CyberCJH’S Blog

So, Apu calls me from India to tell me that I qualify for a new, special discount on my AT&T home phone service. Great, I thought. This is how the conversation went…

Me: “Hello?”
Apu: “Yes, is this Mr. Harreatage?”
Me: “Yes, probably.”
Apu: “I am calling from AT&T. Since you have been a customer for so long, I will like to tell you that you qualify for a new discount.”
Me: “Okay, great.”
Apu: “Yes! It is so very great. How much do you pay each month for your AT&T service?”
Me: “$104.”
Apu: “OK. Very good. With this special discount, you will only pay $109.”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Apu: “You will only pay $109. Isn’t that such a good deal?”
Me: “OK. Forgive me. I will admit that my international mathematical skills aren’t that great, but here in America, $109 is actually more than $104.”
Apu: “Oh yes, but this is a discount.”
Me: “A discount of negative $5?”
Apu: “No, it is a discount of $3.”
Me: “So, $104 minus $3 equal $109?”
Apu: “Um, I believe so. Can you hold on?”
Me: “No, I can’t. I’m eating dinner. Turn your calculator round the right way and call me back.”
:::CLICK:::

WTF?! Can you believe this?!

written by cybercjh

Update : Amazon has increased the price from $42.99 to $49.99.

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Update : Amazon has reduced the price from $46.99 to $42.99.

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Amazon is selling Norton 360 Version 2.0 for $46.99.

Norton 360 Version 2.0 delivers reliable, industry-leading protection for everything the computer users your family care about without sacrificing PC performance.

You can install the software on up to 3 PCs.

There are two rebates available for this product.

The first rebate is for $30 and is available here. This rebate is available to anyone. The offer number is 08-22181.

The second rebate is for $20 and is available here. This is an upgrader rebate. If you are in possession of an older version of any sort of anti-virus or internet protection software from any company, you’re eligible for this rebate. The offer number is 08-106298.

To make this deal even sweeter, this item is available for free Super-Saver Shipping (or Prime shipping, if you’re a member) and there is no sales tax in most states on Amazon purchases.

$46.99 - $30 Rebate - $20 Rebate = -$3.01

Remember to pre-submit your Norton Symantec rebates online before mailing them for faster processing.

written by cybercjh

I’m going to go to Walgreens after work to get some more stuff for the balikbayan box.

1 2pk Gel Ink Pens (FAR)
1 8pk Crayola Markers (FAR)

Total         $3.00
Sales Tax   + $0.20
Rebate      - $3.00
Total Paid  = $0.20

written by cybercjh

I walked to Staples today on my lunch break and bought some stuff from their ad this week.

2 10pk Cap Erasers (5¢ ea)
10 Folders (5¢ ea)
2 Protractors (5¢ ea)
110pk Mechanical Pencils (FAR)

Total           $2.69
Sales Tax     + $0.18
Easy Rebate   - $1.99
Cash Back     - $0.14
Total Paid    = $0.74

Not bad. Most, if not all of the stuff will probably end up in a balikbayan box. But, you can’t beat the price.

written by cybercjh

I think I found a pretty darn good deal on this HP LaserJet M1522nf All-In-One machine at Office Depot.

Regular price                   $ 399.99
Instant savings               - $ 140.00
6.5% sales tax                + $  16.90
5% American Express cashback  - $  13.84
Rebate                        - $ 200.00
Mail + Delivery Confirmation  + $   1.52
                  FINAL PRICE = $  64.57

That’s a savings of about 84%. Not a bad deal for this machine, I think. I’ll use it to replace our current slow-a** Sharp ink-jet fax machine which just guzzles ink. This machine uses a $70 toner catridge that will yield about 1,500 pages, so that’s just under 5¢/page. Our Sharp fax machine uses a $30 cartridge that only yields about 250 pages, making it 12¢/page.

And, I can use it to make backup images of our insurance policies and what not.

written by cybercjh

Ugh, what a day yesterday. The Queen of Hearts was absolutely on the war path all morning. If you breathed wrong in her direction, it would have been, “Off with his head!”

