Well, you're probably tired of hearing my travel stories so let's change gears - shopping misfortunes. I think I often con myself into bad purchases. A great example: Columbia House. Folks, this has never really been a good deal yet I (and others) continually take advantage of this "incredible special". You get the little flier or email showing you a great deal - 8 CD's for a penny! How can you go wrong?!? I read the fine print everytime, like I don't know that you have to buy 4 more at regular price (I'm not sure where they're getting this "regular price" because it's close to what I'd spend for the CD player itself, let alone a single disc). So, I sign up. Yes, BMG, Columbia House CD, Columbia House DVD, etc, etc - they're all just waiting for suckers like myself. A few weeks later, you've got a whole box of new DVD's for just pennies. Now the real fun starts: don't forget to send the reply card back or you'll get the editor's pick of the month - the "featured selection". I think the next logical question is, "Who is this guy and why is he picking these movies"? You know, the classics like Hair Show, The Mexican (aka Brad Pitt's compromise), and Jingle All the Way (ditto for Arnold). The next thing you know, these are showing up in your mailbox as your first clue that you apparently trashed the reply card about two weeks ago. Then, the box is designed just right so you can't actually see what the DVD is until you open it. You try pulling up the window flap just enough to not tear the box for non-returnable status, but enough to see what Mr. Very Unsavvy editor has sent you next. Finally, you get so frustrated and rip it open - DING - sale for Columbia House DVD. Not just any sale - a "regular price" sale which means you just paid $25 for a DVD. 1 down, 3 to go! Hurry and get your last 3 (for one, you've got a deadline and they're going to charge you anyway) because once you meet your membership criteria, you'll unlock special savings as a valued-customer. You poor, sorry sap. Don't worry - when you're done with this commitment, you can always sign up again! Anyway, click here to get started.
9 comments:
SUCKER!! :-P Well I really can't say too much because I used to belong to the BMG music club. But I always returned my stupid reply cards so I never got "Featured Selections" that I'd never want. Then I got tired of returning those reply cards so I quit.
BTW, just ignore that email about me & kegs that Jennifer sent you today. For the TRUE STORY read my blog.
sure, Ruth. I WILL be checking out your blog for the true 'scoop' on the keg comment I heard earlier today.
The true scoop -- Jenn's just jealous. ;-)
I feel your pain Toby. As an avid music buyer (I think I've got around 700 cd's - ack!), I've fallen for that many times. However, the last time I did the math, BMG was actually not a bad deal. With their typical offer, it works out to around $6 a cd, after you calculate the ones you have to buy and the shipping - which ain't that shabby for brand new cds...just a thought.
RYC on my blog...it's for WATER and TEA, got that? ;-)
I don't know what you people are talking about but apparently you have all entered your own world.
Um..Toby I am so thankful for your blog. I have been tempted more than once to give in to these cd clubs. Thanks to stupid people like you, now I know not to buy into it. ;)
um...wow Leah....thank you?
I'm just as big of as a sucker as you, which is why we make such a great match!
RYC: I really was extraordinarily nice about the movie. My restraint must stem from the fact that I've been feeling rather mellow lately, and I have to find a redeeming factor in a movie that contained appearances by Clive Owen AND Kristin Chenoweth!!
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