1&1 Internet provides low-cost domain registration and hosting -- perhaps the lowest you will find anywhere online. Domain registration starts at $8.99 per year and basic hosting at $2.99 per month. 1&1 also offers shared hosting from $39 per month and dedicated servers from $99 per month. The site's "package provider" will help you compare services and decide which is best for your needs. How reliable is 1&1? You're soaking in it. It's the Deal Dude online service provider of choice for this and many other discount sites. The basic $2.99/month Linux or Microsoft hosting package includes five domains and a website builder. Its $8.99 domain registration includes free privacy service (to mask your email address from spammers) and starter site. The provider also offers e-mail services from 99 cents per month, eShops from $9.99 per month and Sharepoint from $19.99 per month. Finally, 1&1 offers a 90-day guarantee on its Instant Mail and Instant Website packages as well as Shared Hosting plans, SharePoint and Exchange Hosting packages and eShops. That means you will receive a full refund of all monthly and set-up fees if you are not satisfied and cancel within 90 days of sign-up. 1&1 has 24-hour customer service and tech support by e-mail or phone. This is no mom-and-pop operation. It has 1,700 employees overlooking four data centers and 28,000 servers. It also has five million customers and has registered more than five million domain names since it was founded in 1992.
1&1 Internet provides low-cost domain registration and hosting -- perhaps the lowest you will find anywhere online. Domain registration starts at £2.99 per year and hosting at £1.99 per month. The site's "package provider" will help you compare services and decide which is best for your needs. How reliable is 1&1? You're soaking in it. It's the Deal Dude provider of choice for this and many other discount sites. 1&1 also offers e-mail services from 69p per month and eShops from £4.99 per month. Finally, 1&1 offers a 60-day guarantee on its Instant Mail and Instant Website packages as well as Shared Hosting plans, SharePoint and Exchange Hosting packages and eShops. That means you will receive a full refund of all monthly and set-up fees if you are not satisfied and cancel within 60 days of sign-up. 1&1 provides 24-hour customer service by e-mail or phone.
1-800-Contacts is the largest dealer of contacts in the world. It has more than 20 million contact lenses in stock, meaning that it can ship 90 percent of orders within 24 hours. Since its launch in 1996, the site has filled eight million orders for more than 2.5 million customers. It carries brands such as Acuvue, Biomedics, Expressions, Focus, FreshLook, Hydrogenics, Optima, Proclear and Soflens. To order from 1-800-Contacts you must provide a current prescription. Sometimes eye doctors will be reluctant to release your prescription -- they'd rather sell you the contacts themselves. But the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, which went into effect in 2004, requires that doctors provide you with your prescription at the conclusion of your exam. It also is printed on every box of contacts you buy. Returns: You can return unopened boxes if your prescription changes, or if you are not satisfied. Sales Tax: Utah. Shipping: Standard shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada on orders of $50 or more (minimum five business days to U.S. addresses, seven days to Canada). Overnight delivery also is available. The site also ships internationally, with fees starting at $14.
1-800-Flowers carries flowers, greeting cards and gifts for birthdays, new babies, weddings and anniversaries, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and many other special events. It also sells gift baskets, business gifts, plants, gourmet foods and sweets. Search by price or event, or browse a list of bestselling items. Check out the monthly gift clubs -- when you subscribe, the site will send flowers, plants or a food gift automatically to a recipient each month. Sales Tax: Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas or Virginia. Shipping: There is a $11.99 delivery charge on orders fulfilled by a local florist to addresses in the U.S. and Canada. The charge to addresses outside of North America is $21.99 per item. Domestic shipping charges on other items start at $4.99 per order. Most gift items such as collectibles, plush, gift baskets, candles and accessories can only be sent to addresses within the continental U.S. and can't be delivered to hospitals. Plants and flowers cannot be delivered to California on Saturday due to agricultural restrictions.
Most people buy an ink jet printer because they're a great bargain -- low cost and relatively high print quality. But when it comes time to replace the cartridges, they're hit with a relevation: ink is expensive. It's the old "cheap razors, expensive blades" strategy. By one estimate a printer cartridge that sells for $30 costs just $3.50 to make, although retail prices tend to be dropping as the technology improves. That's why many people turn to recycled cartridges, or generics. Remanufactured cartridges are those made by the original printer manufacturer that are cleaned and refilled. 123Inkjets stocks recycled cartridges that work with Apollo, Apple, Brother, Canon, Compaq, Dell, Epson, Hewlett Packard (HP), Lexmark, Pitney Bowes, Xerox and dozens of other brands of printers (see the site for a list). 123Inkjets also sells laser toner, ribbons, solid ink and printer cables. If you'd rather purchase original manufacturer cartridges, browse the list of those available at Staples or Office Depot. One thing to consider is the cost per page printed. One study commissioned by Hewlett Packard found that while its cartridges have a 2 percent failure rate, 70 percent of recycled cartridges did not last as long as promised. Consumer Reports found much the same thing. The manufacturers say this is because they design the strip of silicon on the cartridges that has the microscopic ink nozzles to last only as long it takes to empty the cartridge of ink. In other words, the cartridges for personal printers are supposed to be thrown away after one use. Cartridge refillers say this is bunk, that you can refill cartridges as many as seven times. And it does seem to work for many people -- there are $6.5 billion worth of refilled cartridge sales each year. If you using your printer for everyday printing, you should be fine with refilled cartridges and save 50 percent at the same time. If you are printing photos on greeting cards, brochures or family photos on expensive photo paper, it's probably best to go with an original manufacturer's cartridge. Returns: 123 Inkjets allows you to return defective cartridges up to one year after purchase, as long as they are at least 70 percent full. 123 Inkjets also pays return postage. If you order the wrong cartridge by mistake, you can return it for exchange but must pay the return postage yourself. Sales Tax: California. Shipping: Free on orders of $55 or more to 48 states, with free FedEx ground delivery on orders of $200 or more. Otherwise, $3.95 per order. Shipping is $7 per order to Alaska, Hawaii, APO/FPO and Canada, and $15 per order to U.S. territories.
