Christmas Coupons Deal Website Releases Blog in Time for Holiday Savings

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 13, 2009 -- Penny pinchers and belt-tighteners have more reason to rejoice. ChristmasCoupons.com, a leading online source for online deals and discounts, announces the release of their new blog. The blog benefits its readers by announcing daily updates on coupons available site-wide.

Christmas Coupons Blog

Our aim is to help our readers save money not only through providing Christmas coupons, but by offering common sense and unique money-saving tips, which makes our blog truly valuable.

Christmas deals abound on Christmas Coupons, as the website consistently adds new deals and retailers. The company aims to make Christmas shopping and deal-hunting easy for its customers, and the blog is their latest successful effort. "We've had amazing response," says Anna Reed, spokeswoman for Christmas Coupons, "and it indicates that consumers see us as a reliable source for the latest and best Christmas deals."

The release of the blog is timely, as holiday shoppers are expected to spend less this season while aiming to get the best deal for their dollars. These consumers, before purchasing, use websites like Christmas Coupons to find the best discounts, and thus inform their purchases. This usage puts the number of computer coupons, and those hunting for them, on the rise. A recent Harris Interactive poll states that 62% of the respondents reported searching for coupons for online stores, and 12% of that number said that they only purchase after checking for a coupon first. This is a notable jump from 8% the previous year.


Coupon hunters look for ways to make holiday shopping more efficient, and often rely on blogs for quick updates about deals. The Christmas Coupons blog, according to Ms. Reed, "offers quick tips and money-saving ideas for Christmas. Our aim is to help our readers save money not only through providing Christmas coupons, but by offering common sense and unique money-saving tips, which makes our blog truly valuable."


Christmas Coupons has deals on the most popular products, and they also offer bargains on more specific desires. On a typical day, blog posts cover new deals on menswear, baby clothes, pet-related needs, and organic coffee. The retailers on Christmas Coupons offer a variety of discounts, ranging from buy-one-get-one-free for table settings to a jewelry coupon code for a high-end accessories brand.
By combining two rapidly growing trends, ChristmasCoupons.com is quickly becoming a leading online source for finding the best discounts on consumer favorites all year round.


For more information, please visit www.christmascoupons.com
 
About ChristmasCoupons.com:
Christmas Coupons brings the best deals and discounts on your favorite products. Just like Santa and his elves in the North Pole, we celebrate Christmas year round by searching for the best coupons, deals, and discounts on your favorite stores. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for our customers to save money and find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Whether you're shopping for the holidays or any time of year, you can find what you want for less at ChristmasCoupons.com!

CouponChief.com Provides Digital Coupon Clipping To Frugal Consumers Through Their Online Coupon Website

www.eprretailnews.com -The online coupon website CouponChief.com is a popular destination for those looking to save money on purchases. The easy-to-navigate site allows visitors to search for coupons before buying products, helping people save money on a wide range of products and brands.

 

Coupon Chief is the digital equivalent of traditional coupon clipping. Users of the site simply have to search for the coupon codes they need directly on the website and can start making purchases immediately. Shoppers don’t have to wait for coupon books to arrive in the mail and the savings occur right away.

Coupons save consumers a good amount of money, especially over time. The savings add up over the course of a year, or even a few purchases. Buying online has always been convenient, but now with online coupons available at the touch of a button, it is also affordable. In addition, it’s possible to find substantial coupons for a variety of different products and services.

The way Online Coupons work is fairly straightforward. When checking out with a purchase at an online retailer, the order confirmation form usually has a field for a promotional or coupon code before checkout is confirmed. Sometimes you may, for example, get 10% off an order or be able to take advantage of free shipping deals on orders over a certain amount of money.

To get specific coupons from CouponChief.com, consumers simply have to type in a domain or online store f r o m which they are interested in making a purchase. The website’s search engine searches for matches and then returns the applicable results in a matter of seconds.

After the list of choices pops up, visitors can copy the coupon code and click the “use it” link directly on the site to be taken to the store to buy the product or service. Once visitors have been redirected, they can browse the online store at their leisure until they find what they need. When an item has been selected, customers can go through the checkout cart as normal, making sure they input the special coupon code they obtained earlier to get the required discount.

Digital coupons are extremely easy to use and are available for a large selection of different merchants online. With a site like CouponChief.com making the hunt for coupons even easier, saving money doesn’t have to be a chore. The site brings all the best coupons for brand name online stores right to the consumer’s fingertips, making shopping and purchasing products at a discount a quick and painless process.

For additional information about saving money with online coupons, contact Coupon Chief at pr@couponchief.com or visit www.CouponChief.com.

CouponChief.com is an online supplier of digital coupons. The site provides Coupon codes to shoppers wanting to save money on the purchase of products and services f r o m a wide range of online stores.

