When I was younger, my family and I would make the annual back-to-school pilgrimage to the outlet malls located in a city about 20 minutes from where we lived. As kids, we were always excited to go, because we knew the deals would make it much easier to persuade our parents to let us get the things we wanted.

A recent visit to some other malls had me shaking my head in disbelief. Had I imagined those deals of 15 years ago, or are outlet ‘discounts’ just not what they used to be any more?

A recent MSN Money article highlights the shock I experienced, and documents how the tide has turned in the outlet store industry. Here are a few things that I thought were good to keep in mind:

1. Beware the “Outlet State of Mind”

Just because something is on sale at an outlet store doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Many consumers are automatically trained to think something is a good buy if their getting it for less than the regular price. I remember comparing prices at one particular outlet store to their regular retail outlet in the mall and found the prices to be almost the same, even though the outlet prices were advertised as “20-30% off”.

The prices were discounted at the outlet store, but they were discounted off of higher prices than the items usually sold for.

Consider this excerpt from the article:

“It’s not the asking price that gets us to spend, researchers believe, but the amount “saved.”

MRIs of shoppers’ brains have shown that spending triggers discomfort. Discounting helps alleviate that, Shell says, “so we associate more with the money we saved than the money we spent.”

Outlet malls exploit shoppers’ discount cravings by setting artificially high reference prices, then marking them down. At one jewelry store, for example, Shell examined a necklace with an asking price of more than $3,000 and a discount price of $800. Its actual value: about $300.”

2. Are you buying an “outlet model”?

Some stores actually create and produce merchandise exclusively for their outlet stores. In the past outlet stores sold slightly damaged or disfigured merchandise, but now you’ll find entirely different styles in some stores.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with buying a product produced for an outlet store, but there may be quality differences you aren’t aware of.

3. Don’t let the trip convince you to spend.

Outlet malls are purposely located off the beaten path, because the sunk cost in the travel usually motivates people to spend. The author of the article tells of convincing her husband to buy some jeans, saying “Well, we drove all this way, we might as well get something.”

Plan ahead, and know when you’re going and see if you can make the trip worth your while in other ways. We always stopped by a waterfall that was on the way to the store, and went as a family to have “bonding time.”

4. Don’t “Graze”

Just like shopping at the grocery store without a list is a great way to spend more than you planned, heading to buy clothes, luggage, shoes or other outlet items without some planning can be costly as well.

You don’t need a item-by-item list, but having a general idea of what you’re looking for can help guide you. Heading to the outlet stores ‘just to see what’s there’ can be painful for your wallet.

Outlet stores are still a great place to head when looking for a great deal. Being aware of the ‘context’ of the prices and the products you are purchasing will help you be a smart shopper and find those great deals that outlets are known for.

What are some of your outlet store tricks for getting the most for your money?

Source: Are Outlet Malls for Suckers?

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Outlet Malls – Great Buy or Money Drain?

I produce a lot of garbage, and I’m not talking about just my writing. Here’s one reason: Even though the grocery store is only about a block or two away from my apartment, I tend to take large shopping trips infrequently rather than smaller trips more frequently.

Here are the problems with this approach.

I’ve been going through a large number of plastic bags, producing more garbage than necessary. Formerly, I saved the plastic bags with the intention of reusing them for the next trip, but I never did so. This usually resulted in a ball of increasing size underneath the sink in the kitchen, consisting of crumpled plastic bags. Every once in a while, when I decided one particular ball of bags would never be used, they would go in the garbage and the process would restart.

Also, because I wait long between trips, I have a lot of food and paper products to buy, more than I can carry in one trip. Rather than walking two blocks to the store, I drive from one parking lot to the next to pile the full bags into my car, transport them back to my apartment, and carry them up to my second-floor apartment in multiple trips.

I’ve solved the first problem. Stop & Shop, my local grocery store, offers reusable fabric bags for sale. They cost $0.99 each and one fabric bag holds more than one plastic bag, and it does so more comfortably. Every time you bring a fabric bag back to the store and use it for your shopping, the cashier will provide a $0.05 credit per bag on your receipt.

I purchased ten bags in a recent shopping trip to help reduce my plastic usage. In order for this purchase to “pay off” for me, I’ll need to buy 198 bags of groceries. My initial purchase was probably too high — I didn’t realize the bags were so capacious. For one of my large shopping trips, I use only five or six bags. At that rate, it will take 33 to 36 trips to the groceries, or about three years, for me to “break even” on my purchase.

More importantly, I won’t be producing as much plastic garbage.

In terms of the second problem, my girlfriend suggested I purchase a cart to transport my groceries to eliminate the necessity of driving. It’s not a bad idea. It would reduce the short trips I take in my “gas-guzzling” Honda Civic and provide me with more exercise. I’m just about out of storage space in my apartment, however, so I’m not quite sure where I’d leave the cart when not in use. I understand there might be folding carts available, in which case, I could probably store the cart in the closet, so I’ll have to research this further.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Reusable Bags at the Grocery Store

RIS News, a retail technology publication, announced some interesting findings recently related to consumer shopping behavior.

According to Deborah Weinswig of Citi Investment Research, the recession is creating more bargain hunters and transforming our shopping style in four key ways:

1. “Trading Down” to Private Label
There’s a cost benefit to going generic, and store brand sales are increasing at stores like BJs, Costco and Target. People are becoming less willing to pay 20% more on average just for a label. Of course, this means the marketing folks out there are trying even harder to build brand loyalty to justify their premium prices.

2. “Trading Down” to Lower-Priced Products
Higher food costs (5.8% inflation in January 2008) are causing consumers to examine their grocery bills more closely, and grocers are commenting on a shift from “steak to chicken.” The USDA is forecasting more increases in the near term, so you may be seeing less filet mignon and more ramen noodles on your dinner table soon. Luckily, there are some great sites out there to help you achieve great culinary feats with less expensive ingredients.

3. “Trading Down” to Cheaper Channels
Not only are consumers buying less expensive goods, they’re also visiting more discount stores. RIS details how Wal-Mart is again trumping Target:

Around the last recession, Wal-Mart outcomped Target almost every month (5/00-7/03) and that reversed when the economy strengthened (8/03-11/07). Now for 3 months in a row, we have seen Wal-Mart outcomp Target and we believe this is the beginning of a longer-term trend.

4. “Trading In” From Restaurants
Cooking at home is becoming a more appealing option for many, as I myself can attest after spending $40 on 2 Pizzeria Uno chicken salads for dinner. (What was I thinking?)

2007 brought the greatest year-over-year increase in at-home food sales since the 1940s, a 240 basis point increase. After remaining flat since 2001, dining in grew to 53.2% of total food expenditures last year, and to 54.6% in January 2008. Perhaps we should thank Rachael Ray and her cult of the 30-minute meal.

Have your shopping styles been affected as the economy slows? What changes have you made?

Cost-Cutting Consumers Trade Down from Steak to Chicken [RIS News]

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Cost-Cutting Consumers Trade Down from Steak to Chicken

My day-to-day existence includes nearly 4 hours of commuting, 8-12 hours of work where I’m without access to my personal e-mail, and very little time left over in which to live life to the fullest.

