With more than 800,000 jobs listed and sites in 20 countries, Monster.com is the ultimate job searcher's resource. Create a free account and post your resume, search current job listings and apply online. Employers can post jobs, search resumes and screen candidates, all online. Monster also allows people looking for jobs to network. Mothercare is the leading online retailer in the U.K. for babies and their mothers. It carries maternity, nursing, feeding, clothing, travel, bath and safety products, as well as toys and bedroom furniture. And Mothercare has the U.K.'s largest selection of pushchairs online. You can search for products by category, keyword or the age of the child. Mothercare also has many items for expectant mothers, as well as a gift service. Don't miss the clearance (sale) section, or the many helpful articles. Under "Preparing for Baby," for example, Mothercare offers a list of its top pushchairs, baby monitors, cots and car seats, as well as a list of everything you should bring with you to the hospital. Its advice and products extend to later parenting to include older babies, toddlers and "little people," a.k.a. children ages 3 to 8. Returns: 28 days of receipt with proof of purchase (i.e., the delivery note), if returned in unused condition by post to the site or to any Mothercare store. Mothercare offers a six-month guarantee on any pushchair costing under £100 and a 12-month guarantee on any pushchair that costs over £100. Shipping: Free to all mainland U.K. addresses on orders of at least £150 (£100 if you use a Mothercare card for payment). Orders of less than £150 are £4.95. Deliveries to the Channel Islands and Eire are £13.95 per order and to BFPO addresses £8.95 per order. Shipments to Europe start at £10.95 per order. Music Download Guide, a companion site to Deal Dude, lists all known online sites that offer digital songs and albums. Some allow you to purchase songs or albums for a set price (typically 79 cents and up for a song and $4.99 and up for an album), while others charge a monthly fee for streaming access to your computer (typically about $10) and/or the ability to download music to your MP3 player (typically about $15). The music is accessible as long as you remain a paying member. You also can purchase songs and albums to own, which allows you to burn to CD or listen if you end your subscription.
Mothercare UK
Music Download Guide
My Wines Direct specializes in finding great wines at reasonable prices from lesser-known vineyards. You can join by selecting one of three six-bottle tasting packs for $79, either red, whine or champagne. Then continue as a member free for up to a year with no obligation. The only "rule" is that subsequent orders must be in increments of six, i.e., mix and match six bottles or 12, 18, 24, etc. The site's carefully selected wines range from $8 to $25 each, so a pack of six could be a low as $48 or as high as $150. Sales Tax: In most states. Shipping: Shipping is free on all orders. The wines are shipped from California to states that allow wine deliveries (see site for details, or refer to map below). Someone age 21 or older must sign for the delivery.
The Mystery Guild is a discount book club devoted to mysteries and thrillers. Its introductory offer allows you to choose six mysteries for a total of 99 cents plus shipping. If you qualify, you may ask to be billed. As
a member, you'll receive a catalog every three weeks with a featured selection; return the card or reply online if you don't wish to receive it. You must buy four more selections from the club catalog within two years at up to 60 percent off publisher prices (most selections are priced between $9.98 and $14.98). The site carries these categories: American Detective, Anthology, Bestsellers,
British Mystery, Classic Mystery, Cozy, Gifts, Historical, Horror, Non-Fiction, Police Procedurals, Spy / Intrigue, Thriller / Suspense. Sales tax: Indiana, New York,
Pennsylvania. Shipping: $4.99 for the first book in an order and $1.99 for each additional. The club also is available to residents of Canada. For more information about book clubs, click here. Napster is an online music service owned by Best Buy that allows you to listen to songs on your computer or MP3 player or burn them to CD. It has more than six million songs in its catalog. Download and burn songs to any MP3 player, including the iPod, for as low as 80 cents each, or entire albums for $9.95 each. Or pay $12.95 per month and get unlimited streaming and access to 50 commercial-free radio stations. Pay $14.95 per month and you can download as many songs as you like to your MP3 player. Subscription music is accessible on your computer and player for as long as you remain a member. The Napster software requires Windows XP/2000, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher and Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher. Napster-to-Go requires XP and Media Player 10 or better. Napster is also available to residents of Canada and the U.K. Napster Canada offers members more than 700,000 songs for streaming access or download. Pay $9.95 per month for get unlimited streaming and access to 50 commercial-free radio stations. Or pay $14.95 to download unlimited songs and albums to your MP3 player. You can listen as long as you remain a member, or purchase individual songs to burn for $1.19, or albums for $9.95. The Napster Canada software requires Windows XP/2000, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher and Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher. Napster-to-Go requires XP and Media Player 10. Napster U.K. offers members more than two million songs for streaming access or download. Pay £9.95 per month for get unlimited streaming and access to 60 commercial-free radio stations. Or pay £14.95 to download unlimited songs and albums to your MP3 player. You can listen as long as you remain a member, or purchase individual songs to burn for 79p, or albums for £7.95. The Napster UK software requires Windows XP/2000, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher and Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher. Napster-to-Go requires XP and Media Player 10. Netflix is the best-known and largest online DVD rental service, with tens of thousands of titles and more than two million customers. It offers a two-week free trial, after which the monthly membership fee is $4.99 to have one DVD at a time (limit two per month), $8.99 to have one DVD out at a time (unlimited), $13.99 to have up to two at a time (limit four per month), $16.99 for three at a time, $23.99 for four, $29.99 for five and continuing up to eight. When you're done watching a movie, drop it back in the mail and Netflix will send your next choice on your want list (the average customer views five or six DVDs per month). Select movies can be viewed by streaming video on your computer. It carries DVDs in these categories: Action & Adventure, Anime, Children & Family, Classics, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Gay & Lesbian, Horror, Indie, Music & Concert, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Special Interest, Sports, Television and Thrillers. DVDs ship from: One of 39 distribution centers, including in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Portland, San Jose, Stamford, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Usually you will receive a new DVD two days after you drop one in the mailbox to return. Sales tax: Every state except Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Shipping: Included (site provides pre-paid mailers to return DVDs). Founded in 2001 and headquartered in City of Industry, California, Newegg carries more than 60,000 products, including electronics, computers, digital cameras, video games, software, DVDs, MP3 players, office equipment, televisions, phones and networking gear. It has won a number of awards for its customer service. Returns: 30 days of original invoice date for refund or within one year for replacement. All returns require a Return Merchandise Authorization number. Software can only be returned within 30 days if factory sealed. CPUs must be returned within seven days for a refund (minus 15 percent restocking fee) and 30 days for replacement. Sales Tax: California, New Jersey, Tennessee. Shipping: Varies by product. Calculated at checkout.
Napster
Napster Canada
Napster UK
Netflix
Newegg
News of the Weird is a weekly collection of slap-your-forehead antics, culled from the nation's newspapers. Compiled by Chuck Shepherd, the NOTW site includes a database of past weird-but-true news that you can search by keyword or state. The site also has the most recent 25 columns and instructions on how to receive it free each week by e-mail. NOTW proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction, and funnier. Founded in 1901 as the Wallin & Nordstrom shoe store in downtown Seattle, Nordstrom is now one of the country's largest and most respected fashion retailers. It added apparel to its selection of shoes in the 1960s, and in 1988 the chain expanded to the East Coast. Its online site offers the same merchandise you will find in its retail stores, including clothing and accessories for women, men, children and infants, as well as shoes, handbags, beauty products and fragrances, home decor and gifts and a number of designer collections. Don't overlook the "sale" section. Returns: A pre-paid return label is included with every order. Nordstrom will pay the return postage on exchanges. For returns, $5 will be deducted from your refund. You also can return or exchange any item at a Nordstrom retail store. Sales Tax: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakoa, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington. Shipping: $8 per order, or free on orders of $200 or more. Fragrances cannot be shipped to post office boxes and jewelry over $500 cannot be sent by U.S. mail. Gift cards are shipped free. A gift kit is available with any item for an additional $2, or gift boxing for an additional $5.