Via EPR Network

Cyber Monday Deals 2009: Coupons, Discounts, Free Shipping

huliq.com

The Cyber Monday deals are streaming in and those who didn't grab a great deal on Black Friday may find what they are looking for on Cyber Monday. Not just limited to big retailers like Best Buy, Staples, Walmart, KMart and Sears, many great deals are out there on strictly online shops. Try NewEgg.com, Overstock.com, Amazon.com and thousands of online retailers for Cyber Monday deals.

There are plenty of computer and laptop deals emerging for Cyber Monday. See some of the latest deals here.

Big this year besides computers are televisions, GPS, Blue Ray players, digital cameras, Zhu Zhu pets, video games, Wii, XBox360 and more.

Here are a few deals, coupon sites, and great links for Cyber Monday:

Overstock.com is offering a Canon Powershot A590 IS for $134.99 and a JVC camcorder is going for $147.59.

Gamestop is offering $10-20 off boxed games and 25-50 percent off download titles.

Amazon.com is still running "Black Friday" sales but there will undoubtedly be more for Cyber Monday. Right now Amazon is offering loads of great Black Friday deals. There are some buys on Blu-ray discs most going for under $20.00.

There is also Free Super Saving Shipping on $25+ orders

Best Buy is offering $10-15 off all iPods, $10-20 off video games like Guitar Hero Aerosmith bundle for $49.99. From the HDTV department Best Buy is also selling a Samsung 52" 1080p LCD HDTV for $1700.

eBay: Up to 90% off retail for some items

Fingerhut: Low monthly payments and six special offers

Walmart: Big markdowns on certain products

Kmart: $5 off $50 purchase with code KMART5OFF50

ShopNBC: Four special offers including 15% off first order

Sears: $5 off $50 purchase with code SEARS5OFF50

Buy.com: $5 off $100 orders or $10 off $200 orders

Target: Free shipping on more than 100,000 items when spend $50

Macy’s: Savings of 20-60% on more than 25,000 items

eToys.com Free shipping when you spend over $49 and 50% off hundreds of toys. Free HotWheels carry case with a $30 HotWheels purchase.

Walmart hasn't leaked their Cyber Monday deals yet but the deals right now are great. They have a Nintendo DSi Video Game bundle Choose your Nintendo DSi, accessory and one game for $189.

Cyber deals are everywhere, not just on Cyber Monday. Try sites like CyberMonday.com and CyberMonday.net for deals, coupons and free shipping offers from hundreds of retailers.

The 5 Worst Holiday Gotchas

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

provided by
ConsumerReports

Avoid bank and retailer fees and other big money wasters this year.

Holiday time is tough enough on your budget. You don't want to spend more than you planned because a retailer or credit-card company came up with some tricky way to squeeze more money out of you. Well, you can beat the system! You just need to know where to look for these sneaky shopping traps.

Trap No. 1

Hidden debit-card fees

Whipping out your debit card to pay for holiday goodies probably seems like a budget-friendly idea because the cash is immediately withdrawn from your account. No need to worry about paying interest on a credit card or fees for bounced checks. But using a debit card could end up costing you a lot more than you'd think. In the past banks would reject a debit purchase that was more than the amount you had in your account. But many banks now process the purchase-and then hit you with an overdraft fee. Those charges range from $25 to $35 at 16 of the largest banks, according to a July Consumer Federation of America survey. If you buy several gifts in one day and use your debit card to pay for gas, groceries, and lattes, you could be hit with multiple fees. In September, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo announced plans to lower or eliminate overdraft fees. Let's hope other banks will follow suit.

Dodge it! Use a credit card for large purchases, especially if you pay the full balance each month. Credit cards give you a lot more protection than other forms of payment if your account number falls into the wrong hands or if you have a legitimate beef with a seller and want to dispute a charge. Use a debit card only for small purchases if you're relatively certain you won't need the extra protection a credit card provides and you're sure you won't go over your balance.


Trap No. 2


Phony sales

Many highly promoted "door buster" sales, particularly ones that take place on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and the following Cyber Monday, offer deep discounts on hot-ticket items. Black Friday has earned the reputation as a bargain-hunter's dream because retailers feature a limited quantity of high-profile, attention-grabbing toys or electronic items at or below cost to draw you in, hoping you'll also purchase lots of full-price merchandise. There's a more deceptive version of deep-discount sales, though: An item is advertised at a superlow price on a Web site, but it's a phony come-on. The goal is to get you to buy something else and spend much more. If you try to buy just the sale item, you'll often find that the retailer cancels the sale, claims the product has been back-ordered for months, or sends you lower-quality merchandise or items that you never ordered. Returns can be difficult, if not impossible.

Dodge it! To protect yourself when you're shopping online, be wary of unrealistically low prices. Don't make a purchase if you're pressured to buy additional products or services. To be supersafe, stick with merchants you know. Also, follow these other tips:

* If you go to a door-buster sale, don't buy other items in the store unless you have done the research ahead of time and know they're a good deal.
* Don't worry about missing a one-day sale. It's very likely that another supersale will come along. Last year we found plenty of so-called one-day sales that were extended.
* If someone on your list wants this year's hot item, hit the stores as soon as you can. Go early to beat the crowds or try online. Last year we found that online retailers sometimes offered special savings early in the morning.


