Published June 30th, 2008
in Deal Site Reviews.
I was somewhat surprised when I received an email from ReviewMe last week with a review request from Computer Shopper, the computer magazine. Yes, the very same one that in 90’s was as thick as the Bible and featured prices on computer products from hundreds of merchants. It has significantly gone down in volume ever since (100 pages in May edition) but still remains a very well recognizable name among computer enthusiasts in the US.
A little bit of history. The magazine started in 1979 in Florida and was the first nationwide classified advertising newsletter devoted entirely to the computer hobby. Think of it as the pre-Internet price comparison tool for mail order computer merchandise. Stan Veit who became the Editor-in-Chief in 80’s has added more meat to the product price tables and turned the magazine into a successful publication that would rival TV Guide for newsstand circulation. The Shopper changed several owners in the following years and is currently run by SX2 Media Labs, a VC-funded startup.
The growth of the Web is probably the main factor that contributed to the magazine decline, and judging by this ReviewMe request, the new owners recognize it by betting on the online version, which I personally prefer over the paper one. So why would you want to read the magazine now, and what does it offer for the bargain hunter type of crowd?
Besides the daily computer and periphery reviews, which is the magazine’s main strength, there is a rubric called ShopTalk which features daily news bits for gadget junkies with money. I especially like the DealHunter page where the editors post daily picks for budget oriented consumers. Another interesting place to visit on Computer Shopper is the downloads page which is one of the largest available portals for free software downloads on the Web.
The email I received with this review request also mentions the recently launched Deals and Coupons section for computer products. After examining it I do not recommend you spending your time on it. Not only it is hard to navigate, it also doesn’t seem to offer anything else but a product feed from affiliated merchants, some of which can barely be called deals.
My overall impression from the website is not very positive, mostly because of the overwhelming amount of display ads. Being a shopping magazine it can and must have less ads to remain a growing online business. Do you subscribe to Computer Shopper? Have you been to their website recently? Please tell me about your own impression in the comments.
This is post is sponsored by Computer Shopper via ReviewMe
Published June 24th, 2008
in Shopping Promotion.
If you have looked at the GM stock lately then you will not be surprised why the company is announcing this new marketing campaign. Declining truck sales have been hurting GM badly and this is their latest attempt to lure customers into clearing some of the truck inventory before the company closes down those money losing plants for good.
Below are some details on the promotion which starts tomorrow, but don’t expect to find me at the GM dealership because I plan to squeeze at least another 100K from my Honda.
The carmaker will offer 0% financing for loans as long as six years on most of its 2008 models. Vehicles included in the program range from large SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban to small two-seat sports cars like the Pontiac Solstice.
The promotional program - which will only be available from Tuesday through next Monday, June 30 - will be called the “72-hour sale,” the company said.
“We’re really trying to spark the market here at the end of the quarter,” LaNeve said.
Regardless of what my plans are, this could be a good deal if you are looking for a long financing on a new car. The trick might be however is less freedom negotiating the price, I would expect a lot of pressure from the “hungry” sales clerks during the promotion. So do your homework as usual, plan ahead and come prepared.
Source: GM offers 6-year, no interest loans (from CNN Money)
Published June 20th, 2008
in Money Saving Tips.
I have speculated if I should write this post for a very long time. There is just so much already written on the subject and it is very hard to add anything new. Nevertheless I decided to do so. Partially because I wanted to have a list of tips that I myself would follow, so to say a TODO list. I intend to update it as I discover more tips over time.
There are several variables you can play with when trying to save on gas. These are your car, the gas you put in, the money you spend, and the trips you make. In addition to listing tips that affect each of these variables, I will also try to measure how effective each technique is based on A to D scale (with A being most effective) and how much effort it requires (with A meaning little effort). Some will say “this very subjective”. Hey, this is my blog! You are free to copy this list and put your own scores. 
Your car
- Buy an efficient car or a scooter - it is hard to justify selling a car that served you well for many years. Here are some numbers from ConsumerReports that will help you make that decision. Here are my own calculations related to plug-in hybrid. (Effectiveness: B, Effort: C)
- Carpool or use public transportation - do a research if carpooling or public transportation is an option for you. (Effectiveness: B, Effort: D)
- Take care of your car - periodically check tire pressure, regularly change oil and the air filter. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: B)
- Clean your trunk - any extra stuff you carry in your car equals to burned fuel. Remove anything that you don’t need on a daily basis. (Effectiveness: D, Effort: A)
- Bicycle to work - explore the option of bicycling to work, consider an electric bike if the distance seems unmanageable. (Effectiveness: A, Effort: D)
Your trip
- Change your driving habits - there are a few simple things that you could follow to drastically reduce your gas consumption. Slow down on highway, keep the distance, don’t accelerate fast, don’t use AC whenever it is cool outside, avoid idling. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: B)
- Park in the first spot you find - don’t spend precious time and money circling around the parking lot looking for that closest spot to the door. (Effectiveness: D, Effort: A)
- Move closer to work - this might be barely an options for many, especially considering the slump our housing is in. (Effectiveness: B, Effort: D)
- Work from home - negotiate with your boss a day when you can work from home. I did exactly this last month and now enjoy the savings. Not only you save on gas, you also save the time on commute. (Effectiveness: B, Effort: B to C)
- Drive less, walk more - Combine trips or eliminate them entirely (e.g. eat in instead of out). Use this tool to check where to you can get on foot in your neighborhood. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: C)
Your gas
- Buy the lowest octane gasoline your car will take - check your owner’s manual to see what is good for your car. Using a higher octane may add performance but will wear your engine faster and will cost your in more expensive gas. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: A)
- Fill up in the morning - gas has slightly lower temperature and higher density in morning hours. This means you get more gas for your buck. (Effectiveness: D, Effort: B)
- Fill up ahead of holidays - gas prices tend to go up just before holidays. Fill up 2-3 days before to save some cash. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: B)
Your money
- Shop around for cheaper gas - use websites that compare gas prices in your area. MSN has one which is pretty accurate. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: B)
- Use cash back credit cards - you can get up to 10% savings when using credit cards for buying gas. Here are some I recommend. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: A)
- Buy gas on gift cards at grocery stores - some grocery stores that have gas stations will let you buy gift cards at discount. Buy the gift cards on a cash back credit card and then use them to pay for your gas. (Effectiveness: C, Effort: B)
Have you found these tips useful? Which ones did and didn’t work for you? Please share your own money saving tips in the comments.
Published June 16th, 2008
in Popular Sites Series.
This is May 2008 revision of the Popular Coupon sites list. You can find the last month revision of the list here.
The change in rating shows the difference compared to April results. This list currently has 25 sites which is one more than the last month. couponseven.com joined the list after its Alexa rank went above the threshold.
There are 26 more coupon sites hiding in my database that didn’t meet the Alexa Rank < 100,000 requirement. Please, enjoy the list of those that made it below.
Published June 16th, 2008
in Money Saving Tips.
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$399 - $199 = -$160
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This is a perfect example of how marketing works magics with numbers. You probably heard that Apple is releasing a new version of their popular phone. The support for 3G and built in GPS are the major upgrades. The cool part is that the phone will cost you $200 less, if you trust the PR nerds from Apple.
Don’t get fooled by this marketing trick. If you calculate the true cost to own of 3G and 2G iPhone, you will find that the “cheaper” new version will end up being $160 more expensive over the period of 2 year contract, now mandatory with the phone purchase. This of course doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy one.
Source: iPhone 3G’s True Price Compared at Gizmodo (via Digg)
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