@lowes, 2nd Christmas party, day 1

An hour after the first deal was posted, and it seems nobody got through, the mob gets angrier. It's not the Christmas Spirt over @Lowes second facebook Christmas party. Comments are flying fast and furious and people are getting madder by the minute with the lack of communication from Lowes, purportedly suffering from server errors again, but I'm not so sure that's true. I wonder if they're just saying it to make people stay and talk, even if they are mad. After all, for every 5 mad people, there's one who's happy.
While I loved the last @Lowes fbook party, I had the time and ability to sit at the computer, which I do not have the luxury of today. Oh, well, so I miss out on a ten dollar email (which I did get last time and for which I was thankful), or spending more money on something I probably don't need, even if it is discounted. Good luck to all who have the patience and the time to sit. Lucky you, you're probably the ones who are done with their Christmas shopping!
Lowes, u need to make a Separate WALL POST if you have comments to ppl - if we don't catch it when it goes by, the comments are going so fast most ppl don't see it. If the codes are gone, WALL POST that too, as well as an approximate time for the next code so ppl can stop trying, go do what they need to do, and come back -you'll have less of an angry mob on your hands. By making people continuously sit at their computer to make sure they don't miss out on the next "big deal" is playing with the psychology of Christmas shopping and while you may think that is an effective marketing tool, I think you are creating chaos, stress, anxiety for some of the people here which I don't think is your intention. Just sayin.... better communication would help to chill the crowd (think of it as an appetizer).

JCPenney

I paid $13.50 for SouthPole pants at JCPenney which are $14.99 on Black Friday (the signs were going up while I was there). That's not JCP's usual 'clearance' sticker on the price tag. How'd that happen?

Target Overcharge

Target overcharged me THREE times in ONE day! Another Christmas Trick. Shoppers Beware! Especially this weekend, as it is going to be hectic and quick and it's easy to lose track of your money as well as the correct price that you're supposed to be paying. I've found with all stores, not just Target, that overcharging is typical, so I always know prior to checking out what the price of the product is, and despite who I may be holding up behind me, I try to get the cashier to go slow enough so I can see the prices of products as they're being rung up. If I didn't watch, or check my receipts if I can't see everything being rung up, I'd be overcharged by stores on a regular basis. On Monday, I purchased the Monopoly UBuild Game at Target, for which I had a manufacturer's coupon for $3.00 and a Target coupon for $5.00 (or vice-versa), which should have brought the price down to $7.00 (pre-tax), as the shelf tag said $15.00. I was charged $17.99 at the register and when I mentioned the shelf price, she said she adjusted it, but after I paid and looked at the receipt, it indicated no adjustment was given - I was charged $10.99 - seven dollars less than the so-called "real price" of $17.99, but I wasn't even credited with the entire $8.00 in coupons. So I schleped over to the service desk and I don't know who's idea it was, but I went back to look again to make sure I was right, and I took a picture of the shelf tag. However, once I returned to customer service, she decided my picture wasn't sufficient evidence and had to walk back to the toys with me to see for herself. Lo and Behold, the shelf tag was as I told her, and there were plenty of other Monopoly UBuilds in the same spot, so she couldn't claim (as she was trying to) that it was an anomaly and the game was in the wrong place, etc. She immediately removed the $15.00 shelf tag, revealing a regular price of $19.99 for the game. I was then given the $15.00 price (minus my $8 in coupons, bringing my total from $10.99 plus tax, down to $7.00 plus tax), but had I not been paying attention I would have paid $4+ dollars more than I should have. I thought I had also been overcharged for my batteries, but after literally 25 minutes of trying to purchase the Monopoly at the shelf price, I had to leave or I'd be late. I went back in the afternoon and walked around the store looking for battery displays: two shelves indicated a $7.49 price, but a third placement elsewhere in the store had a shelf tag of $7.99. So what's the real price, and how can they get away with doing this? For the second time that day, I went to the service desk for the price adjustment. It was only a .50 cent refund per battery package, and although they were happy to refund my dollar, I wasted a lot of time in Target correcting their mistakes. If this happened to you and you didn't realize it until you got home, would you return for the right price on the Monopoly game? What about the dollar (.50 per package) on the batteries? Would you just 'eat' the overcharge, figuring you'd waste more in gas and time than it was worth? Or would you return on principle, despite the low overcharge amount? Had I not noticed the game overcharge, I would have had a hard time going back later or on a different day to argue my case, as the shelf tag may have been changed by then. Nevermind the game, even if it was just the batteries, Target would have made a dollar off of me and that makes me wonder how many other people thought they were paying $7.49 for batteries, only to be charged .50 cents more. Did they even notice? and if so, how many actually went back? Are you more likely to go back for the $4.00 price adjustment, rather than the paltry one dollar overcharge? Leave your thoughts, and any of your horror stories we can share about being overcharged.