4Checks offers more than 800 designs for personal, business, payroll and computer checks that are much less expensive than those you buy through a bank. Choose from a variety of themes, including pets, automobile makes, cartoon characters, flowers, holidays, landscapes, patriotic, careers, causes, sports, colleges and universities, humorous, nature and religious. Or personalize your checks with one of your favorite digital photos. 4Checks also sells checkbook covers, address stampers, deposit tickets and address labels. Click on the "special offers" tab for free shipping and dollar-off discounts. The site includes products from Artistic Checks, Styles, LifeChecks, Unique Products, The Check Gallery, Classic Checks, Check Crafters, Message!Products and Identity Check Printers. Sales Tax: Varies by manufacturer. Shipping: Free USPS shipping (10 to 17 business days) on all personal checks; shipping by UPS (5 to 12 business days) starts at $6.50 per order.
Launched in 1996, Abebooks (Advanced Book Exchange) is a global network of 13,500 dealers of used, rare and out-of-print books with regional databases for various countries, including the U.S. and Canada. Each dealer submits the books he or she has in stock to the Abebooks database (at last count, it included more than 110 million books from dealers in 42 countries). Search for books by title, author or keyword or browse by subject. You'll be shown every available copy of each book in your country, with price and condition and the name of the dealer. If you purchase a book, Abebooks will collect your credit card information and forward your shipping information to the dealer, who will send the book to you directly. Launched in 2001, Abebooks UK (Advanced Book Exchange) is a global network of thousands of dealers of used, rare and out-of-print books. Each dealer submits the books he or she has in stock to the Abebook database (at last count, it included more than 40 million books from dealers in 42 countries). Search for books by title, author or keyword or browse by subject. You'll be shown every copy of the book available from UK dealers, with price and condition. If you purchase a book, Abebooks will collect your credit card information and forward your shipping information to the dealer, who sends the book to you directly. AC Lens sells contact lenses at up to 50 percent off retail prices. All contact lenses dispensed by AC Lens are the exact lenses prescribed by your eye doctor and are delivered in safe, sealed containers direct from the manufacturer. AC Lens carries all major brands, including Acuvue, Bausch & Lomb, Biomedics, Boston, Ciba Vision, Focus, Freshlook, Proclear, Purevision and Soflens. It also carries all types of lenses, such as daily disposables, conventional (vial), toric, RGP (Oxygen Permeable), colored and tinted and bifocals, as well as designer sunglasses. AC Lens provides free online consultations with its staff doctors of optometry. Returns: 30 days, as log as they are unopened or defective. Defective lenses can be exchanged for the same product if the manufacturer confirms the defect. Sales tax: Not stated. Shipping: Free on orders of $89 or more; otherwise $6.95 per order ($5.95 to APO/FPO addresses) for delivery in seven to 10 days, or $11.95 per order for delivery in four to six days. Overnight shipping is available on in-stock lenses. Shipping to Canada is $14.95 per order and $14.95 to other countries. Note: Enter coupon codes in "Special Instructions" box during checkout.
Abebooks UK
AC Lens
Academic Superstore sells commercial Windows and Macintosh software to students, parents of students and teachers at educational rates. To order, you must provide proof that you are a part- or full-time student, administrator, teacher or faculty member attending or employed by an accredited, degree-granting institution (K-12 or higher ed), or the parent of a K-12 or college student. Or you can purchase for an accredited, degree-granting school, college or hospital directly affiliated with an educational institution. High school students may purchase Microsoft products only if they provide a letter of acceptance from a college. Before you can order, every customer must provide a current student or faculty ID card, class schedule, registration receipt or letter from the school. Some caveats: Not all manufacturers offer discounts to K-12 students or home-schooled students. Some manufacturers require full time enrollment. Class schedule must show current enrollment status. Verification letter must be signed by a school official or faculty representative. ID cards must be either validated to current semester, or submitted with current class schedule. Adobe, Corel, and Microsoft require photo IDs. You must resubmit your credentials each year. Returns: Unopened software may be returned for refund within 30 days. Sales tax: Texas. Shipping: Varies by weight. Ace Hardware began in the Chicago area in 1924 as a small chain called Ace Stores. It became known as Ace Hardware in 1931; its first self-service store opened in Merrillville, Indiana in 1952. By 1976 the chain had become a retailer-owned cooperative. Today these "helpful hardware" shops sell lawn and garden equipment, outdoor living products, paint, home goods, tools, hardware, plumbing supplie, heating and cooling equiment, electrical gear and auto accessories. Its online site also has shops devoted to products from Weber, Stanley, Rubbermaid and Carhartt Clothing. You can browse clearance items or the weekly circular or view a list of top selling products. Ace Hardware Online also offers a section of how-to videos and FAQs, learning guides, paint tips and lawn and garden advice. You also can click on the "Monthly Rebates" link to view a list of the current month's cash-back offers. Finally, members of the Ace Rewards program receive a $5 reward for every $250 spent at Ace Hardware, plus special online-only instant rebate offers. Returns: 30 days. You may return prodents to any of 5,000 local Ace hardware stores for credit. If you do not have an Ace near you, phone 1-866-290-5334 for instructions. Products must be returned in good condition, in original boxes (whenever possible), with all paperwork, parts and accessories. After 30 days, contact the manufacturer directly. Sales tax: Most states. Shipping: Calculated during checkout based on the weight of the order. Shipping is free if you have your order sent to a nearby Ace Hardware store.
