Do you love a good discount? Make a deal!

Looking for some great bargains for the holiday shopping season? Before you pay full price, “ShopSmart” magazine shares smart advice on how you can save a significant amount of money with your cell phone, online coupon codes and more:

These five bargains don't require any extra work. You just need to know where to look for them. Once you do, you can save a significant amount of money very easily.

FruCall (Frucall.com, 888-DO-FRUCALL)
Peering at products on a screen the size of a sugar packet is hardly an ideal way to shop. But your cell phone is great for doing a quick price check. Say you're in a store looking at a big-screen TV and the salesperson is offering what seems like a can't pass-it-up deal. You could step outside, punch up a shopping-comparison site on your cell phone, and check to see if you can get the TV for a lower price elsewhere.

Using a mobile phone and either placing a phone call, using text messaging or the mobile version of their Web site (or maybe sneaking onto an Internet-enabled computer at the store itself), FruCall can look up the price of the product you're looking at and let you know if it's cheaper anywhere else. All you need is the product name, the model number, or its bar code/UPC number. Contact the toll-free number (888-DO-FRUCALL) and enter a product's 12-digit bar code. There is no sign-up fee, and there is no monthly fee.

If you like the idea of comparison shopping via cell phone, another new service is Slifter (Slifter.com), which is currently focused on electronics and sporting goods. You punch in the product info and your ZIP code and it will point you to the nearest stores and provide their prices. “ShopSmart” offers a service that delivers “Consumer Reports” ratings. Or you can check out other cool shopping tools designed specifically for phones.

Online coupon codes
If you shop online, you've probably noticed that when you check out, most Web sites have a space for you to enter an “online coupon code.” These codes can save you tons of money, but if you don't have one readily at hand, you might not think twice about it. That's a mistake! You might be able to find one by surfing the Web. Dozens of sites list discount codes for online stores — but not always the one that you're looking for. A quick way to zero in on promotions: Type the store name and “coupon code” into a search engine like Google.

Although no one site will give you everything you need, using a combination of different sites can help you find what you're looking for. Some of our favorites:

Keycode.com is nicely organized.
Currentcodes.com has a huge number of retailers.
Slickdeals.net has a busy message board where members post codes they have found.
Findsavings.com clues you in to rebates and freebies.
The Freecycle Network™ (Freecycle.org)

Need a ski rack, fertilizer spreader or ferret cage? You might be able to nab it for nothing at the online bulletin board Freecycle.org. The Freecycle Network™ is a community-based service made up of 4,182 groups with 4,130,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free, and you join a specific community group that includes your geographical location. People in your area will post items they want to give away.

The caveat: This setup isn't a one-way street — you are expected to post your goodies for swap, too. However, it's an easy way to get odd items from people close to where you live. The products on this site really run the gamut — electronics, furniture, and every odd and end. It also prevents unnecessary waste and keeps good stuff out of landfills. Oh yeah, and it's entirely free!

If you like this community-based site, you can search the Web for other newsgroups of like-minded bargain hunters on yahoogroups. It's like having an extended family looking out for you!

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Road Kill for Christmas? Roadkill Toys?

Give your loved one a road kill toy for Christmas

First came the toys which turned venereal diseases and parasites into the cutest of soft toys, now prepare for road kill toys.
A toy designer has come up with a gory end for teddy bears and other cuddly animal toys.

The first to be launched is Twitch, the Roadkill Teddy, which comes complete with opaque plastic body bag to keep the maggots out and attached to its twitching toe is an identity bag giving details of its demise.
Acccording to its tag it was run over over by a milk float last Thursday, near the Hangar Lane Giratory system in London.
The toy's innards and blood can be stuffed in and out of his body. A zip on each side contains the blood and guts.
Its eyes are goggling, tongue is lolling around and a tyre print runs across its back.

The toys' creators, Compost Communications, have styled themselves 'toy terrorists' and according to their website: 'We squash and burn and bludgeon and maim. But we're also toy fanatics like you. We love toys.'
Toy creator Adam Arber, 33, from London, said: 'I got the idea from looking at my mother-in-law's dog which is quite ugly and I thought it would make a great toy. A friend of mine had taken some pictures of road kill and the two things gelled into one idea.'
Mr Arber, who works in advertising and who has been creating the toys in his spare time, said: 'I asked my mother-in-law and wife what they thought. I thought they might be upset but they just laughed.'
He said he thought the toys, which cost £25, would appeal to people with a sense of humour and 'probably not anyone easily upset'.

