What time to show up at Best Buy on Black Friday?

Post by Flarky
Hi all,
A year ago I showed up at 5am at Best Buy and there
were already over 200 people in the line. Nevertheless
I got a great deal on an item I was seeking. However
I missed getting the main item I went there for.
I'm curious to know what's the earliest time
that any of you folks have shown up at this store
or any other on Black Friday morning and how many
people you saw there.
Thanks.

It depends how much your time is worth to you vs.
the likelihood of getting whatever you're after at
a below-normal price.

One time I was going by anyway and arrived at Best Buy
5 minutes before 10AM. They opened at 10 so I drove on.

Don

Bill

2005-11-25 03:53:00 UTC

Post by Don K
It depends how much your time is worth to you vs.
the likelihood of getting whatever you're after at
a below-normal price.
One time I was going by anyway and arrived at Best Buy
5 minutes before 10AM. They opened at 10 so I drove on.
Don

Your answer has nothing to do with Black Friday. I think the
vast majority of people would be thrilled if they only had to
wait 5 minutes to get into BB when they open on BF. I have heard
that people show up 2+ hours ahead of time for the really hot
deals. Not me. And BB opens at 5am on BF, not 10am.

Bill

Clark W. Griswold, Jr.

2005-11-25 04:20:18 UTC

Post by Bill
I think the
vast majority of people would be thrilled if they only had to
wait 5 minutes to get into BB when they open on BF. I have heard
that people show up 2+ hours ahead of time for the really hot
deals. Not me. And BB opens at 5am on BF, not 10am.

Yep. Decided not to play the game this year after doing CompUSA's
pre-Thanksgiving sale at 6PM yesterday. Showed up an hour early, was the second
person waiting and figured since it wasn't advertised heavily, that the crowd
would be thin.

Well, it was slightly thinner than a BF morning, but there were enough there.
They all decided to swarm around the door instead of lining up, and rushed the
door as it opened.

I managed to get two different items I was interested in, but saw people at the
register with armfuls of the non-rebate sale things. As much as I dislike
rebates, they do help control that kind of bingeing.

Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

Bill

2005-11-25 05:46:56 UTC

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

Those triple rebate deals are evil. They should be illegal. You
KNOW the only reason they do it is to split the amount so at
least one of them (maybe more) is small enough so people don't
bother sending them in, or gives the company an extra chance to
reject one of them. I can live with two rebates on an item, you
can make the case that one is being paid by the manufacturer and
one by the retailer. But when the manufacturer has two rebates
on a single item, and the rebate program ids are consecutive,
you KNOW it was planned that way. The thing I find even more
amazing about them is that CompUSA started doing them shortly
after they had their wrists slapped by the FTC regarding
rebates. You would think they would want to do things that would
make life EASIER for customers, not HARDER.

I am generally very forgiving about rebates, but these triples
rebates (and yes, I have been stupid enough to do some, but I
will not anymore) just get me angry.

Oh, and he's a good one -- in today's CompUSA ad, they are
selling a CompUSA brand router. And there are STILL 3 rebates,
two manufacturer, one CompUSA. And I think one may only be for
$2. They've gotta KNOW that most people are not going to deal
with that. And who is the manufacturer if not CompUSA???

It's like the Dilbert cartoon where they are for some large
amount of information to be written in a tiny spot. It's
designed to cause the customer not to get their money.

Bill

Bill 2

2005-11-25 16:02:17 UTC

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

I don't see how it's the retailer's fault the customer is lazy.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-11-25 19:48:20 UTC

Post by Bill 2

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

I don't see how it's the retailer's fault the customer is lazy.

It's not the retailers' fault; they are, however, counting on that
laziness.

Bill

2005-11-26 06:08:55 UTC

Post by Bill 2

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

I don't see how it's the retailer's fault the customer is lazy.

It's not the retailers' fault; they are, however, counting on that
laziness.

I think that having 3 rebates on a single item, where two of the
rebates are being paid by the manufacturer and the rebate
program numbers are sequential, is a blatant attempt to cause
the customer to fail to get their rebate. You certainly know
that I am a big fan of rebates -- I will have over $1000 rebates
to submit from my purchases this weekend alone. But when you see
three rebates on a single item, two of which have sequential
offer numbers being paid by the manufacturer, you KNOW that the
reason is to make each individual rebate smaller to increase the
odds that the customer will not bother doing one of them (or
maybe both), or to help them to reject one. And when there is
only one retailer who seems to be doing this, you have to figure
that they are directly responsible for doing it.

If you say that rebates are a gamble (which I generally do not
agree with), then this is like stacking the deck. It's not about
lazy. There is no real justification for that third rebate. And
it's just so OBVIOUS why they are doing it.

Bill

timeOday

2005-11-26 07:15:27 UTC

Post by Bill 2

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

I don't see how it's the retailer's fault the customer is lazy.

It's not the retailers' fault; they are, however, counting on that
laziness.

What annoys me is when the rebates are incompatible, e.g. both rebates
for the same item demand the original UPC. You show a clerk and they
say, "just send them in, I'll bet they'll still do it" and you think,
"yeah, right. What if they don't?"

Another thing I don't like is "1 rebate per customer" when you can't
tell what they mean... is it one rebate per item, or for everything on
this table, or on this page of the flyer, or the whole store or what?

Sometimes the terminology on the reabates is inconsistent. They request
a "packing list" but the package only contained a "shipping receipt" or
somesuch. Or the packaging has 5 different bar codes scattered on it
and you don't know which to cut out. Vonage asked for my "account
number," so I gave my vonage phone number, well it was denied because
they wanted some other oddball number I'd never heard about. They could
have just looked it up from my phone number but hey, why bother I guess.

Then there was the time my envelope got shredded by the postal service
and lost the original UPC need to claim the rebate. It was a big
rebate, a hard drive I think.

I would LOVE to see the fulfillment rates on rebates.

Bill

2005-11-26 08:02:28 UTC

Post by timeOday
What annoys me is when the rebates are incompatible, e.g. both rebates
for the same item demand the original UPC. You show a clerk and they
say, "just send them in, I'll bet they'll still do it" and you think,
"yeah, right. What if they don't?"

In general, I find that in cases like that, I have misread the
rebate form and one of them either takes a copy of the UPC, or
uses something else. As an example, Symantec rebates will take
either the UPC or the proof of purchase tab on the box. The
upgrade rebates usually ask for the POP but most novices will
misread that as the UPC and claim that the rebate is not valid.
The general rule of thumb is that the store rebate gets the UPC
copy.

Post by timeOday
Another thing I don't like is "1 rebate per customer" when you can't
tell what they mean... is it one rebate per item, or for everything on
this table, or on this page of the flyer, or the whole store or what?

It's almost always one per item. Circuit City does some nasty
stuff in that area -- they will advertise multiple items (router
and network cards, for example) and their rebate will limit you
to a single item, even though the manufacturer's rebate allows
multiples of each item!

