by Robin on February 8, 2010
S
o there I was, doing my usual google search for coupon codes this weekend before making a purchase, when I stumbled across a site called CorporatePerks.com. It turned up a 25 percent off coupon code for the merchant I was shopping, Ice.com. Now I can almost always find a 20 percent off coupon, but 25 percent? I wanted to know more!
After a little research, I discovered that CorporatePerks.com is an extension of Next Jump, which is kind of a virtual Costco or similar members-only discount club, with a $30 annual dues. Next Jump has been around for over a decade (and has a very good reputation), but their new CorporatePerks program lets anybody who has a work email address they can use get access to the special discounts and coupon codes for free. Free. No annual fee.
Did I sign up? You bet your sweet coupon codes I did. Here’s a little more info on the discount program:
Next Jump offers exclusive access to thousands of online and in-store discounts from top name retailers. The program has been rated by millions of corporate employees as the number 1 most utilized benefit after health and dental insurance. An average individual saves over $1200/year.
The program costs $30/year through Next Jump, but if you sign up with a work email address, you’ll get access for free at www.corporateperks.com.
That’s it. No other obligation, and you can control how often (or not) you receive promotional emails and deal alerts from them, so you won’t get spammed to death after signing up. You can also follow upcoming deals by becoming a fan of their Facebook page.
Some of the other deals you can take advantage of right now in addition to the Ice.com discount include $15 off plus free chocolate at ProFlowers.com, $15 site-wide at FTD, and 25 percent off at Godiva.com. Those will get you going on great Valentine’s day deals–and I’ll have more on those this week, but CorporatePerks certainly has a great lineup of discounts all rounded up in one place.
You know I never shop online without coupon codes, and neither should you. This program is another great way to get not just good coupon codes, but better-than-usual coupon codes. With no obligation beyond signing up, this is a no-brainer. Go enjoy those perks!
by Robin on February 5, 2010
I’ve already told you about Lifebooker and Groupon, both sites that regularly offer deeply discounted spa and salon services, so here’s a third to go into the mix–SpaFinder.com, the site about all things spa, is offering Deal Days next month, on March 8-14. Each of those days, y0u’ll find offers for $50 spa services–massages, pedicures, and so on–in your area.
You can go here to sign up, and also join their Facebook group for more updates.
If you’re not familiar with SpaFinder, surf over and familiarize yourself with what they have to offer. You’ll find articles and ratings on spas worldwide, special offers at featured spas, and the ability to purchase gift certificates for specific spas, or just a generic SpaFinder gift certificate good at participating spas in the SpaFinder network. If you or anybody you know likes the occasional massage or pedicure, it’s a great site to visit regularly.
It’s a good way not just to look for good deals (a quest oh-so-close to my heart), but also to get the lowdown on spas in your area–and chances are you’ll discover several you never knew about.
Their Deal Days will run March 8-14, so be sure to add your email to their mailing list. This is a great time of year to go for a massage to work out those cold weather aches and get the toesies all prettied up for spring and summer sandal time.
by Robin on February 3, 2010
As you may have gathered from my numerous Target-centric and Target-happy posts, I REALLY like the discount retailer. I think they offer some of the best quality for value around, and I think most of their designer partnerships for so-called “masstige” lines have been brilliant.
Last month, Target premiered its Giada de Laurentiis line of cookware, bakeware, tools and specialty foods–and I’m not quite sold on them yet.
Most of the products, while aesthetically very nice, aren’t dramatically better or different from other offerings you’ll find on the shelf at Target, but they are noticeably more expensive. In this case, you’re definitely paying for the name.
Examples? Take a look at the Giada bakeware. The ceramic pie plate is $16.99, ceramic casserole dish is $29.99, and ceramic lasagna pan is $22.99. All together, that’s about $60 for three pieces (four if you count the casserole lid). But for $29.99, you can buy the outstanding Bialetti ceramic bakeware set, which includes all of the above (you’ll find an oval casserole dish approximately the same size of the lasagna pan) PLUS two individual-sized covered ramekins for $29.99. That’s a savings of more than 50 percent, and I’m already familiar with Bialetti’s quality.
So in this case–don’t just assume the designer/celebrity + Target combination means you’re getting a great deal.
You’ll find similarly dubiously priced items in the Giada kitchen tools line, but I will say that the tri-ply cookware looks to be a fairly good deal, although not markedly different in price from some similar items at Target.
As for the line of premium Giada food–pasta and pasta sauces, flavored coffees, etc.–expect to pay a premium for the name; I’d suggest picking up an item or two when they’re offered at a sale price if you’re intrigued by them, and decide for yourself if the Giada name really brings exceptional quality with it.
I think this is a miss for Target–the value is not that impressive, and there’s no reason to seek a celebrity name on things like kitchen tools. As much I love my Target, I won’t gloss over a “meh” line that’s getting a lot of advertising splash. You can shop much, much smarter than that.
by Robin on February 2, 2010
You know how much I
love the Body Shop–great products, great prices, and great community service work (more corporations should look to them as an example).
So I won’t wax poetic all over again–check out the basics here.
For those of you who are already Love Your Body members–or those who have been looking for the right time to sign up–head to your nearest store or surf to their website this Thursday. They’re having another VIP day for Love Your Body members, and you’ll get double your usual discount–20 percent instead of 10 percent, and there are no exclusions to that. Sale items, clearance items–everything’s eligible for the discount.
If you go in person to the store, you’ll be eligible for even more LYB perks, including a free Lip Butter with any purchase (no minimum).
As usual with my fab-o favorite bath and body HQ, they’ve also got killer sales going on, so you can get some serious savings at Thursday’s double discount day. Bath and body, as well as all fragrances, are 25 percent off, and you can add your discount on top of that. GREAT time to stock up.
This is the time of year–in the middle of dry, harsh-on-skin winter–that I find myself using a LOT of their body butter to keep things soft and touchable. If you do, too, then head over Thursday, and don’t miss the discount!