Ace Hardware
"Once you drink our teas," says Adagio Teas, "you will not want to drink anything sold in a supermarket ever again... The varieties there are the bottom of the barrel: low-quality bags containing 'tea dust,' or the tiny leaf particles that break off when tea leaves are processed." Adagio sells only full-leaf tea. It comes in resealable tins except for the largest size and a few herbals that come in aluminum-lined paper bags. Adagio sells black teas as well as a variety of flavors, oolong, white, green, herbal, roibos, decaf and teaware. Adagio Teas does not sell chai tea but recommends its Oriental Spice variety. You can order samplers for $15 or less. Adagio also has a tea-of-the-month club. Returns: 30 days. Sales Tax: New Jersey, but only on teaware items. Shipping: Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more; otherwise $3.75 per order for ground UPS or $7.75 per order for second-day UPS. Adagio ships worldwide. Shipping to Canada starts at $12 per order and to the U.K. at $15 per order.
Located in Brooklyn, AJ Madison is the leadig independent online appliance store. It is an authorized dealer for a large variety of brands, including Electrolux, Broan, General Electric, Whirlpool, DCS, Jenn-Air, Friedrich, Amana, Maytag, Marvel, KitchenAid, U-Line and Frigidaire. It carries cooking products (including ranges, microwaves and wall ovens), refrigerators, wine coolers, freezers, dishwashers, disposals, trash compactors, washers and dryers, air conditioners, snow blowers, patio accessories, grills, and sinks and faucets. Returns: Before deciding on the model that you will buy, carefully measure the area in which your appliance will be placed. Also, make sure you have an outlet with the correct voltage. You must contact AJ Madison within 48 hours and obtain an return authorization number. There is a 15 percent restocking fee on all returns. Air conditioners and some other products cannot be returned unless they arrive damaged. Sales Tax: New York. Shipping: Varies by item. Calculated at checkout. AJ Madison offers three options for delivery, either by Fed Ex or UPS, by freight carrier or local delivery in the New York area. Delivery outside of the New York area typically takes one to three weeks. AJ Madison ships to the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
Alibris, which began in 1994 as a book-listing service called Interloc, is now a network of thousands of used and rare booksellers in 23 countries that offer more than 50 million out-of-print, used, foreign-language, rare and signed books, along with first editions, autographs, maps and other collectibles. It also sells secondhand music and movies. You can search the extensive database by title, author or subject. The results include the condition of each book, movie or CD and a 1-5 point rating of the independent seller that offers it. You order through Alibris, which notifies the dealer to ship the item. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: $3.99 for the first item in an order plus $2.19 per additional to U.S. addresses. Shipping to addresses outside the U.S. is $12.49 per item.
Make selections below or use the tabs above to fine-tune your search.
Alibris
AllPosters, a companion site to Art.com, is the world's largest poster and print store. (Typically, an art print is printed on a higher grade of paper than a poster, which makes it thicker and often provides more texture.) AllPoster's stock includes thousands of classic movie posters along with reproductions of the best-known works by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, M.C. Escher, Ansel Adams, Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinsky, Jack Vettriano and Alfred Gockel. Search by keyword or browse popular subjects include animals, architecture, education, floral and botanical, food and beverage, humor, landscapes, motivational, performing arts, religion and spirituality, transportation, travel and world cultures. AllPosters also sells calendars, apparel, canvas art, framed art, frames, giclee prints, limited editions, magnets, standups, wall decals and murals and tapestries. Don't overlook its clearance section. Returns: 30 days. See return instructions in package. Sales Tax: North Carolina. Shipping: $4.99 to $7.99 for the first item in an order, depending on the size of the box, plus 99 cents per additional item. Canvas transfers, decorative mirrors, framed art and ready-made frames ship free. Shipping to Canada starts at $5.99 for the first item and 99 cents per additional.
Altrec Outdoors (pronounced "all trek") is a leading retailer of outdoor gear, apparel and shoes for men, women and children, including camping, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, running, cycling, surfing and climbing. The Altrec stock includes watches and sunglasses. It has dozens of top brands such as Adidas, Aire, America's Cup, Aquapac, Arc'teryx, Billabong, Bite, Bridgedale Socks, Burton, Camelbak, Carlisle, DaKine, Eagle Creek, Exped, Grangers, Kokatat, La Sportiva N.A., Life-Link, Merrell Shoes, Molehill, Montrail Shoes, Mountain Hardwear, MSR, Nike, Nikwax, NRS, Oakley, Osprey, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, Pearl Izumi, Prana, Quiksilver, Rossignol, Roxy, Ruff Wear, Salomon, Sierra Designs and The North Face. Don't overlook the outlet / clearance section. You can search the Altrec Outdoors site by keyword, category or brand. Returns: You can return any items up to 70 pounds free with the shipping label included with your order. Altrec cannot accept returns of climbing equipment, swimsuits, undergarments, showers or toilets. Sales Tax: Washington. Shipping: Standard shipping is free to the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada on orders of $45 or more, with the exception of larger items such as kayaks. Shipping is $5.95 for orders of less than $4.95. You know the place. Soon Amazon will be selling human organs and farm equipment (don't believe it? See for yourself). In the meantime, books and DVDs are discounted up to 40 percent and music and videos up to 35 percent. Plus the site has a lot of hidden bargains such as remainder books, discount toys, inexpensive videos and video games. At last count, Amazon had 44 million active customer accounts and 6,000 merchants selling products through its site. Its electronics and general merchandise store sells $1 billion in products each year by itself. Returns: You may return, within 30 days of delivery, any book in its original condition, any CD, DVD, software, video game or video tape still in its shrinkwrap, any downloadable software or any item from other stores in new condition with original packaging and accessories, except televisions 27 inches or larger. Shipping charges are not refundable unless Amazon made a mistake filling the order. Sales tax: Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, Washington. Shipping: Free on select orders of $25 or more. Apparel, beauty, jewelry, watches, loose stones, shoes, software, videos: $3.99 per order plus 99 cents per item. Books: $3 per shipment plus 99 cents per item. CDs and DVDs: $1.99 per order plus 99 cents per item. Video games: $3.50 per shipment plus 99 cents per item. Video game consoles and accessories: $7.49 per order plus 99 cents per item. Toys: $3.99 per order plus 85 cents per pound. Computers: $7.99 per order plus 65 cents per pound. Automotive, baby, cell phones and accessories, electronics, furniture, gourmet food, grocery, health and personal care, kitchen and housewares, luggage, outdoor living, sports, tools and hardware (some products cannot be shipped to Puerto Rico): $4.99 per order plus 59 cents per pound. Any combination of the above items: Highest applicable per-shipment charge. Some items cannot be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii or APO/FPO addresses. Amazon also has stores for residents of Canada and the United Kingdom.