 

Free Venus Razor 4 US Soldiers

Follow the link below to get to Gillette's Facebook page to see their latest status update to email them at venus.im@pg.com "the name and address of a couragous woman you know serving in the military and we'll send them a free Venus Embrace razor. Please send the info to venus.im@pg.com and let us know who you want it to be from. We'll let them know we appreciate everything they do for us!" 
What a nice idea. The razors probably won't get there before Christmas, but if  you're sending a holiday care package to the same brave lady, remember to enclose shaving cream in your shipment. Go here to Gillette Venus on Facebook to send the free razor. 

Hasbro Toy Coupons and Rebates 2010

Hasbro has released new coupons for toys here. They include Transformers, Nerf, Remote Control Iron Man, Monopoly UBuild, Gogo Walking Pup and Baby Alive Care for Me Doll. Some may be good for after-Christmas sales as as none of them expire until 1/15/2011.
This week, you can combine the $3.00 'Monopoly U-Build' game ($14.99 on sale) coupon with the promotion at Toys R Us when you spend $35 in Hasbro games they'll give you a $10 gift card, PLUS the $3.00 mail-in-rebate they're offering here. That's TRIPLE dipping! (I just noticed they revised the rebate form to include more games and delete others here.) You should make sure your after-coupon price is $35 in order to qualify for the $10 card back. Even if you choose not to spend extra money on other games, your cost for Monopoly U Build is still only $8.99 plus tax (assuming you purchase it at the sale price this week and use the first rebate form).
There were/also are some Qpons on the back of some Kellogs cereal boxes. I had no idea until I read someone else's post and lo-and-behold, up in the massive stash we have of sale and coupon cereal, I found 2 oversize boxes (Frosted Mini Wheats and Froot Loops) we had gotten at Market Basket's grand opening which contained a coupon on the back of each box for $5.00 off a $19.99 Hasboro board game purchase. Idk if you can use both coupons in the same transaction, as the cereal box coupon clearly states 'not to be used in conjunction with any other offers.'
Make sure to take note your gift card won't be good for 6 hours until after your original purchase. Idk if this is a new policy, but it really pissed me off ! yesterday when I had my whole scenario of shopping down-pat and was forced to hold off because I couldn't automatically 'roll over' my so-called "gift" card into my next purchase. I wish I had the time to write a letter to Toys R Us because I completely hate them for making me waste my time and gas money to go back to the store to use something they term a "gift" card, but which isn't really a gift if it comes with conditions. I think it's a deceptive, unfair and arbitrary practice! Moreover it's just an excuse for them to "lead" me back to the store to spend more money. Time is on their side because chances are some people will lose out on the gift card purchase because they didn't intend to go back and they'll forget about it (expires 12/31 I think), going back won't be worth the $10, or they'll lose the darn thing in the craziness of the holiday hoopla and Toys R Us will pocket the money. It's a trick and I don't like it! Halloween is over.

iTunes Coupon Gift Card at Apple Store

Click here to print your coupon from Early Shopping Pays for $5.00 off a special 3/$10  card pack at select stores. Coupon expires 11/13. This is a great deal because I've never seen iTunes discounted before (but I actually have never looked, so.... I could be wrong.)

