~~~~ Brag & Moan ~~~~

[Thecatmandude]

Moan

Well I tried my luck a rebate roullette yet again and lost.
got the ati 9600 at the bb bf sale and sent it to the rebate black hole never to be heard of again. called their rebate tracking number and sat in the phone obliette untill old age set in, was proply infomed it was an ati rebate and tranfered to a different phone dungeon which promply hung up on me. mmm

Tried the corsair rebate on the 512 pc 3200 from frys at the same time. I believe it followed the previous rebate into a seperate reality as I have still not seen anything in the mail snail or otherwise. I did fill out the section on the form that said put email address here and we will send you information on your rebate. I havn't even recieved any spam from them.

Someplace in a galaxy far far away, or maybe just in the local twilight zone, are a couple of envelopes that have taken on a life of their own and escaped with my longed for windfall.

Oh well
Maybe at a different time, a different store, when the moon and saturn are aligned my luck will be better.

come on baby daddy needs a check so mommy will let him buy more stuff

 

[DrPizza]

Thanks Anandtech peoples! It was here that I learned the finer points of price matching...

I just managed to price match a side by side refrigerator at 1549 to 1199 ($350 difference) Plus the 10% dropped the price from 1549 to 1164.

PLUS, I've learned at AT how to hunt for rebates. There's a $75 rebate on that fridge. Bringing the final price down to 1089. (Woot!!)

I saved $363.97 (I included taxes in that calculation) Thanks ATHD!

 

[govtcheez75]

Ok. This is both a Brag, and a YMMV Hot deal. I know that we aren't supposed to post eBay auctions as Hot deals, so I will post here. Someone on eBay is selling PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool 350W ATX Power Supplies for $13+a very reasonable $5 shipping.
HERE is a link to the auction that I just won. The last 3 feedbacks are all positives from the same product. I think he/she sells about 2 or 3 of them at a time, so you may want to check often, if you're in the market for a really nice 350W power supply for only $18 shipped! These retail from about $75-100 a piece.

 

[wallsfd949]

Picked up an HP PSC2210 at Wal-Mart today. It was a display model in excelent condition. They wanted $285 for it. I explained to the Electronics manager that these were clearenced out at Target 4 months ago for $58. She did some checking and noticed that they had not sold one for >5 months and didn't show to have any in stock (including the display). Took it home for $40.

I'm kinda iffy about it being a display, but it was either spend $50 on ink for my crappy Epson C62 or $40 for a printer/copier/scanner/fax machine.... I think I made a good choice.

 

[hansmuff]

MOAN:
I bought a BBA Radeon 9800 NP at Microcenter's BF sale. Was advertised to come with HL2. Sure enough after a week of calling them they finally give me the coupon that I needed to send to ATi to be able to get THEIR coupon for a game that may be released some time this year.
Alright, I say, and mail it in. Says 6-8 weeks for delivery. Alright.
9 weeks later I call the number on the rebate and inquire about the coupon and it's whereabouts.
"It's on backorder, but we'll get more soon then you will get yours."

So on the rebate form, it has my email address. They had a field on it for the email address. But they CAN'T email me to tell me it's backordered?

And seriously, how stupid is it that a COUPON (!!) for a game that's not even released yet, is on BACKORDER ?!?

I am moaning because with the activation code on the coupon I'm waiting for, I can play some current games over STEAM (the Valve network thingamajig).

Argh. HL2 better be worth it.

 

[pkypkypky]

Justed to let everyone know here about Hollywood's Previously Viewed movie Lifetime Guarantee policy.

You must have reciept or at least have in the records on your account. They failed to ask to put it under my account and I haven't kept the receipt. The VHS movie I bought turned bad after three plays and they won't exchange for same item at the same store I bought it from even though it still has original bar codes and logo that state the address location the hollywood it came from.

Lifetime warranty non-transferrable too which means if you give it as a gift and it doesn't work, you have to take it back for them.

My moans
=======
-Why shouldn't lifetime warranty apply to all that own and use it?
-Why do you need a reciept if the damn sticker has a bar code, logo and address of the hollywood video you bought it from for a damn exchange of same item?

 

[Slickone]

I received a free T-shirt today from Global Knowledge, from a hot deal posted here. Couldn't find the thread on here. First free shirt I've received in a long time. It's not like a few years ago when you got the shirt at least half the time. The only shirts I get now are if I post my work email address and give some detail about my company name/posistion (IT) to make it look legit. Even that doesn't always work though.

 

[yukichigai]

Brag

Just snagged a 33" NEC Television Monitor (as in it has no tuner, just A/V inputs) for $70. It has a minor "image echo" problem that is hardly noticeable unless you get right up close to it, so it wasn't a perfect steal. But then again my TV repair guy can probably fix the problem for cheap.

I also picked up a 6-21 min UPS for $15. Not really blazing hot, but at least when the power goes out my compy will have enough time to Hibernate instead of abruptly crashing.