In my endless struggle to balance work, friends and family, I find that mobile web access is a must.

For years, I’ve been a faithful Verizon Wireless customer, enjoying my 17% employee discount and spending an extra $6-7 a month for bare-bones mobile web access on my teeny little flip phone.

I’ve often stared with envy at the iPhone and web-enabled PDAs like the Blackberry, but the more I look into these options, the more I realize I’m simply not interested in paying that much for mobile web access. My company’s not about to pony up the cash, and I’m hesitant to pay $30 or more per month just to be constantly accessible. And since my contract’s not yet up, I need to stay with my current provider to avoid termination fees.

Since I was recently eligible to upgrade my mobile phone at a reduced rate, I went to my local Verizon Wireless shop to search for more affordable solutions. There were, of course, fewer cheap options than I’d hoped. I’ll outline them here to help save you time in your own search:

Option 1: The Smartphone
Service Charge: $45/month
Phone Cost: $200-$600
This option offers really cool smartphones like the Palm Treo and XV6800. E-mail is pushed right to the phone instantly, plus there’s a QWERTY keyboard and nice screen size.

Option 2: The Blackberry
Service Charge: $30 (personal e-mail) or $45 (corporate e-mail) per month
Phone Cost: $200-$400
A nice little integrated trackball is a plus, and the QWERTY keyboard is functional if small. Browsing is primarily text-based, and e-mail is pushed to the device. I’d have full integration with my corporate network for the $45 monthly charge, but must choose between having corporate or personal e-mail.

Option 3: The iPhone Wannabe
Service Charge: $15 per month for V CAST V Pak
Phone Cost: $200-$400
Phones available include the LG Voyager with a frontal touch screen and LG enV with a typical mobile phone exterior. Both phones open to reveal a secondary screen for web surfing and QWERTY keyboard. Mobile web access is unlimited with the plan, but you must log in for access. Full graphical web browsing is available.

Option 4: The Traditional Mobile Phone
Service Charge: $6 per month (plus additional airtime/megabyte charges depending on plan)
Phone Cost: Free-$300
This is my old way of mobile web browsing, peering at a small screen whilst tapping out responses on the numerical keypad. There are new phones like the VX9400 which offer better screen sizes and optional mobile TV, but otherwise these are normal cell phones. Depending on level of usage, this can be the cheapest option.

I also looked at the possibility of getting a wireless modem and laptop, but the service charge ranged from $40-60 a month before I ever got around to pricing out ultraportable laptops. Too much for my blood, plus I’m opposed to lugging around even more gadgets.

Stymied by the options, I logged a few more store visits and calls to customer service before I figured out the cheapest way to get what I wanted: Option 3, with the LG Voyager, which has been dubbed the “iPhone Killer”. It’s not got nearly the same features, but the concepts and overall feel are similar. Forbes described its features best:

Voyager is designed to be a multimedia workhorse, combining access to Verizon’s broadcast TV, video and music service with GPS navigation, high-speed Web browsing, and expandable memory (from 64 megabytes up to 8 gigabytes with a memory card). It has a 2.81-inch exterior touch screen that opens to reveal another screen and a full keyboard.

The touch screen worried me somewhat, but I plan to baby it. The front and interior screens were nicely sized and larger than any of the other mobile phone choices. And no matter how much I surf or e-mail, my mobile web expenses are capped at $15 a month.

I’m pretty happy with my fake, lower-tech iPhone. I don’t have any plans to blind myself editing documents on the thing, so I don’t miss the lack of full PDA functionality. And logging into my e-mail is fine with me – an extra $250 per year just to have it pushed to my phone seems unnecessary.

After paying $200 for the phone upgrade and raising my monthly mobile web costs from $7 to $15, I’m now as wired as I’m going to get.

Until the next round of mobile gadgets, at least.

Have you found any good mobile web deals with other wireless companies? Do share!

Verizon Turns Up Its Cool Quotient [Forbes]
Verizon Voyager Fan Site
Apple’s iPhone: Adding Up the Costs [Apple 2.0 Blog]

Image Credits: Verizon Wireless

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Too Cheap for iPhone or Blackberry, But I Got My Mobile Web Access

Last week, I ordered some new high definition audio/video cables and an HDMI powered switch to prepare for the Blu-Ray player I’ll be receiving as I spend Christmas with my girlfriend’s family. I placed the order with MonoPrice.com, and I expected the delivery yesterday. As I normally do, often without thinking, I directed the cables and switch to be delivered to my home address. Unfortunately, I don’t work from home most of the time, so I was not here to receive the package.

As I expected, UPS left a note on my door indicating the delivery required a signature. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to call UPS and redirect the shipment to my work location before the 7:00 deadline for delivery changes. Today, I believed that I would see another notice on my door when arriving home, but there was no such notice. My first thought was that the package was either delivered to my neighbor who neglected to let me know or was left by my door and then stolen.

I checked the delivery status online. The website indicated that the package was delivered, so I began calling UPS to find out what the deal was. While dialing, I noticed the website contained a note saying the package was left on the balcony. I peered outside, and the box was in fact right by my balcony door. I live on the second floor; did the delivery person thrown the package? The delivery required a signature, so who signed for it? My guess is the building superintendent must have been nearby. He likely signed for the package, but why place it on the balcony? If he’s going to enter the apartment, he might as well leave it inside.

Perhaps he used a ladder.

photo: zyphbear

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

UPS Stealth Delivery

Unfortunately, I forgot to mention PriceProtectr during my recent Wall Street Journal interview, but I can’t praise this free service enough. This website keeps a private database of your purchases, in store or online, and monitors the price of the items. Many stores offer a price match policy, in which the customer would be entitled to a credit if the price of a purchased item drops within 30 days of purchase. While I normally check the price of large purchases on my own, PriceProtectr has the benefit of constant monitoring and alert.

A few weeks ago, my girlfriend A. purchased a gift for me — a somewhat pricey gift — from Best Buy. The gift is currently wrapped, so technically I shouldn’t know about it. But I do. This morning, I received notification that the price for the item, a Blu-Ray Disc player, dropped from $399 to $299. That’s a significant decrease, and the money saved could certainly be spent towards other things or deposited into savings.

Originally, my plan was to wait until I could find a lower-cost refurbished Blu-Ray player at a Sony outlet store, but receiving the player as a gift works as well. The price drop is just icing on the cake.

So when we get a chance, probably next weekend, we will visit the store with the receipt and take advantage of the Best Buy price drop policy.

Using PriceProtectr is easy, even if your purchase took place in person. Just find the URL listing the product and enter that address and your email address on the home page. PriceProtectr will do the rest, checking the price of your items each day. You’ll receive an email if the price drops and when the protection expires after 30 days from the purchase date.

photo: downbeat

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

PriceProtectr Just Saved My Girlfriend $100

Last Friday, the first portion of my latest interview with the Wall Street Journal Tech News Briefing E-Report was published for podcast listeners. Today, the second half of my rambling was broadcast, this time about finding deals online.