Catalina 10/10

I've been trying to keep track on the last few trips to Shaws and these are the Catalina Deals that have printed from there:
('onyo' means On Your Next Order - after the transaction, the coupon machine gives you a coupon for $5.00 to use onyo!)
Oct. 8th-31  Scott t-paper, p-towels & napkins, Buy 2 get $2.00 oyno, buy 3 get $2.00 oyno
Oct 4th-31   General Mills Fruit Snacks, Buy 3 get $1.00 oyno, buy 4 get $2.00 oyno, buy 5+ get $3.00 oyno
Oct 8th-31    Cottonelle 12 pack t-paper, Buy 2 get $2.00 oyno, Buy 3+ get $3.00 oyno
Oct 8th-24    This next one is my favorite because there are a lot of scenarios to get good deals. Buy 5 of the following items in one transaction, get $5.00 oyno. The printout (scanned in below) says one coupon per transaction, but doesn't limit my transactions. Shaws better not either! They get so mad when I play the deal game, I usually get a nasty look. The upload is hard to see on here, but if you click the pict, it'll open in another window where you'll easily be able to read it.
If you printed out the $5.00 off five participating Kraft cheese or dairy products, you can kind-of double dip with the cheese (sadly, only the cheese....), but even that was a great coupon from Kraft.  I'm was sure all of these things would be on sale over the next few weeks so I checked the flyer and this week we have to choose from, well, mostly everything on the list : Capri Sun $1.99, Crystal Light 2/$5, Kraft Salad Dressing 2/$5, Singles 2/$6, Maxwell House & Starbucks Coffee $7.99, Oreo, Nilla Wafers, Ritz $2.99 each, Bacon $4.99, Bologna $2.00, Planters $3.99, Oatmeal 2/$4, Shaws PB&J's $1.77, Water $2.99. 
There are a ton of scenarios where you won't spend a lot (3 peanut butters, 2 jelly = $8.85 out of pocket, but you're getting $5.00 back, in essence making your purchase only $3.35 for 5 things- 67 cents each!). And then you take that $5.00 and stock up on Capri Sun for school lunches or snack, and pay only $5.00 out of pocket after you use the coupon, and you'll still leave with another five dollars off your next order. Plus, if you've been printing coupons, your out of pocket could be really low, and each time you do this deal, five meals go to Feeding America.

Capri Sun (10 ct.), Crystal Light (4-8 ct.), Crystal Light 8qt., Culinary Circle Pizza 12-33.5 oz., Kool Aid Jammers (10 ct.), Kraft Cheese (shredded, cheddar, chunk), Kraft Salad Dressing (14-16 oz.), Kraft Singles (16 ct. pkg), Maxwell House (31.5-39 oz.), Nabisco Oreos, Nilla Wafers, Ritz, Wheat Thins, Oscar Mayer Bacon, Oscar Mayer Lunchmeat, Planters Snack Nuts, Shaws Cereal or Instant or Quick Oatmeal, Shaws P-nut Butter or Jelly (18 oz.), Shaws Super Chill Soda, Shaws Spring Water (24 pk.) , Starbucks Coffee (12 oz.)

Free DiGiorno Pizza

Blog? Direct Link? Blog? Direct Link? I never know but I like to talk, so you get the blog for this one.
Free DiGiorno Pizza coupon mailed to you when you upload your photo onto a template of your choice on the DiGiorno Facebook page here. Max. Coupon Value is $3.28, so I'm not sure where DiGiorno thinks I'm buying pizza, or how much their product is being sold for, but DiGiornos around here are priced $5.99 at the lowest. I wonder if it's a smaller pizza, or if I'm going to have to make up the difference in price.
I'm sure I lost many of you at the point where the link was posted, but if you're still here, we love this pizza in my house; to us, it tastes better than delivery. Except for the one with the cheese in the crust. We didn't like that.  I already have a coupon for a free deep dish (printed off somewhere) but can't find it in any stores around me. I think it expires soon, so this new coupon should give me enough time to keep looking for it. I hope! I'd like to try the deep dish, we really enjoy this brand (California Kitchen, too. Sorry DiGiorno - I buy you both...).

iOS 4 for iPhone NOW Available

I can't find a direct link, but learned from re-tweets that the new operating system for iPhone is now available. Apple's web site still says 'coming soon', so there's no link there, but I just plugged in my phone and was given the opportunity to download the new software in iTunes. It's taking a while, the file is big, and I'm eager to see what the new software brings.