Nordstrom
Founded in 1986, Office Depot is the world's largest supplier of office supplies, with more than 1,000 stores in 44 states and $3 billion in online annual sales. Besides office supplies, Office Depot carries office furniture and technology products such as cameras, scanners, media, phones and printers. It also stocks audiovisual supplies and equipment, basic supplies and labels, business cases, calendars and planners, custom imprints, desk accessories, executive gifts, files, binders and storage, paper, forms and envelopes, pens, pencils and markers, printer and fax supplies, software and school supplies. Returns: 30 days, except desktop computers, monitors, printers, scanners, faxes, digital cameras, handheld computers and all-in-one machines, which must be returned in their original packaging within 14 days. Sales tax: Most states. Delivery: Free on $50+ orders to local delivery areas, or you can pick up your items at any Office Depot. If you don't live near an Office Depot, the site ships by UPS to addresses within the continental U.S. (excluding post office boxes). Shipping charges are determined by weight and start at $5.95.
OfficeMax sells more than 25,000 products. It specializes in office supplies such as binders, cleaning products, calendars, envelopes, forms, mailroom supplies, paper, pens, staplers and tape, and technology and office equipment such as audiovisual, calculators, computers, copiers, fax machines, digital cameras, phones, printers, shredders and surge protection. OfficeMax, which has more than 1,000 stores, also carries office furniture and ink and toner. Its online site has a nifty rebate locator that allows you to search by product for money-back offers and forms. Returns: 30 days. Items must in their complete and original packaging with all accessories and manuals. You must have your original sales receipt. Contact the site before mailing any item back. Electronics items, digital cameras, computers, PDAs and business machines must be returned within 14 days. Office Max will not accept returns of opened computers, PDAs, digital cameras or software unless defective. You also can return items to the nearest OfficeMax store for credit or exchange. Sales Tax: Most states. Shipping: Delivery is free to addresses within 20 miles of an Office Depot store on orders of more than $50. Orders of less than $50 are $7.95. The shipping charge to addresses in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is 15 percent of the order total. The shipping charge to APO/FPO addresses is six percent of the order total.
Founded and owned by The Gap, Old Navy sells reasonably priced apparel for men, women (including maternity clothes and plus sizes), children and babies. The first Old Navy opened in 1994 in Colma, California; when a Manhattan location opened the following year, Newsweek called it the first retail store in New York where the employees wore headsets. Today there are more than 840 Old Navy locations across the country, plus oldnavy.com, which debuted in 2000. Don't miss the annual Fourth of July sale, in which Old Navy sells $5 flag T-shirts. And don't overlook the year-round clearance sales in each department. Returns: 30 days with receipt for cash refund, after 30 days store credit. You can return merchandise purchased online to any Old Navy store (excluding outlet stores). Sales tax: Most states. Shipping: $7 per order, including to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and APO/FPO addresses.
Omaha Steaks sells premium steaks and seafood by mail order. It also sells veal, pork and lamb, poultry, classic pastas, desserts, appetizers, side dishes, sauces and seasoning, cookbooks and even pet treats. Buy for yourself or send gifts. Omaha Steaks' grain-fed Midwestern beef is cut and trimmed by hand, aged 21 days, vacuum-packed and flash-frozen before being shipped by UPS or FedEx in a polystyrene insulated cooler with dry ice. Founded in 1917 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company has two manufacturing plants, a distribution center and a freezer warehouse. It has retail stores in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Starting in 1990, Omaha Steaks was one of the first companies to offer online ordering, teaming up with CompuServe and later America Online. Today it has special offers designed specifically for visitors to its web catalog. Returns: "If you are not absolutely thrilled with your purchase from us for any reason at all we'll replace your purchase or refund your money." Sales Tax: In most states. Shipping: Standard shipping is $10.99 to $19.99 per order and takes seven to 14 days. Expediated shipping is available for an additional $14 and overnight shipping for an additional $24. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii and Canada have a $24 surcharge. Omaha Steaks does not deliver post office or APO/FPO addresses.
Online Grocery Guide is our companion site that lists every grocery store and service online that offers home or UPS delivery. Order your groceries online and then have them brought to your door in select areas, or sent by UPS or an alternative service. Many of the services offer coupons and discounts for first-time customers. The site also lists many services that deliver organic produce and products. Search by location or keyword. Our online grocery guide also includes services in Canada and the United Kingdom. Online-Colleges.net lists hundreds of accredited online schools available to residents of the U.S. and Canada that offer degrees, diplomas and certificates in a variety of subjects, including business, health care, technology, legal and office administrative. Search by category or keyword. Founded by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United, Orbitz has a simple yet ingenious system that allows you to compare ticket prices on 450 airlines -- enter the cities and date and preferred time of travel and it shows a grid listing each airline's best price. It even has many Web-only fares. Simply click on the best price or time to book online (the site charges a $7 service fee per ticket). In addition, Orbitz offers discount hotel rooms, car rentals and cruise packages. It offers a guarantee on airfare prices: If another customer books the same flight at a lower price between the time you buy your tickets and your departure date, Orbitz will automatically send you the difference in cash. See site for details. Founded in 1982, PC Connection
sells desktop and notebook computer, software, accessories and electronics. Its motto is "We have your brand." Headquartered in New Hampshire, PC Connection has monitors, displays, printers, software, networking products, storage products and accessories. It also carries digital cameras and camcorders, plasma and LCD
televisions, home audio, GPS and office equipment. Don't overlook the clearance section or the rebate center. You can search PC Connection by brand, category or keyword. Returns: Computers, printers, LCD projectors and Quark products are not returnable. All other items are subject to a 15 percent restocking fee. Defective
products will be repaired or exchanged only within 30 days of purchase, after which the manufacturer's warranty kicks in. Before shipping a return, phone 888-213-0259 to get a Return Merchandise Authorization number. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: Calculated by weight. The standard rate to addresses in the continental U.S. is $9.49 for up to one pound, $9.99 for up to two pounds, $10.49 for up to three pounds and then 57 cents
for each additional pound up to 150 pounds. After 150 pounds, the cost is 66 cents for each additional pound. See site for rates for overnight delivery and to Alaska and Hawaii. Peapod provides online ordering and home delivery in the metro areas of Chicago, Boston, Milwaukee, suburban N.Y. (Westchester County and Long Island) and Washington, D.C., and communities in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland (Montgomery County), Massachusetts, Connecticut (Fairfield County and greater Hartford), Virginia (Fairfax County), Rhode Island (Providence area) and New Jersey.
Online Schools Guide
Orbitz
PC Connection
Peapod
If Peapod doesn't yet deliver to your area, check Safeway, Vons or our online grocer guide. I'm telling ya, try Peapod once and you'll be hooked. You haven't lived until someone carries 40 bags of your groceries to your countertop. Plus, I haven't found the prices to be any more expensive than what we paid at the neighborhood grocery. And the delivery fees are reasonable; in Chicago, for example, the fee is $5.95 for orders over $100.
Your first order takes a bit longer to put together because you have to use the site's search engine to find each item. But once you've placed your first order you can use a list of items from your previous orders to point and click. On average, it takes me about 20 minutes to finish my shopping at my computer every few weeks. I also make far fewer discretionary purchases than I used to (i.e. those sale cookies that catch your eye as you leave the doughnut aisle). Peapod also takes grocery coupons -- you hand them to the delivery person and they're credited on your next order. Peapod offers many instant coupons while you shop; simply click the link and the coupon savings are added to your order.
People often ask about produce, because you're trusting someone else to pick it out. But on each item you buy, you can type in specific instructions, i.e., "Green bananas, please." I've never had a problem with the produce that's been included in my order. Peapod also offers regular weekly sale items, just like any grocery store, and occasionally throws in a freebie, e.g. during one promotion, they included a free quart of strawberries. And one great feature about ordering
online is that you can click on any item to see a photo of it, along with its nutritional information. You also can sort items by price, by price per ounce or alphabetically.
