CAUTION: some dealmac deals are not so deals

[New.Dad]

OK, I still visit the old place, for deal only, never the forum.

But even the deal page has more and more errors. Like this one:

http://dealmac.com/deals/Kingston-1-GB-S...35689.html

The catch is that you don't get the $10 discount because the total is under $30. I wasn't shooting for the MIR anyway (if it came, even better), but the instant $10 was attractive. Once I learned that it only applies to orders over $30 I passed. I will also pass dealmac page from now on. Not worth my time.

[New.Dad]

And if you click on top of this page, you get the CORRECT information:

"To get the Kingston Technology 1GB Secure Digital Card for $4.95 from Buy.com, you will need to pad your order with at least $2.05 worth of additional merchandise to get your total to $30. This will allow you to use Google checkout to save $10 instantly. You will then need to send in the $13 rebate which is good through 10/14/06. Shipping is free"

Enough said, purging all dealmac bookmarks from my Safari and FireFox

[MikeF]

I gave up sending them deals when they wpuldn't list it (on multiple occasions) and finally when they responded that they found a cheaper version on one deal -- the one I found was brand new; theirs was a refurb with 1/12 the warranty for $5 less...

Occasionally a deal in their "tips" forum is better than the front page...

[The Grim Ninja]

Spend $2 to save $8 (and other values) is a pretty common thing in the cheapskate world.

On Fatwallet, people go up to spending $25 to save $5 (To use $30 off $150 coupons).


But there are lots of other 'quirks' with the system used over at dealmac. User satisfaction is certainly not their top priority.

[Panopticon]

"User satisfaction is certainly not their top priority."
Right you are Grimmy.

I stopped using DM after TigerDirect and ChumpUSA became two of their 'most favored' dealers.

[Carm]

[quote The Grim Ninja]Spend $2 to save $8 (and other values) is a pretty common thing in the cheapskate world.

On Fatwallet, people go up to spending $25 to save $5 (To use $30 off $150 coupons).


But there are lots of other 'quirks' with the system used over at dealmac. User satisfaction is certainly not their top priority.
Depends on what the 25 was spent on.
Case in point. This week Staples has the Samsung ML-2010 Laser Printer for $39.99 after a $90 Staples easy rebate. Total cost out the door is 129.98 plus tax. They also offer a Free after rebate cordless phone (Cost $20 O.T.D.) To get the total over 150.00+ to use a 30 off 150 Staples Coupon.

Total comes to
150+ tax, -30 coupon off. = 120 (total cost out the door) + tax -90 Easy Rebate(printer) -20 Easy Rebate(phone) =
Total after rebates is $10 plus tax on 120 for a crappy cordless phone and a Samsung ML-2010 Laser printer.
Not all fatwallet and Slickdeals are foolish, especially since Staples almost always pays out on their rebates. Im not defending them, I just noting that there are some bargains out there for cheapskates (like me )

Carm

[rgG]

The Google checkout deal is really good at Buy.com right now. You can use it multiple times for several orders over $30, so it could pay you to split your order, if you have several items, to get more "instant $10 off "credits.

You do have to read all the rebate and instant savings deals carefully. The ones I hate the worst are the ones where even the "free" shipping requires a rebate. Free shipping is usually the main thing that will make me choose one vendor over another, but not if it requires a rebate just for the shipping.

[Carm]

[quote rgG]The Google checkout deal is really good at Buy.com right now. You can use it multiple times for several orders over $30, so it could pay you to split your order, if you have several items, to get more "instant $10 off "credits.

You do have to read all the rebate and instant savings deals carefully. The ones I hate the worst are the ones where even the "free" shipping requires a rebate. Free shipping is usually the main thing that will make me choose one vendor over another, but not if it requires a rebate just for the shipping.
Sears does this with their shipping. I hate it.

Carm

[mjgkramer]

I've become a bit wary of items from "new" merchants as quite a few of the, according to resellerratings.com, are less than trustworthy.