Gillette Pro Glide Review

     I, like so many people, tried and failed, tried and failed to get a Free Gillette Pro Glide when they were giving them away on Facebook. Then all of a sudden there were dozens of sites giving them out, and I was able to get two. One for me, and one for hubby. I know! ProGlide is for Men Silly Girl, but there was so much hype, I wanted to try it. My son wanted to use it the other day, but I said 'no'; I'd posted the free links enough times he had plenty of chances to get his own.
     Today I finally got my chance to use the razor. I don't know how guys grow so much hair on their face in just one day, but in order for me to use the razor and give an effective review, I had to wait weeks until the hair on my legs was so thick, it was either use "Love My Carpet" or the ProGlide. I went for the razor. The directions were easy enough to get the battery in, but I don't recall them telling me how to turn it on. Maybe they did, I just got distracted by the sleek blue and silver look of the razor. I shot the blade off by accident trying to turn the razor on, but finally found the little button that makes it go. (Note to designers: you may want to make that button a little more noticeable for guys. We all know how men have trouble finding certain buttons - but that's a completely different blog post and probably not one that's G rated...).
     I used Gillette Fusion shaving cream since I've got a stockpile from coupons & a couple of great sales at the drug stores. Do I care that the shaving cream and the razor I'm using are really both for men? Nope. I'm too cheap to go buy woman's shave cream when I've got so many men's Gillettes sitting in the closet, and I've been dying to try out this razor. Besides, unless I used a real cheepo no-name thin shave cream, I can't imagine the brand of cream or gel would make any difference with the razor.
     The swipes of the razor up my legs was smooth, and I wasn't 'askaird around my knees as I usually am with regular razors, since the ProGlide really does seem to glide easily over and around knee bumps (so I assume face/chin bumps too). It was a bit awkward holding the razor right and I had to go over spots a couple of times, but this is understandable since it IS angled for a guy's face and not a woman's leg.
     Some reviews I've read say the vibration is a bit weird to get used to, but I really didn't notice it.  At least not until I became a victim of operator error when holding the razor in my left hand while pumping shave cream into my right hand. I forgot the razor was moving, it touched my right arm and I got a little cut. Actually it's a pretty long cut, the length of the razor blade, but it's not deep and only hurts because I'm a wimp; it was my own fault. Other than cutting my arm, (really, who does that while shaving their legs?!) I never once nicked my legs, and the shave is incredibly close and smooth.
     So now it's time to watch for a sale and use my $1.00 coupon that came with the razor to buy more blades and pass the razor down to my teenage son for his opinion. I've a feeling he's going to like it (a step up from his "Fusion" which he loves) and I know my husband will like it once he manages to get around to shaving (which will probably be tonight because it's Saturday night and if he want's to make out, he'll have to get rid of the needles growing on his face...). After all, I do have silky soft legs.

Purex 3-in-1

Free 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets from Purex can be found here. I've already received my sample, and it comes with 2 sheets and a $1.00 coupon which you'll have plenty of time to save it for a buy-one-get-one free sale because it doesn't expire until 12/31 Two Thousand ELEVEN!  I don't have much of a static problem when I don't use laundry sheets, so I can't vouch for this product's 'anti-static' properties, but believe my clothes are softer with the laundry sheet, versus not using a sheet at all (which I generally don't do). My clothes had a slight and pleasant fragrance with my 'Spring Oasis' sample, and I'm guessing there are other scents as well. These little flat sheets are great for laundromats and college students, and of course home-use for the convenience of not having to add an additional product/cost. The package warns that the sheets may be poisonous to people and pets if ingested or gets into the eyes, and isn't intended for your children's sleepwear or other products which are flame resistant as it could reduce resistance from fire.

Free Snikiddy Snacks Pack

UH OH! Too many people, and too few samples, the offer is gone. Sorry for anyone who tried and couldn't get through. I'll repost it when it comes up again. Snikiddy is a great company, and they do these freebies often.  



Snikiddy snacks are delicious "andy capp" type all natural snack chips. Even after receiving my sample from Snikiddy, I've continued to buy this product because my kids liked it, and it's free of all that muck and guck (preservatives) in regular chips. (I still love regular chips tho, and haven't/won't/can't give them up, even with all the muck and guck..)

You can receive your free Snikiddy Snack Pack when you like Snikiddy Snacks on Facebook here.