Here are the time stamps relevant to the interview.

07:10 E-Report introduction
07:25 Best place to find deals online (mentioned SlickDeals, DealTaker, CNet (CNET), Froogle (GOOG) and Mallicious)
10:10 Is eBay (EBAY) worth the risk?
12:35 How to control your spending during the holidays
14:34 Coordinating a complete gift experience
15:30 Incorporating charity into gift giving

Listen to this latest podcast by visiting the Wall Street Journal podcast page. Look for the Wall Street Journal Tech News Briefing, and this particular episode will be featured all weekend. An alternate option is to dial 800-975-3916 and listen to the podcast over the phone. Or you can do what I have done: subscribe to the Tech News Briefing RSS feed.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Wall Street Journal Podcast: Finding Deals Online

Homemade gifts can be so much more than the sum of their parts, which makes them a great frugal gift option.

They are redolent of effort, of “I thought of you all year and worked on this for you” versus “I realized I needed a gift for you ten minutes ago and picked this up as I was driving here.”

MoneySavingMom has an extensive collection of frugal gift ideas. Some of my favorite homemade gifts from her list follow:

* Homemade baking mixes
* Embroidered pillowcases
* Hand-stamped notecards
* Personalized CDs (with music, family photos, etc.)
* Custom-made photo calendars (every grandparent I know adores these)
* Homemade food, including freezer-ready quick meals and baked goods (I am seriously asking my mother-in-law for a giant vat of her famous fresh Tomato soup for the holidays this year)
* Canned vegetables, jam, pickles, etc.
* Scarves, sweaters and other knitted/crocheted goodies
* Fleece throw blankets
* Homegrown organic dried herbs (in a charming little jar, what could be better?)

I talked a bit about this in my last entry, but the ultimate “handmade” gift may not be a thing at all, but instead, a service. I love the concept of lending your personal services to someone else, especially in this age of so little free time.

If you’re good at sewing, what about giving certificates for mending and tailoring clothing? Or giving proofreading or resume help to someone still in school? Know someone who travels a lot? A few certificates for rides provided by you to and from the airport could be just the thing. Or create a scrapbook or photo album for someone with lots of memories and no time to compile them. Babysitting, yard cleanup, etc. are gifts which cost little but your time.

I’ve been blessed with some very creative friends, so in the past I’ve received amazing scarves, jewelry, gorgeous embroidered pillowcases, and even original artwork. This year, one of my good friends knitted me some very chic pure-white cashmere gloves.

My own talents are more culinary than crafty, so this year I’m giving out tins of several varieties of homemade cookies and a few premade freezer meals, like lasagna, for those in my life who don’t enjoy cooking as much as I do. If you’re not inclined to create gifts yourself, you can buy amazing and unique handmade gifts of all sorts at Etsy.com.

Any special handmade gifts you’ve given or received? Share your favorites.

Image Credit: Autreyu

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Holiday Gift Guide, Part 4: Frugal Homemade Gifts

I got a little carried away with consumable gifts in the food and drink category in my last entry, but that’s to be expected. This time around, my favorite ideas for non-edible consumable gifts:

* Soap and Bath Products – They make a great gift basket, but are easily used up, so they don’t contribute to clutter. One of my friends makes her own fantastic-smelling all-natural olive oil soap and bath products, and she had a home show this year where I bought soaps for just about everyone I know. I tried to select scents which I think each individual will love, and it should be fun to see how accurate I was predicting their fragrance preferences. And anything I don’t give away I’ll just use up myself.

* Massages, Pedicures, and Spa Treatments – Beauty supplies continue to be a popular gift, but they are a clear winner when combined with gift certificates for massages, pedicures, facials and other spa treatments. In my book, there’s no such thing as too many massages, and it’s nice to have some luxury to look forward to. Pick a local spa, or visit SpaWish.com for a gift certificate good at over 1,000 day spas across the nation.

* eSubscriptions, Media and Content – With all the interesting videos, music, and books available via iTunes, it’s hard to imagine anyone who owns an MP3 player not appreciating an iTunes Gift Card. I’ve heard great things about Audible.com as well, and electronic book and programming subscriptions start as low as $7.49 a month for the first 3 months with their AudibleListener program.

* The Gift of Less Mailbox Clutter – Starting around $5 a month, you can help a loved one get less mail and move to receiving and paying bills online with Paytrust. For someone who’s online enough to benefit from this but buried under their bills, this is a great way to help him dig out. E-bills are simple to set up, and for traditional mail, you have the recipient call all the companies which bill him and provide a new mailing address, then Paytrust will receive and scan all bills going forward. My partner and I are Paytrust users and it has transformed the way we manage our bills and rental properties. More on that in a future entry, but from a holiday perspective, it’s a fabulous gift for that overwhelmed person in your life.

* The Gift of More Time – Take a page from Tim Ferriss’ book The Four Hour Workweek and help someone to “outsource” time-consuming or unpleasant tasks. Whether you supply a bevy of homemade frozen meals or set up a running engagement with a personal chef, your gift will directly benefit the recipient’s quality of life. Maid service, child care and gardening or landscaping services are gifts they’ll remember all year, and can be accomplished by hiring out or (more economically) by helping out and doing it yourself.

Low-clutter gifts can still be high impact.

iTunes Image Credit: Tanais

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Holiday Gift Guide, Part 3: More Clutter-Free Consumable Gifts

I mentioned the other day that I participated in an interview for a Wall Street Journal podcast, the Tech News Briefing E-Report. This service is seemingly accessible only to paid Wall Street Journal subscribers only¹, but the RSS feed and the podcasts within are open to the public.

To listen to the podcast episode containing my interview, either subscribe to the podcast RSS feed and look for the item entitled, “The company that published TV Guide is being acquired…” or use this direct link to the audio [mp3]. Here are the time stamps relevant to the interview.

06:07 E-Report introduction
06:47 Checking security before using your credit card online
08:48 Shopping online with familiar offline retailer vs. online-only retailer
10:26 Shopping online with debit cards
12:12 Shopping online with PayPal
12:54 Offline retailers offering discounts when using store credit cards

Most of what I talk about is basic information about shopping online, but some of my comments about store credit cards may be controversial amongst people who give financial advice.

1 Update: Doobie has provided the link for the Wall Street Journal podcasts, accessible to everyone, including non-subscribers.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Wall Street Journal Podcast: Safe and Smart Online Shopping

Besides charitable giving, this year I’m focusing on clutter-free gifts: experiences and consumables. While experiences are great gifts, consumables give you something to open and enjoy Christmas morning.

Unclutterer.com has some nice suggestions for theme-based consumable gift collections, such as bulbs and seeds for a gardener, spice collections for someone who enjoys cooking, and the always-popular bath sundries collection for anyone who enjoys self-pampering. There’s even a very utilitarian garage-themed collection idea with motor oil, work gloves, etc.

My tastes run a bit more colorful, as I believe the holidays provide a great chance to give premium consumables, little luxuries life might not otherwise afford us.

