Deal of the year nomination!!!

[dongky]

DELL 4x256MB Crucial RAM [1GB] for $65
BB 2x100pk Imation CD-Rs for $10

...and a cart w/ XP, Kodak 3.1 mp digital camera, NEC 17 flat-screen w/c was left by somebody at Staples backdoor next to my work. WooooHoooooo!!!

 

[RichC]

Man, half the crap in my room is stuff I got from Anandtech posts.

Got my Logitech Z560's from Dell.
Got my Epson 880 printer from Dell for $30.
Got my 200 CDR Prime Peripherals from Office Max for free (rebate took forever though).
Office Max Windows XP deal (scanner, CD burner, RAM) with coupon and rebates = $125.
L-desk from Office Max with coupon.
Nike mp3 player for $9 from Fry's.
50% off Tommy Hilfiger outlet from a Friends and Family coupon (I made out like a bandit on that one).
30% off Footlocker friends and family.

That's just off the top of my head. There's probably a lot more. Anyway, didn't get on any huge deals, but I did save a bundle on a lot of stuff I needed anyway. Thanks for the posts, keep them coming and I'll do my best to look out for you guys too.

Richard C.

 

[annihilator]

I just want to say that with reference to the Iomega/Plextor deal, while I got in on it, it was NO WHERE NEAR as hot as the SCSI Imation/Plextor deal of the previous year. I sold that drive to upgrade to a Plex 12/10/32A the following summer, and boy did I regret it. IDE sucks and I ended up paying more too. That's why I'm back on SCSI now...

I will add my vote to the opinion that this year was generally sucky for deals. I got in on a few nice ones: originally I just grabbed the Z560's because I couldn't pass at that price, but the more I listen to them the harder it is to think about giving them up! Still, there hasn't been too much else this year that really blew me away. I hate MIR's and avoid them like the plague, and it seems like at least 75% of deals posted here lately involve them. Around this time last year I scored a really nice $250 Toshiba DVD player for $160 shipped, thanks to Mercata (remember them?) and MSN. Still using it and loving it today.

Actually, the biggest deal for me has been the FS/T forum here at Anandtech. Most of the time with computer hardware you don't care if it's preowned (as long as it's not an overclocked cpu), since you just stick it in your case anyway and never look at it again. And it's easy to find stuff that's way below pricewatch. I scored a Rio500 with a 64 mb upgrade for $100 shipped about a month ago...that player would cost me $150 new online, plus $25 for the card, plus shipping, and the guy I bought it from sent me a near mint player in the original packaging and everything. If you're looking for computer-related items, I highly recommend you check it out.

And yes, in case you were wondering, I'm a lurker... Hey, what can I say, I never seem to come across hot deals on my own.

 

[RigorousT]

Ah, the Deal of the year thread... the time of the year I get swear a lot because I missed out on some of the action because I wasn't
as clever or shrewd as my brethren...

Although I can't complain....... I have tons of Attache's, CDRs, couple scanners, couple printers, a Handspring Visor, free t-shirts, a bundle of 3-in-1 mini-tools, maglights,
a library of technical training books (thanks cUSA), a Sprint Wireless AirCard modem, and a box full of batteries I got from kmart pm'd to target and used instore coupon + manufacturer coupon ------ all sitting snug in da closet.. Thanks AT!

Looking around... I gotta say my Andara barebone system is still running strong. That free mini-fridge we all got, was that this year? ah well, it's still
keeping my beer cold. Thank you Staples, you will always bring a tear to my eye and a... umm.. woody.. everytime I think about all the fun we had together.
My Samsung 950p monitor for $160 (good deal at the time!), the 4 port Belkin KMV with 4 sets of nice cables $55 (initial PM then AMEX PM two months later when found cheaper).

Dell blows...

I'm also a fan of the Fuji finepix2600 camera I managed to get from 800.com for $105 (+ a $50 gc +$30 accessory kit + 64mb SmartMedia....) actually was able to get them to pricematch.. I know, wasn't easy.