Amazon
Babies are so cute -- especially when they're holding mommy and daddy's checkbook! Save some money on the essentials by shopping at Amazon Baby. It carries a large selection of games and toys for infants up to a year old, including activity toys, cribs, strollers and car-seat toys, dolls and plush toys, electronic learning toys, gyms and playmats, music and sound toys, rattles, ride-ons, sorters and stackers, teethers and visual stimulation. It also carries backpacks and carriers, car seats, strollers, travel systems, playards, play centers, walkers, swings, bouncers, bathing products, changing tables, diaper bags, apparel, breastfeeding products, highchairs, health and safety equipment, bedding and nursery decor. Who said life would be simpler with kids? Returns: 30 days if unopened and in new condition. Sales tax: Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Washington. Shipping: Free on select $25+ orders. Otherwise, $4.99 per order plus 59 cents per pound.
Amazon Canada carries books, electronics, software, video games, CDs, videos and DVDs. If it's anything like Amazon U.S., soon it will carry everything else under the sun. Returns: 30 days. Books must be in original condition; non-defective CDs, DVDs and videos must be unopened. Sales tax: 7 percent plus the following taxes may apply: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland (8 percent) Quebec (7.5 percent), B.C. (7.5 percent), Manitoba (7 percent), Ontario (8 percent). Shipping: $3.95 per order plus 99 cents for each DVD, CD, software title or video game and $1.95 for each book, audio book or video.
Amazon stocks more than 10,000 non-perishable items, including baking supplies, boxed meals and side dishes, beverages, breakfast foods, condiments and sauces, herbs, spices and seasonings, household supplies (including soaps and cleaners), natural and organic products and snacks, cookies and candies. Browse by category or brand. Build a shopping list or order products to be sent automatically at specific intervals. Shipping: Free on orders of $25 or more. Otherwise, the charge is $4.99 per order plus 59 cents per pound.
Amazon Outlet offers clearance items in apparel, baby items, books, camera and photo, computer and video games, computers, electronics, home and garden, kitchen and housewares, office products, software, sporting goods, tools and hardware and toys and games. Returns: You may return, within 30 days of delivery, any book in its original condition, and any CD, DVD, software, video game or video tape still in its shrinkwrap. Shipping charges are not refundable unless Amazon made a mistake filling the order. Sales tax: Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Washington. Shipping: Apparel, beauty, jewelry, watches, loose stones, shoes, software, videos: $3.99 per order plus 99 cents per item. Books: $3 per shipment plus 99 cents per item. CDs and DVDs: $1.99 per order plus 99 cents per item. Video games: $3.50 per shipment plus 99 cents per item. Video game consoles and accessories: $7.49 per order plus 99 cents per item. Toys: $3.99 per order plus 85 cents per pound. Computers: $7.99 per order plus 65 cents per pound. Automotive, baby, cell phones and accessories, electronics, furniture, gourmet food, grocery, health and personal care, kitchen and housewares, luggage, outdoor living, sports, tools and hardware (some products cannot be shipped to Puerto Rico): $4.99 per order plus 59 cents per pound. Any combination of the above items: Highest applicable per-shipment charge. Some items cannot be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii or APO/FPO addresses. Amazon also has stores for residents of Canada and the United Kingdom.
Amazon carries apparel, gear and equipment for every sport you can imagine, including baseball and softball, basketball, camping and hiking, cycling and wheel sports, exercise and fitness, fishing, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, running, soccer and skateboarding. The store also sells trading cards and memorabilia. Returns: 30 days with original packaging and in good condition. Sales tax: Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Washington. Shipping: $4.99 per order plus 59 cents per pound. Amazon cannot ship sporting goods or outdoor gear to Puerto Rico.
Amazon Toys offers action figures, games and puzzles, arts and crafts, building sets, blocks and models, dolls, electronics, educational toys, ride-on toys, role-play and dress-up toys, sports and outdoor toys, stuffed animals, toy figures and playsets and vehicles and die-casts. Search by age or category. Returns: 30 days if unopened and in new condition. Sales tax: Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Washington. Shipping: $3.99 per order plus 85 cents per pound.
What better place to buy English-language books than in the country that invented the English language? Amazon UK also sells electronics, movies, video games, software, toys and games and home and garden products. Returns: 30 days of date you receive the item, provided it is unopened (i.e., with any seals and shrink wrap intact). Amazon UK will only accept the return of opened items if they are faulty. Shipping charges: Free on orders of £5 or more. CD and DVDs: £1.16 per order plus 29p per item; Video games: £1.59 per order plus 40p per item; Books: £2.16 per order plus 59p per item; Baby Item/ Electronics & Photo accessory/ Home & Garden accessory/ Software/ Toy/ Video: £2.54 per order plus 69p per item; Electronics & Photo item/ Home & Garden item/ Jewellery & Watches item/ Shoes & Accessories item/ Sports & Leisure item: £4.19 per order plus £1.69 per item; Health and beauty: £3.57 per order plus £1.44 per item. On orders that include a combination of items, the highest per-order and per-item charges apply. Amazon UK also ships worldwide.
Why not take the train? It's never quicker than driving but it's sure more comfortable. Amtrak serves more than 500 cities in 46 states over 22,000 miles of track. You can order Amtrak tickets online to be delivered by mail (they'll send it by express mail if you trip is within 10 days) or to be picked up at the station before departure. Most people don't realize that Amtrak offers discount tickets. Typically they're for longer routes, e.g., Chicago to Los Angeles, but often regional tickets are discounted as well. A roundtrip ticket from Chicago to Grand Rapids, for example, that costs $50 might be discounted to $8 those in the know. All aboard. Refunds: Most tickets are refundable before travel begins; a fee applies in most cases ($30 per adult and $15 per child). Some discount tickets are non-refundable.
