Warm! Rio 800 Mp3 64meg ~ $128.00@ Staples

[chrisjor]

I was in a local Staples store here in Cincy (Go Bearcats!!!) and saw several Rio 800 Mp3 players (128 meg) on a table marked for $149.99. The sign said "$149.99 Clearance, sells for $300 elsewhere". Being skeptical, I left one with the employee at the Business machine counter and left to check on net. I found them for $249.00 at Best Buy and other places. So I gathered up my $30.00 off $150.00 coupon and went back. My receipt total is $128.14. Went to Sonicblue.com to research this item and what do I find.......a $50.00 rebate good through December!!!! SKU # 018258010627

So.........

149.99 Staples B&M price (not sure where else available, other B&M or on net)
+ .99 Diet Coke (to bring total over 150.00, they insisted!!)
- 30.00 30 off 150
+ 7.25 6% Cincinnati Tax
- 50.00 Manufacturer MIR
-------------
$78.14 Total

If this turns out to be a not so good deal, let me know. I would consider returning this as I don't really need it, I just have the AT hot deal bug!!!!!

 

[lankia]

chrisjor, it's a pretty hot deal, at least to me. cheapest on pricewatch.com is $211 (before shipping). haven't had a chance to look at the staples nearby my area.

-lankia

 

[corrad]

mmm, interesting, I just purchased one, and upon returning home, I realized that mine is the 64mb version, which does not qualify for the rebate. Funny how the sku is the same : sku#018258010627. could it be that Staples screwed up and you got the better deal?

 

[ander]

Staples website does not have the Rio 800, only the Rio 600 which only has 32 megs of ram.

 

[Jobowoo]

perhaps this is only a B&M deal. BTW where can I get hooked up with the 30 off 150 deal? e-mail it to me please. jobowoo11@hotmail.com

 

[Justincase]

I know that Staples is starting to change over to using UPC numbers instead of SKUs, but does anyone know the SKU number for the 128MB Rio 800?

 

[Danman]

Wow, I may try this.........thanks!

 

[chrisjor]

Upon further inspection it seem that mine is also only 64 megs. The sign on the table specifically stated that these were 128 meg models. Sorry guys, this is going back tomorrow!!!!!! I humbly apologize for not reading the box more closely. I wonder if these were mixed together on the table. Oh well.:Q:|


coupon can be found at ableshoppers dot com

 

[chrisjor]

I just got off of the phone with Staple customer service, I was told that the item is oos and normally sells for $149.90. I was also told that the system does not even show the internal memory size, just that it is a Rio 800 MP3 player. I believe I was had by a mistake or an unscrupulous Manager. I spoke to him about the coupon prior to using it and I was very open about what a great deal it was. He knew what was going on!!! Once again, I apologize. This deal seems to be a dud!!!!!!!

 

[Kipper]

Change the title...

 

[ss284]

Ahh too bad. Even if though it was only a 64mb version, I would have gotten it anyways for 80 dollars.

-Steve

 

[chrisjor]

This still might be a lukewarm deal, the 64 mb goes for 199.99 at Amazon, 209.00 cheapest on Pricewatch, and $149.99 at Circuit City with a $30 MIR (not exact same model, but close enough).

 

[chrisjor]

MCD, You should change your name to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (this is proper term for Mad Cow Disease!! Are you familiar with the science behind Prions?

 

[slaman]

This would have been a hot deal! I want the 128 meg version so badly heh but 64 isn't enough room at all for me.

 

[NYer]

Could anyone please tell me where is Staples' printout coupon?
I think it's a flamming deal

 

[chrisjor]

NYer,

Go to ableshoppers dot com and you can find most coupons. I am starting to believe that this is a pretty good deal myself. When I originally purchased this I thought it was 128 meg, it is not. Staples Manager has apologized over phone and told me that they mistakenly thought Rio 800 only came in 128 meg. This is 64 meg. I have shopped around and the closest I can find in price is 189.00 (at Buy.com, out of stock). I am bringing mine back to store and will whine to manager about mistake and my time and trouble, maybe he will do something for a good customer.

The down side of these players seems to be that they use proprietary memory (Rio backpacks) and not compactflash or smartmedia. A 64 meg backpack costs 65.00 and a 34 meg cost ~33.00. Staples tells me they will not be carrying MP3 players any longer so they are getting rid of these. Also, oddly enough, Circuit City has the Rio 800 128 and 64 at the same price!!!!! both are 249.00 and out of stock in the Cincinnati area.

 

[IgoByte]

Does this thing accept any kind of memory card to expand on the built-in memory? Even at 128MB, it's lousy if you can't add cards.

Anybody?

 

[slaman]

The only thing is the backpacks manufactured by Rio - Are there even any mp3 players that accept flashcards?

 

[IgoByte]

Doesn't need to be flash...It can be those smartmedia cards too...

 

[DorkBoy]

Thanks