TestDrives were the big booster this year.. I went out and shook some hands and 4-6 weeks later was ~$50 richer x 16.. adds up They get some advertising, I get
some good gifts, it's all good.

what else.. what else... Couldn't get in on the AMD promo since they didn't pass by here and I must have some serious bad luck in the contest

I don't really capitalize on Ebay although I guess I coulda. Most these deals are just splurges.. Gotta admit I'm envious when people mention how they get
two of some deals, one to pay for the other... Smart thinking... I oughta not be so lazy hehe

It's been a good year.. There've been better, but Imma happy boy. TestDrives get my nomination..

 

[annihilator]

Oh yeah, last year I also got a Lexmark Z31 for $20 SHIPPED...no stupid rebates or anything. The ink alone is worth more than the price I paid.

 

[DeadParrot]

The free Mini Whisk from Delia Online. Mind you, I never did receive it...

 

[Jono182]

im gonna have to say:

1) compusa books deal...30+ books for a couple bucks
2) sprint pcs card - somehow got 4 delivered to my house?!?
3) the jcrew deal that im about to pull today! 25% sweaters + 20% coupon + 30% special discount card...i doubt they'll combine them all but if they do then i'll rape the whole store!

-jon

edit: oh and how can i forget the nice z-560's for my dorm room? yay!

edit2: those amd bastards made me stand out in the rain for a couple hours and ended up giving one to my friend and not me! grrr!

 

[Arkane]

in no particular order...

1. AMD XPP giveaway
2. Nokia 445Pro at Dell
3. hp 9900ci cd-rw/dvd combo at Dell $5!!!
4. WinXP pro channel excitement kit

it was a pretty good year

 

[Dyflam]

I remember getting the Miles Davis "Live at the Plugged Nickel" CD box set from Amazon for $10. Retails for about $130. Pricing error...

 

[bckey2]

Lets see. There was the:

1-Geforce 3 Ti200 from BB for $99 after mir
2-Humvee from Amazon for $15 shipped
3-Compaq Premier sound sytem from (I forgot) for $19 + shipping (suitcase sized subwoofer)
4-Antec sx830 case w/ 300 watt ps for $50 after mir + shipping
5-The Epson 880 printer from Dell for $30 *new*
6-Philips direct tv/tivo 35 hour rec with dolby digital for $49 at CC
7-Deluxe Tripod at CUSA for $15
8-The Dell deals (too numerous to name except for Mr. Plasma
9-The Dreamcast at $49 is a steal!
10-The refurb JBL HL-S810's for $94 a pair shipped direct from JBL

 

[Danzilla]

I have to vote for the Philips DirecTivo unit with free dual LNB dish from Circuit City for $100 before the $100 rebate (which I just got!) (Plus an extra remote by calling.)

While the Geforce 3 Ti 200 for $99 and Logitech Z560 were pretty great, I didn't feel the savings were in the same league.

I also wanted to nominate the Handspring/Glenayre visor deluxe package from CompUSA after Thanksgiving. $99.99 before the $100 rebate. Cool deal (once the rebate comes.)

D.

PS. Also gotta love a free esq watch I picked up while visiting Austin. Thanks davidsi!

 

[JameyF]

A legit copy of windows xp with lava lamp for $53....although the corperate edition is for sale now on Fleabay for $75 "buy it now"

Numerous dell % off deals price matched at staples + coupon/rebate (took advantage of only a couple, but they were smokin')

 

[BigDoggie]

Dell as "deal of the year"?

Maybe Dell as "promiser of the year" but they suck at fulfilling even normal, "real" orders, let alone honoring their ads for the real deals.

 

[Fullhouz]

:Q I can't believe it...we're talkin lava lamps. Unless I've missed somthin.

NETBANK Re-financing deal was worth up to $30 grand or more...
Closing cost = $10 a savings of $700 to $3 grand. +
No PMI +
Lower interest rate over the life of the loan many, many thousands!

My co-worker got in on the deal and he's all

 

[Princeman]

My favorites:
1) Visor deluxe for free
2) Hp 215 digital camera for free with memeory card
3) Nokia prepaid cell phone for free with $50 air time
4) Palm M100 for free after test drive

Wow, Anandtech is the best!

 

[lizardboy]

as much as i enjoyed the gforce3 ti200 for $99 & all the other hot deals, you can't touch the netbank refinance

i'm going to save over $75,000 thanks to this deal

 

[Valvoline6]

1. Best Buy GF3 Ti 200 $99. NO DOUBT
2. MSN Passport $100 rebate with AMEX price match to get digital cameras at 50% off.
3. Original Office Max Chendyne 24x10x40 for $65
4. Dell Deals

 

[Ziptar]

HDOTY nominations for me in no particular order....... This is my top 11 anyway....