Personalization Mall can put a name, logo, message or date on just about anything. It sells personalized gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, new babies, showers, weddings, engagements, communions, graduation, housewarmings, Mother's Day, Father's Day, retirement and many other special occasions and holidays. Search by occasion, recipient or keyword. Personalization Mall has delivered more than two million personalized gifts, and it promises to get it right the first time. How about a Rubik's Cube with family photos on each side? Or golf balls with your company logo? Or a picture frame with your child's name? Personalization Mall also sells stationary, apparel and even gifts featuring your pet. Personalization is always free, and most orders are completed and shipped within 48 hours. Returns: Personalized items cannot be returned unless they are defective or Personalization Mall made an error.
However, if you made an error during your order and need a replacement, the site will give you a 30 percent discount on the same item. All refunds and exchanges must be made within 30 days of receipt. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: $5.95 to $29.70, depending on value of order. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii start at $12.95.
Don't ask me to explain how anyone makes money shipping bags of dog and cat food around the country, but somehow Pet Food Direct has managed to prosper. It carries more than 11,000 products and 400 brands. Besides canned and bagged food for dogs, cats, birds, wild birds, fish, horses, reptiles, ferrets and other small pets. Pet Food Direct also sells toys, accessories, pet gifts, scratching poles, magazines, books, tapes, videos, collars, leashes, doggie toothbrushes and even goofy neckties and watches for people who love animals but perhaps lack fashion sense. Pet Food Direct often offers discount coupons, and it will deliver food on a regular schedule through its Meals Plus program. Don't overlook the free shipping store or clearance (red tag) section. Returns: 30 days. You must receive an authorization number first. Sales Tax: Pennsylvania. Shipping: Starts at $6.99 per order by UPS. Pet Food Direct ships to addresses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
PetCareRX carries prescription and non-prescription medications for dogs, cats, birds, fish and small pets that cost up to 50 percent less than what veterinarians charge. Besides vaccines for dogs and cats, PetCareRX carries medications for arthritis and pain, deworming, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, behavior management, cardiovascular, ear and eye, gastrointestinal, heartworm, respiratory, skin and coat, thyroid and urinary tract illnesses. It also has a wide variety of over-the-counter products for these ailments, along with allergy relief, diet and nutrition products, shampoos, skin and coat vitamins and teeth and gum products. PetCareRX sells food and filters for fish, accessories and cage toys for birds and harnesses, toys and other products for ferrets. When ordering a prescription drug for your pet, you must provide the veterinarian's name, phone number and your pet's name, so that PetCareRX can verify the prescription. PetCareRX has several vets on call to answer questions. It also offers an "autoship" re-ordering option if your pet needs the same medication on a regular basis. Returns: 30 days. All returns are subject to a 15 percent restocking fee. Contact PetCareRX by email before returning any items. Food, vaccines, medication and embroidered products cannot be returned. Sales Tax: New York. Shipping: $5.99 per order. Vaccines must be shipped via UPS 2nd Day ($16.99 per order) to ensure their effectiveness. PetCareRX also ships to Canada.
Founded in 1965, Petco carries supplies for dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles and other small animals. Besides its online site, Petco has 590 stores in 43 states and Washington, D.C. The site stocks more than 10,000 pet-related products, including specialty stores devoted to cold weather, holidays, travel, last-minute gifts, new pets, flea and tick and patriotic pets. Since 1999, the Petco Foundation has raised more than $10 million for over 1300 organizations. Sales Tax: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia and Wyoming. Shipping: $4.99 per order plus 21 cents per pound for orders up to 50 pounds (50 cents per pound to orders sent to P.O. boxes); $15.49 per order plus 50 cents per pound for orders of 50 pounds or more to 48 states. Orders to Alaska or Hawaii are $15.99 per order plus $1.70 per pound. Expediated shipping to the 48 states is $8.99 per order plus 90 cents per pound.
Pet Planet is a pet food and supply store for residents of the U.K. It carries products for dogs, cats, small animals and fish. Don't overlook the monthly specials and clearance section, where you will find products at 50 percent off. Pet Planet also sells a variety of garden equipment and furniture. Returns: 21 days, if in unused and saleable condition. Shipping: Free on orders of £45 or more (express shipping is £2); otherwise £3.99 (£5.99 express). If you place your order online by noon and the items are in stock, they will be shipped within three weekdays or you will receive a £10 credit. Pet Planet also ships to Ireland and addresses in Europe for £12.50 per box; see site for details.
PETsMART's motto is "Where Pets are Family," which isn't quite as clever as Pets.com's old motto ("because pets can't drive") but PETsMART is still around and that's all that matters. This online store has food and supplies to support every critter you
can legally keep in your home or yard, except humans (see Peapod grocery delivery for that) but including dogs, cats, fish, birds, ferrets, reptiles (snakes, turtles, iguanas), rabbits, guinea pigs and even rats. You also can set up a "Frequent Fetcher" service that delivers food on a regular basis, without constant reorders. Petsmart now also accepts PayPal payments. Returns: Unconditional. Sales tax: Arizona, California, New York. Shipping: Starts at $4.99 per order plus weight fees for food and litter. Coupons valid only on U.S. orders.
Stamps.com has been licensed by the U.S. Postal Service to create and sell personalized PhotoStamps. It's so far sold more than 32 million PhotoStamps since its launch in 2004. To create a PhotoStamp, you upload a digital image and PhotoStamps prints it on legal U.S. postage that you can then peel and stick on envelopes. The stamps come in sheets of 20, and each measures 1.9 inches wide by 1.4 inches high, with an image area of about 1 inch by 1 inch. It's a great service for holiday letters or invitations. A sheet of 20 PhotoStamps to mail first-class letters of an ounce or less is $18.99, or 95 cents each (including the 41 cents postage). PhotoStamps also sells pre-stamped postcards and priority mail labels, and gift certificates. Sales Tax: None. Returns: 30 days of order date, and longer if items are defective. All sales of clearance, discontinued or retired items are final. Shipping: Varies by order. Calculated during checkout.
Pingo sells long-distance service that allows you to call across the country and around the world for just pennies. Rates to numbers in the continental U.S. cost as little as 1.8 cents per minute, two cents to Hawaii and three cents to Alaska. For an additional penny per minute you can access your Pingo account via a toll-free number, such as when you are traveling. Rates to numbers outside the U.S. start at two cents per minute, with one-minute rounding (i.e., if your call is one minute and one second long, you are charged for two minutes). Pingo uses the same phone lines as you would with any large carrier such as AT&T or Sprint; it is owned by iBasis, which is one of largest carriers of international phone calls in the world. Once you have created an account, you can dial a local or toll-free number and enter your 10-digit account number (typically your home phone number) and a four-digit pin number, then dial the number you want. Given, this can be a real hassle if you make a lot of long-distance calls. However, Pingo allows you to bypass entering your account number and pin on up to 10 phones. Many people also set up automatic dial on their home phone so they can access Pingo by hitting one button. Pingo offers automatic recharge via your credit card so you'll never run out of credits. There is a 98-cent monthly account fee. Pingo offers a $10 credit to new customers. Founded in 1980, Plow & Hearth specializes in products for country living. What began as a small retail "center for self-sufficient living" along Route 29 in Madison, Virginia is now one of the fastest growing companies in the country (in 1998 Plow & Hearth launched its website and became a subsidiary of 1-800-Flowers). Plow & Hearth carries products for the hearth and home (including curtains, rugs and pet products), outdoor living and the yard and garden, including deck furniture. It also sells footwear (including Dansko and Ugg brands) and apparel. Don't overlook its outlet section, which has products that sell for up to 60 percent off retail. Returns: "If, for any reason, at any time, you are less than 100 percent satisfied with a product you have purchased from us, you may return it for exchange or full refund." Sales Tax: Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia. Shipping: $3.99 to $22.99 per order, depending on its value. On orders over $300, shipping is 9 percent of the total. Phone 800-494-7544 for shipping charges outside the continental U.S.
