Trading in the Catalogue for the Website + The Benefits of Upromise.com
Written: Nov 12, 2001 (Updated Nov 19, 2001)
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The Bottom Line
My shopping addiction and Upromise.com may be the answer to costly tuition bills!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Full Review |
Okay, Okay, I admit. I am addicted to shopping. Back in my younger years it was almost daily trips to the mall. And of course it didn't help that I worked in one.
In college it turned to weekly trips with my roommates. And now 10 years later (and two kids to boot) I've traded in my shopping bags for the UPS guy.
Not a bad transition for the most part.
So, here I am loving the shop at home services and keeping my kids out of the middle of the circular things that are used to hang clothes from. (What is the proper name of those things anyway?)
And, admittedly, an internet shopping junkie.
After about 2 hours spent looking for a bed for my newly remodeled home, I decided to hang up the furniture store trips and go back to "old-faithful" - otherwise known as the catalogues.
So, I broke out the Spiegel catalogue for a long gander that was accompanied by my version of a focus group. Asking my mom, my sister, and my friends which bed they thought would go best in my new room.
The husband told me that, frankly, he didn't give a DAMN!
Not too surprising, eh?
Well, anyway after a two day poll, I decided on my purchase.
Then I went to the computer and purchased a King Sized canopy bed with sheer netting to add that "ooh la la" feel.
The delivery charge was $74 for the bed and $5 or $6 for the panels. Not too bad really.
So, exactly three days later, the panels showed up. With a letter that explained that the bed was being sent from a third party and would be shipped on the 23rd. That is approximately 3 weeks past the original order.
Not bad but not great.
Seeing as I saved approximately $500 past what I would have paid at the local furniture guru (rapist), I am pretty pleased.
Shopping at Spiegel is not much different than any other shopping site. You go to the home page, click on your selection and then view the pages with the appropriate items.
Unlike a lot of sites, you click on the hyperlink and you get pretty much what you asked for. Under furniture you find beds, under women's apparel you find lingerie.
You won't be looking to find a bra and come up with tightie whities!
Incidentally, when I clicked on "Beds", I came up with every bed they carry including dog beds. Talk about thorough!
Likewise, since shipping a bed to someone is a pretty large package, Spiegel has since sent me very detailed instructions on how to receive my purchase and what to do in case of damage or wrong items.
Since my bed has yet to arrive (it's supposed to be here on Friday), I will try to update this page and let the readers know how the merchandise shipped out and what condition it is in when I receive it.
Now what has this got to do with Upromise.com, you ask. Well, I'll tell ya.
Since I am a Upromise member, I received a 5% cashback on my purchases. Since I purchased a little over $5OO dollars (not including shipping) on this order, I will have approximately $25 dollars and some change deposited into my Upromise account.
For those you who can't do the math, this means that I paid just under $50 for shipping.
Upromise.com...What in the heck is Upromise.com?
If you haven't seen the ads on TV, the stickers plastered at McDonalds and the pamphlets at the local Mobil/Exxon gas stations, Upromise is a way to save money for college.
Since I have to leave for work in five minutes (and incidentally, Epinions has yet to put Upromise on the map), my explanation will be brief.
Saving money at Upromise is fairly easy. You register your credit cards and purchases you make using them will deposit a percentage into your childs educational fund.
Likewise, purchases made through the Upromise site links to dot-coms such as Spiegel will give you a credit as well. For this you don't have to register your cards - just be sure you use the hyperlinks at Upromise.
If you have accounts with Fidelity Investments or Solomon Smith Barney, your contributions will automatically be deposited into your child's existing account providing you give Upromise that account number and your child's SSN.
Since Upromise is fairly new, you can't save/contribute money everywhere you shop, but it is pretty good for those of us who are catalogue junkies.
In summary, Spiegel.com is just as good as the original. As long as you don't need the item yesterday. And as for Upromise.com - so far so good. Between the two of 'em, I can foresee a winning combination.
At least for shopping junkies such as myself!!!!
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: Harrison Township, MI
Reviews written: 100
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me: Until the next crisis...
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