I buy Mountain Dew and have been for some time.  I am also aware of prices going up because of the economy.  But what I noticed at the Sheboygan Falls Piggly Wiggly was a total surprise to me.  I went to the soda isle and saw the sign for Pepsi products on sale at (2) 8 packs of bottles for $7.00.  Cool, sounds like a good deal to me, but I only go through one 8 pack a week so I am just going to buy one.

I noticed the sign said that “without the card” the price was $4.99 per 8 pack.  I know the price of Pepsi in the bottle has never been that high, so I was curious if the prices had gone up, again.  I peeled back the sale sticker that was placed over the original and notice the price at $3.99 per 8 pack.  I grabbed one 8 pack and headed to the checkout.  Since it was the only thing that I was going to purchase, this would be easy.  I watched as the soda was scanned and see the price come up $3.99!  What the heck was going on here?

The original price sticker says $3.99 and the sale sticker says $4.99 on sale for $3.50 (or 2 for $7.00).  The total savings would be $1.49 per 8 pack, at least it appears that way.  You are really only saving $.49 per 8 pack.  I didn’t really think it was that big of deal to see the price hiked up $1 to bring it down, but do you think they sold more soda because of it?  I am thinking they might have because this isn’t the first time I noticed this at that store.

*UPDATE*
In case you were following from the Press website, I want to issue an update.  I did NOT intend to call this a SCAM by any means.  I was just wondering what the deal was with weird pricing and may have unintentionally caused some grief for owner John Blattner.  I issue this as an apology for what it may have done and only wish to say that I shop at the Piggly Wiggly and haven’t ever felt ripped off.
*UPDATE*

Our friends over at 101inks.com sent me an email to let me know of there 10% off and FREE SHIPPING sale.  Since I know you guys like the freebies section, I have decided to pass the savings on to you.  Ink for your printer can be quite expensive and when you have deals like this online, you must take full advantage of them.

The coupon code for your checkout is: CB4308

This code will get you 10% off your order and if you order $49 or more, you will also get FREE SHIPPING.  We all know how easy it is to get over $49 in ink for the printer, right?  Most of the time you are dealing with the color cartridge and, depending on the printer, that can run anywhere up to $50-60, not including the black.

They also have a nice feature that allows you to contact them if you cannot find your the ink cartridge you are looking for.  Some people have older printers or maybe you have a printer you bought from a friend and are not sure.  Take a look at their website and let their navigation do the talking.

If you save big bucks, let me know here and don’t forget to send this offer to all your friends.

If you are internet & social media savvy, then why not stumble this page?  It will automatically send it throughout the StumbleUpon network, that way everyone can take advantage of this offer.

I use a Tracfoneas my cell phone.  I love buying minutes and never having to worry about paying $50, $60, or $70 a month for the two phones my family uses.  Every once in a while Tracfone spices up their deals and today I noticed one of them.

You can get a Motorola W370 phone with Unlimited Double Minutes($49.99 value) for only $19.99!  The offer is good until October 31st, so you have plenty of time to get to the website and check it out.  If you go to Tracfone.com from here you can also use the coupon code: 23444 at checkout for an additional $3 off your order!

The only time I have had a problem with my Tracfone was if I were in a building, then my signal strength is low.  That is understandable, but I haven’t had any issue with my phone out of state, calling long distance or even up north in the woods.  It works for me and if you are sick of paying high cell phone bills, maybe give Tracfone a try.

If you have shopped at a Kmart, or even a Best Buy, lately, you will have been offered a product replacement on some items that you purchased.  Do you know what a product replacement is?

Well, it is quite sad to say that not all stores that offer the product replacement actually have the same terms.  I can understand that, but if you are not going to replace my product 100%, then don’t sell it to me in that manner.

I was recently at Best Buy here in Sheboygan, which is a nice store, and made a purchase of about $100.  The clerk offered me the “product replacement” for $16 or so.  I took it, and let me tell you why, because I have had these types of things before from products purchased at Kmart.  THEY replace the product no matter what happened to it.  You have proof of purchase and that whatever broke, you get a new one.

It’s nice for large items like lawn mowers or even video game consoles, etc.  But, I was told by Best Buythat my products were to be replaced at no cost if something broke.  I was NOT told that it only covers everything BUT accidental breakage.  So, if you were to buy an Xbox and when you take it out of the box, it slips and smashes to the floor, I guess you couldn’t get it replaced.

Well, my product did break and it was an accident.  I call them up, “sure bring your item in with proof of purchase”.  Excellent, we do have a store around that isn’t out to screw the customer.  WRONG!

AFTER I get there, I am told the “product replacement” does not cover accidental anything.  Pissed off of course, I left the store without any satisfaction and Best Buy was $16 richer for doing NOTHING.

Now, I do not expect to get a brand new item for NOTHING, but shouldn’t I expect it when that’s how the warranty is sold to me?  I was misled by Best Buy (in my opinion) and skewed by my past purchases at a Kmartthat honored their warranties.  I know that extended warranties are junk and foolish to purchase, but I do not think of a product replacement as an extended warranty at all.

Nevertheless, I am steaming over the whole thing and after I go to the Best Buy website, this is what I find about product replacement.

Full Replacement
You get comprehensive coverage, with no deductibles or other hidden charges. If your product is found defective under normal usage, we will provide for a replacement.

Oh well, if it was sold to me this way, I wouldn’t have purchased it I guess.  Has anyone else fallen into this trap or even had a good experience with a product replacement purchase?

I think that we all know by now that these two stores are one in the same, but are they really?

We have one of each of them in Sheboygan (EBGames at the lovely Mall and GameStop and DeerTrace), but really, which one do you prefer?  My 2 cents is that when I walk into GameStop get a friendly hello and that’s it until I ask a question.  I like that.  I don’t want to be bothered so much (like at Best Buy) that I want to actually leave the store.

EBGames, on the other hand, is a little different and maybe it’s because they get “mall” traffic.  When I walk into that place, I don’t get a hello every time and it almost seems like the employees are annoyed with my questions or that I was so bold to interupt “gamer talk time” with a question that I have about a product.

I shop at GameStop.  One, it’s closer (that’s not the only reason), two, I don’t have to go to the Mall to shop there and three, they seem to be more friendly there.

What is your opinion on the stores?  Have you shopped at both, prefer one over the other, etc?