Post by timeOday
Sometimes the terminology on the reabates is inconsistent. They request
a "packing list" but the package only contained a "shipping receipt" or
somesuch. Or the packaging has 5 different bar codes scattered on it
and you don't know which to cut out. Vonage asked for my "account
number," so I gave my vonage phone number, well it was denied because
they wanted some other oddball number I'd never heard about. They could
have just looked it up from my phone number but hey, why bother I guess.

When in doubt, call the number on the rebate form before sending
it in. I find for online orders, printing the online receipt is
the best bet.

And I hope to called and got Vonage to honor that rebate.

Bill

The Real Bev

2005-11-27 03:34:26 UTC

Post by Bill
If you say that rebates are a gamble (which I generally do not
agree with), then this is like stacking the deck. It's not about
lazy. There is no real justification for that third rebate. And
it's just so OBVIOUS why they are doing it.

I bought some stuff a month ago that, along with a different rebate form,
required you to fill in your name and address twice on the same piece of paper.

--
Cheers,
Bev
______________________________________________________
"Parasites plus suckers do not add up to a community."
-- Thomas Sowell

Scott en Aztlán

2005-11-29 15:18:12 UTC

Post by Bill
There is no real justification for that third rebate. And
it's just so OBVIOUS why they are doing it.

And yet you continue to play right along with the game, like a good
little sheep.

Bill

2005-11-30 01:58:03 UTC

Post by Bill
There is no real justification for that third rebate. And
it's just so OBVIOUS why they are doing it.

And yet you continue to play right along with the game, like a good
little sheep.

Actually, I now refuse to buy anything with 3 rebates.

Bill

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-01 15:38:15 UTC

Post by Bill
There is no real justification for that third rebate. And
it's just so OBVIOUS why they are doing it.

And yet you continue to play right along with the game, like a good
little sheep.

Actually, I now refuse to buy anything with 3 rebates.

That's certainly a positive step.

Clark W. Griswold, Jr.

2005-11-25 16:44:21 UTC

Post by Bill
You
KNOW the only reason they do it is to split the amount so at
least one of them (maybe more) is small enough so people don't
bother sending them in, or gives the company an extra chance to
reject one of them. I can live with two rebates on an item, you
can make the case that one is being paid by the manufacturer and
one by the retailer. But when the manufacturer has two rebates
on a single item, and the rebate program ids are consecutive,
you KNOW it was planned that way. The thing I find even more
amazing about them is that CompUSA started doing them shortly
after they had their wrists slapped by the FTC regarding
rebates. You would think they would want to do things that would
make life EASIER for customers, not HARDER.

The even stranger thing is that CompUSA announced a few months ago that they
would be phasing rebates out within a year as they were a large source of
customer dissatisfaction.

Bill

2005-11-26 01:10:36 UTC

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
The even stranger thing is that CompUSA announced a few months ago that they
would be phasing rebates out within a year as they were a large source of
customer dissatisfaction.

I thought that was Best Buy who announced that??

Bill

Clark W. Griswold, Jr.

2005-11-26 04:53:39 UTC

Post by Bill
I thought that was Best Buy who announced that??

My mistake. Came across this article though. Very good:

<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2005/nf20051123_4158_db016.htm>

The Great Rebate Runaround
Consumers hate the hassles and hoops. Companies love them unredeemed. Now
regulators are wading in

Ah, the holiday shopping season: Santa Claus, reindeer -- and rebate hell. Those
annoying mail-in offers are everywhere these days. Shoppers hate collecting all
the paperwork, filling out the forms, and mailing it all in to claim their $10
or $100. But no matter how annoying rebates are for consumers, the country's
retailers and manufacturers love them.

From PC powerhouse Dell (DELL ) to national chains Circuit City (CC ) and
OfficeMax (OMX ) to the Listerine mouthwash sold at Rite Aid (RAD) drugstores,
rebates are proliferating. Nearly one-third of all computer gear is now sold
with some form of rebate, along with more than 20% of digital cameras,
camcorders, and LCD TVs, says market researcher NPD Group.

Hal Stinchfield, a 30-year veteran of the rebate business, calculates that some
400 million rebates are offered each year. Their total face value: $6 billion,
he estimates. Office-products retailer Staples (SPLS ) says it and its vendors
alone pay $3.5 million in rebates each week.

TAX ON THE DISORGANIZED. Why the rage for rebates? The industry's open secret
is that fully 40% of all rebates never get redeemed because consumers fail to
apply for them or their applications are rejected, estimates Peter S. Kastner, a
director of consulting firm Vericours. That translates into more than $2 billion
of extra revenue for retailers and their suppliers each year. What rebates do is
get consumers to focus on the discounted price of a product, then buy it at full
price.

<more>

b***@amnia.com

2005-11-25 05:57:59 UTC

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.

My first full time job was in a large department store. At that time
most stores opened at the regular Friday hours, in our case it was 10
a.m. Employees arriving before opening generally just walked in the
employee entrance. For that day we were told to have our ID in hand.
Seemed shopper would wait for 4 or 5 employees to enter and try to blend
in with them. Once inside they would walk around until the opening. In a
7 story store it was not that hard to blend in once you had access.
Other people assumed you worked there and sipping coffee in the employee
cafeteria made it easy to hide.

Post by Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Well, it was slightly thinner than a BF morning, but there were enough there.
They all decided to swarm around the door instead of lining up, and rushed the
door as it opened.
I managed to get two different items I was interested in, but saw people at the
register with armfuls of the non-rebate sale things. As much as I dislike
rebates, they do help control that kind of bingeing.
Tonight there was a SATA hard drive I was mildly interested in, but I decided my
time wasn't worth the 3 (three!!!) rebates it would take, as well as the crowds.

--
To reply via e-mail please delete 1 c from paccbell

Andrew White

2005-11-25 14:28:17 UTC

I was at CompUSA this morning at 8:30 am. Of course, all the great
deals were long gone (I coveted a hard drive at $30), but I did still
get a PC game for a great price. Anyway, I talked to a guy there who
was looking at hard drives as well; he said he showed up at this store
at MIDNIGHT and there were already over 200 people in line!!! He
turned around and left.

Now, temperatures here in the DC area were about 20 F overnight. How
desperate do you have to be to freeze your ass off for 6-7 hours ( I
would assume that people near the door showed up at 10-11pm) to save a
couple hundred dollars???

Brian Elfert

2005-11-25 15:35:08 UTC

Post by Andrew White
I was at CompUSA this morning at 8:30 am. Of course, all the great
deals were long gone (I coveted a hard drive at $30), but I did still
get a PC game for a great price. Anyway, I talked to a guy there who
was looking at hard drives as well; he said he showed up at this store
at MIDNIGHT and there were already over 200 people in line!!! He
turned around and left.

Since CompUSA opened at midnight, at least around here, of course the
line would be long by midnight. You would have had to show up probably by
9 or 10 pm to get a good spot in line.

If CompUSA had a cheap notebook like Walmart and Best Buy, I would have
been there by 9 or 10 pm.

Brian Elfert

Andrew White

2005-11-25 19:12:04 UTC

Post by Brian Elfert

Since CompUSA opened at midnight, at least around here, of course the
line would be long by midnight. You would have had to show up probably by
9 or 10 pm to get a good spot in line.

