Savvy Shopper

We generally look for positive things to post, but this review has to go in the category of "warning."

Many video rental stores are going out of business, Netflix ads are everywhere, and the world of dvd rental is changing. One new feature in our area is the placement of MovieCube DVD rental kiosks in place of the former small video rental counter at our local grocery store.

The idea isn't bad. For $1 per day, you rent the movie of your choice from the kiosk using your credit card. Supposedly no lines, no waiting, and no problems.

Well ... the first time we tried to return a video, there was a customer in front of us who was having trouble renting the title he wanted. Not really MovieCube's fault that it took an extra 30 minutes out of my day to wait on the customers to finally give up and let me return my dvd's. However, in only a handful of rental occasions, I've had my own share of MovieCube glitches. One required me to stay on the phone for about 20 minutes in order to get permission to return my dvds without processing them through the machine, which was malfunctioning. And as an aside, you can't take very long to debate your choices. If you pause to read the movie descriptions for approximately 30 seconds, the machine resets and you lose the movies you saved. And I will add that, when I just now visited their web page in order to make this post and provide accurate information, I was redirected to a site that warned me that "I could have a virus" that tried to install a free "repair" function on my computer without permission. I killed the window and for that reason I'm not posting a link to their site here. None of us needs more spyware or adware.

All of these are somewhat minor inconveniences and problems that could be expected to be worked out in time. However, the one that really bothered me is that one of the videos that I returned after keeping it out for a single day showed up as a $37+ bill on my debit card with no notice a couple of weeks later. I called the MovieCube, and after being on the phone for about 25 minutes, was finally told that they had confirmed that I had returned the movie as I claimed, and they would forward a memo to their credit department to issue a credit on my account. (Incidentally, the customer service rep scolded me for not letting them know sooner that there was a problem, which I found amusing since there was no problem until they charged me for a movie I didn't keep. However, the other customer service reps I have spoken to have been most helpful and courteous.)

Some time passed, and the charge remained on my debit account. So I called them again. Another 20 minutes, this time billed by the minute, and now I have a confirmation number that is supposed to assure me that they will put the money back into my account, but they said it might take almost 4 weeks to do so. It has been a couple of weeks, and no sign of my money yet. This has been a great disappointment to me, that the money was removed from a debit account with no warning, by their error, not rectified, and left over Christmas. Thankfully I didn't get within $40 of a zero balance on that account, or I would have incurred bounced check charges in addition to all of this.

So, it is with regret that I felt I had to inform my readers that, if you want to be a savvy shopper, you may want to avoid MovieCube dvd rental, at least until they get these quirks worked out.

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Cell phones are among the most popular of Christmas gifts. Often though, the choice of the phone itself is determined (or at least limited) by the choice of service carrier, so that decision needs to be made as well. How do you know which service provider to select?

One of the most important considerations is coverage. If you have experience with a carrier in your area, that can be one way to know who is reliable. Other factors include cell phone towers and terrain, which may limit reception. If there is a low ratio of cell phone towers to users in the area(s) the phone will be used, it makes sense to purchase a phone with more transmission power, so that the signal won't tend to be dropped indoors. There is a trade-off with a shorter battery life in these situations, so it makes sense to have an idea of what will work best for you. Additionally, you will want to review available plans and costs, as well as available add-ons, to determine which carrier you prefer.

Once you know the carrier you plan to use, you will be able to find out which phones you can purchase. Of course, the carrier generally offers phones along with the service, and often offers rebates or other incentives. You can also buy phones from 3rd party retailers not affiliated with any carrier. Just make sure those phones will work with your selected carrier. Sometimes it is possible to still enjoy carrier rebates in this case, and it's worth looking into.

An important consideration will be the features you want your phone to include. Smart phones allow access to PDA functions as well as email, etc. and some include a regular keyboard pad. The cost is considerably more, however, and will require a separate service from your provider in order to access all of the functions.