Plow & Hearth
Founded in 1970 by University of Chicago graduate student Michael Powell, Powells is the one of the largest book retailers in the U.S., with more than four million new, used, rare and out-of-print books and 40,000 DVDs. It is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, where it has six stores and three warehouses. Its site lists multiple secondhand copies of most books, meaning you can find a great price on just about anything you search for. Returns: 14 days. Sales tax: None. Shipping: Starts at $2.50 per order plus $1 per item to U.S. addresses; those sent outside the U.S. start at $3 per order plus $2 per item. The site offers free shipping to North America and Mexico on orders of $50 or more. Preschoolians manufactures customized, washable shoes for toddlers. Most pediatricians suggest that new walkers go barefoot to aid the development of the foot, but of course that isn't always possible. The durable Preschoolians, which have won a Time Magazine Coolest Inventions honor, are constructed to be as close to barefoot as a child can be. Says company president Jeffrey Silverman, "As a parent I know how frustrating it can be to get properly fitting, intelligently designed footwear for young children. I have always believed there should be a footwear company that focuses on that and nothing else." Sales tax: None. Returns: Shoes must be returned within two weeks in clean, unworn condition and in the original packaging. Preschoolians provides return postage on request for returns within the U.S. Five dollars will be subtracted as a restocking fee. Preschoolians will refund the original shipping charge on international orders. Custom shoes cannot be exchanged or returned. Shipping: $5.40 per order to U.S. addresses. International shipping is $10 for the first pair of shoes in an order and $1 for each additional. Pricelessware offers Windows freeware business, desktop, file, graphics, Internet, multimedia, organizers, security, shell, system, text and web design utilities. The programs are among the favorites of members of the Usenet group alt.comp.freeware. They do not include adware or spyware. Priceline is a unique travel service that allows you to bid on airline tickets, hotel rooms and car rentals. Here's how the bidding process, known as "name your own price," works: Airline Tickets: Enter when and where you want to travel and the maximum you will pay. If an airline agrees to take your bid, you are issued a nonrefundable ticket (i.e., it cannot be cancelled, refunded or exchanged). All flights are economy and you will not earn frequent flyer miles. You cannot choose your time of departure but domestically it will be between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. International flights can leave at any time. Once you enter your bid, you should have a response within 60 seconds. Most flights will be as much as 40 percent less than at other booking sites. If you find a better price with in 24 hours of buying the ticket, Priceline will refund its entire cost. In addition, Priceline sells tickets through traditional means with no booking fees. Hotel Rooms: Select the city where you would like to stay, the date of the reservation, how many service stars you would like the hotel to have (one to four) and place your bid. Priceline will let you know if your bid has little chance of being accepted, such as if you bid $50 for a room in midtown Manhattan. To help you place a reasonable bid, Priceline will provide the median price of a hotel room in the city you select. Reservations are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-changeable even if the reservation is not used.
Car Rentals: Enter where you'd like to pick up the car, the type of car you want, the dates and a bid. If it's accepted you'll receive your rental from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz or National. Rental cars are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-changeable even if the reservation is not used.
Preschoolians
Pricelessware
Priceline
Search Priceline Europe for the best prices on hotel rooms and car rentals. Its database includes information from more than 450 car hire companies, with 9,000 locations in 134 countries. Its hotel service includes all the world's major cities, including London, Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, Manchester, Barcelona, Rome, Edinburgh, Brussels, Berlin, Vienna and Milan, with no fees or hidden taxes. The Priceline Europe site is available in 17 languages for hotel reservations and five languages for car hires.
ProFlowers sells fresh flowers via the Internet. Because they are shipped direct from the fields, they typically arrive five to nine days fresher than those purchased at a florist. Most orders arrive at your doorstop within one to three days of being cut. ProFlowers also sells plants, gift baskets, fruits, chocolates and wreaths. It has pre-arranged bouquets for every occasion, including holidays, birthdays, sympathy and wedding. The selection includes roses (which have been called a "best value" by the Wall Street Journal), tulips and lilies, irises. Don't miss the free shipping and sale sections. Select items are available for same-day delivery through local florists. Returns: ProFlowers guarantees that its flowers, plants and preserved items will last at least seven days after receipt. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the freshness, contact ProFlowers and it will replace the bouquet or refund your money. Potted plants are guaranteed for 14 days. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: Delivery is available every day except Sunday and major holidays, and only a limited selection of products are available for Monday delivery. All products are sent overnight, with the exception of potted plants and wreaths, which take two days. The standard shipping charge for delivery Monday through Friday is $9.99 for most of the continental U.S. and $19.99 to $21.99 in Alaska and Hawaii. You can upgrade to morning delivery for an additional $4.99, where available. Flowers are wrapped in cellophane and placed in a specially designed gift box. They are not shipped with a vase unless you purchase one separately.
ProFlowers
Puritan's Pride sells hundreds of varieties of vitamins and herbs online, including those for Acidophilus, Allergy Relief, Antioxidants, Aromatherapy, Body Building and Sports Nutrition, Bronchial Support, Cardio Vascular Health, Colon Helpers, Daily Weight Management, Dental & Oral Care, Detox, Foot Care, Glandulars, Hair, Skin and Nails Care, Immune Support, Joint and Bone Support, Memory Support, Menopause, Mood Support, Skin Care, Vein Support,
Vitality and Water Balance. Its ten bestselling products are: (1) Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM, (2) Vitamin E-400, (3) CO Q10, (4) Cholesterol Free Fish Oil 1200, (5) Cranberry Softgels, (6) Odorless Garlic Softgells, (7) Green Tea 315MG Caps, (8) Saw Palmetto Caps, (9) Zinc, and (10) Flaxseed Oil. It also sells products for pets. Check back often for great sales (2-for-1, 3-for-1 and coupons. You can search the site by category or keyword, or browse an extensive collection of health articles. Scroll down for Puritans Pride coupons. Returns: If not satisfied, you may return any unused portion up to one year after purchase for refund. Sales Tax: Illinois, New York (cosmetics, books and appliances only). Shipping: $3.95 per order. Shipping outside the continental U.S. is $3.95 per order plus postage costs.
QuitSmart is a stop-smoking program developed by the director of the Duke Medical Center Stop-Smoking Clinic. It's available as a self-help kit for less than $30. In many communities you also can sign up for a three-session class that provides personalized instruction. Each kit includes a guidebook, hypnosis audiotape or CD and a Better Quit® Cigarette Substitute. Returns: 90 days. Sales Tax: North Carolina. Shipping: $6 for the first item in an order plus 50 cents per additional to U.S. addresses; $12 for the first item plus $1 per additional outside the U.S.
RadioShack began in 1921 in Boston, named for the small, wooden structure that housed a ship's radio equipment. The Deutschmann brothers, who founded the store, planned to stock products for the radio officers aboard ships and ham operators. Later acquired by the Tandy Corporation, RadioShack expanded into all things electronic. Besides its website, which launched in 1999, RadioShack has more than 7,000 retail stores. It sells phones and radios, portable music players, cameras and camcorders, power supplies and batteries, home entertainment, cables, parts and connectiors, car products, home and office products, computers and toys and games. The RadioShack online site has a number of great features, including a research library, the weekly newspaper ad, a rebate center and an outlet and sale section. You can search the site by keyword, category or brand, which includes JVC, Panasonic, HP, Sony, Sirius, Motorola, Samsung, Canon and many others. Returns: 30 days. Items in good condition, in original boxes, and with paperwork, parts and accessories may be returned by mail or to any RadioShack store. Software, DVDs, video games, software and video tapes that have been opened and are not defective cannot be returned. Sales Tax: Most states. Shipping: Based on weight of order. Calculated during checkout.