Now it makes some sense! I was under the impression that the store
opened at 5 am.

timeOday

2005-11-26 07:00:30 UTC

Post by Andrew White

Post by Brian Elfert

Since CompUSA opened at midnight, at least around here, of course the
line would be long by midnight. You would have had to show up probably by
9 or 10 pm to get a good spot in line.

Now it makes some sense! I was under the impression that the store
opened at 5 am.

I thought it was kind of a clever move on CompUSA's part, since techies
tend to be night rather than morning people. (At least that's the
stereotype, and I think there's something to it). But I didn't want
anything enough to go this year.

Last year was the only year I've participated in "black friday" and it
seems like it was about springtime before I was done getting rebates.
It was kind of a jovial atmosphere in line and I met a couple nice
people, but the dash and grab at opening time was distasteful.

thunder

2005-11-25 16:15:28 UTC

Same thing here in Cincinnati ,Ohio early this morning. I showed up at
Midnight and people were parking in the grass and in the isles blocking
other cars. They only had 5 registers open and the lines where wrapped
through out the building. It was chaotic.

Brian Elfert

2005-11-25 17:19:25 UTC

Post by thunder
Same thing here in Cincinnati ,Ohio early this morning. I showed up at
Midnight and people were parking in the grass and in the isles blocking
other cars. They only had 5 registers open and the lines where wrapped
through out the building. It was chaotic.

Your CompUSA has more than 5 registers? I'm pretty sure the local one
doesn't have more than five.

Brian Elfert

The Real Bev

2005-11-27 03:25:17 UTC

Post by Andrew White

Our CompUSA opened at midnight this time, which might explain the apparent
insanity. I lined up early at CompUSA last year (5:00 am, maybe), bringing a
thermos of cocoa and a book. At some point a couple of employees walked down
the line asking who wanted the 50G drive for $50, etc. and handing out slips
of paper. Excellent idea. There must have been bloody battles the year before.

Post by Andrew White
Now, temperatures here in the DC area were about 20 F overnight. How
desperate do you have to be to freeze your ass off for 6-7 hours ( I
would assume that people near the door showed up at 10-11pm) to save a
couple hundred dollars???

Just depends on how much you want the stuff. They might not have had to wait
as long as you thought.

--
Cheers,
Bev
______________________________________________________
"Parasites plus suckers do not add up to a community."
-- Thomas Sowell

Jon von Leipzig@myway.com

2005-11-25 07:36:06 UTC

What does it matter what others did at their store. Won't help you one
bit.
Tip: If there were 200 in line at opening time last year, I'd suggest
you get there mucher earlier this year.

Larry Bud

2005-11-25 13:53:38 UTC

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

thunder

2005-11-25 16:12:55 UTC

I drove by a Best Buy here outside Cincinnati Ohio last night (11-25) at
2:00am and there was a line of people wrapped around the building on
sleaping bags and on indian style teepee. It was also 10 degrees out and
with wind chill it was between 0 and -5 below.

George Grapman

2005-11-25 16:44:29 UTC

Post by thunder
I drove by a Best Buy here outside Cincinnati Ohio last night (11-25) at
2:00am and there was a line of people wrapped around the building on
sleaping bags and on indian style teepee. It was also 10 degrees out and
with wind chill it was between 0 and -5 below.

Sounds very frugal. Save $50 on shopping. Spend more than that on
medicine and lost wages.

--
To reply via e-mail please delete 1 c from paccbell

Tush Smells Bush Kills!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-11-25 17:42:35 UTC

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than >you'd save standing in line for hours?

Why don't you lighten up, jagoff....

Most people I know get the entire Thanksgiving weekend off.

Maybe they are working.... some of the deals they waited in line for,
they can sell it on ebay for a heck of a lot more than what they
would've made working a full day. For example: people who waited over
10 hours for an Xbox 360 are reselling them for $1000, at $700 profit.
Not even you make that much in a day.

Larry Bud

2005-11-27 10:23:04 UTC

Post by Tush Smells Bush Kills!!!!!!!!!!!

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than >you'd save standing in line for hours?

Why don't you lighten up, jagoff....

LOL! Take your own advice!

Post by Tush Smells Bush Kills!!!!!!!!!!!
Most people I know get the entire Thanksgiving weekend off.
Maybe they are working.... some of the deals they waited in line for,
they can sell it on ebay for a heck of a lot more than what they
would've made working a full day. For example: people who waited over
10 hours for an Xbox 360 are reselling them for $1000, at $700 profit.

With, of course, no guarantee they're going to get one.

Post by Tush Smells Bush Kills!!!!!!!!!!!
Not even you make that much in a day.

Maybe, maybe not. I guess my time is more valuable to me than the
lemmings standing in line for 10 hours. Those same people will come
back and complain how they don't have time to do anything and that they
are over worked!

Jon von Leipzig@myway.com

2005-11-25 19:18:58 UTC

Post by Larry Bud

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Not necessarily. BB here had a Toshiba laptop on sale (instant, not
rebates) for $370 less than original price. Wudda been worth waiting
for, if one thot that $700+ was a fair price b4 the sale.
Too cold last nite, didn't go.

Shawn Hirn

2005-11-26 15:32:08 UTC

Post by Larry Bud

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Feh! I would be surprised if I couldn't find the same laptop for sale
online for a lower price. Some friends and I went out shopping at around
5:00am on Black Friday. We went to a Best Buy somewhere in Montogery
County, PA. The lines were absolutely insane. The line snaked around the
entire store all the way along the rare wall.

I saw some good deals, but nothing that would have motivated me to wait
in line that long. The prices on flat screen TVs were impressive, but I
am sure I can find equally good values by shopping online.

After we roamed around Best Buy for about half an hour, we went to a
nearby Toys R Us. The crowd in that store was also very heavy, but for
some reason, the line at the registered looked like it was moving fast.
I ended up spending around $40 there on some cool toys to give to the
kids in my family. I only waited in line about ten minutes. A friend who
wanted to buy a Gameboy for one of his kids had to wait longer in the
electronics section. While I was waiting, I had a great time trying out
the new Xbox360. After that, the four of us ended up at a nearby
restaurant to eat breakfast.

It turned out to be a good day, but very tiring. I would not do that
again though. Anyone who wants to get good bargains is crazy for waiting
hours in those long lines when its easy to find so much stuff at lower
prices online.

Andrew White

2005-11-27 02:50:18 UTC

Post by Larry Bud

Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Feh! I would be surprised if I couldn't find the same laptop for sale
online for a lower price.

Then prepare to be surprised a lot! Go ahead and find any Toshiba
laptop anywhere online for that price. Or a 200 Gb hard drive for $29.
Or a dual-layer DVD burner for $19. Or a 1Gb Secure Digital card for
$29. That's just a small sample of deep loss leaders that stores like
Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Staples an a handful or others had on
this Black Friday.

You CANNOT find deals like that elswhere; not even close. That's why
people stand in line for hours to get them. The stores loose a bunch
of money on these items, but more than make it up on others,
especially given the fact that the supplies for such items is always
extremelly limited.