My favorite food and drink gifts include:

* Aged Balsamic Vinegar – It’s a surprisingly flexible gift, suitable for everything from salad dressings and bread dips (include some fresh loaves of bread for an irresistable gift basket) to marinades and even as a topping for ice cream. There are a range of prices and qualities available, and The Splendid Table has a great guide. Print out some relevant recipes and include them, too!

* Wine – Even better when paired with a gift certificate to a BYOB restaurant and maybe a cute wine tote, but there’s so much you can do with wine gifts. A nice bottle you’ve tried and enjoyed, different vintages of the same wine so the recipient can sample and compare, or a selection of bottles from a region with accompanying reading material on that region’s wines can make a memorable gift. You can find nice, well-rated wines for less than $20 a bottle. Wine Club memberships are wonderful too if you have the budget.

* Say Cheese! – Last year one of the best gifts I got was a stylish reusable tote filled with a variety of fine imported cheeses, candied nuts, and crackers. Food gifts made for sharing are perfect for holiday entertaining. There are plenty of places out there which sell preassembled gift baskets, but I think the best approach is to find a local cheese shop or market and try things out yourself. Add fresh or dried fruit and nuts and you can make your own extravagant gift for much less than you’d pay at Harry and David or Williams-Sonoma.

* Sweets – Speaking of indulgence! Last year I gave my father-in-law a set of dark chocolate bars made from cocoa beans from different countries for a comparative tasting. Homemade cookies or cakes are always appreciated, and can provide a more economical gift alternative. I’m partial to british candy as a fun and inexpensive gift.

* Citrus Fruit – Sweeter than candy, the juice from Temple oranges is a rare treat in the cold winter months. I order them now for delivery January through March from Nokomis Groves. You could make a fabulous gift basket around a citrus gift (think breakfast kit) or let its sunny glory stand on its own.

* Salumis, Seafood and Special Meats – Salami, bacon, proscuitto, ham, smoked turkey, scallops, salmon – whether you spend a lot for a fine imported meat or seafood product or assemble your own basket from a local specialty shop, there’s much to choose from.

Whether you’re seeking truffles from France or salumis from Italy, finding a great source is key. If you can’t find these imported items at a local market, you can find them at a markup at Dean & Deluca, but you can also try your luck finding better deals and culinary rarities at sites like EthnicGrocer, Gustiamo (Italian), La Tienda (Spanish) and French Feast.

Amazon has a great collection of gourmet gifts under $25 worth checking out.

You can also take a look at Food411’s Holiday Picks or Sur la Table for more inspired gift ideas.

Image Credit: Sur la Table

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Holiday Gift Guide, Part 2: Clutter-Free Consumable Gifts: Food and Drink

My “Black Friday” shopping started yesterday at 8 a.m. after I’d readied my 26-pound turkey (we had 22 people planned for Thanksgiving this year) for its 6-plus hours in the oven.

Instead of crawling back to bed whilst the scent of roasting turkey filled the house, I had a mission in mind. Earlier in the week, I’d stumbled across the CVS sale circular on BFAds.net and decided that although I was reluctant to brave the lines at the big box stores, I would be willing to head over to save some money on necessities for the winter: cold medicine, toiletries, and, most importantly, chocolate.

While all the claims of free stuff in the ad were compelling, it was MoneySavingMom’s blog entries on CVS that inspired me to try my own hand at a new kind of strategic shopping. She has an interesting tutorial online on how to gain the most savings from CVS by combining coupons with sales and the store’s ExtraCare bucks rewards program. Her goal is to spend as little out of pocket as possible while earning reimbursement and even “overage” money which can be used towards future visits.

While I’d never really put much thought into my drugstore purchases, nor bothered to use my CVS ExtraCare card, yesterday’s shopping trip was planned down to the smallest detail. I had my circular and a bunch of coupons I’d printed from CVS, MoneySavingMom’s site and SlickDeals.

Like a true Black Friday shopper, I went for the free items first: Advil PM, 3 tubes of toothpaste, plastic zip-top storage bags, lotion, body wash, a Bic Soleil razor and some Hershey’s dark chocolate. Then I kept on shopping until I had over $100 of merchandise in my cart. At the register, I brandished my fat stack of coupons and watched the total dwindle to $75, then watched along with the salesgirl as a 3-foot long strip of reward certificates printed: $59 in total.

As this was my first such CVS trip, I did have to pay the total out-of-pocket, but since I plan to spend my $59 in certificates on future trips, my hoard, including a full year’s worth of razor blades, pain and cold remedies, and enough chocolate to stuff all my friends and relatives only cost me $16. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’m often chagrined by how much I end up spending to cure my winter colds, but now I’m well-equipped for the season.

So that I don’t end up spending more on drugstore items than I otherwise would, I plan to do some of my grocery shopping for the next month at CVS instead, since they actually carry a number of the items we regularly use.

The CVS Thanksgiving sale continues through Saturday if you’re interested in trying your hand at this sort of shopping game, and it appears that each week’s circular carries new opportunities. MoneySavingMom has all the details you need. Since I’m usually short on time, I don’t know that I’ll become a devoted CVS shopper, but I’m having fun trying out this new method.

I considered going to Staples today to get some printer paper on sale for $4.99 a ream, but I found a nice deal for $2 a ream with free shipping, so I now have a year’s worth of paper as well, without having to lug it home.

I’ve gotten the deals I wanted, and now am having a nice, mellow, Black Friday, with enough time to enjoy some of that leftover turkey.

Image Credit: Daquella Manera

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Black Friday and CVS Savings

Money Magazine has tips for getting the most out of a Best Buy shopping trip, which reminded me to share my story of yesterday’s experience.

In my circle of friends, the big box retail store known for its bright blue and yellow logo is known as “Worst Buy” thanks to the multitude of headaches their shopping experiences have caused. I’ve never had a problem with them, but I do recognize that they rarely have the best prices on smaller items. Many times I’ve ended up going to Circuit City for eletronics at a better price, Amazon.com for other random items, and Monoprice for cabling.

Nevertheless, I finally found a low-cost surround sound receiver and speakrers that matched my budgetary, audiophilic, HDMI, and spatial requirements. Circuit City and Best Buy were selling the system for the same price online, but only one local Best Buy location — the one closest to my office — had it in stock. I stopped by the store yesterday on my way home.

I came into the store knowing exactly what I would be purchasing and that they had three of them in stock. When the salespeople stopped chatting and decided to help, I confirmed I could pay the online reduced price, and they fetched the system from the back.

The system, the Sony HT-SS2000, was no longer on display, presumably because the discounted price doesn’t provide the store with a profit margin as high as the margins on the more current items.

While one salesperson was bringing the system to the front, I asked the other about the 30 or so Blu-ray players stacked in boxes. I have seen refurbished or reconditioned players at the Sony Store for half price, so I asked if they had any “open box” or reconditioned items for sale.

They had no such deals, but they did offer me 10% off a new Blu-ray player on the spot. I declined as that wasn’t in my budget for the day.