Apple Store is the place for Macintosh computers, software and iPods. For many people, the main obstacle to switching to a Mac is that there's a lot of specialized software that's available only for the PC. But have you noticed that once people do switch, or people who start with Macintosh computers to begin with, rarely switch back to the PC? You won't have trouble with viruses, for starters. Build your dream Mac and see if it's within your dream price. The Apple Store also sells software and accessories. Sales tax: All states that charge sales tax. Shipping: Free on orders over $50. The Apple Store does not ship to the U.S. territories and APO/FPO.
Apple Store Canada sells Macintosh notebooks and desktop computers, Mac software, iPods and accessories. It's the place to start if you are considering buying a Macintosh, switching from a PC or want to investigate the popular iPod. Build your dream Mac at the Apple Store Canada and see if it's within your dream price. Returns: If you receive the incorrect product due to an error by Apple or are not satisfied with a pre-built product, phone 1-800-MY-APPLE to get a a Return Material Authorization (RMA) request within 10 business days of receipt. If the item is returned unopened in the original box, Apple Store Canada will exchange it or offer a refund based on your original method of payment. If any hardware or accessory has been opened, a 10 percent fee will be assessed. Custom products, opened memory, opened software, downloaded software and personalized iPods cannot be returned. Shipping: Free on orders over $75.
Founded in 1973, Argos is the the U.K.'s leading general merchandise retailer with sales of more than £3.5 billion annually. That may be, in part, because it sells just about everything under the sun -- including more than 17,000 products on its online site. Besides its online site, Argos has more than 650 stores throughout the U.K. and Republic of Ireland, Only about five percent of the U.K. population doesn't live within 10 miles of an Argos store! Argos sells more furniture, small kitchen appliances, toys and watches than any other store in Britain. It is the second largest retailer of personal care products, prepay mobile phones and VCRs. It also sells electronics, video games, DIY products, home appliances, digital cameras and camcorders, office products, homewares, sports and fitness equipment, toys, baby products, gifts and jewellery and watches. Don't overlook the special offers and price drops section. Anything purchased through its print catalogs or on the website can be picked up in an Argos store, to save shipping charges. Returns: You may return most products within 16 days, no questions asked, to any store, unused in their original packaging, with your receipt for refund or exchange. If you had the item delivered, call Argos and the product will be collected free of charge. If the product is faulty, you have up to 30 days to return it for exchange or up to a year for repair. Some products are excluded from the return policy but are marked on the site. Delivery: £4.95 per order for weekday delivery, or £7.90 for Saturdays. Most smaller items are delivered within 48 hours. Larger items may take up to seven days, and furniture may take up to 28 days. Times are usually 8am to 6pm weekdays and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Art.com sells framed and unframed art and posters. Search by keyword, subject (movies, celebrities, toys, cities, giraffes, canyons and mesas, lighthouses, etc.), artist (Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Henri Matisse, etc.) or collection (Vintage Ads, The Life Magazine College, Southwest Art, Afrocentric Art, Campus Images, etc.). You can see any item framed and/or matted in a variety of styles and colors simply by clicking on the "See It Framed" button. Most items ship within 24 hours. For posters, see AllPosters. Returns: 30 days. Sales tax: North Carolina. Shipping: Starts at $4.99 for the first item in an order, depending on box size, plus 99 cents per additional item.
Audible.com has a selection of tens of thousands of audio books and audio versions of popular magazines, newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, radio programs (including those on NPR), lectures and exclusives. Why pay for a tape or CD when all you want is the sound? The books also are up to 75 percent less expensive than buying a comparable audio book. Once you've downloaded the programs to your Windows or Mac computer, you can listen to them immediately, burn them to CD or upload them to your digital audio player (e.g., iPod, Palm, Creative Muvo and 500 other MP3 players, plus iTunes). Anyone can purchase and download titles but the site also offers two memberships, both of which include a free subscription to the audio version of the Wall Street Journal or New York Times and a 30 percent discount on any other audio titles you purchase: Gold: $14.95 per month allows you to download one audio book, periodical or program per month. Platinum: $22.95 per month allows you two downloads per month. Sales Tax: New Jersey.
Audible UK has a selection of thousands of audio books in more than 100 categories, as well as select periodicals. Why pay for a book on CD when all you want is the sound? Download audio books at Audible UK and save up to 80 percent on what you'd pay for the same audio book in a retail store. Once you've downloaded the audio books, perodicals or other programmes to your Windows or Mac computer, you can listen immediately, burn to CD or upload them to a digital audio player (e.g., iPod, Palm, Creative Muvo, etc., even iTunes). Anyone can purchase and download titles but Audible UK also offers two membership programmes: pay £7.99 per month to download one audio book or programme, regardless of price, every 30 days, or pay £14.99 per month to download two books or programmes every 30 days.