SoCalMike

2005-11-28 03:33:19 UTC

Post by Andrew White
Then prepare to be surprised a lot! Go ahead and find any Toshiba
laptop anywhere online for that price. Or a 200 Gb hard drive for $29.
Or a dual-layer DVD burner for $19. Or a 1Gb Secure Digital card for
$29. That's just a small sample of deep loss leaders that stores like
Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, Staples an a handful or others had on
this Black Friday.
You CANNOT find deals like that elswhere; not even close. That's why
people stand in line for hours to get them. The stores loose a bunch
of money on these items, but more than make it up on others,
especially given the fact that the supplies for such items is always
extremelly limited.

so unless youre among the first 20 or so, youre basically wasting your time.

The Real Bev

2005-11-28 06:15:59 UTC

Post by SoCalMike

so unless youre among the first 20 or so, youre basically wasting your time.

Not necessarily. Sometimes the ad says how many each store will have,
sometimes not. Then you have to decide how many of your fellow geeks will
want the item that you want. Factor in what the other stores have and how
many will want that stuff too. Then flip a coin, fill your thermos, pull up
your socks and get on with it.

--
Cheers,
Bev
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Sign on restroom hand-dryer:
"Push button for a message from your congressman."

Brian Elfert

2005-11-29 14:47:40 UTC

Post by The Real Bev
Not necessarily. Sometimes the ad says how many each store will have,
sometimes not. Then you have to decide how many of your fellow geeks will
want the item that you want. Factor in what the other stores have and how
many will want that stuff too. Then flip a coin, fill your thermos, pull up
your socks and get on with it.

Walmart didn't list a minimum quantity for their notebook. I have heard
reports of Walmart stores having anywhere from 15 to 70 notebooks
depending on the store.

I don't know if Walmart parceled them out based on store sales or what.

Brian Elfert

Keith Williams

2005-11-28 17:18:44 UTC

Post by SoCalMike

so unless youre among the first 20 or so, youre basically wasting your time.

I showed up at the local Staples at 8:30 or so. They still had
piles of the $29 disk drives, $19 DVD burners, and $3/50 DVD+R
blanks (snagged one of each). I missed the USB sticks. :-(

--
Keith

Andrew White

2005-11-28 22:28:15 UTC

Post by SoCalMike

so unless youre among the first 20 or so, youre basically wasting your time.

I showed up at the local Staples at 8:30 or so. They still had
piles of the $29 disk drives, $19 DVD burners, and $3/50 DVD+R
blanks (snagged one of each). I missed the USB sticks. :-(

Damn! I was at the local one at 8 am and there were none! It sucks to
live in one of the most geek-heavy areas in the US - Northern
Virginia.

Jon von Leipzig@myway.com

2005-11-27 13:49:03 UTC

Post by Larry Bud
Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Camelfeathers!! I guarantee you'll not find a brand new Toshiba at
anywhere near that
discounted BB price.

I looked for PC parts/periphs online last Xmas. Couldn't find prices
lower than in-store (after rebate)

Tomorrow's your big day. It's been dubbed "Cyber Monday" the biggest
day for online buying. Please let us know if you find any (new) $400
laptops, anywhere.

John Emmons

2005-11-27 19:10:51 UTC

There's a Dell laptop available online right now for $399.00 after rebate.
Has been for a couple of days.

What you probably won't find is an $800.00 laptop selling for $199.00, like
the ones that were fought over at Wal-Mart's across the land on Friday.

You will find those laptops on ebay right now...

John E.

Post by Larry Bud
Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Camelfeathers!! I guarantee you'll not find a brand new Toshiba at
anywhere near that
discounted BB price.
I looked for PC parts/periphs online last Xmas. Couldn't find prices
lower than in-store (after rebate)
Tomorrow's your big day. It's been dubbed "Cyber Monday" the biggest
day for online buying. Please let us know if you find any (new) $400
laptops, anywhere.

The Real Bev

2005-11-27 22:19:23 UTC

Post by John Emmons
There's a Dell laptop available online right now for $399.00 after rebate.
Has been for a couple of days.
What you probably won't find is an $800.00 laptop selling for $199.00, like
the ones that were fought over at Wal-Mart's across the land on Friday.

A friend managed to snag one of the $100 Linspire machines at Fry's -- the
ones that are normally about double that price. He's happily customizing them
with Slackware for his children, hoping to lure them to the One True Path.

--
Cheers, Bev
==================================================================
"Don't sweat it -- it's not real life. It's only ones and zeroes."
-- spaf (1988?)

Brian Elfert

2005-11-29 14:44:00 UTC

Post by Jon von ***@myway.com
Tomorrow's your big day. It's been dubbed "Cyber Monday" the biggest
day for online buying. Please let us know if you find any (new) $400
laptops, anywhere.

Microcenter has a Winbook laptop/notebook PC for $459.99 after two $100
rebates. You can buy online at www.microcenter.com.

If you are lucky enough to live near a Microcenter, you can get another
$100 off by applying for the Microcenter Visa and using it for your
purchase.

Brian Elfert

Scott en Aztlán

2005-11-29 15:26:57 UTC

Post by Larry Bud
Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Camelfeathers!! I guarantee you'll not find a brand new Toshiba at
anywhere near that discounted BB price.

And yet Best Buy openly DESPISES the people who buy their loss
leaders, and is actively trying to discourage them from shopping at
their stores.

Bob Ward

2005-11-29 17:07:03 UTC

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 07:26:57 -0800, Scott en Aztlán

Post by Larry Bud
Why don't you go to work instead, and earn more money than you'd save
standing in line for hours?

Camelfeathers!! I guarantee you'll not find a brand new Toshiba at
anywhere near that discounted BB price.

And yet Best Buy openly DESPISES the people who buy their loss
leaders, and is actively trying to discourage them from shopping at
their stores.

Nope - it's just you.

Bill 2

2005-11-25 16:13:14 UTC

In Canada the closest to "Black Friday" is boxing day, December 26th. In my
province stores aren't allowed to be opened on the 26th, so crazy day ends
up being on the 27th. Futureshop (like Best Buy and was recently bought out
by Best Buy) is usually really crazy. The store opens at 7AM, and if I want
a top seller, if I get there by 6:30 there's maybe 40 people in front. By
the time I get in the store and out at ~7:30 the lineup outside is huge.

Last year on the 27th there was a huge snow storm. There was no way to drive
down my street (not that I wanted to take a car in that weather), so I
caught the bus. The bus got stuck in a snowbank just down the street from
Futureshop, so we got out and walked the rest of the way. At 6:45 there was
maybe 10 people in line. Most horribly unprepared for the weather.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-11-25 19:43:53 UTC

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:54:42 -0500, Flarky

Post by Flarky
A year ago I showed up at 5am at Best Buy and there
were already over 200 people in the line.

What is this fascination some people have with standing in long lines?
From Xbox to Star Wars to Black Friday, there are many MANY people who
seem to enjoy it. What do you see in it? Maybe you're all homesick
refugees from the former Soviet Union?

