Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with deal

Save on a Prius!

matthelm — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:42:49 -0800

So i am in the market to buy a new Prius and I heard someone once say that buying a car online can save you a lot of money. Has anyone done this with a Prius? I want to get this car: http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/trims-prices.html#?view=showroom&vehicle=3

and am just trying to find the best way to get the best deal on it. I had some friends who talked about buying BMWs online and saving thousands of $$$ and I was curious if anyone has done this with the Prius.... I am willing thinking about paying it all off at once in cash also so if there are other ways to get a great deal any help would be great!

thanks

mHelm

Where to buy tires in DFW?

flipmiester99 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:40:34 -0800

DFWTirePurchaseFilter: I have to buy to sets of tires for my cars, one mazda 3 and a chevy tahoe. Where are the best deals right now in the DFW area?

dolla dolla bill y'all

kidsleepy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:38:20 -0800

What's actually worth it to buy from a dollar store? While on the successful hunt for some pool noodles from my local dollar store, I noticed there is a LOT of stuff to be found in there. Some of it is obviously cheap and sub-par, but I found some surprisingly nice glassware and some decent wrapping paper. My question is: what do you regularly buy from a dollar store? Are the cleaning products just as good as name brand? How about the toothpaste? Any products you've learned to avoid (I don't think I'd buy the underwear.)?

Getting a deal for wireless phone/data service?

onlyconnect — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:26:59 -0800

Is there a good way to get a reduced rate from Verizon on data and voice service on a wireless phone like a Blackberry for my husband? I've heard people get deals on wireless phone service by threatening to switch providers, and wondered if that or signing up for a long term plan could get me a deal. I'd like to give my husband a Blackberry and voice/data service for a few years this year for the holidays. He is okay with getting signed up for a long term plan if it would save money. Does anyone have any strategies that I could use to get a deal? Right now a regular voice plan in our area would cost about $30/month and the data on top of that would cost about $50 extra.

It would be best if I didn't have to change my own service at this time to get the deal, because I currently have a crazy deal on my own blackberry service (but I don't remember how I got it!). I know they won't give out the same deal I have b/c I asked. Does anyone know whether I might get a good deal if my husband is thinking about switching to another provider, or alternatively is willing to sign up for a long period, or for some other reason? Thanks!

Where/When to buy a new Xbox?

DetonatedManiac — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:06:18 -0800

DealFilter: When should I buy my new XBOX-360? Now or after the Holidays? Also, where will I get the best deal. I am going to buy a new Xbox. Probably the Elite for the HD space but possibly just the Pro if there is a really good deal.

I am tempted to buy from Best Buy due to a scaling cash-back coupon I have (it is a flat $ amount that effectively is 10% off for the $400 Xbox) And the holiday deal with the 2 bundled games. The the panda game will be a drink coaster but I'd probably buy the lego Indiana Jones anyway and that bundle will not be available after x-mas.

But I have this feeling that prices will drop significantly after the holidays or that there is somewhere on the internet that has a great deal on a NEW Xbox (not interested in refurbished). What should I do?

If it matters for bundle deals my other certain purchases are NCAA and MADDEN 09 and a second controller.

Retails sales are down, so where are the bargains?

abdulf — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:06:34 -0800

If retailers are being hit hard with a recession, then why am I not finding bargains? If retail sales are falling, and businesses are posting losses or cutting forecasts, then why am I not finding great bargains?

I guess a "bargain" is a subjective term. But surely there are deals to be had in this economic environment for the people who can spend?

For example - I am looking to buy/rent the following:
1. winter coat, boots (anything suitable an icy/windy winter)
2. point and shoot digital camera (Canon SD 750 or similar)
3. blackberry/smartphone/new cell service (currently with Sprint)
4. new apartment (Amarillo, TX)
5. car maintenance (timing belt/waterpump for 2000 Camry)

None of these good or services seem significantly discounted compared to when I saw them years ago. I've casually looked through sites like slickdeals.net and Black Friday ads. It looks like the same kind of stuff I've seen before.

So maybe I'm not buying the right kinds of goods and services in this economy?

Perhaps the discounts I seek don't come from business cycles but from events like seasonal changes and clearing old inventory.

Or maybe the items I'm buying have prices built in from before the financial crisis?

