QuickRewards.net Shopping Blog

Chat Tonight at 6pm ET on Alice.com -- Free T-Shirt to All Attendees!

I posted about Alice.com back in June -- they're an online grocery store that applies manufacturers' coupons electronically to your purchases so you don't have to clip 'em, and they ship orders of 6 items or more for free.  QR can't pay cashback on your orders there but we thought you'd be interested since so many folks love the printable coupons that we do pay you to print and redeem.

Here's my original post about Alice if you missed it.  The specific deals I posted about then may or may not still be live but I can tell ya that right now some great deals on Alice.com include Lady Speed Stick deodorant for $.58, Huggies 64 ct baby wipes for $1.30, Bounty Basic paper towels for $.59, and more!

They're doing a "Neighborhood Chat" tonight on Alice and all attendees who send a message to the chat host (Rebecca) get a free Alice tee!  I got mine after the last chat.  Also, if you RSVP here (you need to have an Alice.com profile to RSVP so join Alice.com first here if you don't have an account), you'll be entered to win a door prize during the chat for one of three $10 Alice GCs!  (Only 16 RSVPs as I type this so your odds are pretty darned good!)

Come say hi to me in chat tonight!  (My Alice profile name is CompareRewards.)  The topic of the chat is back-to-school!  There will be some helpful folks there to answer any questions you may have about the site, too.  Hope to see you there!

Tax-Free Weekend in Many States Starts Tomorrow

Ten states have "state tax holidays" coming up this weekend!  Online retailers should be adjusting their checkout process to remove the state tax -- I've already gotten an email from Kohls saying that they will be.  Depending on your state, you may still be charged local taxes (in Louisiana we're only exempt from the 4% state tax, not the 5% in local taxes).

Here a summary of each participating state's details (thanks to RealSimple magazine, with some edits to add Louisiana and remove District of Columbia, which repealed their holiday) -- for more info, including a link to each state's department of taxation for the full scoop, please see TaxAdmin.org.

Alabama (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100), computers (up to $750), school supplies (up to $50), books (up to $30).

Iowa (8/7 - 8/8):  Eligible items are clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item), computers (up to $1,500)

Louisiana (8/7 - 8/8):  Eligible items are "the first $2,500 of the purchase price of most individual items of tangible personal property for non-business use."  More info is here.

Missouri (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $50 per item), computers (up to $3,500)

New Mexico (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100 per item), school supplies (up to $15 per item), computers (up to $1,000)

North Carolina (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100 per item), school supplies (up to $100 per item), computers (up to $3,500)

Oklahoma (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing only (up to $100 per item)

South Carolina (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing, school supplies, and computers (with no limits)

Tennessee (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100 per item), school supplies (up to $100 per item), computers (up to $1,500)

Virginia (8/7 - 8/9):  Eligible items are clothing (up to $100 per item), school supplies (up to $20 per item)

Have fun shopping this weekend, everybody!  I know I will!  ;)

Frugal Reading: 10 Tips for Back-to-School Shopping on a Budget

I have another new post up on Examiner.com (for those of you who missed my first post about Examiner, you may want to go back and read it here) -- it's a list of tips to help keep your school supplies costs within budget.  Hope someone finds it useful and if so, you can subscribe to my email alerts to be notified when I make new posts there!

Have an idea for a budget-related post?  Please leave a comment here or email me!

Drugstore.com Dollars: Spend 'Em or Lose 'Em

If you've placed an order at Drugstore.com this month, you earned Drugstore Dollars that are good toward a future purchase.  They expire at the end of the month (TODAY!), though, so this is your reminder to spend 'em or lose 'em!

Shop through QRs link to Drugstore.com so you'll earn 6.5% cashback!  Forward your confirmation email to support.

Frugal Reading

I do a little blogging on other websites, when I'm not scouting out bargains for us here at QuickRewards, and my latest gig is as a budget writer for Examiner.com.

I just started about a week and a half ago, but I have a couple of articles up already and Dmitry said it'd be okay for me to share the links here in case anyone was interested.

25 ways to reduce your grocery budget

Ten tips to book a cruise for less

Eating out on a budget: six sources for discounted restaurant meals (this one's kind of specific to the New Orleans area)

If you have anything to add to those posts, please leave a comment there!  And I'm open to any new topics you could suggest (just mail me!).

