HP 8250i, Vivitar 35MM camera & 4-Pack of film for ~$140 shipped from Staples!!

[PerryTexan]

Office Depot has the HP 8250i for $199.99 less an instant rebate for $40, making the price $159.99 in their B&M stores; I just did a pricematch with Staples on the HP 8250i--they won't do a 155% anymore, but they DO have a $30 off $150, which makes the price $129.99 + tax, with free shipping. On top of that, they also have a coupon for a free Vivitar 35MM camera & a 4-pack of free film.

SO--I got this drive (the HP 8250i), the free camera and the free film, all for $140.72 delivered!!

You can get the coupons for the free camera & the $30 off $150 all over the web. Here's how to do the deal:

You have to actually call Staples, tell them you want to purchase the drive, have them pricematch it with Office Depot, then tell them you want to order the Vivitar camera (item #430190), give them the coupon number (it's free if you order $100 or more), and then ON THEIR WEBSITE it gives the coupon number for the free film; here is the URL:

http://www.staples.com/Products/Themes/Special_Offers/Staples/Film_02/Default.asp?

Make sure you either have cookies enabled, or if you have your browser set to prompt you, accept the cookies Staples sends.

Credit goes to jackl81 & lilith from Fatwallet.com for listing the Vivitar & film deals, and to CayJon from here for listing the HP 8250i deal.

 

[ChrisOh]

Hey, pretty nice deal. I just got that camera staples was offering and it is the biggest piece of junk ever. Cheap plastic, manual winding, etc..., you could do better for $10 at a flea market =)

 

[tigger80]

i wouldn't do it because you will still have to pay tax on that piece of crap camera

 

[PerryTexan]

tigger80--

No, you don't have to pay tax on the "crappy" camera--tax is not appliciable on a FREE item, which is what you have with the coupon as described above. Besides--the camera MAY NOT be great quality, but you can't argue with FREE!! AND--if you don't like the camera or don't want to keep it, you can always give it away as a gift (which is what I plan to do).

Not only that, but the film is free too! On top of that, there is talk that some of the HP8250i drives are actually firmware upgradeable to HP9110i's!! Now THAT would be a HOT DEAL!! The informaton about the procedure, which drive will upgrade, the files necessary, etc. are in alt.comp.periphs.cdr, so you can do a search and get everything from there.

I've already downloaded the files I need, and copied the instructions for performing the upgrade, as well as the description information about which versions of the drive can be upgraded, and so now all I have to do is wait until I get the drive!! It was shipped yesterday evening, and according to UPS, my scheduled delivery is Friday the 7th. If only I could get it here earlier (it's coming to Texas from California) . . . .

 

[PerryTexan]

I just went to Best Buy and picked up one of these drives, to see if it could indeed be turned into a 9100 series drive. The one I got said, "4X4X32X" on the label, and it was made in Indonesia; most of the discussions in the newsgroups were talking about ones made in Malaysia, but this one was identified as being the "8200a" series, which is the one you can update to a 9100 series!! I flashed it according to the instructions, and I now have a 9100i!!

Also, Best Buy has priced this one at $159.97, which is basically the same as the Office Depot one, so if you don't get it price matched at Staples or OM, you can always pick one up here.

If you DO decide to get this drive from elsewhere besides this deal, and want to update it to a 9100 series, your chances are VERY good if you make sure the label says, "4X4X32X", as opposed to "4X4X24X". The boxes are NOT sealed, so you can open it up and look at the label on the drive.

Good Luck!!