Trap No. 3


Unnecessary warranties

This holiday season, shoppers are expected to spend more than a billion dollars on extended warranties. Appliance and electronics retailers push shoppers to buy extended warranties or service plans because the store keeps 50 percent or more of what they charge for them. That's much more than they can make just selling the products. But extended warranties are notoriously bad deals because some repairs are already covered by the standard manufacturer's warranty that comes with the product. And our data show that products seldom break within the period the extended warranty covers -- after the standard warranty has expired and within two to three years of purchase. When electronics and appliances do break, the repairs, on average, cost about the same as an extended warranty.

Dodge it! Our decades of brand research have shown that products are reliable enough that we don't think you need extended warranties. But if you'd like the peace of mind an extended warranty can provide, you might be able to get similar coverage by charging the item on a credit card. Check your card agreement; some cards, especially gold and platinum ones, lengthen the original manufacturer's warranty by as much as one year. If you can't rely on your card's additional coverage, channel your inner Scrooge. Get the cheapest deal you can on an extended warranty by including the cost of one in your price comparison. Always try to negotiate a better deal. And don't pay more than 20 percent of an item's purchase price for any warranty.


Trap No. 4


Gift-card charges

Sure, buying gift cards can shorten your holiday shopping time. You don't have to rack your brain to come up with an appropriate gift for the hard-to-please folks on your list or spend hours hunting for whatever present you settle on. But we advise shoppers to avoid gift cards. Some come with purchasing and processing fees, expiration dates, transaction fees, and inactivity fees that unfairly diminish their value over time. And the recipient could end up with a worthless piece of plastic if a company goes out of business or files for bankruptcy protection after you buy its card. There's also a good chance your card will not be used. A quarter of the people we surveyed last November still hadn't used a gift card they received during the previous holiday season.

Dodge it! In one bit of good gift-card news, American Express announced in September that it would no longer impose fees on its gift cards -- but it will still charge you $3 to $7 to buy one. Consider giving cash instead of any gift cards issued by credit-card companies, banks, or malls. If you do buy a gift card, stick to those issued by retailers, which are relatively free of expiration dates and pesky fees.

Trap No. 5

Return fees

Many electronics items, especially cameras, camcorders, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, projectors, PDAs, and GPS devices, are subject to a 15 to 25 percent restocking fee if they are returned opened or if they're not in a factory-sealed box. If you return a refurbished item, it might be subject to a restocking fee, too. You might even be charged a 15 percent restocking fee for some appliances, tools, and lawn-and-garden products if you don't return them in their original packaging. Merchants can't resell as new any item after the package has been opened, so they penalize you for opening it.

Dodge it! Don't open the package if you don't want what's inside. Items like computer software, music CDs, and movie DVDs aren't generally returnable for another title after the seal has been broken. But if you do break a seal, some stores will give you a partial refund of a restocking fee if you ask. You should not have to pay a restocking fee if the item was defective when you unwrapped it. And always find out about a store's return policy before you buy. Things like restocking fees and limits on what you can return vary among retailers, and some retailers have a different policy online than they do in their stores.

The Ultimate Insider Black Friday Guide

Where to Go for the Best Deals
By Rebecca Kern, U.S. News & World Report

With a slowly recovering economy, retailers are looking for ways to lure wary customers into their stores on Black Friday. Some retailers are attracting shoppers by staying open on Thanksgiving Day, in addition to extending their hours on Black Friday. Wal-Mart leads the pack, with most of its stores remaining open for 24 hours on Thanksgiving Day as well as Black Friday. On Thanksgiving, the Gap will open at 9 a.m., Banana Republic at 11 a.m., and Old Navy at noon. Toys "R" Us stores will open their doors at midnight before Black Friday. Others are employing social media contests to draw in customers, like J.C. Penney Co.'s Facebook sweepstakes, in which winners will receive a Penney's $500 gift card, assistance from personal shoppers, and a limo ride to the store.

Here's where you can score some impressive Black Friday deals:

Wal-Mart will allow customers to camp out next to their desired items beginning on Thanksgiving Day, and Black Friday specials will last from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Featured items include a Magnovox Blu-ray player for $78, a Sanyo 50-inch plasma 720p HDTV for $598, a Tom Tom GPS for $59, a reversible fleece jacket for $7, and a Barbie Power Wheels Ride-On for $88.

For the young at heart, Toys "R" Us will give 250,000 free Crayola 64 Boxes with any purchase, along with an $18 Crayola coupon on Black Friday. The store will also have thousands of the popular Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster in stock, along with doorbusters like a $50 gift card with the purchase of an iPod touch. Toys "R" Us will extend sales from Friday to Saturday, with deals that include select Nintendo games for $9.99. For more sneak peaks at the specials, visit the Toys "R" Us Facebook page at midnight on November 23 or take a look at 100 additional "Mystery Deals" on Toysrus.com at midnight on November 25.