 

[JasonK]

Sorrie, moved thread to main area here

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=1251795

 

[ianbergman]

random brag:

fortunate combination of rebate and stackable emailed coupons - Dell 3.0cHT P4-533, 17" LCD, 512, 40GB, cdrw, yada yada $600 shipped. Oh hells yeah. My father's "ancient," $3000 P2-400 is finally getting that much-needed upgrade.

 

[Drizzy]

BRRRRRAAAAGGGGGG

My college is offering the full version of Macromedia Studio MX 2004 for $86. WOOT WOOT!!!

 

[erbosch]

My finds
last week when taking advantage of the staples up sale from the maxtor 120 gb upgraded to 160gb hard drive deal
for 29.95 ar I stumbled on to a returned antec sonata case for $5
was missing the psu and a broken door but hey 5 bucks could go wrong
already up and running with the $39 dollar 1.8 amd and ecs board deal from frys
Also picked up a sony flat tube multi scan G520 and a wincast tv tuner card at the local GW for $65 what a sweet monitor works great

 

[ScottyS]

-----rrggggggghhhh------

I was one of those that got in on the WD 80gb drives for ~$20 AR's from Officemax a few weeks ago. The sucker just died, taking some data with it (while my Maxtors continue to hum away). I think (based on voltage measurments) that the controller board on the bottom is to blame, as no wierd mechanical noises occurred. I am going to try to get my data back with some tinkering, but I'm not optimistic. I knew there was a reason I didn't like WD.

Out.

 

[hansmuff]

I finally got my HL2 voucher in the mail today. Took them a FULL 3 months. Anyway, Steam doesn't authorize me because their 'new security feature' of a confirmation email does not work. They claim DDOS attacks are causing this. Convenient eh?

 

[Zedtom]

I bought a U S Robotics V.92 5610B Hardware modem at Wal-Mart for 30 bucks.

They were originally $79. First they were clearance priced at $60, then $50, then $40, then $30. I had been watching the prices drop week by week, until yesterday, when the last box on the shelf told me I had to buy.

Yeah, I know it's just dial-up, but V.92 and a hardware modem are the best way to do it.

 

[gump47371]

Local OM is going OOB, (I know, terrible) went in there today for the second time just to look around. Spotted a sign that said "LAST ONE" beside an A70. Have been wanting one for a while, but haven't been able to bring myself to spend nearly $300 for one. Sign also said "30% off". I looked it over for about 15 mins, mulled it over, then jumped on it. $222.xx out the door. I am happy with it. Now to Click and post all the stuff I bought from HD forum online and sell.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

This is an oldie, but a goodie. Bought a voodoo3 2000 at circuit city december 2000 for $100(a lil over but cant remember) with $50 mail in rebate. it is now 3/04 and have yet to receive my $50 and 3dffx is now outta biz

 

[ParatoOptimal]

They got the product, manufacturer, rebate amount and number of rebates submitted WRONG.

I sent in 1 rebate for $6 on Fuji 30-pk CD-R puchased at OM.
The rebate service company sent me a rejection via email.
They claimed that I hadn't supplied the UPC for ...
a $5 rebate on Memorex 30-pk CD-RW.
They sent me a second rejection via email for the same item even though I had submitted only one rebate.

I phoned on 2/18/04 to correct their many mistakes.
The CSR told me that their records showed that I had sumitted the UPC.
She resubmitted my rebate, validated it and told me that a $6 postcard check would be sent to me.

I received two rejection postcards for two rebate submitals on Memorex 30-pk CD-RW in the second week of March. I checked the web site to find that my tracking number had not been updated. It still showed the wrong product, etc. and listed my rebate as invalid.

I called on 3/14/04 to correct their errors AGAIN.
The CSR appologized again and validated my rebates again.
He validated the two rejected rebates even though I had only submitted one. He validated them for $5 before I could mention the $6 it was supposed to be. He told me to call again AFTER I receive the $5 check. This is a big waste of their and my time and money.

Regarding the WD 80GB HD for $20 after rebate from OfficeMax,
one of my $30 rebates was approved.
The other was invalidated even though all information for both OM's and WD's rebate was sent in the same envelope to OM.
The website shows one rebate approved and one rejected.

I've called them twice to validate the rebate.
They've appologized and done so on two occaisions.
The website still shows it as rejected.

Note that the website doesn't accept the rejected tracking number at all.
I can only get to it by clicking on the link in the rejection email they sent me.

Everytime I speak with someone, they tell me they can't give me a transaction number or send me a confirmation email.
They just tell me to wait for a postcard check.

 

[TrentSteel]

BRAG:

Just got UT2k4 SE in the mail today. And I had ordered it from EBGames with their free shipping option! woohoo! As we all know, it's not even going to be released until tomorrow (3/18).

I'm probably not the only one, but I thought it's pretty exciting. Hopefully I'm not too tired after work tonight to play it.

And what a deal it was! $39.99 - $10 instantly (voucher for signing up for and immediately cancelling whatever that useless service was) = $29.99 no tax no shipping, plus a $20 EBGames voucher. Getting it early just makes it that much better.