Post by Flarky
I'm curious to know what's the earliest time
that any of you folks have shown up at this store
or any other on Black Friday morning and how many
people you saw there.

I hate crowds. I hate waiting in line. I stay home on Black Friday.

Wordsmith

2005-11-25 19:54:28 UTC

Why "Black Friday"? Why not "Green" instead? This is when they rake
in the cabbage.

W : )

Rich Greenberg

2005-11-25 23:20:02 UTC

Post by Wordsmith
Why "Black Friday"? Why not "Green" instead? This is when they rake
in the cabbage.

"Black" because the sales starting on black friday will (hopefully) put
the business in the black for the year.

--
Rich Greenberg Marietta, GA, USA richgr atsign panix.com + 1 770 321 6507
Eastern time. N6LRT I speak for myself & my dogs only. VM'er since CP-67
Canines:Val, Red & Shasta (RIP),Red, husky Owner:Chinook-L
Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/ Asst Owner:Sibernet-L

The Real Bev

2005-11-27 03:31:43 UTC

Post by Rich Greenberg

Post by Wordsmith
Why "Black Friday"? Why not "Green" instead? This is when they rake
in the cabbage.

"Black" because the sales starting on black friday will (hopefully) put
the business in the black for the year.

Can we assume that the tremendous bargains are loss leaders designed to lure
customers into the store to buy profitable items? How many people actually do
that? On BF we get in, get the good stuff, get out, go on to the next place.
Who actually shops for regular-price stuff in the middle of all those long
lines of bargain-crazed loons?

--
Cheers,
Bev
______________________________________________________
"Parasites plus suckers do not add up to a community."
-- Thomas Sowell

Larry Bud

2005-11-27 10:28:05 UTC

Post by Rich Greenberg

Post by Wordsmith
Why "Black Friday"? Why not "Green" instead? This is when they rake
in the cabbage.

"Black" because the sales starting on black friday will (hopefully) put
the business in the black for the year.

I'm sure there are a bunch of people who buy the $20 DVD player, and
$100 on regularly priced movies.

Bill

2005-11-27 16:59:34 UTC

Post by The Real Bev
Can we assume that the tremendous bargains are loss leaders designed to lure
customers into the store to buy profitable items? How many people actually do
that? On BF we get in, get the good stuff, get out, go on to the next place.
Who actually shops for regular-price stuff in the middle of all those long
lines of bargain-crazed loons?

While that may be true of many of us HERE, I can assure you that
many of the people who rush into Walmart on BF walk out with a
cart full of stuff, not all of which is a loss-leader. And at
Circuit City the other day, I was in back of a woman who spent
over $500 (in cash!) and absolutely no rebates printed out,
which led me to believe she did not buy any of the really great
deals.

Bill

The Real Bev

2005-11-27 22:15:57 UTC

FSM bless these people, for their sacrifices make the bargains possible for
the rest of us. They are kin to those public-spirited citizens who sacrifice
themselves by attracting the attention of ticket-writing law enforcement while
the rest of us continue on at our customary speeds.

--
Cheers, Bev
==================================================================
"Don't sweat it -- it's not real life. It's only ones and zeroes."
-- spaf (1988?)

s***@fartolean.com

2005-11-29 04:22:08 UTC

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:54:42 -0500, Flarky

The best time to show up is 10 minutes after they close. That way
they wont steal your money.
Best Buy is one of the crookedest companies around. Boycott them

*Friends dont let friends shop at Best Buy *

Andrew White

2005-11-29 05:02:58 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:54:42 -0500, Flarky

I'm curious: do you really believe that statements like these can
persuade or even just nudge someone towards boycotting Best Buy?

The Real Bev

2005-11-29 20:05:30 UTC

Post by s***@fartolean.com
The best time to show up is 10 minutes after they close. That way
they wont steal your money.
Best Buy is one of the crookedest companies around. Boycott them
*Friends dont let friends shop at Best Buy *

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

--
Cheers, Bev
=================================================================
"A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person
or to a group of persons while himself deriving no gain and even
possibly incurring losses." -- C.M.Cipolla

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-01 15:39:24 UTC

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:05:30 -0800, The Real Bev

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

The Real Bev

2005-12-03 04:00:35 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:05:30 -0800, The Real Bev

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

Repeat, for the benefit of the newbies among us: The only rebate I've ever
gotten screwed out of was for a $4 power strip, and I just let it slip. If
I'd called before the company went belly up they probably would have sent me a
check just because I'm such a nice person.

--
Cheers, Bev
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm sorry I ever invented the Electoral College."
Al Gore 11/08/00

Andrew White

2005-12-03 14:28:49 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:05:30 -0800, The Real Bev

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical.

No, he's just an idiot, and you keep on feeding this dumb troll.
Follow my suit and put him in your kill file. Life will be so much
better!

The Real Bev

2005-12-04 06:01:40 UTC

Post by Andrew White

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical.

No, he's just an idiot, and you keep on feeding this dumb troll.
Follow my suit and put him in your kill file. Life will be so much
better!

Who, Scott? He's not an idiot, just has strong opinions about rebates. I
hate them too, but it pays me more than anybody else will! I like Best Buy
and he doesn't. Big deal.

And he drives a 'Vette!

--
Cheers,
Bev
=================================================================
"There's an apocryphal (I hope not !) story about a Bristol bike
thief found cold, wet and bedraggled one morning, D locked by the
neck to a local bridge." -- Anon

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-03 17:02:13 UTC

On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:00:35 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by s***@fartolean.com
*Friends dont let friends shop at Best Buy *

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.

NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are doing
is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump through
hoops to get your $X back.

Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

The Real Bev

2005-12-04 06:07:03 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:00:35 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by s***@fartolean.com
*Friends dont let friends shop at Best Buy *

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.
NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are doing
is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump through
hoops to get your $X back.
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!

Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER. Same with other
stuff. If I could get it for the same price without a rebate I would. I may
not always get stuff at the lowest price available, but I'd bet I do it 80% of
the time.

The tax thing is completely different. Most of what I get with my tax money
is of questionable value to me, and the only reason they get anything at all
is that they have bigger guns than I do. Even Gates can't force me to buy his
software at gunpoint.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-04 18:19:51 UTC

On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 22:07:03 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.
NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are doing
is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump through
hoops to get your $X back.
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

They would if people refused to play the rebate game. Loss leaders are
SOP in the big box retail industry; they would continue to use them as
a lure to sucker you into the store even if rebates did not exist.

But that's an extreme example. 99.9% of rebates are for small amounts
that are more than covered by jacking up the selling price. Kinda like
"club cards" at grocery stores: on Monday, the bottle of Perrier sells
for $1.59 (regular price); on Tuesday, they jack the "regular" price
up to $1.79 and offer a "club card" price of $1.59. And, if you don't
have a club card (don't claim the rebate), the store just made an
extra $0.20 profit.

Rod Speed

2005-12-04 18:30:59 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 22:07:03 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and
doing the xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going
to pay me a couple $hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.
NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are
doing is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump
through hoops to get your $X back.
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour
for filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

They would if people refused to play the rebate game.