Audio Bookworm (formerly Jiggerbug) is an audio book rental club for residents of the U.S.; its files work on a variety of MP3 players, including the iPod. As a new member, rent two audio books free for two weeks. The monthly membership fees are $17.95 to have one audio book at a time, $27.95 for up to two or $37.95 for three. You also will receive one or two free audio book downloads every two weeks. Or pay $13.95 per month to download an audio book every 14 days or $27.95 for two downloads every 14 days. Discounted prepaid packages also are available. Audio Bookworm offers these categories: Adventure, African American, Biographies & Memoirs, Business & Professional, Children & Teens, Christian, Collections, Current Events, Drama & Poetry, Education, Fiction & Literature, Gurus, Health, Mind & Body, History, Horror, Humor, Languages, Mystery & Suspense, Political, Real Estate, Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Science & Technology, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Self Help, Short Fiction, Sports, Thrillers, Travel and Westerns. Sales Tax: California. Shipping: Included in membership fees. Auto Anything sells thousands of interior and exterior accessories and performance parts for cars and trucks, including a huge selection of vehicle covers. The site, which is the online shop of Blue Ribbon Motoring (founded in 1979), also has bed caps, bike racks, car bras, chrome accessories, deflectors, flender flares, license plate frames, lights, mud guards, nerf bars, roof racks, spoilers, Tonneau covers, cargo liners, dash covers, seat covers, wheel covers, air intake systems, diesel injectors, exhaust systems, performance chips, digital compasses, garage gear, pet travel gear and radar detectors. You can search the site by make or keyword. Auto Anything also offers a one-year guarantee in which it will refund the difference if you find any item you buy at a lower price elsewhere. Returns: 30 days. Custom items are subject to a 15 percent restocking fee unless defective. Sales Tax: California. Shipping: Most items ship free (look for the "free shipping" icon). Auto Anything ships worldwide. Auto Barn sells thousands of auto parts and accessories for cars, trucks and motorcycles, including car care products, additives and even tires. You can search by brand, the make and model of your vehicle or keyword. Auto Barn, which has been around since 1957, sells original manufacturer parts, aftermarket parts and performance parts. Its 50,000-square-foot warehouse in New York state has 35,000 auto parts in stock. Returns: 30 days. Sales Tax: New York. Shipping: Standard shipping is free on orders of $150 or more to the continental U.S. Otherwise, shipping is $6.50 to $10.95 to addresses in the continental U.S. and military addresses. Rates to Alaska, Hawaii and Canada are based on the value, size and weight of order. Auto Barn also ships to more than 60 other countries, including the U.K., with a $100 minimum order. Operated by the credit report company Experian, AutoCheck is an online service that allows you to enter the VIN of any vehicle and retrieve a report giving its ownership history. This is crucial if you are buying a used car; you want to know if it's ever reported stolen or salvaged, flood-damaged, rebuilt, a rental or fleet vehicle, potentially had its odometer rolled back, or a former taxi or police car. The database contains 16 billion records on more than 320 million vehicles compiled by Experian from state DMVs, auto auctions, Canadian DMV, consumer protection agencies, insurance claims administrators, auto dealers and regulatory agencies. You can type in the VIN to get a free summary; a full vehicle history report is $21.99. Or if you haven't decided on a car, pay $29.99 for unlimited reports for as many cars as you like for 60 days. For $49.99 you can get an unlimited membership plus title insurance. Sales Tax: Connecticut, D.C., Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia. Avelle, also known as Bag Borrow or Steal, is a unique service that the Wall Street Journal has called "the Netflix of designer bags." Avelle allows you to rent expensive designer handbags, watches and jewelry for a monthly membership fee of $9.95 plus a weekly or monthly rental fee depending on the value of the bag you choose. (The minimum initial membership is three months.) You may keep the items as long as you like. The selection includes evening bags, everyday bags, messengers, totes, beach bags, backpacks, clutches and work bags. The work of more than 50 designers is represented, including Coach, Kenneth Miller, Dolce, Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, UGG, Guess, Calvin Klein, JLo, Baby Phat, Cynthia Rowley, Betsey Johnson, DKNY, Guess, The Sak, Charles David, Mae & J, BCBGirls, Dooney & Bourke, Juicy Couture, T-Bags, Francesco Biasia, Cole Haan, Coach, Kate Spade, BCBG Max Azria, Lulu Guinness, Snatch, Tess Loriani, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Botkier, Kooba, My Flat in London, Bulga, Isabelle Fiore, Luella, Versace, Andrea Brueckner, Tod's, Valentino, Burberry, Belen Echandia, Chloe, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hogan, Jimmy Choo, Judith Leiber, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana. Search the Avelle site by designer, style or color. It also sells gently used bags in its outlet store. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: Shipping is $9.95 per bag round-trip, including insurance. Avelle does not ship to post office boxes or APO/FPO addresses. Founded in 1886, Avon is the largest direct seller of beauty and beauty-related products in the world with nearly $8 billion in annual revenues. That includes make-up, fragrances, skin care, bath and body products, outdoor protection, salon and spa products, gifts, jewelry, apparel and accessories. It has been included on Fortune magazine's list of most admired companies for more than a decade and has more than five million representatives in 100 countries. Avon has a number of its own exclusive lines including Avon Color, Anew (which is consistently its bestselling line of products), Skin-So-Soft, Avon Solutions, Advance Techniques Hair Care, Avon Naturals, Mark and Avon Wellness. Be sure to check the site for current specials and Avon coupon codes. It often has free shipping discount codes and two-for-one sales. You also can create a "favorites" list at the site so you can reorder without having to search each time for your favorite products. Enter your birthdate at the site and Avon will send you a special offer each year to celebrate. It does not rent or sell its customer data to third parties. Sales Tax: Every state that charges sales tax. Tax is calculated on the total including shipping except in Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Wyoming, where it is on the merchandise only. Shipping: $5.95 per order, or $15.90 per order for second-day delivery.
Auto Anything
Auto Barn
AutoCheck
Avelle
Avon
B&H Photo and Video, which has a 70,000-square-foot store in New York City, is known for its wide selection (170,000 items, at least count), competitive prices and customer service. "The professional's source" carries electronics, audio and video products for both consumers and pros, including binoculars and scopes, cameras and photo gear, computers, darkroom equipment, film, tapes and other media, home entertainment, lighting and studio equipment, portable electronics, projection and viewing equipment, surveillance equipment and underwater equipment. It also sells used and open-box products. The Deal Dude added B&H to our select list of stores because of personal experience -- its prices are competitive than most other stores online, the gear is almost always in stock and shipped quickly and its site provides a ton of information about each product. Returns: 15 days for exchange or refund. All items must be in new condition, in their original box, with all packing material, blank warranty cards, manuals and accessories. Items with timers must show less than 120 minutes of use. Items with shutter counters must show less than 200 exposures. To return an item you must first call 800-221-5743 or email cs@bhphotovideo.com to obtain a return authorization number, which is valid for 10 days. See site for items that cannot be returned once unwrapped. Claims for damaged or missing items must be received within two business days of receipt of merchandise. Sales Tax: New York. Shipping: Based on destination, size and weight of order, plus a small insurance fee. B&H will ship to any U.S. address, includig APO and U.S. territories, but does not ship to hotels, motels or resorts. It will ship international orders only to the customer's home address.