1. XP Pro with Lava Lamp $52
2. HP 215 Camera w/ Accessory Kit $42.00
3. HP 9900ci cd-rw/dvd combo Price match at Sears @ $26.00
4. Dell 1GB PC-133 RAM (4 X 256MB Sticks) $82.00
5. Best Buy Crucial 256MB PC2100 DDR $22.63 each
6. Staples HP Scanner/Apollo Printer Combo Deal After Rebates and selling them made $90
7. OD Viewsonic VG150 15" Flat Panel $229.00
8. Staples HP 3300Cse Scanner FREE
9. Staples Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical Keyboard and Mouse Combo $35
10. Plextor 16X10X40 CDR-W Drive Dell Deal with $20 Plextor Rebate $86.00
11. Target/ Rayovac/Sears Clearence PS3 Charger and 8 AA rechargeable NiMH Batteries FREE after rebates and a little deal engineering...

 

[guttertech]

Best:

1st place: I think the ~ $8 final price for my HP DVD + CD-RW drive from Dell. Lots of other good Dell deals.

2nd place: The huge number of Amazon.com gift certificates and promo certificates given out by them and others for buying stuff I needed anyway, answering surveys, reading my email, etc. Half my Xmas shopping this year and a few new games, free. Almost as good as the $500 voucher from Buy.com last year.


Worst Deal: The WinXP bundle deal from OfficeMax, I am STILL waiting on my CD-RW and micro cam.
Who knows what will happen with the rebate (SOL probably).

 

[emaij]

I hate this threat just like I hated last years....... Cuz I have to see all the great deals that I missed!

 

[Sanjoelo]

* Creative Nomad Jukebox for $30-ish@ Bluelight (one of the few that actually got it).

* Logitech Z560's@Dell for $109. These things just kick some serious butt.

* HP Jornada 667@Dell for for $445.

* Palm 3xe for $120@ Staples (sold used for same price months later).

* A couple of <$200 iPaq 3635 deals (a Staples PM and Radio Shack). I'll never forget the kid who worked at Staples exclaiming "OH MY GOD, THIS IS HEINOUS !!!" from the lockup after his manager approved a PM of over $250. Then I handed him a $30 off coupon. :Q

* Spindle upon spindle upon spindle of free CDR's (love them Fujis!!)

* Sooooo many CC and Staples free after rebate deals.


Honorable mention to Crucial for making plentiful, quality RAM something that anyone could own.

Raw AT deal of the year: the disappearance of HawkeyeNJ, who contributed many a fine deal to these forums.

-JB

 

[NetworkDad]

Gateway 6400 deal
or
ING Bank free $50

 

[manko]

No one got in on the Netgear router for -$30 ? I only bought one, but I ended up selling it on e6ay, since I didn't have broadband. So that was $120 for free. Too bad I didn't get a few thousand of those. Then I picked up the DLink router for $9.99, which I'm using now.

Other good ones: The BB $99 Geforce3 smokes any graphics card deal this year. We're all laughing everyone who got the $200 Radeon 8500, or even the $104 Geforce2 Ultra.

Also the BB $49 WD 60gb (the one that wasn't defective is working good).

WORST DEALS OF THE YEAR:

1. AMD Giveaway, I froze my a$$ off for nothing. Nada. Played online 15 times for nothing. Nada. The worst part is, I'll probably end up buying an AMD system anyway.

2. I didn't get and free Visor this year. My orders got canelled or my local stores just sucked.

3. RAM prices going back up, just before I start shopping for a new system.

 

[Dood]

#1: Gateway 6400 deal ($450 delivered)....still rockin' on this great PC!!!
#2: Nikko Humvee R/C ($13 each delivered from Amazon) ...lots of great Christmas gifts

Still a relatively slow year. I first found ATHD in Nov. 1998. Back then, these "new" online stores were BUYING customers. Buy.com had a new customer $30off$30 coupon. A "new" customer was defined as a unique email address. Buy.com paid for my Christmas that year....

 

[ieee]

Tie between the Sprint Wireless Modem, and something that i cannot say in this forum (basically deal of the century)...