Real Arcade is an online game site from Real.com. After a 30-day free trial, new members pay $9.99 per month to download one game per month from a selection of 550 titles plus $5 off any additional game you purchase. The games you download as a paying member are yours to keep even if you decide to cancel. The Real Arcade site includes challenging puzzle and action games such as Monopoly Casino, Zuma Deluxe, Super Collapse II, Combo Chaos!, Mirror Magic, Cake Mania, 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, Temple of Bricks, Hoyle Board Games, Hoyle Card Games, Trickshot, Roller Coast Tycoon, Red Ace Squadron, Aloha Solitaire, Jewel Quest, Aironix, Gamehouse Sudoku, and Hotel Solitaire. The site is available in English, Dutch, Spanish, French and Japanese. Real Arcade requires at least a 266MHz Intel Pentium processor or equivalent, 64MB of RAM, a 56 Kbps modem, 35MB free disk space, Windows 95 or better and Internet Explorer 4 or better.
Real Rhapsody is digital music service where you can listen to any of more than three million songs, 250,000 albums and 90 ad-free radio stations for $9.99 per month or $14.99 per month if you would like to download songs and albums to your MP3 player. The music is accessible for as long as you remain a paying member. Or you can purchase songs and albums for download to your portable music device and/or burn to CDs with unlimited access for 99 cents for singles and $9.99 for albums. The Rhapsody digital music service requires Windows XP or 2000 (SP 4), 98 SE or ME, Internet Explorer 6.0+, FireFox 1.0.1+ or Netscape 7.2 and higher.
For $14.99 per month, Real SuperPass includes 90 ad-free radio stations, premium sports and news programming (including music videos and live video news from ABC, the BBC, Sporting News, Nascar, the NBA, CNN, iFilm the Weather Channel and other sources), 10 song downloads, one game download, full-length online movies (independent, documentary, international), one gig of online storage and photo/video sharing, a year subscription to a print magazine, McAfee security software (virus protection, firewall, PC tune-up, parental controls, home networking) and RealPlayer Plus software. Real SuperPass requires a computer with at least a 350MHz Intel Pentium II processor or equivalent, 64MB of RAM (128MB on Windows XP or later, 52MB available disk space, Windows 98SE or better and Internet Explorer 5.0 or later. Recalls.gov is a free site maintained by six government agencies to keep consumers informed about products that have been recalled by the manufacturer, or for which the government has issued a safety alert. The site includes listings for consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics and environmental products. You also can report problems you've had with products to the appropriate agency. Launched in 1999, Red Envelope offers customized and personalized gifts for every occasion. Search by keyword, occasion (wedding, housewarming, sympathy, new baby, birthday, anniversary, get well, etc.) or recipient, or browse the site's special shops (bath and body, flowers and plants, jewelry and accessories, toys and baby, etc.). Red Envelope also offers a variety of business gifts. The name RedEnvelope originates with an Asian tradition in which gifts are presented in a red envelope as a symbol of good fortune, love and appreciation. Returns: If either you or your recipient are not completely satisfied, Red Envelope will replace the gift with another selection or issue a refund or a gift certificate. It cannot refund gift box or gift wrap charges. Sales Tax: California, Ohio. Shipping: $7.95 per order. Overnight and two-day delivery are also available. Add one day for processing for flowers and plants, and add three days for personalized items. Red Envelope does not ship to post office boxes, APO addresses or the U.S. territories.
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RegNow is a large marketplace of independent software vendors. Click on "The Marketplace" and browse hundreds of software titles in Audio, Business & Finance, Desktop Enhancements, Games, Home & Education, the Internet, Multimedia & Design, Software Development, Utilities and Web Authoring. Because you download the titles and the vendors are selling direct, without the cost of packaging, shipping or middlemen, you can get great software at great prices. In addition, we have a selection of exclusive coupon codes that allow you to take 25 percent off your order. And several of the merchants offer free trial versions of their software with limited features so you can try before you buy. These links below will automatically open a window that asks you to okay the download. Don't worry, no spyware or other malicious software will be downloaded if you agree. These are all legitimate software manufacturers.
Restaurant.com is a database of more than 350,000 restaurants that offer discount dining vouchers (most offer $25 certificates for $10. $10 certificates for $3 or 50% off vouchers for $6.25). Some vouchers have restrictions (e.g., no Saturday dining, can't be applied to alcohol, one certificate per month, parties of two or four) but these are stated up front so there are no surprises. Search the database by selecting a state and city from the pulldown menu and then a neighborhood or type of cuisine. Once you have purchased the certificates, you can print them from your computer, so there's no waiting for them to arrive by mail. There is no charge to create an account.
Roboform is a freeware Windows program that stores your log-ins and passwords until they're needed to fill in online forms. Say you come to
a page that requires you to log-in. You fill in your user name and password and Roboform memorizes them as you type. The next time you visit the page, a small window pops up. You click the button that says "log-in" and the information is filled in automatically. The same goes when you have an order form that asks for your mailing address, billing information, etc. Confidential information such as your name, address, credit card numbers and login IDs and passwords are stored only on your computer. It works as an add-on for Internet Explorer version 4 or later, all browsers based on IE, and Netscape 6. Unlike other freebie form fillers, Roboform does not collect any marketing information as you surf. The free version of Roboform is available to personal users. It limits you to 30 passwords, 30 identities, three custom fields in identities. The pro version includes unlimited passwords and identities, the ability to turn off the "fill non-empty fields" option, selective form filling, folders and other advanced options. The pro version is $29.95 with free upgrades and a 30-day guarantee. You can get the program on CD for an additional $15. Founded in 1906, Rochester Big & Tall carries shirts, pants, slacks, shorts, activewear, outerwear, sweaters, suits, sportcoats, footwear, sleepwear, underwear and accessories for men of stature. If you're the type of guy who goes into a clothing store and says, "Just show me everything you have in my size," Rochester Big & Tall is the place for you. Everything here will fit. Rochester sells top brands such as Axis, Burberry, Callaway Golf, Cutter & Buck, Dockers, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fila, Jack Victor, Kenneth Cole, Levis, Nautica, Palm Beach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tallia and Tommy Bahama. You can search by category, keyword or brand. It also has a sale and clearance section, which will be a new experience for the average big and/or tall man. Returns: If you aren't satisfied, you can return any item, no questions asked, for exchange or a refund. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: $4.95 to $19.95 per order, depending on its value.
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The Rhapsody Romance Book Club is a discount book club devoted to hardcover romances and sagas. Its introductory offer allows you to select seven romances for a total of 99 cents plus shipping. As a member, you'll receive a catalog every four weeks with a featured selection; return the card or reply online if you don't wish to receive it. You must purchase four more selections from the club catalog within two years at up to 60 percent off publisher prices (all are priced at $9.95 or less). The club has these categories of books: African-American, Anthology, Bestsellers, Brides & Grooms, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Hot Authors, Hot Sizzlers, Inspirational Romance, Love
& Laughter, Nora Roberts, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Sales and Specials. Sales tax: Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania. Shipping: $4.99 for the first book in an order and $1.99 for each additional. For more information about book clubs, click here.
Safeway offers online ordering and grocery home delivery in California (San Francisco, Marin, Greater North Bay, East Bay, Sacramento, San Jose, Peninsula, Monterey, Salinas); Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, greater Phoenix, Maryland, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. You receive the same prices and Safeway Club specials found in your local store. Order by 9:30 a.m. for same day delivery. If Safeway doesn't yet deliver to your area, check Peapod, Vons or our online grocer guide. Delivery fees: Range from $4.95 to $9.95 depending on the city and your order amount.