I go to get a chest x-ray at 1pm. The place is packed and there is only one available seat in the waiting room. I take it. Then, an old lady comes in and looks around for an empty seat. I ask her, Would you like my seat? And, she says, Yes! But, not yes as in yes, thank you but, yes as in yes, you should be giving me your seat you retarded ungrateful young person. Not even a hint of a thank you. Fine. Whatever. You’re old. Maybe you forgot. 45 minutes later, I get my x-ray. When I leave, the waiting room is completely empty. Like I always say, God put me on earth to end lines. Think about it … somebody has to be the last person in line. That is my purpose in life … to be the last person in line.

After that, I go to Wendy’s to get lunch. There are 4 cars ahead of me. By the time I get to the window and get my food, there is no one behind me. Mission Accomplished : line ended.

After work, I go the gas station to put air in my front right tire. Of course, there is a line 3 cars deep waiting for the air pump. 20 minutes later, it’s my turn. I would have ended that line, too. But, the dude in front of me must not have had change. So, he pulls away as if he’s done and then pulls back up behind me. That way, he can use the rest of the time on the timer that I paid 75¢ for. You’re welcome, dude.

At that point, I decide to stop at Target and walk around. I thought maybe there were some long lines that needed ending and I could help out. But, the stop at Target was worth it. Check out their price mistake …

They were (and probably still are) selling a box of 5 reams of HP Office paper. 500 sheets per ream x 5 reams = 2,500 sheets. The shelf label reads HP OFFICE REAM 500CT $4.89. But, the entire box of 5 reams is ringing up $4.89. It sells at Staples for $17.99. Seems to me that the employees were probably supposed to break the box down and sell the reams individually. At any rate, I bought two boxes.

By the way … I ended the check-out line at Target, too.

written by cybercjh \\ tags: Target

(Updated 03/30/08)

Put together a nice deal for myself at Staples for a Canon PowerShot digital camera.

Canon SD750 PowerShot (MSRP $249.99)    :   $ 199.98
Epson R280 Photo Printer (MSRP: $99.99) :   $  99.98
Epson Printer Instant Savings           : - $   5.00
$30 off $150 coupon                     : - $  30.00
Sales tax                               : + $  17.22
5% cash back (from American Express)    : - $  14.11
Staples EasyRebate for Epson Printer    : - $  70.00
Staples EasyRebate for Epson Printer    : - $  25.00
Sold Epson Printer on eBay              : + $  45.00
eBay Fees                               : - $   3.14
PayPal Fees                             : - $   2.04
                                  TOTAL : = $ 133.25

So, I got a $250 camera for $133. That’s a savings of about 47%.

I doubt we’ll keep the printer. It only yields about 400 prints per set of ink cartridges and it takes 6 cartridges at $100 for a full set. That comes to 40¢ per print if you factor in the cost of photo paper. You can get excellent prints at Walgreens for about 19¢, less than half the cost.

written by cybercjh \\ tags: Staples

Not to be outdone by the likes of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, Sprint announced their $99/mo Simply Everything unlimited plan today. The big difference between Sprint and the other guys is that Sprint’s unlimited plan is for everything - voice, text and data - all for $99/mo. Since I’m looking for a plan that offers me unlimited voice, text and data for my Motorola Q, here is how the contenders currently stack up …

Verizon Wireless (Most Expensive)

• $99 = Unlimited Voice
• $119 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS
• $139 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data
• $149 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data for Blackberries or PDAs
• $169 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data for Blackberries or PDAs + Global Data

AT&T Wireless

• $99 = Unlimited Voice
• $119 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS
• $134 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data
• $149 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data for Blackberries or PDAs

T-Mobile

• $99 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS
• I could not find anything about an unlimited data plan.

Sprint (Least Expensive)

• $99 = Unlimited Voice + SMS/MMS + Data for Blackberries or PDAs

At first glance, it’s clear that Sprint has undercut the competition by a wide margin. Choosing Sprint over Verizon or AT&T would save someone like me $600 a year. That’s a pretty nice chunk of change.

The only problem is that Sprint sucks. I’d switch if I knew I’d never have to call customer service. But, the web is full of horror stories about Sprint’s customer service. Sprint’s new CEO even admitted that their customer service is terrible and its customers have been deflecting in droves. I don’t want to be caught in a situation where everyone is trying to get out and I’m the only moron that is trying to get in.

