Comments on: Penny Pinchers: I Want My Four Dollars http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/ personal finance that makes cents Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:53:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tim http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-1339 Tim Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:59:28 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-1339 Why not take your frugality a step further? Research the books you want online and purchase them slightly-used at half.com or amazon.com? After all the purchasing dust settles, you likely would see 40-50 percent savings (or even more!) and as a bonus, the books would arrive at your door and thereby also save your gas and time! Why not take your frugality a step further? Research the books you want online and purchase them slightly-used at half.com or amazon.com? After all the purchasing dust settles, you likely would see 40-50 percent savings (or even more!) and as a bonus, the books would arrive at your door and thereby also save your gas and time!

]]> By: Kira http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-420 Kira Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:45:12 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-420 I had an experience at the grocery store where the clerk examined each and every one of my coupons (despite the fact that if you didn't buy it, the coupon won't scan). At one point I was "disagreeing" with him over one coupon which clearly said, any Edge shaving product, but since it had the Advance Care logo (or whatever their new product was), he said it was only for that. Despite the fact that it said for all products by that company, and there was a PICTURE of the item I was trying to buy on it. I pointed this out to him, and he shrugged, and said well... I can try and scan it... Obviously it did work. I had an experience at the grocery store where the clerk examined each and every one of my coupons (despite the fact that if you didn’t buy it, the coupon won’t scan). At one point I was “disagreeing” with him over one coupon which clearly said, any Edge shaving product, but since it had the Advance Care logo (or whatever their new product was), he said it was only for that. Despite the fact that it said for all products by that company, and there was a PICTURE of the item I was trying to buy on it.

I pointed this out to him, and he shrugged, and said well… I can try and scan it… Obviously it did work.

]]> By: The Technocrat http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-410 The Technocrat Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:39:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-410 Sorry to hear about the problems with the bookstore, but I think I got them back for you: I decided I wanted to brush up on XHTML, CSS and AJAX (weekend before last) so I went and picked up an XHTL/CSS book from borders, $35. Got a 20% off coupon. Studied the book, but since it was instructional and not a reference book, I didn't need it when I was done (this past weekend). I took some notes and returned it. Used the 20% off coupon and a $20 gift certificate I had to pick up the AJAX book on Sunday, $40, minus 20%, minus $20. All in all, I'm getting $75 of instruction for $14+change. Dishonest? Not really, Borders has a 30-day return policy, you just have to keep the book in pristine condition. I'm basically doing the same thing as everyone in the store, except reading it at home. Will I keep the AJAX book? Probably not, it's educational, not a reference book. But when I return it, I'll be getting $40 back for a $14 out-of-pocket expenditure. Borders gets to re-sell the books at full price, and I get to spend the $25 on another book. (True, $20 of that is returned gift card money, but still, pretty nice, and completely within Border's own return policy) Sorry to hear about the problems with the bookstore, but I think I got them back for you:

I decided I wanted to brush up on XHTML, CSS and AJAX (weekend before last) so I went and picked up an XHTL/CSS book from borders, $35. Got a 20% off coupon. Studied the book, but since it was instructional and not a reference book, I didn’t need it when I was done (this past weekend). I took some notes and returned it.

Used the 20% off coupon and a $20 gift certificate I had to pick up the AJAX book on Sunday, $40, minus 20%, minus $20.

All in all, I’m getting $75 of instruction for $14+change. Dishonest? Not really, Borders has a 30-day return policy, you just have to keep the book in pristine condition. I’m basically doing the same thing as everyone in the store, except reading it at home.

Will I keep the AJAX book? Probably not, it’s educational, not a reference book. But when I return it, I’ll be getting $40 back for a $14 out-of-pocket expenditure. Borders gets to re-sell the books at full price, and I get to spend the $25 on another book.