The Scholastic Store specializes in books, software, toys, games, videos and CDs devoted to a variety of favorite children's characters, including Clifford, I SPY, Captain Underpants, Harry Potter, Magic School Bus, Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, Peter Rabbit, Madeline, Powerpuff Girls, Barney, Scooby Doo, Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose. Search the site by age, category or keyword. Scholastic is the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the world. Returns: 30 days, with authorization. Sales tax: Missouri, New York. Shipping: Standard shipping to 48 states and APO/FPO is $3.50 per order plus $1 per pound up to 5 pounds and 50 cents per pound thereafter. Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico is $3.50 per order plus $1.99 per pound.
Sears is famous for its catalog, which you can now browse online. The retailer was founded in 1886 by Richard Sears, who had been an agent of the Minneapolis and St. Louis railway station in North Redwood, Minnesota. He had lots of free time waiting for trains so began selling lumber and coal on the side. One day a local jeweler refused a shipment of watches, so Sears bought it and sold them to other station agents. That led him to create the R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis. The next year he moved the operation to Chicago and hired a watchmaker named Alvin Roebuck. Soon after, Sears, Roebuck and Co. was born. Today it has 2,400 stores around the country as well as its online catalog, which sells appliances, automotive, baby items, clothing, computers, electronics, home items, gifts, jewelry, lawn and garden products, DVDs, CDs and video games, sporting ood, tools and toys. Products that have a star next to them can be ordered online and picked up at the nearest Sears store, with no shipping fees. Sears has a number of its own brands, including Craftsman and Kenmore. It also sells Land's End, Levi's and Structure apparel and Martex, Utica and Colormate bed and bath products. Plus, Sears offers an exclusive line of home fashion products designed by Ty Pennington. Search by department or keyword. Don't overlook the clearance section. The Sears site also sells parts. Returns: 90 days on all products except home electronics and mattresses, which is 30 days. You can return any item purchased online by mail or to the nearest Sears store. A 15 percent restocking fee applies on certain appliances, home electronics, home improvement items, household goods, lawn and garden and automotive products that are not returned in the original boxes, unused and containing all original packaging and accessories. Special orders cancelled after 24 hours are subject a 15 percent fee. Sales Tax: In most states. Shipping: Based on weight of order. The standard charge is $5.95 per order up to five pounds, $7.50 for five to 10 pounds, $8.95 for 10 to 15 pounds, $9.95 for 15 to 20 pounds, etc. Enter your zip code during checkout to calculate the fee for home delivery of larger items such as appliances, mattresses, projection televisions, grills, tractors and patio furniture.
Each day visitors to Second Spin add as many as 3,000 CDs, 1,000 DVDs and 200 video games to its inventory, making this California-based store the largest online dealer of secondhand music and movies. Unlike Half.com, the products come from Second Spin rather than the individual seller. The site buys most CDs, video games, videos and DVDs for cash or credit, typically paying $2 to $5 for each CD, $3 to $10 for each DVD and $3 to $12 for video games. Certain rules apply: CDs must include all liner notes, jewel cases, no scratches on discs and no promotional items; videos must be in original boxes and DVDs must be Region 1 with all inserts and no promos. See "Store Policies" for more details. Sales tax: California, Colorado. Shipping: Starts at $2.50 for the first DVD or CD in an order plus 35 cents per additional and $3.25 for the first video plus 75 cents per additional. Shipping to Canada is $4.25 per CD or DVD plus 75 cents per additional and $5.50 per video plus $2 per additional. International shipping starts at $5.75. Second Spin now accepts PayPal. Launched in 2002, Shockwave Unlimited (formerly GameBlast) is the premium version of Shockwave.com. The site offers more than 300 action, puzzle and word games with fun names like Funkiball, Speed Racer, Turtle Odyssey, Froggy Castle, QBeez, Karu, Professor Fizzwizzle, Memory Loops and Bubblefish Bob, but you'll also recognize classics such as snooker, Scrabble, solitaire and Mah Jong. A few of the games are even multiplayer, meaning you can challenge others online. A Shockwave Unlimited subscription is $9.95 per month, but that drops to $4.95 per month if you pay annually or $6.95 per month if you pay quarterly. You can play as many games as you like for as long as you like. There are free versions of many of them at Shockwave.com, but they don't have all the features of the premium versions, such as additional levels, characters or soundtracks, and many also include advertisements. There also no time limits. Members can download many games to play offline, and some can be purchased outright so you can continue to play them even if you don't remain a Shockwave Unlimited subscriber. Three- or 12-month gift subscriptions are available. PC users need Windows 98 or better and Pentium 333Mhz or better; Mac users need OS 8.6 or above and 333 MHz or faster processor. Both Windows and Mac users will need to have Shockwave and Flash installed. A credit card is required, and subscriptions are available only to residents of the U.S. and Canada.
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Shoes.com is the Internet's largest shoe retailer. Because purchasing shoes on the Internet may seem daunting, it offers free shipping on any order plus free shipping on returns and exchanges. It's hard to go wrong with that offer. (Shoes.com also offers an 115 percent price guarantee, meaning you'll make money if you can find a pair of shoes at a lower price elsewhere. See the site for details.) Shoes.com carries thousands of products, including athletic shoes, sandals, dress shoes and boots. It also has handbags, luggage and other bags, as well as foot supports and other accessories. Its selection includes more than 400 top brands such as Adidas, Charles David, Cole Haan, Converse, Crocs, Etnies, Heelys, Johnston & Murphy, Kenneth Cole, Lifestride, Merrell, New Balance, Naturalizer, Reebok, Rockport, Steve Madden and Timberland. Shoes.com is owned by the Brown Shoe Company and a sister company to Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl's, Life Stride and Buster Brown. Note: Discounts exclude products from the following brands: Allen Edmonds, Bruno Magli, Burton, Crocs, Dansko, Ecco, K-Swiss, LAMB, Keen, Lucchese, MBT, Mephisto, Merrell, Puma, Royal Elastics, Stuart Weitzman and Ugg. Returns: 365 days, as long as the shoes are in their original box and in the same condition that you received them (i.e., they have not been worn, although it's certainly okay to put them on to check the fit). Sales Tax: California, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee. Shipping: Free UPS shipping is included with any order. Shoes.com ships to addresses in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.
Shop.com is an online mall that features products from 2300 specialty retailers such as the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Relief Catalog, Anything Left-Handed, Avon, Bayberry Lane, Best To You Christian Gifts, Casual Living, Chef's Catalog, The Company Store, Computer Goodies, Discovery Store, eBags, Frederick's of Hollywood, Gadget Universe, Get Organized, Grandparent's Toy Collection, Harry and David, Hickory Farms, J. Jill, Just My Size, Mens Hats, Mothering with Ease, Mrs. Fields, Omaha Steaks, Perfumax, Plow & Hearth, Short Sizes Inc., Thompson Cigar Catalog, Totally Fun Toys, Walter Drake and many more. You may search for specific items or browse by category or store. You also can request paper catalogs by phone or via an online form. Note: These merchants are excluded from coupon codes: Etronics, PC Rush, Baby Universe, Comp-U-Plus, Onecall, Buy.com, CompUSA, MacMall, PCMall, Onsale.com. Sales tax: Varies by merchant. Shipping charges: Varies by merchant. Not all merchants ship outside of the U.S. Shop.com UK is an online mall that features products from hundreds of specialty retailers such as Anything Left Handed, Argent of London, Country Book Shop, Cucina Direct, Ends UK, Frog Trading, Gemshine, Gifthouse, Golf Discount Store, Gourmet Gifts, Hamper.com, Innovations, Kiddycare, Maestrom, Marshall Ward, McCord, Modern Baby, Nostalgia Store, Online Garden, Pharmacy 2 U, Puzzles Plus, Scottish Books, The Sharper Image, Taste by Mail, Whittard of Chelsea, World Furniture and many more. You may search for specific items or browse by category or store. You also can request paper catalogues by phone or via an online form. Shipping charges: Varies by merchant. ShopPBS sells DVDs and videos of all PBS programs. All proceeds support further programming. The selection includes popular PBS series such as the American Experience, American Masters, Empire Series, Frontline, Hands-On History, Masterpiece Theatre, Mystery, NOVA, NOW, Scientific American Frontiers and Sesame Street. You also can browse bestsellers, new releases, specialty shops (e.g., British comedy, British drama, African-American programs, military history, soundtracks, kids or Monty Python) or categories (arts, health, history, nature, news, science and math, kids, travel, etc.). Don't overlook the outlet shop (see banner below), where the DVDs and videos are up to 50 percent off. If there is a PBS program you would like to view but not necessary own, consider joining a DVD rental service such as Netflix. Returns: Six months. Sales Tax: California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia. Shipping: $4.95 to $10.95 per order, depending on value. Orders of $200 or more ship free. Shipping to Canada is $10.25 to $24, depending on value of order.