If they would have offered me a $499 player for $250, I would have adjusted my spending limit, but that was not to be. I am disappointed that movie production companies are increasingly aligning with only one high definition format. Unlike the VHS vs. Beta debate, I think this could take much longer to hash out, and there may never be a clear winner.

The salesperson wasn’t eager to sell me add-ons and accessories. He probably recognized I was a fairly informed shopper. After declining the extended warranty, overpriced accessories and installation service, I made the purchase on my cash back rewards credit card, and proceeded home to install the system myself.

Money Magazine has the following suggestions for shopping at Best Buy. These tips could save anyone a few dollars and some headaches.

* Salespeople don’t work on commission, so be friendly to receive the best service.
* They will try to sell you overpriced accessories to recoup the margin lost on competitively-priced main products.
* Weigh the cost of installation with your ability to do it yourself or have someone do it for you.
* Read the fine print on the return policy and watch out for restocking fees. In other words, be sure of the product you want to buy so you aren’t returning it unless it’s defective.
* Best Buy will match competitor’s lowest price by refunding 110% of the difference if you find a qualifying advertisement within 14 days. There may be some disagreement with what counts as “qualifying,” so watch out.

It took some time to get my new surround system working properly with the HD DVD player. I wasn’t getting an audio signal occasionally, and I think the problem may have been related to the HDMI signals not synching properly. By the end of the night, everything was working well, and I was certainly enjoying the sound.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Make the Most Out of Best Buy

As of Monday, calculating how much I had spent on televisions, DVD players, and other entertainment equipment was fairly easy. I “inherited” a JVC receiver and large JBL speakers from my father when he upgraded. When a friend and roommate of mine moved to Seattle several years ago, I purchased his 27 inch CRT television, DVD player, and entertainment center for $150 or so. Last year, I bought a cheap DVD player for $35 when the first one died. Also last year, or maybe two years ago, I purchased a pair of small Yamaha speakers to replace the large JBL speakers when they no longer functioned properly.

I have wanted to upgrade my entire system for a long time. Knowing that it would be an expensive endeavor, I put this off for many years. While I know that spending a large sum of money now could mean less for me in retirement thanks to the powerful effect of inflation, now that I am able to aggressively save for retirement (25% of my day job salary and I could easily go higher at any time), I decided this past weekend it was time to start the upgrade.

The last few days have been spent reading a large number of reviews of various television sets on Consumer Reports (where I am now a member), forums, and a wide selection of other websites. I solicited advice from friends who are familiar with the technology.

First, I settled on LCD as the appropriate technology for my typical viewing conditions and for its recent advancements in competition with the picture quality of plasma. I went back and forth between several brands, but I eventually decided on Sharp Aquos.

The price on the Sharp Aquos LC-42D62U 42 inch LCD HDTV — the size I determined would be appropriate, large but not overbearing, for my space — was in the range of what I wanted to spend for the best high definition resolution (1080p), and the lowest price I could find was under $1,300 at Circuit City. That didn’t surprise me, having helped my girlfriend purchase a television several months ago.

Unlike that last time, I could not get the sales associates to drop the price. I can understand why; the television is selling well, is not discontinued, and the price dropped as recently as a month ago by $800. Still, Circuit City offers a 30-day price guarantee in case they lower the price or I find an offer in the local competitive area for less. When I shopped for a television with my girlfriend, we spotted a discontinued model and were able to work the sales associate down about 33%. He even showed us a list of all the store’s television equipment, including what would be considered the “invoice price,” or what the store supposedly paid.

Back to my HDTV, a friend assisted me with transporting the television from the store to my living room (and setting up the television) as the box would most likely not fit into my Honda Civic. Another aspect of LCD technology that fits my needs is its weight. Plasma screens are much heavier and difficult to transport. I expect I will be moving again in the next year or two and Plasma screen are fragile.

I was surprised Circuit City offered high definition cables (HDMI) for no less than $100 and up to $140 a piece. I left the store without buying any of the cables that would allow me to completely enjoy the high definition experience. Instead, I opted to order 2 HDMI cables — one for cable television and the other for the HD DVD player I will write about in Part 2 — online through my friend’s wholesale source for $14 a piece.

The television looks great so far. I expect once I receive and install the HDMI cables, quality on standard definition broadcasts will actually decrease, as one negative point of this particular model is that it doesn’t have a strong conversion processor. Nevertheless, high definition broadcasts are consistently increasing — almost everything I watch is broadcasted in HDTV, and my cable service including HD is free for the year.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Upgrading My Living Room Entertainment, Part 1: Television

I have been struggling for the past month or two to find decent, basic bedroom furniture for a good price. I’ve tried the department stores (JCPenny, Macy’s and Sears), Ashley Furniture, Raymour & Flanigan, Peir 1, and some other stores, but everything was out of a reasonable price range or was horribly cheap.

After expressing my frustration at work a few days ago, a co-worker suggested Bob’s Discount Furniture, not too far from the office. My girlfriend had mentioned Bob’s previously, but for whatever reason, I didn’t pursue it at that time. Once we determined there was a store close by, my girlfriend and I decided to stop in on Saturday to see what they had available.

I have strange tastes when it comes to furniture. Without a lot of experience shopping, it’s hard for me to know what to look for in the beginning, but I can easily identify what I do not want. I’m not looking for furniture that I will keep for a lifetime or pass down to my children. It’s likely that when I get married, I will have to defer all furniture decisions, so I just need something I’d be happy with for a relatively short time. Wood purists prefer solid wood rather than medium-density fiberboard (MDF), but that’s not an issue that’s important to me. I just want something that looks nice, won’t fall apart, and is affordable. The designs I like tend to be simple and not overstated.

While walking around the store, I found one set I liked. In fact, at first I saw the set in the smaller version for children, and thought it was just about right for what I wanted, but my girlfriend quickly pointed out the adult set would be much more appropriate. I wasn’t interested in all the pieces listed in the package, so I subtracted the chest and mirror from the set that included the full bed rails, footboard, and headboard.

I had to search for a salesman and bring him to the bedroom area to discuss the pieces. I was expecting to be followed around like at Raymour & Flanigan, but most of the salespeople were chatting with each other towards the front of the store. Joe, the salesman randomly selected to help, mentioned it would not be normal for me to take two pieces — the chest and the mirror — out of the full package and still receive the “discounted price,” but he would talk to his manager. As I expected, Joe returned and mentioned the best price he could give on the set I wanted was $730, not the $630 price I calculated from the full set discount. We thanked him and walked away to look around the rest of the store.

He must have spotted me coming back to the area a few minutes later. I decided that I would purchase the dresser only. The other pieces weren’t as necessary as the dresser. Right now, all of my clothes are hanging up or piled on top of shelves in my closet. It’s a disorganized mess and I have problems reaching the shirts at the top of the piles. The dresser is the first priority. Since I liked the construction and the look of this particular set, I decided I would spend the money for that one piece.

