons to the binder/accordion folder, clear out the dead wood.

5. Branch out from traditional clipping methods.

Coupons are morphing. No longer are you required to haul in the 10 lb. Sunday (future firewood) paper to find your deals. Go online to find printable coupons directly from the manufacturer or the grocer's current flier. Subscribing to dealmail, albeit heavy on the inbox, will keep you in the know on the latest specials. It's not hard to give a little personal information, review the emailed savings, and delete.

6. Sync your coupons with the grocery list.

Most importantly, match your shopping goods with that fabulous binder you've now stocked with deals. Indicate the couponed items with a star or something obvious to remind yourself to have the coupons handy. And don't forget to look for sales on necessities you have a coupon for. The big power shoppers get the largest bang for the buck combining sales with coupons.

Extend some courtesy to the shoppers in line behind you. Don't give us coupon clippers a bad name---have your deals out, ready to scan and the folks in line will start to wonder if maybe they should do the same.
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Saturday, October 3, 2009

The facts on coupon overage


October 02, 2009
By Jill Cataldo/CTW Features

A reader wrote in with a question about overage. It's an issue many Super-Couponers ask me about.

"I recently printed some coupons for $2.50 off picture hanging hooks. Then, I saw the hooks on clearance for 99 cents. I was so excited to think that I would get the item for free and possibly make money. The checker and the manager weren't going to let me use the coupon, but decided to give me the item for free, with 99 cents of the coupon's value. When I told them that I thought the company reimburses the amount of the coupon to them and that they should give me the difference, they said that was not true. What do you think?"

Whenever the value of a coupon exceeds the cost of the item that a shopper buys, interesting things start to happen! Couponers refer to the difference between the cost of the item and the value of the coupon as "overage."

When a coupon exceeds the cost of an item, many stores will scan the coupon, give you the item for free and automatically apply the coupon overage to everything else you're purchasing. If your stores allow overage, clearly, this can be a great way to reduce your entire bill! But it's important to remember that overage is a privilege, not a right. Stores also reserve the right to adjust the value of the coupon down to match the cost of the item, which is what happened to you.

You still got your item for free but the coupon didn't "pay you" to take it home.

If you find yourself in a situation where you may have a negative total at the register, you must add other items to your shopping trip to "eat up" that overage before you start to check out, or you will have issues with the register. Most cash registers will lock up if they go into negative numbers, simply because the store can't legally issue you that overage difference in cash. If you were only buying your 99-cent item with a $2.50 coupon, the register could not proceed. The cashier would have no choice but to adjust that coupon's value down.

Now, if you were purchasing additional items in the same transaction and your store allowed overage, that extra $1.51 would be automatically applied to the cost of the other items. Again, this is a privilege, not a right. We can never demand overage, but it's definitely a big bonus of coupon shopping.

Stores allow overage because they will be reimbursed for the full value of the coupon when they go to redeem it with a manufacturer. So while your item cost 99 cents, when the coupon goes to the clearinghouse, a machine will it and calculate the total redemption that the store will receive. Your coupon will deliver the store $2.50 in value. It's important to remember that when stores allow customers to use overage, they're not losing money - they're simply passing that savings onto the shopper. They will be reimbursed for the full amount of the coupon.

If a store chooses to adjust a coupon's value down to the point where the item you're purchasing is free, but the store doesn't "pay you" the remaining value of the coupon, the store keeps that overage difference for itself instead of passing it onto you. Again, it's important to understand that they're well within their rights to do so. Using coupons at all is a privilege. Stores do not have to accept coupons, although most do. And stores do not have to allow you to receive coupon overage, either. Of course, the stores that allow us to keep our overage are among my favorites to shop!

Remember, too, that we can also get coupon overage via stacking coupons. If we stack one store and one manufacturer coupon together, the value of the two coupons together may also exceed the item's cost. I bought a deodorant recently that was on sale for $2.19. I had a $1.50 store coupon and I also had a $1 manufacturer coupon. Stacking those two together gave me $2.50 savings on the deodorant. I took the deodorant home for free. The 31 cents in overage was applied to some bananas I bought in the same trip.

Next week, we'll discuss overage in conjunction with instant-savings deals at the store. These sales can be an excellent way for the store to "pay you to shop," too - with overage you're guaranteed to get.
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