Those looking for fashion items for less will have quite a selection. The Gap will offer a buy-one, get-one-free sale for adult sweaters, kid's fleeces, and pajama pants beginning November 25. Old Navy will offer doorbusters, including a free Rock Band guitar for the first few customers in line on Thanksgiving Day, $15 sweaters, and 50 percent off outerwear. On Black Friday, you can buy one cashmere sweater or scarf and get one free at Banana Republic.

Victoria's Secret will have "Pink Friday" specials beginning at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, with select stores opening at midnight, and will offer a free Victoria Secret tote with a $60 purchase. Meanwhile, Bath & Body Works will offer a VIP Bag that contains over $100 worth of products for $15 with a $40 purchase in its stores. The bath products retailer will open the doors at 6 a.m.

In the home appliance arena, Home Depot will offer $400 worth of savings on a pair of Maytag washers and dryers, a RIGID Dry/Wet vacuum for $19.88, and a Makita 18-Volt Hammer Driver Drill & Impact Driver combo kit for $199. These deals will begin on Thanksgiving Day online and in stores at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Meanwhile, the deals at Lowe's last from 6 a.m. on Black Friday through Monday, November 30. They include a Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer for $998 and a Whirlpool 24.8-cubic foot French Door Refrigerator for $898.

Target will release its specials on November 25 at target.com/weeklyad and will have an online-only Thanksgiving Day sale. Customers looking for Black Friday deals will receive maps listing the store's specially priced items. They will also receive a $10 gift card when they spend $100 or more from 5 a.m. to noon on Black Friday.

Deals on electronics will be a big hit on Black Friday this year. Staples plans to offer an HP laptop with Intel Celeron processor for $299.98, a Garmin Nuvi 225W GPS 9 for $119.99, and an HP 8GB flash drive for $12.99. Also, electronics retailer Best Buy is currently offering deals on TVs before Black Friday, which include a 32-inch Dynex LDC HD TV for $299.99 and a 40-inch Dynex 1080p for $499.99.

Shoppers looking for jewelry discounts should stop by JCPenney stores. The general merchandiser's Black Friday specials — which last from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. — include Timex watches starting at $27.50, 1/5-carat T.W. diamond stud earrings for $49.99, and ½-carat T.W. diamond necklaces, bracelets, or earrings for $79.99. JCPenney will also have big sales on clothing and footwear for kids, teens, and adults.

Macy's will also offer specials on jewelry, apparel, and luggage from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Black Friday, as well as 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 28. Deals include diamond accent earrings for $34.99, ½-carat diamond studs for $199, and Victorinox Swiss Army watches for $139. Also, all kids' coats and sleepwear are 60 percent off.

At Kohl's, shoppers will find more than 300 savings offers online and in stores from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Black Friday. Kohl's shoppers can get a $10 gift card for every $50 they spend in store or online. Their specials include a 7-inch portable LCD TV from Digital Labs for $69.99, 50 to 60 percent off apt. 9 sportswear for misses, petites, and women, 50 percent off name-brand children's toys, 40 to 80 percent off kitchen electrics after rebate, and 55 to 60 percent off sterling silver jewelry.

For shoppers who don't feel like combating the mind-numbing traffic and meandering lines, most stores will offer the same specials on their websites. Amazon.com will offer its Black Friday specials from November 23 through November 30 at amazon.com/blackfriday. Deals include up to 70 percent off diamond stud earrings, a KitchenAid Pro 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer for $299.99, and Fujifilm 10 megapixel J28 for $79.99.

Dirty Secrets of Black Friday 'Doorbusters' | Best Buy Black Friday Sale

CNNMoney.com - Here are a few things bargain-hungry consumers need to know before they hit stores before dawn the day after Thanksgiving.

Here's a Black Friday reality check: Of the hordes of pre-dawn shoppers who line up for hours outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving, most will not bag the best bargains that appear in merchants' circulars.

Look at the fine print that appears next to an advertised "doorbuster deal" at the bottom of the page in this year's circulars.

It will either say "While supplies last," "Minimum 2 per store," "No rainchecks" or "All items are available in limited quantities."

A quick scan through a few of this year's Black Friday circulars show quantities as low as a "minimum of 5 per store" on some models of large plasma and HDTVs and popular brands of home appliances such as a washer-dryer pair.

Should Black Friday deal hunters feel cheated? Yes they should, say some retail experts.

"It's a sleazy practice," said Craig Johnson, retailing expert and president of retail consulting group Customer Growth Partners.

"I am old school," said Johnson. "If a retailer is advertising a juicy deal and they are not prepared to have in sufficient quantity, don't advertise it. Or give consumers a raincheck."

Johnson said it's not enough for retailers to mention that they'll have such limited quantities of a product on one of the most-hyped shopping days of the year.

"Retailers aren't winning any customers. They are just pissing off people," he said. "It's poor retailing practice."

Unfortunately for consumers, more examples abound.