And last of all, if you want to sign up to receive an email when I make new posts there, enter your email address here.  Thanks!

Shopping For a Soldier? Stores That Ship to APO or FPO Inside!

To assist our members who have a friend or family member in the military, on the recommendation of QR member Suzette H. I've compiled a list of QR merchants that ship to APO or FPO addresses, along with our current cashback rates.  The list isn't complete -- I'll continue to add to it as time permits, but I hope that it will develop into a useful reference for our military families.  Thanks to Suzette for the great suggestion and for the help in getting started!

Stores That Ship to APO/FPO

Your Suggestions for Father's Day Gifts Needed!

Hey, guys!  I'm working on a Father's Day Gift Guide and I need your help!

If you can tell me what kind of gifts you'll be purchasing for your dad, husband, grandfather, etc., I can approach merchants that sell those types of things and request special promotions for inclusion in our Father's Day Gift Guide.

Are you thinking of lawn and garden type gifts?  Food-related gifts?  Sports?  Clothing?  Gift cards (and if so, to which stores)?

Appreciate any insight you can give me, because it helps me help YOU get a good deal!  Thanks!

EXPIRED: Free DiGiorno Flatbread Melt Coupon Available Today Only

This comes from a site we're not affiliated with so we can't give you cashback or tokens, but I know a lot of y'all are into coupons and thought someone could use this:

Today only, the first 100,000 to request it here will get a coupon for a free DiGiorno Flatbread Melt!  They're sent by snail-mail so you don't even need a printer hooked up to get it.  Hurry before they run out!

Keep in mind, QR does pay members 1c for every coupon you print and redeem from our link here.  New coupons are added throughout the week, so you may want to check it out daily.

Resolve To... Get Organized!

If one of your New Year's resolutions this year is to get organized, QuickRewards.net offers cash back for a lot of merchants who can help you get started!

Stacks and Stacks (2.1% cash back):  I love this store!  They have every kind of item you can imagine for getting your kitchen and your home organized!  In fact, they have an entire section of the website dedicated to Storage and Organization (click the tab toward the top right)!  From closet organizers to cord control gadgets to dresser drawer organizers...and more!...they have it all.  Plus they have free shipping on $75 orders every day!

FranklinCovey (7% cash back):  These are the guys that make Franklin Planners.  Let's face it, not all of us are ready to go 100% electronic when it comes to scheduling stuff, making lists, even keeping track of our friends' and families' addresses, phone numbers, and email addys.  It's hard to "pencil in" something when your computer's not turned on or isn't with you at all!  That's where the Franklin Planner comes in.  Under the Paper Planning tab, you can buy a Planner Package that'll have everything you need to get started.  Or, search for vinyl undated and you can choose from different colors (camo is CHEAP!) and sizes (classic, compact, monarch, and pocket are the various sizes).  See the Special Offers tab at the top right for coupon codes.  The Healthcare Organizer is on sale for half-off, now just $17.49, and helps you track Health History, Bills and Receipts, Symptoms, Medications, Test Results, Doctors' Letters, and Resources.

Get your hobby and craft supplies organized!  Joann.com (5% cash back) has photo organizers, scrapbook paper organizers, CraftCrate and Cropper Hopper Rolling Organizers, ribbon dispensers, BobbinSaver organizers, spindle thread racks, the Bubblebox Organizer, Craft Stor Modules, totes, tubs, drawers, boxes...good gracious, if it organizes stuff, Joann sells it!  AND, you can use coupon code SAD011 for free shipping on $35 orders through 1/11!

Home Depot (2.2% cash back) also has some great solutions for your organization needs!  Maybe you need some extra shelving, a laundry sorter, pull-out wire racks for your cabinets (these are called Rev-a-Shelf), or a pot rack?  Over the door hooks, a shower caddy, a utility cart?  Just click on the Storage tab on the top right of the page and you'll find more organizational items than you even knew existed -- with many items shipping free!  See the details on their Winter Storage Event going on through 1/31!