Joe must have seen us returning to the area. He mentioned he had another idea, and would try talking to his manager again to see if he or she would agree to a different combination of starting package and substitutions to come to the configuration I wanted for the price I wanted. He came back offering the pieces I wanted for $630, so I decided I would go ahead with the dresser, full bed set, and the night stand. This is $200 off the non-discounted price, or $100 off the discounted price they would originally “allow.” The salesman commented that this type of deal was unheard of and the manager has never allowed this before. While their normal procedures allow for the removal or replacement of one item in in these package deals, this was a removal of two items. Joe’s claim is obviously nothing more than fabrication designed to make me feel good about the purchase and not back away, but the negotiated price was fair based on what I had seen at other stores.

Joe tried to add on the four-year protection plan for $99, but I had no interest, so I politely declined. He didn’t press the issue. I don’t expect much damage to come to my bedroom furniture, and even if something were to happen, like Frank noted about his experience with Bob’s Discount Furniture, the insurance probably wouldn’t cover the event anyway. Additionally, Joe didn’t mention that the protection plan is only valid at the same address where the furniture has been delivered. I don’t plan on living in this apartment for longer than one or two years.

After “taking my information” and the order, Joe directed us to a section of the store where they offered free drinks, cookies, and candy. I’m trying to cut down on junk, but I had a cookie and water on the house. On the face, it seems like a good customer appreciation service, but I wonder if this delay is automatically built into the process in order to influence the customer in some way.

Joe returned after ten or fifteen minutes, and we moved to the cashier to set up the delivery date. Delivery and tax added more to the total. I had to push delivery to a date on which I had no other plans, so I’ll receive the furniture in a few weeks. My girlfriend’s sister experienced some problems with Bob’s delivery recently, but an item of hers was not in stock, causing a delay. I am hoping for no problems, but I did confirm that if any piece is damaged on arrival, they will redeliver until I’m satisfied. I would prefer if there’s no need to put that guarantee to the test.

Part of the reason I was willing to make a larger purchase (a set) than I originally planned when moving in (just the dresser) was due to a housewarming gift from a family member in the form of a check for furnishing the apartment. I’m always grateful for these gifts. Without it, I would have likely purchased just the dresser.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

I Got a Relatively Good Deal on Bedroom Furniture

My girlfriend is a fan of some dollar stores, notably Dollar Tree, while I can take them or leave them. In a good dollar store, you can find everyday items with high enough quality to be sufficient at a price you don’t mind spending.

At the other end of the spectrum, dollar stores are able to keep low prices because the quality of some products is quite substandard. In June, some dollar stores were carrying the tainted toothpaste with a fake Colgate label.

According to Marshall Loeb at MarketWatch and Consumer Reports‘ Shop Smart magazine, some multivitamins don’t contain the nutrients advertised on the bottles and electronic items often have inadequate gauge wiring.

We’ve purchased computer paper, shelf liner, baskets, and birthday cards at quality dollar stores, but items like pens, pencils, index cards, and other school supplies can be found for less money elsewhere. Surprisingly, we’ve even found wine glasses nice enough for outdoor entertainment; if they break en route, then they’re easily and inexpensively replaced.

On the other hand, one of my coworkers will never have any interest in dollar stores. I think dollar stores have merit, but you have to be a careful shopper and avoid some of the more substandard items and those items that can be found elsewhere for less money.

What are the best dollar store deals you’ve found, and what should you avoid?

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Dangers and Benefits of Dollar Stores

Last year, I asked whether a CNN article describing a sale at Wal-Mart was newsworthy. At worst, it seems like free advertising.

Some commenters pointed out that Wal-Mart’s actions, as the world’s biggest retailer, are important indicators for the economy. Wal-Mart’s public relations agents are too busy defending the company’s image, so I suppose it’s up to reporters to get the word out about sales.

This summer, the company is back in the news (Associated Press) after announcing they are cutting their back-to-school prices.

Under Wal-Mart’s new pricing plan, $1 will be able to buy 4 wide-ruled notebooks, 2 bottles Elmer’s glue (4 oz.) and a 24-pack of crayons. A $50 budget will be able to purchase a week’s worth of school clothes, and $80 will buy two pair of prescription glasses at the Wal-Mart Vision Center.

In some cases, Staples‘ back-to-school sales beat Wal-Mart’s, so if you’re looking for deals, don’t just go with the company that gets the most press. Check out OfficeMax and Target, stores that also have back-to-school sales where supplies go for pennies.

Photo credit: Lordcous

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Is a Wal-Mart Back-to-School Sale Newsworthy?

On Sunday, I purchased a Nintendo Wii. It wasn’t for me. My girlfriend, celebrating her thirtieth birthday, wanted the game system as a gift.

Not knowing much about the current state of demand and supply for the game consoles and assuming any frenzy ended with the past holiday season, we went shopping on Saturday. Our first stop was the nearby Toys R Us.

They had none in stock, but there were laser-printed signs all over the store indicating they expected a shipment of Wiis in the next day, in addition to some kind of Pokemon thing. I couldn’t help thinking that this really wasn’t my kind of game.

We stopped into other stores, including Circuit City and Best Buy, but no Nintendos could be found. Best Buy would have them in the next day like Toys R Us, but no one at Circuit City seemed to have any information about their next shipment.

After confirming for the third time that my girlfriend was positive this was what she wanted for her birthday, we decided to head to Toys R Us on Sunday before the store opened.

When we arrived, there was a long line of eager would-be customers waiting at the door. A few people at the head of the line had blankets and chairs. They must have been there for hours, if not overnight. I had no idea demand was still so high for these devices.

As we arrived in line about 30 minutes before the doors opened, a store employee handed us a number (64), which guaranteed us a Wii. By the time the store opened, they were turning people away.

After the line moved inside the store, it still took another half hour before we’d enter the game section of the store and head to the counter to turn in our numbered slip and claim the prize. While in line, the girls behind us (numbers 65 and 66) were on the phone with their friends, talking about whether they could create an eBay account to sell the consoles online to those unable to purchase one in person, theoretically for a nice profit.

These girls were on their way back to Connecticut, saw the line at the Toys R Us, and got sidetracked. While we were on line, one lied to her father on the phone by telling him they had just stopped for coffee and were getting back on the road.

A quick search of eBay reveals that recently auctioned consoles are selling anywhere from $270 to $320 plus shipping. The regular price is $249, so I guess demand is still rather high.

Toys R Us was sold out of the new Zelda game, which I would have liked for myself. The only extra we opted for was an additional controller. Game systems used to come with two controllers, but someone discovered they can make more money by selling them separately.

After getting the system hooked up — we decided not to wait for my girlfriend’s actual birthday next Saturday — we played the bundled sports game. It was interesting, and it took a few times to get used to the motion-sensitive controller. We connected the Wii to the Internet and downloaded a classic NES game, Super Mario Brothers.

That classic game seems to be the winner so far. If you take the Wii’s strange remote-control-looking controller and turn it sideways, it vaguely resembles the original NES controller, and that’s how it is used in the game.