Other features vary by phone. Built-in camera functions are common now, as are games and other features. GPS functions are available. A very basic and inexpensive phone will usually include some data storage functions and perhaps some simple games.

You can also consider buying a used phone. One important caution though -- you must be assured that the phone does not have an outstanding balance, or it may not be possible to initiate new service for that phone.

For more detailed information, do a search for trusted internet buying guides.

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Are you planning to enjoy the holidays in Spain this year? Along with the greatly prized Spanish leather (especially suede coats and jackets) and shoes, as well as the ceramics the country is also famous for, there are a great many interesting wares available for the shopper in Spain.

Lace-making is experiencing a resurgence as a Spanish craft, and many fine pieces are available. A lace tablecloth would make an especially nice souvenir. Cheese-making is also a special industry in Spain, and travelers should sample different kinds. Catalonian textiles are famous worldwide and in great demand as well, and worth your examination. Valencia, with its annual furniture fair of international renown, offers some of the world's finest handcrafted wood furniture. Majorcan pottery and El Rastro tiles are good finds as well, if you visit these areas. As you can see, the area(s) you visit will partially determine the best goods to shop for while in Spain.

Not only is Spain famous for a wide variety of quality goods, the shopping markets, especially some of the open-air markets, are known for their unique offerings and charming atmosphere. It is said of El Rastro, located in Madrid, "if it exists in the world, you will find it at El Rastro." Barcelona is home to several open-air markets, including Mercat de las Encants in the Plaza de las Glories Catalanes, the Mercat de San Antoni, and the Mercat at Plaza Villa de Madrid.

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Swatches are a popular gift, and we've found some great designs! Wait ... what's a swatch, you ask? Swatches are a particular brand of analog watches which represent the Swiss response to worldwide demand for watches that are not only of excellent quality of workmanship and materials but also stylish, innovative, and fun as well!

With that in mind, we checked the new 2007 Swatch Christmas line, and were very impressed with the designs! The Anxelli Pendant watch is a classy series of chains fastened between brooches that can be worn on an evening gown. The pearls and pink stones of Shiny Stones were especially lovely as well. However, our favorite was the Zauberfee, with its lovely starbursts arranged on a chic chain.

Not only is there a line for Christmas gifting, but you can view a number of other Swatch gift categories, including love gifts, kids' gifts, and other designs within a particular theme, such as cartoons, colors, winter, glitter, music, and more.

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Ever wondered what would make a great gift for your child's sports coach? Imagine the coach proudly displaying a personalized award trophy, given as a token of your appreciation for their dedication to your child's achievement of excellence!



With the wide range of trophies available, they also make great gifts for people involved in a wide variety of interests. Fully customizable, the trophy can be a cherished testament to the recipient's merit in their chosen pursuit.

Trophies can also make amusing novelty gifts, since anything at all can be engraved on them.

The range of interests represented is amazing. Besides the more typical baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and many more, you can also choose trophies for a wide variety of sports such as dance, darts, motorcycles, and windsurfing. Apple awards for teachers are available, as are other academician awards, music awards, superstar, pageant awards. Animal awards include horses, dogs, and deer. There is even a gold slinky award!

If you are looking to spend less than the cost of a trophy, you can also give a plaque, medal, or an award certificate. We were truly impressed with the variety of awards available, for everything from good attitude to science fair to coloring ability and much, much, much more. Most of the people on your gift list could find something to appreciate (or laugh about) here!

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We are still looking for interesting and unique ideas for holiday gift-giving. This one is certainly not your usual Christmas gift - ceiling fans! But some of the offerings were so unique we wanted to include them here, both for now and for the sake of our readers who are or will be looking for accents to set a tone in their homes and make their rooms memorable.