He said coming soon were other characters including Grind the rabbit, Splodge the hedgehog and Pop the weasel and likely gruesome scenarios would include death by being run over by kebab vans and golf buggies.
The toys go on sale this weekend at Play Lounge in London and from mid-December on roadkilltoys.com.

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American Express WishList Holiday Offers

There's No Debating: American Express' My WishList is the Best Yet, With Chance to Meet Oprah at The Great Debaters Premiere
Additional dream products and experiences include Saks Fifth Avenue shopping spree and Ultimate Wish Giveaways of Volvo and JetBlue private chartered flight


NEW YORK, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether purchasing diamond earrings or a new plasma TV this holiday season, American Express Cardmembers can find "door-buster" deals at sane hours from the comforts of their own homes and computers with My WishList (amexnetwork.com/mywishlist). My WishList is American Express' popular, seasonal e-tail site famous for giving Cardmembers access to dream products and experiences at unheard of prices.

My WishList will re-open its cyber-storefront for the holiday shopping season from November 27 through December 13, 2007, providing must-have gifts for everyone -- from the luxury lover, to the gadget geek, to the adventure seeker and more. My WishList will also feature dream experiences like the chance to schmooze with Oprah Winfrey and sit in the same audience as Denzel Washington at the movie premiere of The Great Debaters, a VIP shopping spree in 10022-Shoe, Saks Fifth Avenue's enormous New York shoe department, and a trip around the world with Continental Airlines.

My WishList's storefront offers all Cardmembers the opportunity to buy limited quantities of the season's most wished-for items at discounts of 24 to 80 percent (Ultimate Wish Giveaways discounted 100 percent!) and valued collectively at nearly $3.0 million, including:

For the "Luxury Lover"

Virgin Atlantic London Experience
-- This Upper Class experience on Virgin Atlantic to London includes
signature limo service, the onboard bar, in-flight spa treatments and a
spacious Upper Class Suite. Includes three nights at the Metropolitan
London.
-- Available on My WishList: November 28th
-- WishList Price: $3,000 (Retail Price: $19,622)

The Westin Beijing Heavenly Spa Retreat
-- This dream trip includes four nights at The Westin Beijing and round-
trip airfare for two, daily treatments at the new Heavenly Spa by
Westin, tours of the "Forbidden City" and dining at one of the Westin
Beijing's seven world-class restaurants.
-- Available on My WishList: December 7th
-- WishList Price: $2,000 (Retail Price: $8,000)

Blue Nile Signature Diamond Earrings (1.40ct tw)
-- Blue Nile Signature Diamond Earrings sparkle with diamonds that are
among the top one percent in the world. Each stone is hand-selected and
cut to the most exacting standards, guaranteeing a more brilliant
diamond than any other ideal cut.
-- Available on My WishList: December 9th
-- WishList Price: $1,800 (Retail Price: $6,000)

Saks Fifth Avenue Shoe Spree
-- This shopping spree includes $4,000 and an afternoon with Saks Fifth
Avenue's VP of Women's Fashion, Michael Fink, in the stylish new shoe
floor at Saks -- 10022-SHOE -- a floor so big it has its own zip code.
-- Available on My WishList: December 10th
-- WishList Price: $2,300 (Retail Price: $7,800)

2008 Volvo c70 - Ultimate Wish Giveaway
-- On top of the four categories of My WishList savings, American Express
is offering Cardmembers the ULTIMATE WISH GIVEAWAY sweepstakes, an
opportunity to secure the best possible savings on their holiday
shopping. One of WishList's Ultimate Wish Giveaways, the luxurious
Volvo C70 goes from elegant coupe to exhilarating convertible in less
than 30 seconds. This stunning design features an innovative three-
piece retractable hardtop and seating for four.
-- Available on My WishList: December 13th
-- WishList Price: Ultimate Wish Giveaway (Retail Price: $43,205)

For the "Gadget Geek"

Panasonic 42" 1080p HD Plasma TV
-- In an exciting new direction, Panasonic offers its first Full High
Definition 1080p 42" plasma.
-- Available on My WishList: November 30th
-- WishList Price: $700 (Retail Price: $1,999)