CNNMoney.com spoke to industry experts to uncover a few dirty secrets of Black Friday deals.

Limited quantities: Advertising a Black Friday deal as "limited quantities" is bogus, said Johnson.

"The only time it makes sense to have only two or three [items] in stock is if the deal is on a $2 million gift product that appears in the Neiman Marcus holiday catalog," he said.

Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and editor of Consumer World, agreed with Johnson.

"C'mon guys. Give me a break," said Dworsky. "How can you be the size of a retailer like Sears and only get a minimum of five per store, yet devote big space in your circular to advertise that deal?

Sears (SHLD, Fortune 500) has not officially revealed its Black Friday sales. However, the company confirmed to CNNMoney.com that two of its post-Thanksgiving deals include a Samsung 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $599.99, "Only while quantities last, minimum three per store, no rainchecks."

The other is a Kenmore 3.5-cubic-foot high-efficiency washer and 5.8-cubic foot dryer pair for $579.98, "Limit four per store, no rainchecks."

"Sure, you probably have more, but how do you put out a circular to millions of households and only have three?," Dworsky asked.

When asked for a comment, Sears spokesman Tom Aiello said he was "not comfortable" addressing the issue of limited quantities for some Black Friday deals.

Such short supply on deals are not only annoying but can also be dangerous to Black Friday shoppers.

"We saw the stampede at a Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) store in New York last year on Black Friday that led to an employee's death," said Burt Flickinger, managing director of consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. "The stampede happened because so many of the deals were advertised as limited supply."

One retailer, while not explaining why its advertised deals are in such limited supplies, said it is taking measures to better handle the Black Friday rush.

"From going down the line and handing out doorbuster tickets that guarantee a purchase in advance of the store opening, to printing the minimum quantities in the circular, we go to great lengths to ensure that the Black Friday consumer knows exactly how many items will be at the store and whether or not they will be able to purchase one prior to entering the store," Best Buy (BBY, Fortune 500) wrote in an e-mail.

What do you mean this HDTV is a "derivative?" Some of the holiday electronics with those low sale prices are derivatives, models that have a few less features than a standard model in that product line, said Dworsky.

The difference can be subtle. "The image contrast ratio might be 20,000 in a derivative model versus 30,000 in a standard model," he said. "Most consumers probably won't even notice the difference."

A report earlier this month in Consumer Reports called attention to HDTV models from Samsung and Sony advertised in Black Friday deals that appear to be "derivatives." The report said these one-off TVs "with unfamiliar model numbers" are usually cheaper than the standard model in their class.

Dworsky cautions that retailers usually don't advertise these models as derivatives. "There's no way the average consumer will know that the TV model they are buying is not the standard one unless they are savvy enough to compare their model numbers," he said.

Which Black Friday deals are online? "Many retailers will say that their Black Friday deals are available online," said Dworsky. "But they're not nice enough to tell you which ones."

"How about telling me which exact ones so I can shop online from home and I'm not in my pajamas at 5 a.m. in front of your store," he said.

Online deals that never get shipped: Case in point: Sears. Last year, one of Sears' hottest Black Friday doorbuster deal was on a Kenmore washer-dryer pair for $600.

Even though the retailer advertised that deal to be in "limited quantities," the company decided to honor every customer order made on that deal last Black Friday.

Big mistake. The manufacturer could not ramp up production fast enough. Some customers waited months before their order was shipped. Others were sold a substitute model, that was "comparable or even better" for the same deal price, said Sears' Aiello.

Lesson learned. "We will not be doing that again this year," he said.

Be careful if you're shopping online on Black Friday, said Dworsky.

"Since retailers don't have a live inventory online you run the risk of getting an e-mail weeks later that your order had been delayed or worse, canceled, because the product is out of stock," he said.

About those rainchecks: Finally, if a retailer does offer you a raincheck on a deal, it could still turn out to be an empty promise, Flickinger warned.

"A raincheck doesn't guarantee that you will eventually get that elusive Black Friday deal," he said. "Consumers can go weeks waiting and hoping, and the retailer may never get more of the product shipped to its stores."

Click on Image to go to Best Buy Black Friday Sales

Why do coupons expire?

 coupons, expiration, dates - Engaging in a discussion about expired coupons with an avid couponer is like opening a can of worms. Many shoppers believe they should be entitled to use coupons past the printed expiration dates. Before we delve into that issue, there's an important question to answer: Why do coupons expire at all?

Many years ago, coupons often had extremely long expiration dates — some even carried the proclamation, "No Expiration Date." But today's coupons, on average, expire in 3-6 months. As with anything, there are exceptions. You may find a short-dated coupon that expires in six weeks or a long-dated one that's good for nine months or more.

Why do coupons expire? Companies want us to use coupons to buy their products within a specified time frame. The coupon, whether found in the newspaper or on the Internet, is typically part of a promotional campaign that includes other forms of advertising, such as in-store signage and promotion, newspaper and magazine ads and TV spots all scheduled around the same time. This is especially true for new products. With a new product, the goal is often to get people to try the product quickly after the launch, so the company can determine if the product is likely to be successful.