Nope, essentially because the price with rebates works on the basis
that a substantial proportion of the sales wont see the rebate paid.

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Loss leaders are SOP in the big box retail industry; they would continue to
use them as a lure to sucker you into the store even if rebates did not exist.

But not at the same price when every sale would be at the advertised price.

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
But that's an extreme example. 99.9% of rebates are for small amounts
that are more than covered by jacking up the selling price. Kinda like
"club cards" at grocery stores: on Monday, the bottle of Perrier sells
for $1.59 (regular price); on Tuesday, they jack the "regular" price
up to $1.79 and offer a "club card" price of $1.59. And, if you don't
have a club card (don't claim the rebate), the store just made an
extra $0.20 profit.

Different process entirely.

Bill

2005-12-05 00:41:54 UTC

I see you are just as clueless about supermarkets as you are
about rebates. Presumably you are claiming that this is the case
with all supermarket sales just as you claim that no one gets
their rebates.

Bill

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-05 01:46:50 UTC

Post by Bill
I see you are just as clueless about supermarkets as you are
about rebates.

Whatever.

The Real Bev

2005-12-05 06:32:32 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 22:07:03 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.
NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are doing
is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump through
hoops to get your $X back.
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

I don't think so for the simple reason that the mugs buy because of the
after-rebate price and then don't do the rebate. Pure profit. And I have no
problem at all deriving benefit because others don't.

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
But that's an extreme example. 99.9% of rebates are for small amounts
that are more than covered by jacking up the selling price.

Back in olden times when postage was much cheaper people would send away for
rebate coupons for 50 cents. Mind boggling, huh?

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Kinda like
"club cards" at grocery stores: on Monday, the bottle of Perrier sells
for $1.59 (regular price); on Tuesday, they jack the "regular" price
up to $1.79 and offer a "club card" price of $1.59. And, if you don't
have a club card (don't claim the rebate), the store just made an
extra $0.20 profit.

You speak of Perrier in a frugalism newsgroup? Fie!

What's more likely is having bread on sale for a very good price for a week or
two and then raising the "regular" price. That's probably more common.
Nearly everybody has a card. I can't remember if the homeless guy buying junk
food and cigarettes had one or not...

And who included comp.os.linux.hardware in this thread? Not that it's
inappropriate or anything...

--
Cheers, Bev
=================================================================
"In all recorded history there has not been one economist who has
had to worry about where the next meal would come from."
-- Peter S. Drucker, who invented management

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-05 15:35:24 UTC

On Sun, 04 Dec 2005 22:32:32 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by The Real Bev
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

I don't think so for the simple reason that the mugs buy because of the
after-rebate price and then don't do the rebate. Pure profit.

Not every loss leader involves a rebate. Even if you take the rebates
away, they'll still do the loss leaders to build traffic to the
stores.

Post by The Real Bev
And I have no
problem at all deriving benefit because others don't.

;)

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
But that's an extreme example. 99.9% of rebates are for small amounts
that are more than covered by jacking up the selling price.

Back in olden times when postage was much cheaper people would send away for
rebate coupons for 50 cents. Mind boggling, huh?

Yeah, and car fare on the PE used to cost a nickle. ;)

Post by The Real Bev
You speak of Perrier in a frugalism newsgroup? Fie!

OK, feel free to substitute the Arrowhead equivalent. ;)

Post by The Real Bev
And who included comp.os.linux.hardware in this thread? Not that it's
inappropriate or anything...

It was already there when I joined - I guess because we were talking
about hard drives. ;)

Keith Williams

2005-12-05 16:27:11 UTC

In article <9Ivkf.16145$***@fe06.lga>, ***@myrealbox.com
says...

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:00:35 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by s***@fartolean.com
*Friends dont let friends shop at Best Buy *

OTOH, they just sent me a $30 rebate check less than five weeks after I mailed
the forms.

Yeah - and people DO cash in on their lottery tickets, as well.

You're way too cynical. Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

C'mon, Bev - you're smarter than that.
NOBODY is paying you $hundreds/hour for your time. All they are doing
is jacking up the sales price by $X, then making you jump through
hoops to get your $X back.
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

Post by The Real Bev
Same with other
stuff. If I could get it for the same price without a rebate I would. I may
not always get stuff at the lowest price available, but I'd bet I do it 80% of
the time.

I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

Post by The Real Bev
The tax thing is completely different. Most of what I get with my tax money
is of questionable value to me, and the only reason they get anything at all
is that they have bigger guns than I do. Even Gates can't force me to buy his
software at gunpoint.

Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

--
Keith

The Real Bev

2005-12-06 04:05:21 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time is
just like saying that the government is paying you $hundreds/hour for
filling out your tax return (in those years when you get a tax
refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

Those will be nice when the price of the media comes down.

Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

--
Cheers, Bev
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I love to go down to the schoolyard and watch all the
little children jump up and down and run around yelling and
screaming...They don't know I'm only using blanks." --Emo

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-06 15:17:24 UTC

On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:05:21 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

OTOH, it was just last winter when the Grapevine was closed due to
snow...

a***@aol.com

2005-12-06 16:57:26 UTC

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 07:17:24 -0800, in misc.consumers.frugal-living Scott en

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:05:21 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

OTOH, it was just last winter when the Grapevine was closed due to
snow...

I've seen it closed to snow when there was no snow at all. So-cal.. go figure.

The Real Bev

2005-12-06 21:43:42 UTC

Post by a***@aol.com

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

OTOH, it was just last winter when the Grapevine was closed due to
snow...

I've seen it closed to snow when there was no snow at all. So-cal.. go figure.

You listen to the traffic reports on the radio, right? They're wrong more
often than they are right, especially when reporting traffic backed up for
miles due to an accident at the exact spot in the mountains that I'm passing
at 40 mph and can see no evidence whatsoever that there was ever an accident
there.

--
Cheers,
Bev
_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_
When you stop bitching, you start dying.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-07 03:38:21 UTC

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 13:43:42 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by The Real Bev
You listen to the traffic reports on the radio, right? They're wrong more
often than they are right, especially when reporting traffic backed up for
miles due to an accident at the exact spot in the mountains that I'm passing
at 40 mph and can see no evidence whatsoever that there was ever an accident
there.

LOL!!!

I was driving NB on the 5 coming out of Camp Pendleton when KNX
reported an accident JNO Pico in San Clemente; the backup was reported
to be a long one. I was preparing to duck off at the next offramp and
take PCH home when I noticed that traffic was flowing smoothly as far
as the eye could see, so I decided to chance it. It turned out there
was no accident, no backup, and no sign of either.

The Real Bev

2005-12-07 04:13:15 UTC

LOL!!!
I was driving NB on the 5 coming out of Camp Pendleton when KNX
reported an accident JNO Pico in San Clemente; the backup was reported
to be a long one. I was preparing to duck off at the next offramp and
take PCH home when I noticed that traffic was flowing smoothly as far
as the eye could see, so I decided to chance it. It turned out there
was no accident, no backup, and no sign of either.

