There is a link on today's front page here about Iomega's 250 Zip trade-in deal. At first glance it sounds like a pretty good deal, trade in you old Zip 100 and get a pretty decent discount on a Zip 250.
Well after all the problems w/ my Atapi Zip 100 and my 686B Southbridge, I was only too eager to get rid of my Atapi Zip. So I ordered the Zip 250 on the trade-in.
I bought the USB self-powered Zip 250 which retails for $179. Iomega's trade-in price is $125, plus you must send back you Zip 100, at least they give you a prepaid mailing label for UPS.
Here's the catch, they don't include a 250mb Zip disk that you would get buying the drive at retail, a $20 value. This is special retail packaging from Iomega only and the box says that it cannot be returned to a retail establishment. I'm assuming it would have a different UPC code so retailers would be able to spot it immediately. Maybe the box doesn't even have a bar code since it is only sold through Iomega and probably only for this promotion.
The day after I got my Zip 250 from Iomega, I saw the REAL retail USB Zip which included a blank 250mb disk selling for $149. I paid $135 w/ shipping so I only saved $14. But if I were to buy a single 250mb Zip disk, it would cost me $19 so I actually paid more for this drive on a trade-in deal. Not to mention I had to send back a fully working Zip 100 drive.
This is actually a pretty bad deal and a damn deceptive marketing promotion by Iomega. Fortunately you have 30 days to return the drive to Iomega if you are not satisfied, but I was too lazy to return it and since the drive did solve my 686B problems I kept it. The only case where I could see this being a good deal were if you had a broken Zip drive lying around that was ready for the trash can to send back as your trade-in.
Anyone that sees this deal, don't do it...it's not a deal...it's a ripoff.
Well after all the problems w/ my Atapi Zip 100 and my 686B Southbridge, I was only too eager to get rid of my Atapi Zip. So I ordered the Zip 250 on the trade-in.
I bought the USB self-powered Zip 250 which retails for $179. Iomega's trade-in price is $125, plus you must send back you Zip 100, at least they give you a prepaid mailing label for UPS.
Here's the catch, they don't include a 250mb Zip disk that you would get buying the drive at retail, a $20 value. This is special retail packaging from Iomega only and the box says that it cannot be returned to a retail establishment. I'm assuming it would have a different UPC code so retailers would be able to spot it immediately. Maybe the box doesn't even have a bar code since it is only sold through Iomega and probably only for this promotion.
The day after I got my Zip 250 from Iomega, I saw the REAL retail USB Zip which included a blank 250mb disk selling for $149. I paid $135 w/ shipping so I only saved $14. But if I were to buy a single 250mb Zip disk, it would cost me $19 so I actually paid more for this drive on a trade-in deal. Not to mention I had to send back a fully working Zip 100 drive.
This is actually a pretty bad deal and a damn deceptive marketing promotion by Iomega. Fortunately you have 30 days to return the drive to Iomega if you are not satisfied, but I was too lazy to return it and since the drive did solve my 686B problems I kept it. The only case where I could see this being a good deal were if you had a broken Zip drive lying around that was ready for the trash can to send back as your trade-in.
Anyone that sees this deal, don't do it...it's not a deal...it's a ripoff.