Thank you, EB Games!

 

[ParatoOptimal]

I get email notices of sales from OM.
When I buy them they are not free after rebate.

The first time this happened, the email didn't mention 2-rebates per item (an instant one and a mail-in one).

The second time it did mention 2-rebates per item (an instant one and a mail-in one).

When I purchase them at the store, I don't get the instant rebate.

The first time this happened, I emailed their corporate headquarters and was told that maybe the cash register errored and didn't apply the instant rebate. The email ad didn't mention an instant rebate. It just mentioned free after rebate. I didn't bother to click on any items to go to their web site. I just headed out to my local store to pick-up the items after I got their email ad. When the woman at their headquarters whom I was corresponding with found out that I'm not in the state of their headquarters, she told me to start all over again explaining it to my local store manager. I wanted her to acknowledge their mistake or false advertising and approve my local manager to pay me the difference or give me a full refund for the items. I had already sent in for the rebates. I didn't want to miss the deadline.

I think these are supposed to be online deals only. However, there is no mention of that being the case in the email advertisements I've received. Once, long ago, I purchased several items that they advertised to me as free after rebate via email. I ended up paying $44 after I received the mail-in rebates. The second time I ended up paying $6 more than I should have.

I printed out the email ad and their web page ad this second time.
The only record I have of the time it cost me $44 is a pic of the ad I pasted into a WORD document. That one doesn't have any print date or url info to somewhat confirm that it is unaltered.

Even corporate was only guessing at what may have happened. Can't someone not be a pin head and simply check their records of what email ads where sent out at the time I claim. They could confirm the ad. Weather they meant it to be online only or not, they could confirm that the ad didn't state it as such and own up to their oversite and pay me or give me a refund. I've never used the items. Of course, since I mailed in the rebates, the UPC's have been cut from the packages.

 

[ZowieHowie]

MOAN

Neither my roommate or I received a call from OM regarding my raincheck on the 80gig harddrive for $20AR. My roommate decided to drive to OM (30 miles away) in an attempt to redeem both our rainchecks. They let him redeem his, and he got the drive for $20 out the door. They told him that I would have to come in to redeem mine. I drove over to OM about 2 hours after he had gotten his drive, and the manager tells me that the rebate expired, and she could not give it to me for $20 out the door. She also said that whoever did the price override 2 hours ago was breaking company policy, and should not have done it to begin with

Therefore, I left with NOTHING. The manager on duty was nice (and attractive!), but she said that she cannot do anything. She also CLAIMED that they called me on Feb 25th. I cannot believe they will not do anything. Isn't a raincheck a contract? From what I understand, they are REQUIRED BY LAW to honor it.

Corporate will be hearing from me on Monday! :-/

 

[SoccrGuru]

Best buy screwed me obe time when i was going to pick up a 50 pack of memorex dvd+r's. Anyway they didn't have +r's so i talked to a clerk at the return desk and she said that i could buy the -r's and return them with a month and get the +r's instead. Well i bought them and went back 2 weeks later to exchange but the instant rebate sale was over and this dubass guy that worked there said that i would have to pay the difference which was 50 bucks so we went back and forth a while to make a long story short i took it in the ass from best buy.

 

[Mermaidman]

w00t! Free T-Shirt from Microsoft arrived today (for being the first 500 to join TechNet).

 

[FunkierThanU]

Remember the deal with the bogus $50 off coupon code for $t@ple$ a couple weeks ago? I used it and another coupon code and gift cert to order $170 worth of stuff ordered for ~$50 on my card. Well they rejected the $50 code and charged everyone an extra $50, so I cancelled my order and refused delivery and asked to have my gift cert re-issued.
Turns out, they credited my cc for the full $170, and are reissuing the gift cert.

What Would Jerry Do?

(If I was a $t@ple$ shareholder, I'd think about selling!)

;D
-funk
-----------------------------

This gets even more amusing by the phone call on my answering machine saying that $t@ple$ is going to make another attempt to deliver the package today. Jeeeeeez.

 

[Ness]

DAAANNGG!!! I just got some good stuff from Staples.

Right now they have a sony 10 pack of both DVD+R and DVD-R disks in jewel cases for ~$9.84. I bought the +R's last Saturday, came home to find that I actually needed the -R's.. so I took them back to Staples to get them exchanged and the price rang up as being $14.xx. The discs were still on sale today, so when the girl at the counter rang in the DVD-R's that I was exhanging for, they came up as $9.84 again. The girl asked me "Is $10.70 back okay?" and I had to stop and think about what she was saying because I didn't expect there to be anything...

When I left the store I looked over my receipts at least 5 times... sure enough, Staples made a good somewhere.

The only thing I think that could have caused this is that I bought the discs from one Staples at closing on Saturday... perhaps they had already updated their prices and had a sale of 14.xx last week... Then I returned them to a different Staples...

So I made $10.70 today and that makes me happy