Get me to Chapel Hill from NYC!

greta simone — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:33:52 -0800

How to get to Chapel Hill from NYC? Hey y'all. So I'm riding up to NYC from Chapel Hill, NC around the first of August, with a friend who is moving there. I was hoping to hang around for a few days and see friends, but I'm struggling with the best way to get back. I have always flown round-trip when visiting NY, when airline prices were more reasonable. Presently, I have very little money, so I'm trying to come up with the most economical way to take a one-way trip back to CH from NYC. I have looked at one way flights and Amtrak. While those options aren't super-expensive, I am looking for alternative ideas that I might not have considered.
A few things:
Please do not suggest taking a bus. I have my reasons for not wanting to take a bus.
As long as I can get to the general Chapel Hill area (Greensboro to Raleigh), I could have someone pick me up at the end.

Mostly, I'm just looking for secrets that others may have discovered when making this trek. Is there a website to find a good rideshare? I have looked at craigslist already, but haven't found much, and I'm not sure I would trust anyone from craigslist. Is there a place to find discounted Amtrak deals? Do you or any of your friends want to drive me?

I'm just trying to save a couple of bucks.
Thanks!

Which satellite radio provider is offering the best deal?

damn dirty ape — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:58:32 -0800

Which satellite radio provider is offering the best deal? Im looking to move to XM or Sirius but am not sure who offers better pricing. Along with the subscription I need an in-dash unit that has a AUX input for my mp3 player. I'd also like a removable-face for this too.

Can someone recommend a brand or model? Nothing fancy needed. The cheaper the better. I'm also open to ebay/used/refurb items. I'm not interested in any portable/FM transmitter based solutions. Thanks.

How do deal-a-day sites work?

SirStan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:40:33 -0800

How do deal-a-day sites work? Are they really 'deals', and where do they get all the loot? Woot.com, Chainlove.com, steepandcheap.com, backcountry.com. How do these sites WORK. I am a programmer, I could script one up in a day, that side is easy. How do they actually get all the crap they sell, and still make a margin on it all? Are the deals really deals? How are they sourcing stuff in quantities enough to even make them available for volume payback on low overhead?

If I wanted to start a deal-a-day site (and I dont), what might my background look like to be most successful? Do I have connections to a large wholesaler through existing business lines, and I offer to buy 5000 of their remaining 2007 stock of closeouts? Do I have a "friend in the business" that sources me say Oakley stuffs?

How would I get a deal to offer a deal?

Searching for New CC

bleucube — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:28:30 -0800

I've been able to reduce my debt and build great credit. I only have 1 credit card and they refuse to drop my rate, its pretty high and I they nickel and dime you for everything. Does anyone know of a website or a deal on a credit card that has a low rate, good reputation and free or low transfer rate?

How should I deal with an uncomfortable"flash to the past?"

gregb1007 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:14:28 -0800

Any suggestions for snapping out of a rather too-absorbing trip down memory lane? I recently decided to polish up a very long essay I wrote many years ago but the experience became eerie. I spent months writing that essay and the couple of hours I spent re-reading it just now has brought back memories from that period in all its glorious and sordid detail.

Vividly remembering the atmosphere/my own feelings/emotions from that period is really creepy. I feel transported into a time, that, though it was fun, was also quite intense and emotional.

Remembering/perhaps reliving my state of mind from back then is distracting me from being in the current moment and doing what I would otherwise do. Any suggestions from snapping out of a rather too-absorbing trip down memory lane?

Fatwallet.com or craigslist-equivalents for Vienna, AT?

sdis — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:15:08 -0800

Are there deal sites like Fatwallet.com for Europe? (Vienna/Austria, specifically) How about populated sites for used stuff like craigslist (I know there's a craigslist vienna, but its not very populated)?

An exercise in bargain hunting.

jazzkat11 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:52:56 -0800

Best deal at a 24-Hour Fitness center? I realize that getting a gym membership falls roughly in the realm of negotiating with a used car dealer, so I'm looking for tips in navigating the process; the when, where and how.

Any insight or anecdotes from past experiences would be much appreciated.

Too good to be true

twirlypen — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:14:18 -0800

How am I being scammed? Nepali gem business deal, sounds kinda shady, help me find out where they intend to make their money. I was approached on the street in Kathmandu by a stranger who has invited me to become a special business partner! How wonderful! He fills a DHL bag with wonderful precious gems (I get to check the bag), sends them to my address in Australia, then comes by in a month and picks them up from me, gives me $5000 cash and returns home, thus avoiding the horribly expensive import taxes, or something like that.