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Sideshow Collectibles produces limited edition action figures and 12-inch dolls that make great gifts or collectibles (you'll notice while browsing that many of its dolls and figures are sold out). Their products include James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, Indiana Jones, World of Warcraft, John Wayne, Godfather, World War I, Civil War, Monty Python, Bruce Lee, famous movie monsters, Universal Monsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and many others. Returns: 30 days. Sales Tax: None. Shipping: U.S. shipping starts at $5.10 per order. International shipping costs vary. Orders to Canada have a $5 surcharge. Orders outside North America have a $10 surcharge. The site does not ship to post office boxes.
Founded in 1986 in Reno, Nevada, Sierra Trading Post specializes in name-brand closeouts, overstocks and seconds of dress, casual and outdoor clothing for men, women and children, along with shoes and boots, home decor, accessories and gear. Closeouts may be last year's model or colors but are brand-new, overstocks are products that the manufacturer simply made too many of to sell at full price and seconds have minor cosmetic blemishes or irregularities. The typical savings are 35 to 70 percent of retail. Sierra Trading Post ships more than 60 million print catalogs per year from its headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It also has retail stores in Reno, Cheyenne and Cody, Wyoming. When visiting its online site, don't overlook its "bargain barn," the web exclusives or the list of recently reduced products. You can search by keyword, category or brand. Sierra Trading Post carries more than 700 brands such as Columbia Sportswear, Dansko, Keen, Birkenstock, Teva, Merrell, Carhartt, Barbour of England, the North Face, SmartWool, Ralph Lauren, Saucony, Orvis, Bomber Gear, Patagonia, GoLite, Reef, Timbuks and Kaenon, among many others. Returns: No time limit. If you not satisfied, simply ship the item back to Sierra Trading Post for refund or exchange. If you are exchanging an item, Sierra Trading Post will charge you $5.25 for the return shipping and include free shipping of the new item back to you. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: Standard UPS shipping is $6 to $14 per order, depending on its value, or $8 to $16 to Alaska and Hawaii. Sierra Trading Post also ships to 29 other countries, including Canada (starts at $15 per order) and the U.K. (starts at $20 per order)
Simply Audio Books is an audio book rental club for residents of the U.S. and Canada. Memberships start at $17.98 per month to have up to one audio book out a time, or $29.97 for up to two. Or pay $14.95 per month to download one title or $21.95 to download two. Discounted six-month memberships are available. Simply Audio Books also sells digital audio books for iPod and audio books on CD and cassette with no membership required. Its stock includes Biographies, Business, Children's, Comedy, Fiction, History, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Self-Help, Sports, Suspense and Thriller. Sales tax: New York, Canada. Shipping: Included (the site supplies postage-paid mailers to return the CDs for its rental club).
Sirius Satellite Radio sells the gear you'll need to receive crystal-clear, commercial-free satellite radio from the skies. It also provides 120 channels of commercial-free music, sports, information and entertainment, with digital quality sound, broadcast daily from New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, Houston and Daytona. The programming includes 65 channels of ad-free music, 55 channels of sports, news, entertainment, traffic, weather and talk, including The Howard Stern Show. Sirius also broadcasts NHL and NFL games. The service costs $12.95 per month, or you can prepay for an annual subscription and get a month free. Each additional radio on the same account is $6.99 per month. The site sells equipment and upgrades for your existing car or home system, plus antennas. For example, Sirius stocks a satellite radio boom box and car kit for $150. Note: Sirius satellite radio service is available only to residents of the continental U.S.
Sittersity is an online referral service allowing parents to find reliable and trustworthy babysitters and nannies. The Sittercity database, which can be searched by zip code, contains more than 150,000 listings. You can also narrow the results of your search by age, availability (part-time or full-time) and whether the sitter has his or her own transportation. Once you have narrowed down your choices, you can contact each sitter and arrange offline interviews. Skype is a phone service company that routes calls over the Internet. You can download its free software for Windows, Mac, Linux or Pocket PC and talk free to anyone else in the world who also has the software and a broadband connection. Their voice comes through your speakers; you will need a microphone or headphones to speak. Like Vonage, Skype uses a technology called VoIP (voice-over-Internet) to offer unbeatable long-distance rates if you want to make calls from your computer to a landline phone; you can pay by the minute or purchase a subscription and pay a monthly fee for up to 10,000 minutes of calls to landlines in up to 34 countries. These services are great if you want to talk to someone while also working on your PC or laptop, especially in places where your cell phone service is unreliable. Skype also offers features such as voicemail or personal numbers that people can use to call your computer directly (it includes free voice mail, or you can have the calls forwarded to any other phone number), for additional fees that range from $15 to $30 per year. Based in Luxenbourg, Skype already has 51 million members worldwide, with about three million logged on at any one time. Note: Skype cannot make emergency (911, 999, 112, 211) calls. Founded in 1999, SmartBargains specializes in overstock, overruns and closeout products that are priced up to 70 percent off retail. SmartBargains sells brand-new bedding and bath, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry and watches, kitchen and dining, luggage, men's apparel, patio and garden, shoes, women's accessories, arts and prints, kids and baby items, toys, home improvement and luggage. Returns: 30 days. CDs, DVDs and software must be unopened. The wear tag must be attached to all jewelry. Swimsuits and intimate apparel that has been worn cannot be returned. Sales Tax: Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina. Shipping: $9.95 per order to continental U.S. ($2.95 for Smart Shopper club members). Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is $15.95 per order plus 95 cents per pound. Fragrances are $5.95 per item. Snapfish is an online digital photo service that allows you to upload your photos to edit, arrange and share with friends and family. It offers free, unlimited storage. You can then order prints for as little as nine cents each, or eight cents with prepaid plans. The first 20 prints are free when you create an account and upload photos or send in your 35mm film. You can select from these digital images to order customized greeting cards, T-shirts, calendars and many other gift items. Most recently, Snapfish has added a service that allows you to post and share digital home movies of up to 10 minutes each in MOV, AVI, 3gp or MPG format for $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year. Returns: If you're not satisfied with a reprint or enlargement, Snapfish will send a replacement prints or a refund. Sales tax: California, Maryland, West Virginia. Shipping: Shipping for prints is 99 cents per order for up to five prints, $1.48 for 6-15 prints, $1.97 for 16-25 and 49 cents for every additional 10 prints. Photo gifts and other items vary. See site for a complete list. Snapfish also offers its service to U.K. residents.
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Snapfish UK is an online digital photo service that allows you to upload your photos to edit, arrange and share. You can even send them from your mobile phone, and Snapfish offers free, unlimited storage. You can then order prints for as little as 10p each or 8p with pre-paid plans (the first 20 are free when you create an account). You can order 6"x4" (100 x 150 mm), 7"x5" (125 x 175 mm), 10"x8" (203 x 254 mm) and uncut sheets of 4 wallet-size (2x3) prints. Or select from your digital images to create photo greeting cards, T-shirts, calendars and many other fun items. Most recently, Snapfish has added a service that allows you to post and share digital home movies of up to 10 minutes each in MOV, AVI, 3gp or MPG format for £1.99 per month or £15.99 per year. Snapfish also offers its service to U.S. residents. Returns: If you're not satisfied with a reprint or enlargement, Snapfish will send a replacement prints or a refund. Sales Tax: Prices include VAT. Shipping: Calculated at checkout.