(True, $20 of that is returned gift card money, but still, pretty nice, and completely within Border’s own return policy)

]]> By: IAmCorbin http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-396 IAmCorbin Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:35:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-396 I just had my own "4 dollar encounter." I took my girlfriend out to a movie the other night and before going we called to check on ticket costs to see when the matinee times ended. I was told anything before 6pm was $6, everything after was $8. So we went to a 5:40 show, when purchasing the tickets I was told it would be $16 and I told the man at the counter that I had been told matinee prices were until 6pm, he told me it was 5:30. I asked to speak with a manager, explained to him what I was told on the phone and I got my tickets for the matinee price, saving my $4. I just had my own “4 dollar encounter.” I took my girlfriend out to a movie the other night and before going we called to check on ticket costs to see when the matinee times ended. I was told anything before 6pm was $6, everything after was $8. So we went to a 5:40 show, when purchasing the tickets I was told it would be $16 and I told the man at the counter that I had been told matinee prices were until 6pm, he told me it was 5:30. I asked to speak with a manager, explained to him what I was told on the phone and I got my tickets for the matinee price, saving my $4.

]]> By: Jai http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-388 Jai Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:38:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-388 This is why you should shop at indi stores (books, music, clothes, cooking, etc). They will - with rare execption - give the customer the benefit of the doubt. This is why you should shop at indi stores (books, music, clothes, cooking, etc). They will - with rare execption - give the customer the benefit of the doubt.

]]> By: Marco - Stock Trading http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-379 Marco - Stock Trading Sun, 11 Jun 2006 03:07:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-379 You, Seth Godin recently posted something <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/the_thing_about.html" rel="nofollow">about coupons</a> too... He wasn't as lucky as you though! He didn't get the discount. But hey, B&N got some free publicity from this rather small transaction! You, Seth Godin recently posted something about coupons too… He wasn’t as lucky as you though! He didn’t get the discount.

But hey, B&N got some free publicity from this rather small transaction!

]]> By: Anon http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-358 Anon Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:11:21 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-358 I'm a trainer at a major chain bookstore that isn't the one you named. :) I know what it's like when there's just one new person at the register. They turn to a more experienced colleague and ask for clarification/assistance. When everyone is new . . . well, bad things happen. Clearly someone misinterpreted the coupon and passed on their faulty misinterpretation. Good for you for pressing your case. Anyway, you should go to B&N's competition (us) - better discount card, and it's free! I’m a trainer at a major chain bookstore that isn’t the one you named. :) I know what it’s like when there’s just one new person at the register. They turn to a more experienced colleague and ask for clarification/assistance. When everyone is new . . . well, bad things happen. Clearly someone misinterpreted the coupon and passed on their faulty misinterpretation. Good for you for pressing your case. Anyway, you should go to B&N’s competition (us) - better discount card, and it’s free!

]]> By: dokaben http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-356 dokaben Sat, 10 Jun 2006 00:30:00 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-356 Nice job. Most people would probably just let the $4 slide, but I say fight for it! When large companies are involved, it definitely becomes a matter of principle. I had a strange experience once trying to use a B1G1 breakfast sandwich coupon at McDonalds. The woman kept insisting I had to take two McGriddles because of the picture on the coupon. A manager finally straightened her out. Sad to think of all the poor people before me forced to eat those weird little pancake sandwiches... Nice job. Most people would probably just let the $4 slide, but I say fight for it! When large companies are involved, it definitely becomes a matter of principle.

I had a strange experience once trying to use a B1G1 breakfast sandwich coupon at McDonalds. The woman kept insisting I had to take two McGriddles because of the picture on the coupon. A manager finally straightened her out.

Sad to think of all the poor people before me forced to eat those weird little pancake sandwiches…

]]> By: VinTek http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-345 VinTek Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:14:15 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/09/penny-pinchers-i-want-my-four-dollars/#comment-345 Congrats, JD, on your new mindset. Soon you'll be quoting one of my mottos when it comes to purchases: "Don't leave money on the table when you're doing business." and another one... "Better that it should be in your pocket than in theirs." Congrats, JD, on your new mindset. Soon you’ll be quoting one of my mottos when it comes to purchases:

“Don’t leave money on the table when you’re doing business.”

and another one…

“Better that it should be in your pocket than in theirs.”

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