Dell XPS M1330 Notebook
-- The Dell XPS M1330 notebook is the ultimate combination of design,
performance, and mobility. At less than 1" thick and just over 4 lbs,
the M1330 packs high performance and innovative technologies into a
sleek design.
-- Available on My WishList: December 3rd
-- WishList Price: $900 (Retail Price: $2,079)

Xbox Elite Game System and Games Package
-- The new Xbox 360 Elite, the premier Xbox 360 console package, includes
five games, a massive 120GB hard drive, a HDMI port, and HDMI cable,
all wrapped up with a premium black finish.
-- Available on My WishList: December 11th
-- WishList Price: $300 (Retail Price: $649.99)

For the "Adventure Seeker"

The Great Debaters Premiere & Meet Oprah Winfrey
-- This VIP experience includes a private meet and greet with the film's
producer, Oprah Winfrey, seating at the premiere of the film on
December 11, 2007 with Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker and an
invitation to the after-party. First class round-trip airfare to Los
Angeles and two nights' hotel accommodations also included.
-- Available on My WishList: November 29th
-- WishList Price: $2,800 (Retail Price: $8,300)

BMW K 1200 R Sport Motorcycle
-- The latest edition from the BMW Motorcycle portfolio -- the high
performance BMW K 1200 R Sport -- is 163hp of dynamic, yet civilized,
motorcycle for an enthusiastic rider.
-- Available on My WishList: December 4th
-- WishList Price: $5,000 (Retail Price: $17,000)

JetBlue's Private Flight - Ultimate Wish Giveaway
-- On this Ultimate Wish Giveaway, Cardmembers can fly up to 150 people
aboard a JetBlue charter flight between any two JetBlue cities (within
2700 statute air miles).
-- Available on My WishList: December 5th
-- WishList Price: Ultimate Wish Giveaway (Retail Price: $171,379)

SkyTeam Round the World by Continental
-- A trip around the world includes flight options to over 744 SkyTeam
destinations (Continental Airlines Business First/ First Class Travel)
in 151 countries. This trip includes a maximum of six stops in at least
10 days or up to one year.
-- Available on My WishList: December 12th
-- WishList Price: $3,000 (Retail Price: $17,920)

"Our Cardmembers come back every year for the one-of-a-kind offers that only My WishList can provide, and we consider it our obligation to 'up the ante' each time we unveil the site," said Penni Berns, vice president, Network and Merchant Marketing, American Express. "My WishList is just one way American Express rewards its Cardmembers, and with truly unique experiences like a chartered JetBlue plane or a Saks Fifth Avenue shoe shopping spree, we're telling our Cardmembers we value them and their loyalty."

Starting November 27th, Cardmembers can visit My WishList during designated times: noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time -- and click on the "I WANT IT!" button for Black Friday-style "door-buster" deals at dream prices. To enter for a chance to win items in the Ultimate Wish Giveaway, Cardmembers can visit amexnetwork.com/ULTIMATEWISH during any of the Promotion Periods, enter their Card information and click on the "GO FOR IT" button.

Cardmembers can sign up for e-mail alerts so they will be notified when specific dream items of interest are available and also pre-register their credit card information for quicker clicking. New to the site this year, Cardmembers are encouraged to "tell a friend" about My WishList, karaoke- style. Cardmembers can send a holiday rock star greeting simply by choosing a song, styling the singer and dedicating it to the person receiving the e-card.

"Our merchants are thrilled with past response from Cardmembers to My WishList, noting significant spikes in sales after the promotion," said Berns. "It is these strong relationships with the world's top merchants that allow us to offer new and amazing wishes each year."

My WishList will feature additional deals from Viking, Patagonia and Magellan as well as offers on electronics, fashion items and outdoor gear from more than 100 American Express national and local merchant partners.

Past WishList promotions have been overwhelming successes; last year, My WishList experienced over 7 million visits to the site. The promotion takes place at http://www.amexnetwork.com/mywishlist and is open to all U.S. consumers with American Express-branded cards.

About American Express

Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850.

Website: http://www.amexnetwork.com/mywishlist/

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New Zealanders Bring Their Newest Oddball Extreme Sport to North America

Pigeon Forge, TN – November 2007 – I’ll never be a NASA astronaut, but, by golly, I’m an official Zorbonaut! And I have the certificate and wet swimming suit to prove it!

Don’t know what a Zorbonaut is? I didn’t either until a bunch of weird New Zealanders (that may be a redundancy) began building Zorb Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. It’s the first Zorb location in North America.