And don't get us started about the weather reports easily contradicted by
looking out the window...

--
Cheers,
Bev
================================================================
"Everything sucks; reverse the wires and everything will blow."
-- Desert Ed

George Grapman

2005-12-07 04:26:22 UTC

Post by The Real Bev
You listen to the traffic reports on the radio, right? They're wrong
more often than they are right, especially when reporting traffic
backed up for miles due to an accident at the exact spot in the
mountains that I'm passing at 40 mph and can see no evidence
whatsoever that there was ever an accident there.

LOL!!!
I was driving NB on the 5 coming out of Camp Pendleton when KNX
reported an accident JNO Pico in San Clemente; the backup was reported
to be a long one. I was preparing to duck off at the next offramp and
take PCH home when I noticed that traffic was flowing smoothly as far
as the eye could see, so I decided to chance it. It turned out there
was no accident, no backup, and no sign of either.

And don't get us started about the weather reports easily contradicted
by looking out the window...

My (least favorite) is when I am stuck on the Bay Bridge and the all
news KCBS never mentions a delay even though they can see the bridge
from the studio.

--
To reply via e-mail please delete 1 c from paccbell

The Real Bev

2005-12-06 21:32:15 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:05:21 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

OTOH, it was just last winter when the Grapevine was closed due to
snow...

Yeah, but only x-country skiers go that way to ski!

Actually, that's not fair. I used to go up to BB on days that required
chains, but not any more; now I just wait until the road is clear. They
probably DO plow the roads, I just don't see it.

--
Cheers,
Bev
_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_
When you stop bitching, you start dying.

Keith Williams

2005-12-06 15:43:52 UTC

In article <068lf.22597$***@fe06.lga>, ***@myrealbox.com
says...

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

Well, you aren't alone. ;-) One of the reasons I bought the 200GB
pATA as my SATA doesn't work (Sil3114 Linux driver problem) and the
160GB pATA I bought last summer seems to be flakey. I now have
520GB on the system and likely less than 30 of that used. I'd put
them on my other system but it's too old and won't take these large
drives.

I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

Those will be nice when the price of the media comes down.

My plan. Meanwhile I upgraded the second system with a DVD writer
(yet to see if it works).

Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows.

That's fair. You don't pay for our plows either.

Post by The Real Bev
AHA! Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

It's only been 30 hours since my street was plowed (and the snow
has all melted).

--
Keith

Rod Speed

2005-12-06 17:13:08 UTC

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time
is just like saying that the government is paying you
$hundreds/hour for filling out your tax return (in those years
when you get a tax refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

It will, actually, at most you just need a card for them.

Post by The Real Bev
Same with other
stuff. If I could get it for the same price without a rebate I
would. I may not always get stuff at the lowest price available,
but I'd bet I do it 80% of the time.

I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

Those will be nice when the price of the media comes down.

My plan. Meanwhile I upgraded the second system with a DVD writer
(yet to see if it works).

Post by The Real Bev
The tax thing is completely different. Most of what I get with my
tax money is of questionable value to me, and the only reason they
get anything at all is that they have bigger guns than I do. Even
Gates can't force me to buy his software at gunpoint.

Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your
snowplows.

That's fair. You don't pay for our plows either.

Post by The Real Bev
AHA! Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to
plow the roads to Big Bear.

It's only been 30 hours since my street was plowed (and the snow
has all melted).

Keith Williams

2005-12-06 18:43:45 UTC

In article <***@individual.net>, ***@yahoo.com
says...

Post by Rod Speed

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your time
is just like saying that the government is paying you
$hundreds/hour for filling out your tax return (in those years
when you get a tax refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

It will, actually, at most you just need a card for them.

Of course, dipstick. Why would I spend $30 on an add-in card for a
system that's six years old?

--
Keith

Rod Speed

2005-12-06 19:23:32 UTC

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Post by Rod Speed

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
Claiming that rebates are paying you $hundreds/hour for your
time is just like saying that the government is paying you
$hundreds/hour for filling out your tax return (in those years
when you get a tax refund).

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

It will, actually, at most you just need a card for them.

Of course, dipstick. Why would I spend $30 on an add-in card

Dont need to spend anything like that, fuckwit.

Post by Keith Williams
for a system that's six years old?

The Real Bev

2005-12-06 21:39:31 UTC

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

Hitachi, BTW.

Post by Keith Williams
Well, you aren't alone. ;-) One of the reasons I bought the 200GB
pATA as my SATA doesn't work (Sil3114 Linux driver problem)

Ug. I guess we have to check that. No newer/better/working downloadable driver?

Post by Keith Williams
and the
160GB pATA I bought last summer seems to be flakey. I now have
520GB on the system and likely less than 30 of that used. I'd put
them on my other system but it's too old and won't take these large
drives.

Probably ought to re-run the 'oldest computer' ("Mine was coal-fired.") thread
here...

I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

Those will be nice when the price of the media comes down.

My plan. Meanwhile I upgraded the second system with a DVD writer
(yet to see if it works).

Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows.

That's fair. You don't pay for our plows either.

Post by The Real Bev
AHA! Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

It's only been 30 hours since my street was plowed (and the snow
has all melted).

Well, we got some impressive hail here a few months back. Friend canceled the
comprehensive insurance on her race-ready Miata the week before and it now
sports lots of dimples on all horizontal surfaces. We actually did get some
snow here around 1990 or thereabouts.

--
Cheers,
Bev
_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_|-_
When you stop bitching, you start dying.

Keith Williams

2005-12-06 22:49:10 UTC

Post by Keith Williams
says...

Error!
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)

160G SATA. We gotta stop buying hard drives faster than we can use them!

Hitachi, BTW.

My SATA is a Seagate Barracuda. I've had it spinning (without
bits) for about 18 months.

Post by Keith Williams
Well, you aren't alone. ;-) One of the reasons I bought the 200GB
pATA as my SATA doesn't work (Sil3114 Linux driver problem)

Ug. I guess we have to check that. No newer/better/working downloadable driver?

Not that I've found. It's really worse than not working. It works
for a while, then hangs. Very frustrating.

Probably ought to re-run the 'oldest computer' ("Mine was coal-fired.") thread
here...

;-) It's not *that* old (K6-III/400). My "first day purchase IBM
PC is in the basement collecting spiders.

<snip>

Post by Keith Williams
It's only been 30 hours since my street was plowed (and the snow
has all melted).

We got a lot of snow in 1990, or thereabouts too. ;-) ...and
likely every other day for about the next four months, except when
it's -20F. Then it's every third day. ;-)

--
Keith

Bob Ward

2005-12-06 23:49:38 UTC

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 13:39:31 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by The Real Bev
Well, we got some impressive hail here a few months back. Friend canceled the
comprehensive insurance on her race-ready Miata the week before and it now
sports lots of dimples on all horizontal surfaces. We actually did get some
snow here around 1990 or thereabouts.

Maybe it will go further and faster now... works for golfballs...

The Real Bev

2005-12-07 01:05:23 UTC

Post by Bob Ward

Maybe it will go further and faster now... works for golfballs...

