*DEAD* Maxtor 80GB 8MB CACHE 7200RPM HDD + 50 Pack CD-R Media: $69 after $10MIR

[TheDiggler]

On-line at Staples (possibly at B&M's if you have B&M cpn available)

Add item #499949 - Maxtor L01P080 80GB, 8MB Cache, 7200 RPM, 3yr wty, ATA/133 @ $139.99
Add item #433570 - Maxell 50 Pack 24x CD-R Media, 74min, 650MB @ $12.94 (less $10 MIR)

Apply "$30 off $150" Staples cpn floating around (if already used, try creating another acct)

PriceMatch w/ BestBuy who has same Maxtor L01P080 for $99.99 after $40 BB MIR
(you get back 110% of $40, or $44).

$139.99 (HDD) + $12.94 (50pk CD-R) - $30 cpn - $44 BB PM - $10 MIR = $68.93
(the only extended $$$ outlay is the $10 MIR)

Note 1: BestBuy has their rebate offer listed both ON-LINE and in their current sales flyer.
Note 2: It's a BestBuy rebate, not manufacturer's. Staples should pricematch this.
Note 3: Current $30 cpn expires 12-31-2002 (I think), so move quickly

 

[HoangBalm]

Can you quote from Staple's Policy where they must price match a non-manufacturer MIR?

 

[TheDiggler]

Originally posted by: HoangBalm
Can you quote from Staple's Policy where they must price match a non-manufacturer MIR?

Read Staples PriceMatch Policy at this URL
Look at the 4th bulleted item starting w/ the text "Available coupons and rebates..."

*EDIT* That policy doesn't actually specify manufacturer vs. non-manufacterer MIRs; however, it clearly states that they calculate the "Staples price" of an item as being an item's price less ANY rebates available for it. If they calculate their own products price-match prices that way, it's only appropriate that they do the same w/ products they're price matching against. (Any reasonable Staples manager/supervisor will agree). By clarifying a non-manufacturer's MIR, they can't use the argument "buy the item from us at <higher price> and apply for the MIR."

 

[colossus]

Originally posted by: TheDiggler

Originally posted by: HoangBalm
Can you quote from Staple's Policy where they must price match a non-manufacturer MIR?

Read Staples PriceMatch Policy at this URL
Look at the 4th bulleted item starting w/ the text "Available coupons and rebates..."

*EDIT* That policy doesn't actually specify manufacturer vs. non-manufacterer MIRs; however, it clearly states that they calculate the "Staples price" of an item as being an item's price less ANY rebates available for it. If they calculate their own products price-match prices that way, it's only appropriate that they do the same w/ products they're price matching against. (Any reasonable Staples manager/supervisor will agree). By clarifying a non-manufacturer's MIR, they can't use the argument "buy the item from us at <higher price> and apply for the MIR."

Sadly, by that logic I don't think a reasonable Staples manager exists around me :|

 

[HoangBalm]

I agree, but if all else fail, call the regional manager to ask. Maybe they'll be more reasonable.

 

[Doug117]

hrm, would seem to make sense... the only thing is, after they pricematch the drive to BB, suddenly your total drops below $150.... but still, worth a try ... I think i might try this tomarrow morning

 

[TheDiggler]

All I can tell you is I did this exact trick 3 days ago when somebody else posted a similar such Staples deal on the Maxtor 120GB HDD. I ordered it on-line using the $30 cpn -- the shipment arrived the next day. In the meantime, I filled out the Staples price-match web form, but as of yet I haven't heard back from that (a Staples CSR claimed it's a 24 hr turn-around time -- it's been over 72 for me). After 24 hrs were up, I took the drive, its packing slip/receipt & BestBuy sales flyer to my local Staples store for a price-match. At first the store manager said "we don't price-match rebates," but I responded very boldly "sure you do." He then said he needed to verify the price-match policy, walked away for 10-15 mins, came back w/ a printout of the Staples web-site price-match policy (see URL I posted before) and acknoweldged that Staples does indeed price-match MIRs. He then gave me some line of bs about how "they changed the policy on us again and didn't tell us. It was updated 10-30."

BTW, that 120 gig deal (which is now over) was:
Staples price: $199.99
BB Price: $199.99 - $20 IR - $60 BB MIR = $119.99 (i.e. $80 lower than Staples, so $88 PM amount)

My final price was: $199.99 - $88 PM - $30 web cpn = $81.99, NO REBATES!

P.S. In the event the on-line division of Staples chooses to follow-up on my previously submitted price-match request, if they credit me back an additional $88 I'll get paid $6 for "buying" a 120GB HDD!

 

[TheDiggler]

Originally posted by: Doug117
hrm, would seem to make sense... the only thing is, after they pricematch the drive to BB, suddenly your total drops below $150.... but still, worth a try ... I think i might try this tomarrow morning

Depending on how paranoid you wanna play this, add an additional $42+ item to your order. That'll keep your order over $150 even AFTER price-match. Then after you've received your price-match, go back a few days later and return the $42+ item! Even safer, return the item to a different Staples than the one you did your price match at (assuming you did the PM at a store, not over the phone/on the web).

 

[slag]

hmm, how do you pricematch via the web?

do you have to phone in pricematch orders?

 

[slag]

nevermind my last post.. bbonline is out of stock.. need to call a local store to verify stock on hand.

 

[slag]

i think best buy's website is screwed.. it says on there its a 2 mb cache drive when other places say its an 8 mb cache drive.

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Staples DOES NOT have a price-match policy with MIRs. The fourth bullet in the URL is if Staples has a MIR on it, not a competitor. It doesnt matter if its a BB MIR or a manufacturer MIR, Staples will not PM. Therefore, I must slap this deal with a big YMMV.

 

[BobSnob]

I got this drive from Outpost.com on Thanksgiving for $49.99 AR and it sucked. It may have fluid bearings that are quiet but the seek noise is *very* loud. Also, having used the drive for a day I couldn't say that it was any faster than my 40GB Western Digital drive. I really wouldn't like to pay more than $80 for it and I wouldn't use it to replace an existing 7200rpm drive just for the extra cache.

 

[elkinm]

But doesn't it say that staples put coupons into account when pricematching. It states specificaly with an example that the price match will be effected by the coupon such that a $40 with a $30 coupon would be a net of only $10 that Staples would give you.

Thanks

Also it is listed as not available online or in sotre pickup. Is it sold out or does BB just say that on all items now. Well, thats why the sales rep turned downed my deal. They were willng to match the rebate though.

 

[slag]

Just got off the phone with 2 different CSR's who specifically stated that Staples does NOT pricematch Rebates no matter who they are from..

This goes against 2 different orders that I have placed in the recent past for things from staples. I sure wish someone there would pull their head out and quit wasting my time. Either they do, or they dont, but make a policy and train your CSR's on it.

 

[LazierSaid]

Yup, I got a Maxtor DM+9 80 gigger 2 months ago and the seeks really tick away. Loudest IDE drive I've had the displeasure of using in quite some time. You can turn on acoustic management to quiet the seeks down, but that makes it so slow you might as well have gotten a cheaper 2mb or 5400rpm drive in the first place.

 

[slag]

i got the maxtor 80 gig 8 mb cache fluid bearing drive also and mine is whisper quiet all of the time, even when doing large file transfers. Wierd.