The Kiwis call the Zorb experience a sport, which is okay, if you remember that New Zealand is the nation that thrust bungee jumping on an unsuspecting public. As Zorb’s owners say, “New Zealand once again leads the world in stupid things to do while on vacation.”

(Full disclosure: I do some work for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, but that’s beside the point. Zorb is so cool, I’d brag about being a Zorbonaut regardless of its location.)

To use some highly technical New Zealand terminology, a Zorb is a giant beachball with a smaller beachball inside it. By giant, I mean 11 feet in diameter for the bigger ball and six feet in diameter for the interior ball.

Through the miracles of modern technology and a whole lot of craftsmanship, the interior ball is perfectly suspended inside the bigger ball, sort of like the chocolate center in a Tootsie Roll Pop.

(More disclosure: I don’t do any work for Tootsie Roll Pops, but I do like them. Especially the grape ones.)

Since the outer ball of a Zorb is inflated like the aforementioned beachball and the inner ball is big enough to hold a human, that means a human can get inside and roll down the side of a mountain. Neat, huh?

My Zorb mission was a Zydro assignment. Even though it was cloudy and about 48 degrees, I donned my official Zorbonaut suit (sort of a cross between a swimming suit and a professional boxer’s trunks topped with a soccer-style shirt).

Mission Control’s instructions were clear: “Give us your best Superman impersonation.”

Explanation: I took a flying leap through a tunnel that connects the inner ball to the outside world and splashed headfirst into about five gallons of warm water. It was a strangely womb-like experience.

Blastoff came after a Zorb wrangler zipped the tunnel shut and opened a gate, sending me careening down a serpentine 1,000-foot-long channel carved into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. If I wanted to extend the womb analogy, I’d have to believe Mom was an Olympic gymnast.

When the Zorb rolled up one side of the channel, my momentum slid me up and around, the water cascaded over me and I lost all orientation—other than to know that “up” and “down” mean absolutely nothing. If I’m ever in a front-loading washing machine, I’ll know what to expect.

Bounce, slosh, spin! Repeat, repeat, repeat. It’s a long way down the mountain, and people at the landing pad heard me whooping and hollering most of the way.

At the end, another wrangler positioned the Zorb so the tunnel was angled down and out. You can come up with your own analogy for what it’s like to be extruded fanny-first back into the atmosphere. “Born again” takes on new meaning, and it’s funny for Zorbonaut and spectator alike.

Soaking wet from the Zorb’s heated water and steaming in the cool air, I saluted Mission Control and began preparation for my next trip into inner space. This one will be a dry experience strapped in a harness inside a different Zorb so I can roll and bounce head over heels down the mountain.

I know I have the right stuff. To heck with NASA.--Tom Adkinson

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Save on iPods or Mac gear: 20% cash back from PayPal for some sites

Happy Cyber Monday! Lots of online retailers are offering up discounts today and tomorrow, but if you use PayPal, you have the opportunity to save even more. At select merchants (see the entire list and details Here), you can get 20% cash back if you pay with PayPal (the ceiling is at $50 for cash back per PayPal account, so maximum purchase price of $250 for the full discount), starting today. Some merchants are running the sale longer than others, so check the individual sites for details.

What does this have to do with Apple and Mac users? Well, although the Apple Store is not a selected merchant (it doesn't take PayPal, but it is offering free shipping today), lots of stores that sell Mac products or accessories are on the list. NewEgg.com carries Macs, iPods, software, RAM and accessories; 20% off on a $200 iPod Nano, with free shipping and a free holster, is an unbeatable discount. eBags.com has a great selection of laptop bags (the 20% PayPal cash back is enough for me to bite the bullet and order the Tumi messenger I've been eying for ages). BarnesandNoble.com has lots of great books about Apple and Apple products and Overstock.com often has great deals on older Apple products and on iPod accessories.

If you use PayPal and have been waiting for some deals for gifts for yourself or others, right now might just be the time to start shopping.