And if you've got a minute after that, my kids made a Snikiddy commercial here on Utube. It's only 38 seconds (and silly), what've you got to lose? Plus, there's a link on the side of mine to a really great commercial, HipHopKidzDance, from Snikiddy themselves.

Kraft Chipolte Mayo

"Makeover your Sandwich" with Kraft's 2 free samples of Kraft Sandwich Shop Chipotle Mayo and Garlic and Herb Mayo from Kraft's UTube Channel here. Scroll down to the bottom left for the box to click on. This is going to become my husband's favorite sandwich spread, I think. Catch a video while you're at the site.

HomeDepot3M Free Runner

Register here for a Free BIG! sample of 3M Anti-slip floor runner from Home Depot.  

FREE Ritz Crackerfuls

We're Getting Free Samples!

Ritz Crackers here on Facebook is offering a free sample of Ritz Cheddar and Bacon Flavored Crackerfuls. If my link doesn't bring you right to the "Open for Fun" tab at the top of their page, click it and scroll down to the bottom to get your free sample.

You can also download Wyclef's new single "17" (which I'm not familiar with, I'm sorry to say) when you fan/or 'like' Ritz on Facebook. (Same tab as above.)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Wise/116803925018531?ref=sgm

ProGlide Give Away Gillette

Gillette has THREE more giveaways this week on their YouTube channel here. Starting today (Tues. 5/25) at noon (eastern time) enter for your chance to get one of 4,000 Fusion ProGlide Samples. You'll find the blue box to click on, halfway down the page on the right. Today's giveaway starts at 12 o'clock eastern time. (Go to What Time Is It here to convert your time zone to eastern time - and bookmark that link for future reference.) I was able to get a ProGlide Sample when Gillette had their Facebook giveaway (find Gillette on Facebook here). My husband says it's one of the greatest shave's he's had in his life, and he usually uses an electric razor. I'd like to snag another one to try it for myself. Your sample comes with one razor, a battery and a $5.00 coupon.

Crystal Light from VocalPoint

If you're a member of Vocalpoint, they've got another great try-n-tell today, which you can sign up for here. You may have to log in first and then go back to the try-n-tell page, or find it from Vocalpoint's home page here. Today's sample is Crystal Light Pure Fitness, which are little packets filled with flavor crystals which you add to water. These little packages are great for on the go, and you can keep some in your glove compartment or purse for when you want to add a little kick to your water. My son keeps a full pitcher of water in a britta filter in his dorm fridge, and uses the Crystal Light packages all the time.  They're great for a quick drink for the little ones too, and the best part is that it's naturally sweetened and contains no preservatives. Healthy and Free! 

Starbucks Ice Cream Coupon

                                 Print your coupon here for .75c off one pint of Starbucks Ice Cream. If your grocery store doubles coupons, you can get deeee-licious ice cream for a low price. I'm shopping at Shaws today where it's on sale for $2.99. With my double coupon I should be able to snag a pint for 1.49. Shaws seems to change their coupon policy on a whim, so hopefully they're still doubling internet coupons. (I know they will no longer take coupons for 'free' items printed off the internet.)

DiGiorno $3 Coupon

This is so much fun! Go on DiGiorno's Facebook Page here  to fool your friends on Facebook into thinking something incredible happened to you, via short news story. They've got different scenarios - cops bursting into your house - you finding something rare and turning it in for a reward - making a one-in a million blindfolded basketball shot and winning 5 grand. A short blurb gets posted to your page and links to a "Gotcha!" page. You don't even have to 'like' DiGiornos to get in on the fun. At the end you can print your $3 coupon (off Digorno Pizza and Breadsticks - on sale for $6.99 at Shaws - you can get it for $3.99 w/the coupon till Thurs.), or you can skip the whole story thing and print your coupon anyway. 

ProGlideChallenge

American samples are gone, but Canadians can still get their free razor. Get ready for the Pro-Glide challenge here with a FREE sample of the new Fusion ProGlide 5 blade razor. Scroll down to the yellow box on the right hand side. The ProGlide Challenge begins again on  May 25, 26 & 27 -  like Gillette on facebook here to get a reminder on your page when the Challenge starts again. They're giving away 4,000 a day!