For example, a detergent manufacturer recently released a new product for pre-treating laundry stains. There are similar products on the market, so the manufacturer needs to make an impression and entice shoppers to switch brands. I especially enjoy watching new products hit the market because marketers typically will offer much higher-value coupons when a product is first introduced than they will when the product has been on the market for awhile.

Convincing a shopper to try a new brand when there are already similar, proven products on store shelves is a big challenge. A high-value coupon is often the incentive a shopper needs to take a chance on a new product rather buying a tried-and-true brand. The manufacturer often will run multiple advertising campaigns to try to get shoppers to buy an item during issued a coupon promotion.

The new stain pre-treatment product was priced at $3.74, comparable to the competition. But its manufacturer issued $1.50 coupons as part of the launch campaign. That's not bad. And a $1.50 coupon definitely has potential if the price of the item is further reduced with a sale.

A few weeks after I got the $1.50 coupon, my newspaper ran a full-page advertisement for the new laundry product. The ad encouraged shoppers buy the product at a specific store and included a $1.50 store coupon. This store allows shoppers to "stack" coupons, allowing shoppers to use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon together on the same item. Stacking these two coupons would save me a total of $3 on this $3.74 item, over 75 percent savings! Time to buy. I happily took my bottle home for 74 cents.

This is a great example of a manufacturer using coupons to drive sales within a certain timeframe. The manufacturer coupon expired two months from when I received it and the store coupon expired five weeks from the day it appeared in the paper. From the manufacturer's standpoint, my purchase was a sign of a successful marketing campaign. The coupons enticed me to try the new product, which I likely wouldn't have bought unless it was a very good deal. The shorter expiration dates on the coupons ensured I would buy it within a specific time frame, key to the product's successful launch. Coupons helped the company boost sales in a short period of time.

WOW  heres is where someone is thinking......making extra cash on side with expired coupons

Meijer Coupon Take an Additional 15% Off Item Black Friday | $5.00 Purina Cat/Dog Food

Click on Image, Print, Save

Riteaid Online Coupons

couponing.about.com- Rite Aid has announced a new online savings program at Riteaid.com where customers can save with coupons they can print just by watching short informational videos on select products.

Videos can be viewed by brand, category or manufacturer. Customers can watch videos about select products available at Rite Aid and print related in-store coupons totaling up to $130 in savings. They also receive a $5 Rite Aid Bonus Coupon when they earn 20 video credits. Some videos are worth multiple credits.  Click Image or here for Riteaide.com

New videos and coupons will be offered and updated on an ongoing basis. Customers choose which brands and products interest them. The more videos they watch, the more they save.

Early participation includes Rite Aid vendors Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, L’Oreal, Johnson and Johnson and Wyeth, as well as major brands including Olay, HUGGIES, AVEENO and Alavert.

Alongside the video promotions, Rite Aid has launched a series of coupon savings programs at its more than 4,800 stores nationwide and online. The savings blitz includes additional pages of coupons in Rite Aid’s weekly newspaper circulars and special savings coupons at Riteaid.com.

"More and more, we're seeing Rite Aid customers plan their shopping trips around discounts and promotions," said John Learish, Rite Aid Senior Vice President, Marketing. "We recognize this is a national trend and want to offer more of these opportunities to both our loyal customers and those giving our stores a new look."

Costco Black Friday Sales

Click on Image for further details.

Target Black Friday Ads - Video Games

Target Black Friday Ads

Video Games

$10 Gift Card With Select Video Game Purchases     $0.00
$20 Gift Card With Any DSi System Purchase     $0.00 *
$50 Gift Card With Any Call Of Duty Super Elite XBOX 360 System Bundle     $0.00
$50 Gift Card With Any XBOX 360 120GB Elite Game System Bundle Purchase $0.00
Animal Crossing Wii Video Game     $27.00
Assassins Creed II PS3 Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Assassins Creed II XBOX 360 Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Batman PS3 Video Game     $37.00
Batman XBOX 360 Video Game     $37.00
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare PS3 Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare XBOX 360 Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Call Of Duty Super Elite XBOX 360 System Bundle With $50 Gift Card     $399.99
Call Of Duty Wii Video Game     $27.00
Cooking Mama DSi Video Game     $17.00
DSi Game System With Free $20 Gift Card     $169.99
Guitar Hero 5 Wii Video Game     $37.00
Halo 3 ODST XBOX 360 Video Game     $37.00
Hannah Montana DSi Video Game     $17.00
iCarly DSi Video Game     $17.00
Littlest Pet Shop DSi Video Game     $17.00
Marvel Super Hero Squad DSi Video Game     $17.00
Need For Speed Nitro Wii Video Game     $27.00
Personal Trainer Cooking Game For DSi Video Game     $7.00
PS3 Black DualShock Controller     $39.00 *
Rock Band PS3 Video Game     $7.00
Shaun White PS3 Video Game     $7.00
Shaun White XBOX 360 Video Game     $7.00
Shift PS3 Video Game     $37.00
Shift XBOX 360 Video Game     $37.00
Sim Animals Wii Video Game     $27.00
Star Wars Clone Wars PS3 Video Game     $37.00
Star Wars Clone Wars XBOX 360 Video Game     $37.00
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wii Video Game     $27.00
Ultimate Alliance 2 PS3 Video Game     $37.00
Ultimate Alliance 2 Wii Video Game     $37.00
Ultimate Alliance 2 XBOX 360 Video Game     $37.00
Video Rocker Extreme 2 Chair     $29.98
Wii Mario And Sonic Olympics Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Wii Music Wii Video Game     $27.00
Wii Nerf Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
Wii Play Remote Bundle     $39.00 *
Wii Sports Resort Video Game With $10 Gift Card     $59.99
XBOX 360 120GB Elite Game System Bundle With $50 Gift Card     $299.99
XBOX 360 Black Controller     $39.00 *