We were especially impressed by the Fanimation ceiling fans, which offer some really interesting options, no matter what your decor. The Air Shadow has blades that retract when not in use, Belize offers a mosaic housing and palm leaf blades, and Lauren Brooks offers leopard print blades! Palisade and Punkah have to be seen ... I can't describe the design in words. Their Historical Impressions line includes a nice Bourbon Street design, a very trendy Fitzgerald design, and other interesting period fans. The Futuristic line would be at home in any stylishly sleek contemporary home.


So if you REALLY want to surprise someone with a gift they'd never expect, but will love and appreciate for years to come, here's a very different sort of gift!

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Gifts that are useful and practical are always a great choice, because not only does your money go to good use, but the gift reminds the recipient every time they use it that you took the time to think of them, and buy something that was uniquely suited to their interests, activities, hobbies, lifestyle, etc. In giving gifts like these, sometimes a little luxury goes a long way too, especially if it is something the person is not very likely to buy for themselves. Something like a huge, thirsty bath sheet and delicious smelling bath oil for a friend who appreciates comfortable things, or a high-quality pair of hiking boots for a friend who enjoys the great outdoors.




For that matter, clothing of any kind is a good choice for the reasons mentioned above. Your money is spent on something that will actually be used instead of another cologne set of an unappreciated scent or another necktie that doesn't suit the person's fashion sense and will be doomed to being shoved to the back of a closet somewhere and eventually gotten rid of. Clothing, footwear, outerwear, and other essentials can be used and appreciated on a regular basis and will bring fond memories of your thoughtfulness in choosing such an appropriate gift.




Boots are especially suitable, since they are useful and wear long, but can be expensive and often people will put off buying them for themselves. Think of how much your cowboy-style brother might enjoy a pair of snakeskin boots, your biker-best-friend would love a new pair of biker boots, your fashion-conscious mother would appreciate a new pair of dress boots, or your outdoorsman-son would welcome a new pair of hunting boots. Online sources can offer a good selection of styles, and should still be able to ship in time for Christmas. (The source we linked also offers free shipping on orders over $100.)

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Digital cameras are one of the hottest gift items this year, and will likely continue their popularity. A digital camera makes it easy to share photos over the internet or upload images to blogs, websites, social utility programs, and image editing programs. Digital offers many other convenient and money-saving features as well, such as making the purchase of film unnecessary and allowing easy storage of images on cd's or other digital media storage.


The purchase of a digital camera can be overwhelming, though. There are hundreds of models to choose from with widely varying prices. There are also large differences in features, from focal lengths to storage capacity to zoom capabilities to resolution and on and on. The average consumer is easily overwhelmed with all of that information and doesn't know where to start. This is where consumer review site becomes VERY helpful!

The average or lowest price for a particular model and an overall score can help narrow the field tremendously. Add to that general product reviews, and then more specific reviews on traits such as picture quality, ease of use, and overall features as well as reviews from professionals and casual users. This information should help you narrow your choice to a very few, when you can then research the particular models in depth and decide which one is best for your particular picture-taking needs.

Take advantage of these online consumer resources, and happy (photo)shooting!

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This post's subject isn't exactly about shopping, since you don't have to spend any money to do it ... but the idea was so intriguing we just had to share it! Pick up free gifts ... nothing required to buy, sounds like a deal for a Savvy Shopper!


Not only that, but you can also win a cash prize as well. THEN you have some money for shopping, so it IS all about shopping after all!

It's really very simple ... all you do is choose the prize you are interested in, and enter a text-based "bid" (either on the website or from your mobile phone). Other players enter bids as well, and at the end of the sweepstake period for that prize, the prize is won by the player that entered the lowest unique bid.


Prizes include lots of new techno-gadgets but are varied. On the day we visited, we saw laptop computers, iPods, iTunes, gift cards, cash, a sea scooter, plasma TVs, phones, gaming consoles, sports and theatre tickets, and even a new car! (However, the COOLEST new product we saw was a virtual reality 44" screen that is worn like a pair of sunglasses and puts you in the middle of the action!)

So head on over to Bid4Prizes, and have a blast! (Maybe you will get lucky too!)

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