Archive | May, 2012

e-Newsletters they Save you Money

28 May

No, I am not talking about the coloured paper newsletter divided in thirds you used to get from school as a kid.  No, I am talking about on-line marketing from your favorite retail stores.  Most, if not all, retail stores now have a position on the web, and most of those websites feature an area where you can sign up for their newsletter.

The newsletter is essentially advertising, and I know you are thinking that you get enough junk mail already, but these email newsletters are usually customized dynamic content directed to your needs.  You can hear about contests, promotions, upcoming events, and my favorite, store and on-line sales…cheap cheap.  A quick example, The Gap allows me to customize my newsletter email to limit it to men’s clothing and also gives me an option to receive a newsletter from their other retail brands Old Navy and Banana Republic.  When I signed up I received an instant coupon for a percentage off, which I let foolishly expire*, but have since been privy to deals offering 40% to 50% everything.  I do not know about you, but I cannot shop at regular retail prices.  I used to work retail when I was ‘younger’, and refitted my wardrobe with 50% employee discounted attire, and ever since then I could not buy clothes unless the item was marked down.

While the email newsletter, or e-newsletter, is great for the customer it is probably better for the store.  It allows them to send a cheap advertisement to a core group of their customers, and they can see immediate marketing feedback through on-line sales.  I say this as not to seem foolish, knowing there is a corporation behind the newsletter.  They are trying to get me to spend more, and I am giving them an open window to advertise for free, but I accept it with eyes wide shut. It is a battle between their greed and my greed; they want me to spend and I want to buy for cheap.  Economics at its best, or well my best guess, because I never took economics but it sounds like economics.

* Yes, I did let my instant coupon expire; I did not know there was an expiry date.  But I did eventually still get the deal.  I emailed customer support and asked why my coupon was not working (I was honestly asking, I did not know about the expiry date at the time).  They replied, and explained about the expiry date, but then went ahead and gave me a new code for the discount.  Since that day there was already a 40% sale deal, the coupon added an extra 15% off…I love when it is cheap!

FREE GLASSES – Clearlycontacts.ca

14 May
That is correct, free glasses.  You may be thinking what I thought when I first saw this deal, but there are no catches or scams involved; they really give you free glasses.
 
Clearlycontacts.ca is based out of BC, Canada, and they offer a free pair of glasses to first time customers.  There are some brand exclusions but for the most part you can get any style you want, free. 
 
What you need? – You will need your prescription, so either make your appointment to your optometrist and get your new prescription, or go scrounging around and find your old one.  You will also need your PD (pupil distance), so make sure to get that on your prescription.  If you do not have it do not worry, on the clearlycontacts site they show you a low tech way to measure it.
 
Visit their site, , and find the frames you want.  Once you found an eligible pair (I picked up the Joseph Marc 4104), click on the ‘Continue’ and fill in your prescription.  You will next be faced with a bunch of ‘add ons’, you do not need them, and can continue with all the free options if you like.  You can opt out of the ‘Coatings’ by unchecking the three boxes.  They are nice to have, and if the will be your everyday glasses you may want them, but they are not required.
 
Continue to checkout, verify your entered prescription, and continue to enter your shipping information.  Since you are a first time customer you will need to register, so fill in all your details.  The coupon code area should appear on the next screen, and you’ll need to enter FIRSTPAIRFREECA.  Once you have entered this code, the frame and lens price refresh to zero, and all you are left with are insurance and shipping costs.  Roughly $15.
 
Once you have registered, and you opt in for it, they will send you emails about other deals.  For example I just picked up a pair of prescription glasses with sunglass tint for $69 by using the coupon code RXSUN.
 
Note:  I have never received any unwanted mailings to my shipping address related to this business.  I know because I used a variation on my name, and nothing has been mailed to me addressed to that name.
 
EDIT SEPT 17 2012:  If you like clearlycontacts on Facebook right now they are offerring another free pair of glasses to customers.  Yet this one is open to everyone, you do not have to be a first time customer.
Offer ends 10/30/2012. One free pair of glasses per customer. Valid for coupon eligible frames only. To get your free pair apply the coupon code XXXXXXXX at the checkout. 1.5 index lenses included for free. Lens upgrades including: higher index lenses, progressives, Transitions, polarized and all lens coatings are available at additional cost. Shipping and handling costs may apply, which is typically $10 to $15. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Valid for residents of Canada only. ClearlyContacts.ca reserves the right to cancel orders that appear to be in violation of this promotion
 

First Blog Post

8 May

Well, everyone has to have a first one (blog post), and this is mine.

My name is Benny, Hello World!

Some may consider me ‘cheap’, and while it may be true, the word itself has different connotations. I guess I would consider myself frugal, and as such like to hunt for the cheapest deal. I regularly buy things. I am not a miser. It just pains me to buy something at regular price. Do you feel it too? The pain of knowing that you are paying 20% too much, and if you wait a week or drive 15 minutes to a different store, you would save that cash.

I am writing this blog to help, those frugal like me, find out if they are getting a good deal. As I am only one man, I will be writing about the deals I see and find interesting. We may frugally be in tune, and you’ll follow along happily picking up deals with me, or we have our “hits and misses”. I may have shown you the best deal, or I may have had it wrong, and it wasn’t the cheapest (gasp). You may like my writing style or you find out I have horrible spelling and I like making up words. All in all, it is just for fun, and I want to share.

If this is the last thing you read of mine, and I hope that is not the case, but if it is, just remember the next time you go make that purchase think to yourself…IS IT CHEAP?