Have trouble remembering birthdays and anniversaries?  Don't you hate when you remember to put somebody's birthday on your calendar but it falls on the first or second of the month and you don't remember to mail them a card... then you flip your calendar to the next month and go, OMG, their birthday's today!  (Or maybe that just happens to me...hehe.)  Well, Hallmark.com (9.3% cash back) has a nifty, FREE reminder service that'll help keep that from happening!  Create a free account, go to Site Services at the top of the page, then Reminder Services, and add all of your important dates for the year.  Tell it how far in advance to remind you, and it'll send you an email so you'll never be late again!  If you click Yes, Remind Me Every Year, you won't have to enter them again next year!  And when you do get the email reminder, you can click through QR's link to Hallmark to get cash back if you decide to order paper cards that you personalize and they mail for you (saves you a trip to the post office)!

These are just a sampling of the QR merchants that can help you get on track with your New Year's resolution to get organized -- good luck!

Favorite Gift You Received / Gave?

So, just to chit-chat a little:  what was your favorite gift that you received this holiday?  And of the gifts you gave, which did you think was best-liked by your recipient?

My brother gave me a book about getting the most out of your iPhone, knowing I had recently bought one -- that's my favorite gift I received this year...that and the handmade card my daughter made for me.

My favorite gift I gave, meaning the one I think the recipient liked best, was a vintage silver magnolia pin I gave my MIL, who advised me to be quietly strong and supportive of my husband, her son, when he was having some health problems -- like a "steel magnolia."  She takes care of a lot of her family members who are elderly and sets a great example.  When she saw the pin and I explained its meaning, she said she thought she was going to cry.

What were your favorites this year, both that you received and that you gave?

REMINDER -- Through 12/24!: Announcing QuickRewards.net's Holiday Promotions -- COMMENT HERE FOR CONTEST ENTRY!

1. Holiday Blankets for Project Linus

Finish off your holiday shopping while helping a good cause!

Between December 16th and December 24th, for each order of $10 or more placed through the QuickRewards.net website, QR will donate 25 cents to Project Linus.

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization established in 1995, which currently operates 384 chapters nationwide with the mission "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer 'blanketeers.'" Over two million blankets have been donated and distributed by Project Linus since the program began.

QuickRewards.net has been a proud supporter of the San Jose, CA chapter of Project Linus since 2007. Members can also choose to donate all or part of their QuickRewards earnings to Project Linus by selecting this redemption in the Cashout store.

All orders placed through QuickRewards.net's shopping section, including purchases of gift cards, iTunes, and eBay, will qualify for this promotion as long as they are in the amount of $10 or more.

Help a child in need, while you finish off your holiday shopping, at QuickRewards.net!


2. Shop Talk Contest

Whether you're doing some shopping, or just making your wish list, come back to this post and leave a comment every day for a chance to win one of 25 $1 QuickRewards account credits to be chosen at random from blog commenters!  The contest will run from 12:01am on 12/16 through 11:59pm ET on December 24th. Winners will be announced on the blog on or about 12/28, and their accounts will be credited immediately afterward. Limit one comment on the contest post per member per day. No purchase is necessary to participate in the contest -- remember to enter daily!



Thank you for your support of Project Linus, and good luck with the Shop Talk contest! The staff of QuickRewards.net wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday!

What IS This White Stuff?

This was my house this morning.

I live in south Louisiana.  It hasn't snowed here since January 2002.

Two days ago, it was 70 degrees.  Tomorrow it'll be back up to 60.  Any guesses on how many sick kids I'll have home from school next week?  (Hint:  I have two kids, one of whom went out without a hat and gloves, the other decided to make snow angels like she'd seen kids do on TV and she'd only done before herself in the sand at the beach.)

Louisiana folks don't have any clue how to handle snow.  They shut down all the schools.  They closed down city government.  The garbage trucks didn't run.  And our poor trees (still full of leaves) froze and limbs started breaking off, which disconnected my cable TV, cable phone, and cable internet, and would've cut me off from the rest of the world...were it not for my new iPhone.  ;)  So I was able to scope out a couple of deals with my good friend Vickie, albeit on a teensy little screen!

Just getting cable back now and wanted to pop in and explain why I didn't make any posts today.  Hope you guys carried on with your shopping without me!  I heard that Amazon had some amazing deals on toys -- will try to post a list of some of the good buys I find tomorrow but in the meantime, feel free to use QuickRewards' link on the right side of the page and take a look for yourself!