Valpak coupons on your iPhone - ChaCha to Roll Out Integrated Mobile Coupon and Online Service to Major DMAs

 baltimoresun.com

You've probably gotten the familar Valpak coupon bundles in the mail, and hopefully at least a few of them have been useful.Now enjoy the savings from these promotions without the hassle of recycling junk mail with the Valpak app for the iPhone and iPhone Touch.
Use the app to search for savings in certain categories, like "Dining" or "Beauty", or use the Map function to hunt for deals near you.
Some reviewers found few deals in their neighborhoods, but I entered The Sun's zip code and discovered discounts for oil changes, framing services and numerous pizza offers within 6 miles. And if anyone feels this blog has a Baltimore city bias, there seem to be quite a few offers in the county, folks!
But you don't need an iPhone to get Valpak savings ... 
... because Valpak's Web site has a mobile version that allows you to show retailers coupons on your phone, according to this review.

ChaCha to Roll Out Integrated Mobile Coupon and Online Service to Major DMAs

ChaCha, the mobile answers service that allows users to call or text questions to ChaCha on mobile phones and receive answers within minutes for free, has expanded its offerings with the launch of a new retail coupon service. ChaCha.com launches today in Indiana for consumers to instantly access special offers both online and on their mobile devices, whichever method is most comfortable for them. Plans call for a roll out to most of the top 20 DMAs within its first year.

“Between site traffic and mobile contact, over 9 million unique users per month come to ChaCha as a best friend to answer their questions,” says Scott A. Jones, CEO of ChaCha. “The logical extension of this is to point them to the best local deals and businesses. We can make that match in a unique way. We are about delivering real value today while providing a seamless bridge to the future of mobile coupons, which is coming very quickly.”

ChaChaCoupons.com is a complete online and mobile coupon site that makes it easy for people to search for companies and offers by business type, area of the city, alphabetically, newest offers, and more, in a very simple, friendly interface. Site visitors can print coupons at their desktop or send them to their mobile phones to be redeemed at their favorite businesses. They can also send the coupon via text messaging to a ChaCha in-store coupon printer. At launch, hundreds of local companies are on the site with special offers, coupons and discounts. ChaChaCoupons.com has 13 different main categories for offers ranging from home services, to beauty, to restaurants and beyond for easy searching.

The new coupon site is linked to www.ChaCha.com, which has over 6.5 million monthly visitors and is now ranked among the top 200 websites by Quantcast. Complementing ChaCha’s other text-based products, the new ChaCha service has been tightly integrated with the company’s popular text VIP lists where users sign up to get cell phone offers and news from their favorite businesses. Now users can choose to instantly join an advertiser’s VIP List by either text or online at this new website giving local businesses a way of retaining their loyal customer base.

“Coupons are a fantastic way for local businesses to introduce themselves to consumers or simply increase in-store traffic by making special offers,” adds Mr. Jones. “With the challenging economy over the past year, coupon redemption nationally jumped 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with the same period a year ago. In the first half of this year, coupon redemption climbed 23 percent with some 1.6 billion coupons redeemed, leading to forecasts that more than three billion coupons will be redeemed this year. Starting with the Indy market, ChaChaCoupons.com will become a dominant source of coupon marketing for local businesses.”

Digital coupon use, on the Web and on mobile phones, is quickly growing. In the first half of this year about 10 million digital coupons were redeemed, up 25 percent compared with the period a year earlier. ChaChaCoupons.com will bridge the gap between traditional printed coupon users to younger generations which won’t carry coupons but are happy to have them accessible on their cell phones. The new service brings ChaCha’s extensive user base with their quest for answers together with ChaCha’s local advertisers in a whole new way.

The new service will be each DMA’s most complete online and mobile listing, and will offer each advertiser a listing, coupons, mobile VIP list, website, hours of operation, driving directions and will empower users with a ‘Wish List’ feature where they can request their favorite businesses to issue coupons. ChaCha will be exploring additional features in the coming months such as “favorite category” sign up, where users can select a service such as tanning, and get convenient alerts on their phone with the newest tanning offers as they come available.