Babies R Us, which is owned by Toys R Us and opened its first store in Westbury, New York, in 1996, has grown to become one of the nation's leading retailers for baby gear. It has a wide selection of products for newborns and infants, including cribs and furniture, car seats, strollers, formula, diapers, bedding, clothing for preemies through 48 months and lots of toys. The selection includes popular brands such as Graco, Fisher-Price, Kidsline, Britax, Evenflo, Baby Bjorn, Safety 1st, Peg-Pérego and Wendy Bellissimo. Babies R Us also offers a baby registry. You can search by keyword, brand or category. Don't overlook the clearance section. Returns: 30 days, in new and unopened condition. You also may return any product to a Toys R Us or Babies R Us store for credit. Sales Tax: In most states. Shipping: Calculated at checkout. Babies R Us does not ship to post office boxes, APO/FPO addresses or U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.
Besides the million books it keeps in stock for immediate delivery, Barnes & Noble sells new and used textbooks, CDs, DVDs, gifts, calendars, prints and posters and toys, games and dolls. Barnes & Noble offers daily discounts of up to 40 percent on New York Times bestsellers, up to 30 percent on new and bestselling hardcovers and paperbacks and up to 20 percent on audiobooks. Returns: Within 14 days of shipment date. You also can return any item to any Barnes & Noble store. Sales tax: All states that charge sales tax except New Mexico. Shipping: Free on $25+ orders for qualifying items. Otherwise, $3 per order plus 99 cents per item or $1.99 per order plus 99 cents per item if you order only music and/or DVDs. Video games are $1.99 per order plus 99 cents per item. Used books are $3.89 each. Shipping to Canada starts at $3.99 per order plus $2.49 per item for books and/or videos and $3.99 per order plus $1.99 per item for CDs and DVDs. Shipping to addresses outside North America starts at $7.49 per order plus a per-item charge.
Batteries.com is an online store devoted to ... you guessed it ... batteries. You can search by keyword, device or category. Founded in 1999, this supplier of "batteries for every season and reason" carries standard alkaline batteries, plus those for camcorders, cameras, cell phones, dog collars, flashlights, hearing aids, iPods, laptop computers, PDAs, portable DVD players, power tools, remote-control cars, scanners, surge protectors, two-way radios, video game consoles and watches (type in the number on the watch battery and the site will show you which replacement you need). Batteries.com also carries rechargeable and solar-powered batteries as well as carrying cases and Optima vehicle, UPS and sealed-lead acid batteries. Finally, it has Zip-Linq cables. Don't overlook the clearance section. Select products come with lifetime warranties and laptop batteries have a two-year warranty. The site provides some help files, such as a Flash animation of how to change a watch battery and a battery glossary. Returns: 45 days. Phone 1-888-288-6500 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Sales tax: Not stated. Shipping: $2.49 to $5.49 per order, based on value of order, by USPS, or $5.99 flat fee via UPS. Due to weight restrictions, orders containing Sealed Lead Acid Products, Energizer UPS Units or alkaline orders over two pounds do not qualify for our standard shipping rate and must be shipped by UPS or other carrier. Batteries.com also ships by UPS Worldwide to Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Beauty.com, a partner site to drugstore.com, sells make-up, fragrances, skin care products, bath and body items, hair care products, accessories, gifts and grooming items for men. You can search by keyword, category or brand, including philosophy, DuWop, Clarisonic, Phtyo and Nars, as well as trendsetters such as L'Occitane, Jonathan Products and Frederic Fekkai. Don't overlook the clearance section, which is called "Steals & Deals." The site also often offers coupons and gifts with select purchases. One nice feature of Beauty.com is that you can browse a list of your past orders, to make reordering makeup or other products easier. Returns: You may return any item for credit or refund within 30 days. Beauty.com does not accept items that have been opened or used unless the product is damaged or defective or falls under its 100 percent color guarantee for makeup. If the return is not the result of an error by Beauty.com, a return postage fee of $4.50 will apply. Sales Tax: New Jersey, Washington state. Shipping: Free on orders of $49 or more to the continental U.S., or $5.99 per order otherwise. Three-day delivery is $13.99, or $7.99 if your order totals more than $49. There is a $11.99 surcharge on orders to Alaska and Hawaii and the U.S. territories and a $4.99 surcharge to APO/FPO addresses. Beauty.com also ships to 30 countries worldwide. See the customer service FAQ for details.
Founded in 1966 by Richard Schulze, Best Buy was originally known as Sound of Music. After expanding into video in the early 1980s, Schulze changed the name to Best Buy. In 1989 he introduced a novel concept to retailing -- every in stock was put on the sales floor (rather than just a display model) and sold by specialists who were paid salaries rather than commissions. The online site, launched in 2000, is by far the largest of Best Buy's 550 retail outlets. It carries computers, printers, software, CDs, DVDs, video games, toys, televisions, DVD players, MP3 players, home theater systems, digital cameras, appliances, vacuums, heaters, cell phones and office products and furniture. Shop by category, keyword or brand. Besides its low prices, Best Buy's site is known for its free guides, such as its HDTV Information Center and Guide to Speakers. Don't miss the weekly specials, outlet store and Wednesday "hot deals." Returns: You can return items purchased online to any Best Buy store or by mail. All original packing materials, manuals and accessories must be included to avoid fees. Allow up to 21 days for processing; refunds will be credited only to the purchasing credit card. See site for information on where to send the product if you return it by mail (phone 888-237-8289 for instructions).