My only theory so far is that the bag is full of very pretty, very colourful, very worthless glass and that when he arrives he claims that I've stolen some or something along those lines, and proceeds to extort some money. Either that, or he insists on taking a photocopy of my credit card for insurance and I arrive home to find a few mysterious charges on it.

So what is it? Help me find out what's happening here. Or should I take him up on what promises to be the deal of a lifetime. Thanks for the help, mefi-pals.

What is a reasonable offer for a new car?

benjh — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:41:55 -0800

What is a reasonable offer for a new car? I am looking into getting a new, more fuel efficient vehicle. I don't want a hybrid, you just can't make the money back, I've ran the numbers. But I am looking at a number of other vehicles.

One of which is the Honda Civic. So I sent out a request for quotes, and most sent back the sticker price, one sent out $1200 less than sticker.

That same dealer, about a week later, sends me another e-mail about their "Internet Sale" where no reasonable offer will be refused.

What is reasonable? The model I want has an invoice of $19,532, and a sticker of $21,310. The offer I was sent originally was for $20,200 or something like that.

How to I pull off the sales event of the year?

ieatwords — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 16:02:13 -0800

How do I pull off the sales event of the year? I have been put in charge of my company’s fiscal year end sale/open house. The purpose of this event is to generate sales (both immediate and future). We sell specialized machinery to hobbyists and professionals. This will be an opportunity for our local customers to come and see our show room and get great end of the year deals. This will also be marketed to our national customers. They will be able to call in and get the same deal as someone attending our event. We have the opportunity to market to several types: people in our database that have purchased a tool from us in the past, people in our database that have a deposit on a machine, people in our database that have expressed interest in our machinery in the recent and far past. I have several questions that hopefully this knowledgeable group can answer. The event is in 35 days. When do I start marketing this? I don’t want to ruin the deals people have going now by having them wait to purchase the machinery at the sale. What is the best way to get the local people to attend…and buy? How do I market to and attract people nationwide to call in on the day of the event...and buy? E-mail blasts will be the medium. Should I also get my sales guys on the phone to start mentioning the event to local customers? To sum up…how do I get people here (or on the phone) and spend their money? All advice is greatly appreciated. The last thing I want this to look like is a hokey department store sale.

where can I find cheap t-shirts?

psychobum — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 20:50:23 -0800

where can I find a great deal on bulk t-shirts? I'm looking for the best deal on bulk t-shirts for diy screen printing. I'm only looking for about 100 right now, but I'm interested in any great deals. Best I could find after a bit of googling is $1.55+s/h ( http://www.blankshirtstore.com/tshirts/shortsleeve/?idcust=887607856 ). Choice in colors is a plus, previous experience even more sought after. Will be shipped to Portland, Oregon.

Vegas shows cheap?

filmgeek — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 09:18:54 -0800

I'm going to vegas for a week (for a conference) on thurs. I really want to go to one of the high end shows, like O. I'm going to the show by myself - I'd like to know where to get a last minute ticket as cheaply as possible. The stuff on the net seems a bit sketchy. Google has lots of 'discounted' tickets...but the prices vary quite a bit, which gives me headaches. I'm hoping someone either used one and got what they wanted...or can suggest a physical place in vegas. I'm cant stand in lines for a standby ticket (it's a busy conference).

Vacation deal for one?

derekislost — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 06:07:54 -0800

Hi folks, I love to travel but unfortunately all the vacation deals (hotel and airfare) seem to be based on traveling for 2. Are there any special sites or methods I should look into that don't rely on traveling with someone else? I have no problem traveling alone and am open to going to almost anywhere (provided the price is right.) Please stop punishing me for being single.

help me find a laptop

wanderingmind — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 09:36:33 -0800

So, I've come to the decision that I need a laptop, and I need to get it sometime within the next month. It's not quite as simple as all that, though, because I'm trying to find a good deal... [more inside] I'm only ever going to run Linux on it, so it seems a little pointless to get a new one that has a ton of preinstalled software I'll end up erasing anyway (not to mention I'll be paying for a copy of WinXP I don't need). I don't need a screamingly fast processor or a huge hard drive; some kind of budget machine is all right as long as it's made of good-quality parts. I'm mainly looking for brand recommendations here - I'd really prefer to buy a new laptop than getting one off of eBay. (Also, I'm a grad student, so somewhere that offered educational discounts would be nice...)