We were discovering “warp zones” I forgot existed, and my girlfriend was able to do that 100-free-lives trick with the turtle guy on the blocks. You know what I’m talking about.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

I Got a Nintendo Wii

Spring is obviously not the best time to shop for shorts, swimwear, and sandals. Retailers know that they can sell these items for much more than they could other times of the year. Other items can be found at great prices, according to Smart Money Magazine. These products aren’t for everyone, and some seem to be a little odd to be included in a list of best deals, but you take what you get.

1. All-Weather Clothing. Black suits and heavy jackets and coats hit low-selling points in May, so prices drop to compensate.

2. Boats. I’m probably hanging with the wrong crowd, but no one I know well owns a boat. No one I know well would even consider buying a boat. But there must be people in the world who buy boats, and for those who do, spring is apparently the best time to do so. “You’ll find sales on the unsold new models at shows, plus plenty of previously owned boats on the market.”

3. Children’s Formalwear. I don’t have children so this category doesn’t interest me at this point in my life. The article says: “If you have a wedding or other fancy event to attend with baby before November, now’s your best chance of picking up a suit or dress for a fraction of the regular retail price.”

4. Condiments. When it comes to ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, pickles, and other picnic foods, you should pick these up well before Memorial Day.

5. Designer “Resort” Clothing. Starting in January, designers put out “resort wear” for wealthy customers who migrate to a second, warmer location for a portion of the year. By spring, these items can be found at reduced sales prices. If you’re really looking for bargains, I don’t think “designer” clothing is the best bet, no matter what time of year it is.

6. Ham and Pork Products. The article suggests shopping for pork chops around Easter, when there is a huge volume of ham on the market. Stock up and freeze your hot dogs for Memorial Day.

7. Lost Property. “Both the airlines and the Post Office hold unclaimed or lost items for a minimum of 90 days, then sell them off. That means bags and packages lost around the holidays are just making their way back to the public in late March, early April — and for a fraction of the price.” Here’s how to get a piece of that action.

8. Pearls. Again, here’s an item that’s not the first choice for frugal shoppers. During the spring, retailers will push pearls as gifts for graduations, weddings, and Mother’s Day.

9. Real Estate. While prices are lower in the winter according to the business, in the spring, there is more selection and more competition in real estate on the market. As families with children like to move between school years, there is often extra motivation for sellers during the tail end of the spring.

10. Strollers. The article says that 2007 stroller models come out in April. I didn’t realize there were yearly models for strollers, like cars. There are only cosmetic differences from year to year, so you can find good prices on the discontinued models starting in the spring.

11. Vacuums. As households take on the challenge of “spring cleaning,” vacuum makers want to compete for your business.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

11 Best Deals for Spring Shopping

Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is a columnist for the Miami Herald. She writes about about saving money and the art of being frugal in her column as well as on her blog, The Frugal Duchess. In this guest post, Sharon writes about making the best choices in clothing through the concept of cost-per-wear.

It’s a cute black skirt from Ann Taylor Loft and it costs me about 53 cents every time I wear it. What’s more, as each week passes, the cost-per-wear declines.

I’m not delusional and my calculations are not a frugal fantasy. Here’s the bottom line: Quality garments are cheaper in the long run. Crafted from fine fabrics in classic cuts, most of my wardrobe pays me hidden dividends.

Here’s my closet matrix: The black skirt was originally priced at $60, then reduced to $34 (still too expensive for my budget). But I made my move to the cash register when the price dropped to $16. That was last fall and I have worn that skirt about 30 times (probably much more) since September. The current price-per-wear cost is 53 cents and by next September, I estimate that the price will drop down to 25 cents per wear. The skirt does not need dry-cleaning, an expensive process that dramatically inflates the total price and the price-per-wear figures.

I’m not the only one who makes this kind of calculations. In the book How to Say It For Women, author Phyllis Mindell also writes about price-per-wear calculations on page 175.

Here’s her example: One business woman buys a Liberty of London shawl in 1986 at Harrods for $100. She wears the shawl about 10 times annually, which translates into a “price per wear” value of under $1.

“Fine accessories represent a wise investment: They last, they say in style longer than clothing does, they offer the chance to exercise your individuality,” Mindell recommends in her book.

She advocates shopping for quality when it comes to briefcases, handbags, wallets and jewelry.That’s my model for shopping. And it’s a strategy that Flexo mentioned in an earlier post about being Pound-wise and Penny-foolish.

Of course, I’ve had my share of missteps. A few years ago, I was hired to fill in for a business reporter at the Herald, who was on maternity leave. She covered the retail (shopping beat), so I wanted to look especially spiffy while filling in for her.

That’s fine, but I made two shopping errors. I purchased two trendy shirts at a discount chain for teens. Who was I kidding? Big mistake. The shirts were low-quality garments made from a poorly made cotton/spandex fabric. Additionally, the trendy cut was a flavor-of-the-month variety that quickly melted out of style. Due to the inferior fabric, the shirts did not wash well. It was not my finest shopping moment.

The good news: I only spent $12 for each shirt The bad news: I only wore each shirt a few times and my cost per wear was about $4. Fortunately, I’m getting a lot of low-cost mileage from the rest of my closet.

But when is it best to splurge for an item and when is it best to pick-up the no-name brands? This guide from Real Simple magazine offers insights.

Tee shirts: Go for the super-saver, Real Simple says. Why? Tee-shirts are frequently worn and washed, which decreases the shelf life.

My experience: I prefer good quality tee shirts at low, low (end of season prices). The cheaper shirts don’t hold up well in the wash.

Hose: Save. Expensive or cheap, stockings run quickly, at least on my legs. Real Simple agrees.

Jeans: Shop for quality. Expensive jeans tend to fit better than cheaper counterparts.

To read more from Sharon Harvey Rosenberg, visit her blog, The Frugal Duchess.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Guest Post: Quality Clothes for Less than a Buck

I’ve found Kohl’s to be a good store when it comes to shopping for clothing. They have sales pretty often, and it’s very easy to find bargains. The clothing seems to be of a decent quality, nothing special, and the items I’ve bought have held up well over the past few years.

A coworker had an interesting experience at Kohl’s this weekend. She received a coupon in the mail similar to a lottery ticket. The idea is to scratch off the silver-colored covering to reveal your discount for the day: 15%, 20% or 30%. I’m not sure if those are the actual figures, but there are three possibilities that are in that range. This coworker was awarded a 15% discount.

She visited the store and picked out about $100 worth of clothing, which was pretty extensive without the discount. At the checkout counter, the cashier, a young, bubbly teenage girl, likely happy to be working at her first job, saw the 15% discount card. The cashier offered to let my coworker use the store employee’s personal discount card, offering the 30%.

My coworker seemed to be under the impression that the cashier made some sort of mistake. However, I had a similar experience in Kohl’s when I’ve shopped there. In some cases, even if you don’t have your coupon, the cashiers will automatically apply the discount.

She was happy with this discount, she asked the cashier how much longer she’d be working. Apparently, there was enough time for her to go through the store and pick up more items. She rushed back to the cashier and eventually walked away with $200 “worth” of clothing for about $100, taking into account the coupon, clearance items, sales, etc. That’s not a bad deal.

