The FIPS blog, via undercover video (which contains NSFW curse words in textual format), attempts to uncover why the Target at the Atlantic Center Mall in Brooklyn is the absolute worst Target ever created. See, you people in the suburbs, with your nice Targets where products are arranged on the shelves in a sensible matter and the floors are clean and the lights are bright, probably don’t get it. This Target is like a Kmart that got too depressed to be physically able to put its shoes on in the morning. I know of this particular Target and speak from experience. So the FIPs people don’t get anywhere close to finding out why the Target is so bad, but they do approach its pathos. (The girl in the video blames the disarray on “the weekend” and “time of year.” Not true. It’s ALWAYS like that). Video inside…
Retail Services
Morning Deals
- TurboTax: Various deals and discounts on TurboTax 2008 (i.e. free, up to 35% off)
- Liz Claiborne: How to get 80% off
- Amazon: 70% off skate shoes
Highlights From Buxr
- eCost: Fujifilm 7.1 Megapixel Finepix Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom for $86 + Shipping
- The Limited: $20 OFF $60 and $30 OFF $100 w/ coupon:842 and 20% OFF Anything w/ coupon:851(print+online)
- Staples: Manilo Black Leather Manager’s Chair for $39.99 after $20 rebate w/ Free shipping
Highlights From Dealhack
- Best Buy: Dynex DX-LCD26 26-inch LCD HDTV $300
- Buy.com: Sanyo Xacti 8MP Waterproof Camcorder $185 Shipped
- Newegg: Logitech Optical Trackball Marble Mouse $20 Shipped
Highlights From Dealnews
- AT&T Wireless: Refurbished Sony Ericsson W350 Prepaid Phone for AT&T for $70 + free shipping
- Amazon.com: Samsung 26″ 1080p Widescreen HDTV Display for $476 + free shipping
- Newegg: NBA Ballers: Chosen One for PS3 for $10 + free shipping, more
Get Your Tmobile Employer Discount
Wanna save on your Tmobile bill? Ask your company’s partnership rep if they have an employer discount available. Then you can call Tmobile Corporate Migrations at 877-453-8824 and claim your discount. In fact, if you Google that number, you can find the names of a number of companies and organizations that give their members Tmobile discounts. Perhaps you belong to one of them. (Thanks to Romeo!) (Photo: Ed Yourdon)
Hey! You Can Buy Alcohol At Costco And Sam’s Club Without A Membership!
Need some quality alcohol at discount prices? Don’t want to sign up for a Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s membership? There may be hope for you!
Morning Deals
- Catherines: Buy 2 plus-size bras get 1 free PLUS $10 off $25 with coupon code 776996258
- Belk: Columbia Men’s Sportswear Bugaboo Parka Coat for $57 (down from $230)
- Harry & David: Tower of Treats Collection for $12.71
Highlights From Buxr
- IHOP: Free Pancakes on Feb. 24th
- Sears: Sharp 42″ LCD 1080p TV + Sharp Blu Ray Player for $999.99 + Shipping
- Deal Extreme: Pregnancy Test Papers (10-Pack) for $1.88 w/ Free shipping
Highlights From Dealhack
- Newegg Mall: Save Up to 80% off ESQ by Movado Watches
- Amazon: Top 50 Bestselling 2008 MP3 Albums $5 Each
- Old Navy: Online Only Clearance: Save up to 75% off Apparel
Highlights From Dealnews
- BestBuy: Dell XPS M1330 Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 13″ Widescreen Laptop for $900 + $25 s&h
- Circuit City: LG 22″ 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV Display for $300 + free shipping
- Geeks.com: Refurbished VuPoint Multifunction Digtal Camcorder for $50 + $9 s&h
Watch Out For Firmware Shenanigans At Best Buy
Reader Erin writes in to warn readers that Best Buy is offering a thirty-dollar firmware update to certain Blu-Ray players, and warning that without the update, some newer titles might not work. Erin checked the manufacturer’s website and found no announced firmware updates, and the newer titles play just fine.
When Fighting Back Goes Wrong, and When The Wrong Fight Back
I always love to see a fellow Consumer fight back against large corporations. However, when that consumer is trying to return stolen goods – stolen from me, that is – it’s harder to get excited.
Best Buy Also Falls Victim To Embezzling Buyers
Another electronics store was taken for millions by an invoice-fixing scheme: a buyer for Best Buy and a vendor have been charged with overcharging Best Buy $31 million over four years.
Don't Even Think Of Ordering A Pizza Stone From Amazon
We’d like to share a personal story: it involves Amazon, Christmas presents, and three broken pizza stones.
Most Awkward Consumer Trend of 2008: Feedback Bribery
One of the interesting customer service trends of 2008 has been corporate pandering to customers who leave negative feedback on Amazon.com or company sites. Here’s a look at the past year in bribery!
Morning Deals
- Start Sampling: Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Gourmet Pop Corn (Free Sample) for $0
- Geeks.com: Reconditioned Seagate 750GB hard drive for $65 + no-name HDD dock for $20 = 750GB external hard drive for $85.
Target "Not Responsible" For Flying Carts of Doom
Jason likes his car a lot. Apparently, so do the shopping carts at the local Target, because they just can’t stop themselves from colliding with his vehicle. Luckily, it isn’t Target’s fault, according to Target.
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According to Bloomberg, retailers expect to close 73,000 stores in the first half of 2009, because no one bought enough Christmas presents. Thanks, Marc!
NYT: Text Messaging "Virtually No Cost" to Carriers
Hear the scorn of a million parents cry out in righteous anger: despite recently increasing basic text messaging rates from ten cents to twenty across the board, NYT reveals that Carriers pay roughly nothing.
Best Buy Sneaky Sneaky Calibration Tricks Make a Comeback
Remember when Best Buy was using HD channels to make “Calibrated” televisions seem miraculously better? Well, their methods have changed, but using different cables to improve definition doesn’t mean they’ve improved.