So, here is my plan. I’m going to switch to Verizon’s $149 plan and keep it for one year. I’m hoping that Sprint’s undercutting creates a price war and Verizon lowers their price eventually. This time next year, I will reevaluate my situation. If Verizon is still expensive but Sprint has fixed their customer service problems (which they’re apparently working on now), I’ll switch to Sprint. But, I’m hoping that Verizon will concede and lower their price.

Update … I tried to change my plan online on Verizon’s website, but it keeps prompting me to add a $44 unlimited data plan to my $149 package which is supposed to include unlimited data. WTF? So, I fired off this e-mail to them.

I have a Motorola Q. I currently pay for 450 minutes ($40) + unlimited data ($40) + a text messaging plan ($10). I was interested in finding out more information about upgrading my plan to a new unlimited plan that includes voice, text and data. But, I am confused. Here is what I’m doing …

- I log into verizonwireless.com.
- Under MY PLAN, I click GO.
- I click CHANGE TO A NEW PLAN.
- I click CONTINUE.
- Next to PDA/SMARTPHONE NATIONWIDE E-MAIL & MESSAGING, I click VIEW PLAN DETAILS.
- I choose UNLIMITED $149.99/mo and click NEXT.
- On the SELECT FEATURES screen, under PDA/SMARTPHONE, I add UNLIMITED DATA USAGE for $44.99/mo. I click CONTINUE.
- On the REVIEW NEW PLAN screen, it says my monthly access charge is $149.99, but does not mention anything about the $44.99 unlimited data usage.

So, my question is … does the $149.99 include unlimited data usage or not? And, if so, why does it prompt me to add a $44.99 unlimited data package if the $149.99 monthly access charge includes that? Or, is the monthly charge for unlimited voice, text and data really $149.99 + $44.99 = $194.98

Also, am I eligible to continue to receive the 15% access discount on the unlimited plan? It doesn’t show up as a promotion under the new calling plan on the REVIEW NEW PLAN screen.

Thank you.

Let’s see what kind of intelligent (snort, snort) response I get.

Update 3/3/08 (4 days later) … I got a response from Verizon.

Dear Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,

Good afternoon Xxxxxxxxxxx, my name is Sherrlyn and I am eager to assist you with updating your calling plan. I apologize for the confusion with updating your calling plan to the unlimited e-mail and text messaging.

We apologize for the delay in our response, due to higher than normal e-mail volume. Thank you for your patience. We value your business, and it would be my pleasure to assist you.

When changing your calling plan to the $149.99 Nationwide Unlimited E-mail and Messaging plan does not require an additional $44.99 unlimited data plan. We are currently in the process of removing the option to add an unlimited data plan on the existing all inclusive unlimited e-mail and messaging plan. Thank you for your patience as we work to address your concern on your account.

We appreciate your business. Please contact us at our website for any of your future needs.  Again, thank you for using Verizon Wireless products and services.

Sincerely,
Sherrlyn
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service

Wow, a professional response via e-mail. Pity she ignored my second question, “Also, am I eligible to continue to receive the 15% access discount on the unlimited plan?” But, through other websites and forums, I found out that I am not.

After some thought, I’ve decided to stay on my current setup of 450 minutes ($40) + unlimited data ($40) + a text messaging plan ($10). I never go over my minutes or text message allowance. So, I guess there is no point in switching to the unlimited plan right now.

Update 4/21/08 … Due to spam, the ability to comment on this post has been disabled.

written by cybercjh \\ tags: Sprint, Verizon Wireless

Who doesn’t love a good deal? I bought a Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 at Staples today. It normally sells for $99.98. Check out the deal I put together for myself …

Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000              :   $ 99.98
$30 off $75 coupon (purchased on eBay) : + $  0.98
$30 off $75 coupon                     : - $ 30.00
Sales tax                              : + $  4.55
Staples EasyRebate                     : - $ 50.00
5% cash back (from American Express)   : - $  3.73
                                 TOTAL : = $ 21.78

So, I got a $99.98 webcam for $21.78. That’s a savings of about 78%. Not to bad.

written by cybercjh \\ tags: Staples