If the product was damaged, defective or sent in error, Best Buy will pay return shipping. Sales Tax: All states that charge tax. Shipping: Shipping charges are calculated during checkout. To avoid them, select "store pickup." Most products will be waiting for you at the nearest Best Buy store within about an hour. However, for security reasons, only the person who made the online purchase can pick the item up. There is no extra shipping fee to Alaska and Hawaii for standard service.
Best College Deals by Thomson Peterson's specializes in preparation books and kits for high school students preparing for the ACT, SAT and other tests. It also provides college financial aid information through its Best College Deals site.
Start, renew or extend your subscription to more than 50 magazines at Best Deal Magazines for $4 to $5 per year with coupon. Its prices are low because most of the cost is paid by sponsors. I've ordered numerous subscriptions -- new, gifts and renewals -- and never had problems. Unlike other sites, BDM does not automatically renew your subscriptions by charging your credit card. Instead, it sends you a reminder by email shortly before your subscription expires. It also offers more than 1000 additional magazines for up to 75 percent off -- the lowest prices you'll find anywhere. Your name and address are not shared with anyone except the publishers. You also may give gift subscriptions. Note: Weekly subscriptions generally take 6 to 8 weeks to begin. Monthly subscriptions generally take 8 to 12 weeks.
Big Fitness specializes in exercise, fitness and weight-training equipment. We like Big Fitness especially because its carries used fitness equipment. You can find just about anything you need here to keep yourself fit and trim, including products from top manufacturers such as Body Solid, Powertec and Nautilus / Bowflex. Big Fitness carries equipment for abdominals and low back, aerobics / Pilates / yoga and boxing and martial arts. It also has balls, bands, ropes, bars, handles, clamps, books, charts, videos, excercise bikes and cycles, ellipticals and cross-trainers, fat-testers and heart-rate monitors, home and multi gyms, lower-body and leg machines, rowers, flooring and mats, stair climber and stair steppers, treadmills and pedometers, weight benches and weight machines, weight trees and racks, Smith machines, weights and dumbbells and workout glove and belts. Founded in 1991, Big Fitness has retail stores in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and Seekonk, Massachusetts. Returns: 31 days. You must first get a return authorization number. You also must pay return shipping unless the return is because of an error by Big Fitness. These items cannot be returned: Gloves, belts, dumbbells and plates, any product missing the serial number or UPC, special-order or custom items, used commercial products. Big Fitness also may only offer partial refunds on any book that has obvious signs of use, any DVD, VHS tape, or software that has been taken out of its plastic wrap) or any item that is not in its original condition, is damaged or is missing parts for reasons not due to a Big Fitness error. Warranties: All new equipment is backed by the manufacturers warranty through Big Fitness. All used reconditioned equipment is warranted through Big Fitness. The in-home warranty for remanufactured and used equipment includes lifetime phone support, lifetime frame, one year parts on motors, 180 days on entire machine, 90 days on wearable parts replacement and repair on pads, grips, belts and cables due to manufactures defects and 30 days labor reimbursement. The warranty on commercial fitness equipment is the same except six months parts on all motors, 90 days parts on entire machine, 45 days on wearable replacement parts and repair on pads, grips, belts and cables due to manufacturer defects and 15 days labor reimbursement. Used weight-training equipment is guaranteed not to have rips on pads. You can also purchase extended warranties on items over $75. Sales Tax: Not stated. Shipping: Varies by item. Calculated at checkout. Blair.com is a discount clothing and home decor store. Most of its business is done through print catalogs but it also has an online store. Blair was founded in 1910 as New Process Company by John L. Blair, Sr.. He initially sold black raincoats to ministers and funeral directors through the mail with credit extended for a "week's free trial." Today Blair is the ninth largest consumer apparel cataloger in the U.S., with annual sales of more than $580 million. Returns: "If any Blair product ever fails to perform to your satisfaction, you may return it for a refund, replacement or credit." Sales tax: Pennsylvania (home goods and specialty clothing such as swimsuits and tuxedos only). Shipping: $4.99 to $15.99 per order, depending on value. Add $5 per order for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Blair
Blinds.com sells a variety of brand-name blinds, including Hunter Douglas, Levolor, Graber, Blinds.com, Prestige, Cartwright, Bali, Phifer and many more, including private-label (generic) products. The site is full of information about how to properly measure your windows before you order, which can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. A good place to start is the "Guide to Blinds," which explains the benefits of various types (fauxwood, wood, honeycomb, aluminum, PVC, roller shades, etc.). Each day Blinds.com compares its prices on a particular product to those at competitors such as Lowe's, Home Depot and Costco, to give you an idea of the savings. It also provides free samples and telephone support to help you measure correctly or get the blinds up, although it provides printed instructions with each order and promises that all of its products are easy to install. One of the first things you need to know is whether you have an inside or outside mount. The site explains, "An inside mount is when the blind, shade, or shutter fits inside of the window opening. Mounting as an inside mount generally has a cleaner, neater look. An outside mount can be used if there isn't enough depth to mount the product inside the opening. Sliding glass doors and wood cased shallow windows are popular outside mount choices." All hardware is provided with the possible exception of screws. You can only change or cancel an order during the first 24 hours, and only as long as it has not gone into production. If that is the case, there is a 10 percent fee. Returns: Because the blinds it sells are custom-made to your measurements, Blinds.com does not accept returns. That's why it's doubly important to make sure all of your window measurements are accurate. Each product page has instructions on how to measure. Measure every window twice because, as the site notes, "sometimes two or three windows in the same room can look identical but could actually be off by as much as three-quarters of an inch." If Blinds.com makes an error, it will repair or remake the blind at no cost. If it is a customer mistake, Blinds.com will have it altered or remade at a discount. Sales Tax: Texas. Shipping: Free on blinds that are less than 94 inches long shipped to addresses in the continental U.S. Shipping is $70 per shipment per manufacturer for blinds over 90 inches long. Blinds.com does ship outside the continental U.S., but you need to phone for rates.
| View more installation videos here |