I'll tell her that, but I don't think she'll be amused.

--
Cheers,
Bev
================================================================
"Everything sucks; reverse the wires and everything will blow."
-- Desert Ed

Keith Williams

2005-12-07 16:32:30 UTC

Post by Bob Ward
On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 13:39:31 -0800, The Real Bev

Maybe it will go further and faster now... works for golfballs...

"Red Green" had similar segment some time back. He used a ballpein
hammer on his van. Apparently, the right number of dimples (336)
is important. 'Twas funny as hell.

--
Keith

Bob Ward

2005-12-06 23:47:22 UTC

On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:05:21 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

However, the local roads within and surrounding Big Bear are a
different story. After all, they certainly get enough powder at Snow
Summit to make a buck or two...

The Real Bev

2005-12-07 01:04:21 UTC

Post by Bob Ward

Post by Keith Williams
Roads are nice, as are the snow plows. ;-)

Yeahyeahyeah, but I don't get an awful lot of use out of your snowplows. AHA!
Proof of global warming -- it's been years since they had to plow the roads
to Big Bear.

However, the local roads within and surrounding Big Bear are a
different story. After all, they certainly get enough powder at Snow
Summit to make a buck or two...

Powder? At Snow Summit? In California? There's fresh wet snow that hasn't
been groomed yet, but powder? I've never seen powder.

No snow yet, but they've got one run open with a foot of man-made snow.

--
Cheers,
Bev
================================================================
"Everything sucks; reverse the wires and everything will blow."
-- Desert Ed

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-06 15:16:11 UTC

Post by The Real Bev
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)
I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

What were the pre-rebate prices for these items (i.e. what will you
have paid if your rebate checks never come)?

Keith Williams

2005-12-06 15:47:33 UTC

Post by The Real Bev
Nobody sells 160G hard drives for $29 without a rebate EVER.

Correction: 200GB ;-)
I hate rebates and normally just pass. I did grab the 200GB drive
and a dual-layer DVD writer for $19.

What were the pre-rebate prices for these items (i.e. what will you
have paid if your rebate checks never come)?

Don't remember exactly but the 200GB drive, DVD writer, and a 50-
pack of DVD+Rs ($3 after rebate) totaled a little less than $150.
I've never had problems with Staples on-line rebates, though have
only used them a couple of times. Would I have bought them at the
pre-rebate price? Likely not. I would have bought similar things
online with a brand I like better (and likely paid even more).

--
Keith

Marsha

2005-12-05 21:32:25 UTC

Even Gates can't force me to buy his software at gunpoint.

You can bet he's working on that.

Marsha/Ohio

Rod Speed

2005-12-05 21:52:42 UTC

Post by Marsha

Even Gates can't force me to buy his software at gunpoint.

You can bet he's working on that.

Mindless stuff.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-30 19:20:35 UTC

On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:00:35 -0800, The Real Bev

Post by The Real Bev
Yeah, I hate filling in the forms and doing the
xeroxing and sorting and crap, but nobody else is going to pay me a couple
$hundred an hour for my time.

Bev,

You've made this claim a few times. Can you point to one of your
recent rebates which paid you $100 or more per hour of your time? Be
sure to give all the details: how much you paid at the cash register,
the amount of your rebate check, as well as how much time you spent
filling out forms and making photocopies, how much time you spend on
the phone, sending emails, etc. to actually get the rebate.

Post the data here and let's do the analysis.

Clark W. Griswold, Jr.

2005-12-30 20:02:19 UTC

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
You've made this claim a few times. Can you point to one of your
recent rebates which paid you $100 or more per hour of your time? Be
sure to give all the details: how much you paid at the cash register,
the amount of your rebate check, as well as how much time you spent
filling out forms and making photocopies, how much time you spend on
the phone, sending emails, etc. to actually get the rebate.
Post the data here and let's do the analysis.

I'm not Bev, but I'll dress up like her if you pay me enough.... :)

Bought a Vonage box two nights ago. There's a $50 rebate on the box. It took me
about 5 minutes to fill out the form, scan the paperwork and drop the envelope
in the mailbox across the street.

By my math, that's $600/hour...

Mike

2005-12-30 20:11:38 UTC

I spent exactly 2 minutes filling out the $100 rebate for my home
computer. $100.00 * (60 / 2) - $0.37 = $1999.63/hour
^ ^ ^ ^
Refund Time Stamp Cash per hour

This was several weeks ago, and I received the rebate check. I
suppose I should factor in the time that it took to sign the check
which would add 5 seconds to the process, and reduce my $$$ per hour
somwhat.

Just because you can't seem to successfully fill out and recieve a MIR
does not mean that they are worthless.

LDC

2005-12-30 21:52:19 UTC

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:20:35 -0800, Scott en Aztlán

Post by Scott en AztlÃ¡n
the amount of your rebate check, as well as how much time you spent
filling out forms and making photocopies, how much time you spend on
the phone, sending emails, etc. to actually get the rebate.

Why do you always assume those who properly fill out rebates have to spend
time phoning and emailing "to actually get the rebate?" Over the past
several years I probably have submitted several dozen rebates. ONCE, I had
to send one email with my scanned backup. Extra time involved, say 5
minutes.

Scott, you spend more time posting to usenet than I spend filling out
rebates, which is fine because I enjoy reading your posts. However I
suspect my time spent to do so has resulted in more money in my pocket than
your time spent posting. The difference is I don't think your posting to
Usenet is stupid, wasting your time or contributing to a conspiracy.

Cheers.

Andrew White

2005-12-30 23:30:57 UTC

Post by LDC
The difference is I don't think your posting to
Usenet is stupid

I do.

Scott en Aztlán

2005-12-31 03:36:13 UTC

Post by LDC
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:20:35 -0800, Scott en Aztlán

Why do you always assume those who properly fill out rebates have to spend
time phoning and emailing "to actually get the rebate?"

I'm not assuming anything. I'm basing this expectation on actual
reports from actual people. Wanna read some?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.sprintpcs/msg/07cbf87027e2cead?hl=en&
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.satellite-nav/msg/eb79fbb95a4afb64?hl=en&
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.comp.software.financial.quicken/msg/480ef2ff9f82f117?hl=en&
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers/msg/1c271199ab3753c4?hl=en&
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/msg/ea8c0f4a84036ef8?hl=en&

I can Google up similar stories faster than you can fill out rebate
forms. ;)

Post by LDC
Scott, you spend more time posting to usenet than I spend filling out
rebates, which is fine because I enjoy reading your posts. However I
suspect my time spent to do so has resulted in more money in my pocket than
your time spent posting.

And I suspect the entertainment value I derive from posting to USENET
far exceeds any amount you have collected from rebates. ;)

LDC

2005-12-31 03:55:01 UTC

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:36:13 -0800, Scott en Aztlán

Post by LDC
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:20:35 -0800, Scott en Aztlán

And I suspect the entertainment value I derive from posting to USENET
far exceeds any amount you have collected from rebates. ;)

Simple pleasures for simple minds.

Bill

2005-12-31 05:18:44 UTC