“We participate in many forms of advertising, so that we can reach customers who are perfect for Arni’s. ChaCha has been an awesome partner and resource to getting customers who rely on text and mobile communication for deals and news,” says Shelley Hendricks, Director of Marketing and PR for Arni’s Restaurants, Inc. in Indianapolis. “This new ChaCha Coupon site provides a converging platform for us to reach locals via a traditional printed coupon as well as mobile coupons. We are excited to be a part of this service and one of the marketing movers and shakers of the city!”

All ChaChaCoupons.com ad banner positions and the home page preferred listings have been sold out for week one of the launch. Go to http://cdn.chacha.com/las/chacha_coupons.htm to view a live video demo.

ChaCha (www.chacha.com) a free mobile answers service, allows users to call 1-800-2-ChaCha™ or text questions to ChaCha (242242™) on mobile phones and receive answers within minutes. Its unique advertising solutions provide pay-for-engagement opportunities for advertisers like Palm, IKEA, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and the Obama Campaign to precisely target and embed their messages within millions of text conversations. Unlike traditional media, ChaCha’s advertising platform is simple, results-driven and measurable. ChaCha’s mobile service now delivers over 30 million impressions each month to nearly 2.5 million
users.

20 + Black Friday November 27, 2009 Advertisment Scans

bfads.net The Advertisement Scans listed below are available in both .ZIP and .PDF formats. The .ZIP archive can be extracted through the use of built-in Windows XP program, WinZip (Free Trial) or 7-Zip (Free). To view the .PDF files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free).

Please note that the posting of these scanned advertisements in no way confirms the advertisement is official. We have seen faked scanned advertisements before, so unless explicitly stated, the advertisements below are to be regarded as nothing more than a rumor.

Click HERE for Black Friday November 27, 2009 Ads

Store Name
AAFES
Ace Hardware
Babies R Us
BestBuy
Costco
Craft Warehouse
Half Price Books
Harbor Freight
Home Depot
Kmart
Kohls
Lowe's
Meijer
Northern Tool
Old Navy
RadioShack
Rite Aid
Sears
Sports Authority
Staples
Target
Toys R Us
Toys R Us - Big Toys Book
Walgreens

Meijer Black Friday November 27, 2009 Ads

Click on Image to go to Meijer Website.

Sprint Pushes Mobile Couponing at Movies

www.marketingvox.com

Sprint, bCODE, and Screenvision are partnering on a new mobile coupon offering that will enable Sprint customers to receive special concession-stand savings at 500 participating movie theaters. The move indicates a growing shift into mobile-focused promotion programs, which consumers are increasingly demanding, according to a recent survey. Research released last week by HipCricket found that 83% of US consumers say their favorite brand has yet to market to them via their mobile phone, even though 37% say they would be interested in participating in a mobile loyalty program from a brand they trust. For Sprint, which lost more than 800,000 contract subscribers last quarter, the offering creates a new revenue stream that also provides free incentives to its customers. Starting immediately, moviegoers with a Sprint phone can text the keyword “Sprint” to “22633” to receive mobile rewards coupons, including coupons redeemable for concession discounts. Users can then scan and redeem their coupon at an interactive touchscreen kiosk located in participating theaters, which read the barcode on the phone's screen. At the kiosks, participants will be able to select a coupon for their desired concession, including candy, popcorn, or soda. The kiosk will then print out a barcode coupon for participants to take to the concession stand. Participants can also accumulate loyalty points and personalize their experience through digital content downloads, such as music and movie trailers. Users will also be able to update their status on social networking sites and leave real-time comments. ChaCha Coupon Service ChaCha, the text and voice-based mobile search service, announced a mobile coupon service earlier this month that allows customers to receive discounts and special offers from local retailers located on the company’s website, ChaChaCoupons.com. The free and ad-supported service, which launched in Indiana and has plans to expand to the top-20 US marketers in 2010, enables users to search for companies and promotions by type, geographic location, and other filters. Users can then print coupons or send them to their mobile devices for redemption at checkout using a promotional code.  Additionally, users can text the coupon to a ChaCha in-store coupon printer at participating store locations. Bar Louie, Fast Tans, Pet Supplies Plus, Puccini's and Rock Bottom Brewery are among the first brands to participate in the program. SmartSource SmartSource Magazine, a coupon insert found in newspapers across the country, announced that it will offer a mobile coupon opt-in service beginning this Sunday. Users can text “coupons” to 87415 to receive exclusive coupon offers and an option to receive additional offers in the future. Users can then redeem desired coupons by forwarding them to their e-mail and printing them out for use at participating stores. Kotex, Huggies, Trident, Jimmy Dean, Kellogg and Tyson are among the first advertisers.

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.

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.

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.”

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:

In these tough economic times, its always good to have a helping hand. Get free Kohls Coupons now and save money. Your Kohls Coupons can be used at any Kohls Department Store locations.