Stay warm, y'all!

QuickRewards Merchants That Accept PayPal

Interested in taking advantage of QuickRewards' Double Shopping Bonus (up to $1) promotion this week but you don't have a credit or debit card?

Here are some of our popular merchants that accept PayPal, and QuickRewards.net's cashback rates for those merchants:

1800Flowers:  6%
Avon: 5.5%
Barnes and Noble: 4.2% (free shipping on $25 orders, too)
Best Deal Magazines:   10%
Buy.com:  2.1%
Cooking.com:  4.5%
Drugstore.com:   6.5%
eBags:  7%
eBay:  Around 2% (see QR for details)
iTunes:  3.3%
PETCO:  5.3%
Shoebuy:  12% (free shipping on all orders, too)
Sports Authority:  3.5%
ToysRUs:  2.1%


A complete directory of PayPal merchants can be found here.

An idea that'll help you take advantage of the $1 cashback bonus:  Use the above link to BestDealMagazines (10% cash back) and pick any three of their 56 magazines priced at $4.69.  These include titles like Ebony, Guideposts, Mountain Living, Playstation 2, Speedway Illustrated, and Working Mother.  Use QR's exclusive coupon code QUICKREW15 for 15% off.  Your total will be $11.96, which you can pay for with PayPal.  You'll get 10% cash back from QR, or $1.19, plus you can request Double Cashback Up to $1, which'll bring your cashback to $2.19.  Three magazine subscriptions after cashback will be $9.77!

Customer Service: Your Stories

Not a deals post, but since this is a shopping blog I don't see why we can't talk about shopping-related topics!

On my mind today is the topic of customer service.  I have a master's degree in business, and I can't tell you how many times we were taught the absolute CRITICAL importance of customer service.  "The customer's always right!"

Right now our economy is in a bit of a rough spot.  Every day I read a report about a major retailer's profits being down, or one raising prices or closing stores.  Wouldn't you think that especially now they'd be doing everything they could to cater to their customers?

I had a terrible experience at a store last week, with three employees in three different departments doing it all wrong:  an employee whose job it was to load my heavy item into the cart who complained to me about his bad back and how he needed surgery (I felt so guilty asking him to do his job!), a supervisor in another department who insisted that the unboxed and scratched item under the bright yellow CLEARANCE banner wasn't on clearance, and a cashier who balked at doing a price check when one of my prices rang up incorrectly.

But I'm not the type to demand to see the manager.  I quietly leave and take my business elsewhere... and tell as many friends as will listen how rotten Home Depot is.  ;)

Then there's the other end of the spectrum... the often-unsung heroes who give us outstanding customer service.

A few months ago, my SIL came to town for a relative's birthday party, and she brought her adorable 9 month old baby.  Mid-party, when the baby cried for his bottle, my SIL was horrified to realize she'd forgotten his bottles at home, 2 hours away!  (New mom mistake...it happens!)  To make things worse, the baby's on a special formula only available in the big, expensive powder cannisters...when you can find it at all!  And she had just bought two cans back home, so this was going to blow her budget.   

At the second store we visited we found what we needed -- the expensive formula, a new bottle, and purified water -- and went to the register.  My SIL was distraught, feeling terribly guilty about her mistake and worried about the extra expense.  As we checked out I made small talk with the cashier, explaining what had happened.  "Hold on a sec," she said, and she turned around and talked to the cashier in the next lane.  She came back with a big-dollar coupon for the formula.  It was one of those register-printed coupons that a customer had left behind earlier in the day, and she said that we needed it more than her fellow cashier did.  (And at that, the other cashier smiled and nodded.)  My SIL was so grateful for the girls' compassion and unsolicited kindness that she cried.

Now my opinion of Albertson's supermarkets and their employees has gone up 1000%...  and I find myself shopping there more often because of that one little RAOK (Random Act of Kindness).

I'd like to hear from you.  Tell me your stories about the good, the bad, and the ugly customer service you've received!  And I'm curious, how do you handle it when you have a bad experience in a store:  are you the "talk to the manager" type, the "write an ugly letter" type, or the "I just won't go back" type?