So who wins? The customer gets a good price, and the store sells more products. My coworker expressed her happiness with the entire proceedings, and the cashier recommended she let her supervisor know. When discussing the entire event, another coworker suggested the cashiers do this to make the customers happy with their experience. It sounds like a good scheme to me… as long as the discounts are provided to everyone without discrimination.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Shopping at Kohl’s and Being Granted Discounts

At my father’s house for dinner last night, one of the guests brought up a story on Good Morning America in which shoppers and diamond experts compared their findings from Costco with those from Tiffany & Co. The GMA shoppers visited both stores, purchased stones, and reported their findings.

First, at Tiffany, Good Morning America bought a round diamond with very slight flaws, just over a carat, with a color grade of “F” (colorless). For the stone and an in-store setting considered “famous,” they paid $16,600.

Fuller [a master gemologist] consulted a standardized appraisers’ guide and told us the same grade diamond would cost an average of $10,500 at a no-name store, plus additional for the setting.

The expert believes the premium above the average price is fair, given Tiffany’s brand reputation, confidence at time of purchase due to years of quality control, or other “special extras.”

At Costco, we bought a round diamond with almost the same specs as our Tiffany diamond. It is just over a carat with very very slight flaws and a color grade of H, nearly colorless. At $6,600, it cost $10,000 less than the similar diamond we bought at Tiffany.

Fuller said the average price for such a stone would be $8,000, a price that doesn’t include the setting.

Was there any doubt that Costco would offer a better bargain? I believe what surprises many people about this story is that Costco does sell excellent quality diamonds. The GMA shoppers offer these suggestions for shopping:

* Look for a certified stone. Buy a diamond that comes with a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society. That way, you know exactly what you’re getting.

* Find out the refund policy. Make sure the store has a written cash refund policy. Both Tiffany and Costco do.

* Get the diamond appraised. Immediately after you purchase the diamond, take it to a qualified diamond appraiser.

Marketing campaigns for the dimaond industry elevated the commonplace stone to an object seen as rare and desirable by the highest in society, which as planned, trickled down to the social conscience of just about everyone. Beyond the marketing ploy, diamonds also are associated with massive human rights violations, the details of which I won’t go into here. The “romanticism” of the stone is so deeply rooted into our culture, good luck trying to take a rational approach when planning to propose marriage.

Here are some more resources for shopping or reading:
* Blue Nile
* Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?, from The Atlantic, a thorough history of diamonds including details about the DeBeers diamond advertising campaign.
* FatWallet thread about diamonds

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Costco vs. Tiffany, Who Has the Bargain on Diamonds?

The marketing gods have dubbed the Monday after Thanksgiving “Cyber Monday” due to the increased online sales with typical e-commerce retailers like Amazon.com as people stumble or roll back to their offices. Rather than getting back to business, they’re not in the mood for work and would rather shop online, possibly looking for deals.

Rick Aristotle Munarriz from The Motley Fool says Cyber Monday is a joke. There weren’t any deals for virtual-only stores to be found. It’s the standard brick-and-mortar stores that are latching onto the Cyber Monday hype. Wal-Mart is one example. CNN reported on a week-long sale to “celebrate” Cyber Monday.

How much did you spend on gifts online today, and where did you spend the money? Were there any deals to be found? Or is Cyber Monday just a poor marketing excuse and a myth? (More credit card transactions were posted a week after Cyber Monday last year.)

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Today was “Cyber Monday.” Did You Spend?

This is a guest post written by Darren R. Sussman, founder and chief engineer of Reid Sound, Inc., a company specializing in audio/visual services for all types of events including theater, concerts, meetings, tradeshows, and more. This is the second of two parts. The first part is A Shopping Guide for the Enthusiast.

In this post, I will describe the entire process I followed to create a home theater in my basement, from conception to completion. First, realize that I had my theater custom built from the ground up. I designed the room and gave those plans to a contractor to build to my specifications. I did all of the A/V wiring and equipment installation myself. I tried to get the best that I could without spending too extravagantly.

I chose a Sony VPL-HS51 front projector because the reviews I read basically said that it was the best LCD front projector you could buy in its price range. I did a lot of research before settling on this particular projector. I was able to find the projector online at B&H for less than most other stores (I used PriceGrabber to compare).

I originally purchased a Da-Lite perforated screen because I wanted to put my center channel speaker behind the screen to allow for good “localization.” However, I ended up not being able to use the screen because of an unanticipated problem with the moiré effect.” (Basically, when you project the pixels of an LCD projector on the “pixels” created by the multiple small holes of a perforated screen, they usually don’t line up, causing a series of alternating dark and light lines to appear in the image.)

After much trial and error, I ended up using blackout curtain fabric for my screen. It’s solid and doesn’t let light pass through it, so it has a lot of the same traits as a regular screen. Obviously, there is some image quality loss, but it was a trade-off I was willing to make. There was also, of course, a significant price difference between the $1,600 perforated screen and the $20 worth of fabric we ended up using.

I chose a Yamaha RXV-2500 receiver because it had sufficient power for the Paradigm speakers I chose and because it was compatible with the newer 6.1 and 7.1 surround sound encoding formats that are coming into use. Of course, given how fast technology changes, this receiver is already somewhat obsolete. Still, I got a good deal on it, again by using PriceGrabber. I bought the speakers from a small local store where I was able to first audition them with several DVDs and CDs that I brought with me.

My theater chairs came from La-Z-Boy. While they may not be as high quality as some other chairs out there, there is a significant price difference. The chairs I purchased are about $700 each. Most other theater chairs start at $2,000 and go up as high as $5,000 each.

In all, the project cost me about $30,000. Probably not the best investment in terms of return on my money, but I definitely get my money’s worth in terms of enjoyment. Here are some photographs of the finished product.

As I said, there is a lot more to this, and I’d be happy to answer any questions that I can. You can e-mail me privately (remove “REMOVE”) or post comments here.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Home Theater Equipment: What’s In My Basement

I’ve never received any instruction about how to purchase bed sheets. When I realized I had to buy my own, I went to the store and found the cheapest set I could find. This was probably sufficient.

My girlfriend in college got me used to the feel of jersey cotton. That’s not cotton farmed in New Jersey, but fabric that feels like a very soft tee-shirt. This is still my favorite linen for the bedroom, and it’s not very expensive.

Money Magazine in its Ultimate Shopper’s Guide says to ignore thread count. Also, what retailers call Egyptian cotton is no more special than American cotton. The special Egyptian cotton is known as extra-long stape (ELS).

Look for single-ply sheets made of 100% pima cotton (ELS cotton from around the world) or supima cotton (ELS cotton grown in the U.S.). For extra softness, opt for 100% cotton sateen, such as what’s found in Sears’ Everyday Luxe collection, which costs around $100 for a queen set.

Money’s final tip: There’s no need to buy anything beyond a 300 thread count.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

The Ultimate Shopper’s Guide, Part 5: Bedding