Sony Style sells everything Sony, including desktop and laptop Vaio computers, cameras, camcorders, navigation systems, televisions, DVD players, MP3 players, DVDs, CDs and Playstation 2 video games. See the main page of the Sony Style site for the latest specials and online exclusives. Don't overlook the outlet specials. You can search the site by keyword or category. Returns: 30 days. You must first obtain a return authorization number (RMA) through the Sony Style site or by phoning 877-244-9963. Sony Style does not accept the return of CDs or DVDs that have been taken out of their plastic wrap. Sales Tax: All states except Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wyoming. Shipping: Varies by order, via UPS. Shipping is free on large-screen televisions. Sony Style does not ship to post office boxes, APO/FPO, Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Spam Arrest is a popular system that blocks any spam from reaching your in-box. It works with America Online, Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail, Incredimail, Thunderbird, Eudora, Outlook and Outlook Express. Spam Arrest also offers a 30-day free trial that doesn't require a credit card so you can check it out. After the trial, the service is $5.95 per month, $24.95 for six months or $44.95 ($3.12 per month) for a year, or $74.95 for two years. You can use one Spam Arrest account to maintain up to five e-mail in-boxes. When you signup for Spam Arrest, you receive a @spamarrest.com address that you can give out. Or you can protect existing e-mail accounts by forwarding them to your Spam Arrest e-mail or by having Spam Arrest periodically poll them and retrieve the messages. All non-spam mail is placed in your Spam Arrest inbox, which you can access using POP3 or IMAP from your e-mail program (Outlook or Eudora) or from any web browser. You block mail by creating a list of people whose mail always gets through to you. Everyone else receives a "challenge" e-mail, which requires them to fill in a word to verify that they are a real person if they want their e-mail to reach you. Any e-mail that is "unapproved" goes into a folder that you can browse to make sure you don't miss anything. Spam Arrest also offers other features such as automated vacation response and mailing list filtering.
Stacks and Stacks specializes in homewares but stocks just about everything, including appliances, audio and visual equipment, boxes and crates, cleaning and polishing products, crafts and games, framed art, home furnishings, jewelry organizers, lighting, outdoor furniture, pet supplies, safety and security products, shelving, sports items and travel accessories. It also has organization products for the closet, garage, bathroom, office, bedroom, kids play area, kitchen and laundry. Founded in 1984 in San Francisco and Seattle, Stacks and Stacks launched its website in 1998 and now offers its products exclusively online. It carries 20,000 items from more than 1,100 vendors. The store is called Stacks and Stacks because its original merchandise was limited to storage and organization products, so its aisles were packed to the ceilings with crates, boxes, bins, cubes and shelving. Don't overlook the Stacks Outlet, where you can save up to 75 percent on close-out products. Sales Tax: California. Shipping: Based on weight of order and distance it travels from California warehouse. Some products ship directly from the manufacturer. Stacks and Stacks ships worldwide but packages that weigh over 50 pounds or are oversized cannot be shipped outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Since 1999, when the U.S. Postal Service first approved the sale of Internet postage through Stamps.com, the site has sold more than 100
million pieces of digital postage. It currently has more than 350,000 customers. Here's how it works: You create a Stamps.com account and are given a USPS postal meter permit. You then fund your Stamps.com account with a credit card or bank account transfer. Once that's done, you can print postage from your printer to standard-size envelopes and/or mailing labels for letters and packages that weigh five pounds or less. Download the free software or request a CD to get started. No special hardware is required. When you create an account you will receive a $5 credit along with a free Stamps.com supply kit. You can then try the service risk-free for four weeks. If you continue as a customer, you will receive $10 in additional free postage the first month plus a free digital scale, then another $10 in free postage the second month. Stamps.com costs $15.99 per month plus whatever postage you purchase. You can cancel at any time. Stamps.com also is licensed by the U.S. Postal Service to create and sell personalized PhotoStamps.
Founded in Boston in 1986, Staples is now an $11 billion retailer of office supplies, business services, furniture and technology. Its online site carries every kind of office supply, of course, but it also has computers and handhelds, furniture, fax machines, digital cameras, software, books and training manuals, printers, phones, lighting and other home office products. Brands include 3M, Avery, Brother, Canon, Epson, Georgia Pacific, Hewlett Packard/ HP, Lexmark, Logitech, Microsoft, Netgear, Palm, PNY, Rhinotek and Symantec. Don't overlook the clearance area. Staples rarely offers discount coupons, but it does have weekly online-only specials (hit refresh on your browser to see more specials in the banner below, or click on the Weekly Specials link). Returns: 14 days on computers, printers, all-in-one machines, faxes, copiers, notebooks / laptops, build-to order computers, monitors, scanners, digital cameras, peripherals & handheld computers with a 15 percent restocking charge. 30 days on all other products, including unopened software. Sales tax: All states with sales tax. Shipping: Free on orders of $50 or more. Staples does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii.
Staples UK is owned by Staples, Inc., which invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today is the world's largest office-products company. Staples UK carries more than 6,500 products, including office supplies, including printer cartridges, desk accessories, household products, labels, mailing supplies, paper and pads, staplers and presentation materials. It also carries office furniture, computer accessories and peripherals, digital imaging products, household electronics, office machines, desktop and notebook computers, printers, copiers and phones. Don't miss the clearance section the "star buy" specials. Returns: 30 days. Phone customer services on 0800 15 14 14 to request a returns form. Software must be unopened and PCs, laptops and products that are made-to-order or customised such as personalised stationery cannot be returned unless damaged or faulty. Shipping: Free next-day delivery on £30+ orders (excluding VAT). Lesser orders at £2.85, and orders to Jersey and Guernsey are £15. Staples UK only delivers within the UK mainland, Northern Ireland, Channel Island, Shetland and the Isle of Man.
Starbucks sells strong coffee. Its online store allows you to order ground or whole bean coffee (from mild to extra bold and including decaf varieties) and Taza teas online and prepare your own cup in the comfort of your home. The site is operated in partnership with Cooking.com. Returns: Each order comes with a return form and label. Sales Tax: California. Shipping: Free on orders of $49 or more, or $5.99 otherwise. Shipments to addresses in Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories are a flat rate of $7.99.
StubHub allows fans to buy and sell sports and concert tickets. Sellers pay a 15 percent commission; buyers pay a 10 percent commission. If you sell your tickets through the service, StubHub provides a FedEx label that you can print to send them to the buyer, who pays the shipping cost. Tickets are listed with fixed prices or offered for auction. Search by city or event. Sports events include NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL games, the Indianpolis 500, NASCAR races, the Masters and the Kentucky Derby. Theater includes Broadway shows, comedy shows, Cirque Du Soleil, classical concerts, opera and family shows. StubHub also sells exclusive packages to see the Kentucky Derby, the World Cup, the Final Four or TV show tapings. All transactions through its marketplace are guaranteed -- if you never receive the tickets or the tickets you get are fake, StubHub will provide comparable or better tickets for the same purchase price or refund your money. The New York Times once described StubHub this way: "StubHub looks like a ticket brokerage. It's not. The company is a kind of stock market where the only shares traded are tickets to live events. Buyers and sellers mingle in the marketplace and, through free negotiation, arrive at a price that reflects the true value of a commodity." Shipping: $11.95 for second-day delivery, $16.95 for next-day and $19.95 for next business morning. Same-day sales service, available in some markets, is $24.95.
Swapagift.com allows you to trade unwanted gift cards or buy them at a discount. If you find a card you'd like, you can either swap for it (the person who posted the card will indicate what they'd like in return) or buy it at a discount. You also can offer your own gift cards for swap or sale for up to five months for $3.99 per listing. Or sell your card immediately to Swapagift.com for 70 percent of its value (it must be worth at least $25). P