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PriceGrabber.com's Top 5 Things You Didn't Expect to See on Black Friday

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber.com(R), a part of Experian, today revealed Black Friday shopping data from its site showing continued growth as consumers go online to kick off this holiday season on Thanksgiving Day. Popular product categories from Black Friday include: Electronics, Computers, Clothing, Cameras and Video Games.
PriceGrabber.com estimates the total volume of merchant referrals generated to sellers on Black Friday has increased 47 percent over last year with an average order referral of $431. According to JupiterResearch, "Online buying continues to grow, relatively unfettered by macroeconomic factors. In fact, online retail sales for the 2007 holiday season will increase by 20 percent over sales for the 2006 season to surpass $39 billion."
PriceGrabber.com is a resource to shoppers -- helping them find the right product, from the right retailer, at the best price. The site also offers insight on consumer shopping behavior and trends.
Top Five Things We Didn't Expect to See on Black Friday

1. Black Friday shopping started on Thursday -- consumers started shopping
online earlier than expected this year with a 54 percent growth year
over year in traffic to merchants on the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. Video Games -- The Nintendo Wii dominated the hotly-contested video
game console marketplace with a sales lead increase of 467 percent over
2006, easily beating the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and
PlayStation 2.

3. The Microsoft Zune beat all models in the Apple iPod line in searches
this year. Interest in the Zune, has increased 246 percent in recent
days and receives 13.3 percent of all inquiries in the MP3 market. The
Zune offers a lower price point compared to similar players and
includes a built-in FM Tuner.

4. Clothing picks up speed -- Women's apparel has seen an increase of more
than 100 percent over the last six weeks leading into the holiday
season. Leading the most popular clothing categories are women's shoes
and handbags.

5. Toys made in the U.S.A. -- Statistics show that there has been a 650
percent increase in keyword searches of "Made in USA" on
PriceGrabber.com year over year. PriceGrabber.com's Holiday Shopping
Survey revealed that 73 percent of online shoppers said that it is
important this holiday season to purchase products that are made in the
USA. With recent reports of the possibility of the millions of toys
manufactured in China being recalled for lead contamination and loose
magnets, toys are going to be closely scrutinized this holiday season.

Top-selling Products on Black Friday

1. Nintendo Wii Console
2. Microsoft Zune 30GB Media Player - Brown
3. TomTom ONE 3rd Edition GPS
4. Activision Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock Bundle
5. Canon PowerShot SD1000 Silver Digital Camera
6. Microsoft Office 2004 Student and Teacher
7. Western Digital My Book Essential Edition External 500GB Hard Drive
8. Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS
9. Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital Camera
10. Canon EOS Regel XTi Black SLR Digital Camera

Top-Selling Product Categories on Black Friday

2007 Top Product Categories 2006 Top Product Categories

1. Plasma & LCD TVs 1. Digital Cameras
2. Digital Cameras 2. Plasma & LCD TVs
3. GPS Navigation Systems 3. MP3 Players
4. Toys 4. Toys
5. MP3 Players 5. Laptops
6. Laptops 6. Women's Handbags
7. Wii 7. GPS Navigation Systems
8. Shoes 8. Fine Jewelry & Watches
9. Women's Handbags 9. Living Room Furniture
10. Computer Flash Memory 10. Xbox 360


PriceGrabber.com will continue to track online shopping trends and pull product information for Cyber Monday.

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Get Ready For Cyber Monday Deals

The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday", has long been the official first shopping day of the Christmas season. Stores open before the sun rises, and shoppers line up in droves hoping to snag one of those hard-to-get, deep discounted deals. But what about those of us who'd love to save money, but haven't got the willpower or lack of sanity to deal with the "Black Friday" madness? What if you just want to sleep in? That's when Cyber Monday comes in, the online equivalent of "Black Friday."

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Black Friday. The term was coined in 2005 by shop.com, and according to shop.com, in 2006 nearly 64% of retailers saw significant grown on Cyber Monday, and 1/3 of online retailers said their Cyber Monday sales were up more than 30% over 2005.

As online shopping continues to become more widespread and accepted, Cyber Monday is only likely to continue to grow in popularity for those shoppers looking to score the best deals.

For Cyber Monday 2007, shoppers can expect to find a number of specials offers, just like they had in the stores on Friday. Free shipping is one of the most popular offerings, and there will also be several early shopper discounts and some first time buyer discounts.

Doing your shopping online has several advantages over heading out to your local shopping center. First of all, you don't have to wait in long lines, or throw elbows to get the last remaining "hot" gift of the year. You don't have to run from store to store, checking which one has the best price. There are a number of shopping comparison sites that will let you compare the prices of products across several online retailers, making finding the best deal very simple. Once you've found where you'd like to purchase the product from, simply fill your "cart", and check out. With the cost of gas continually on the rise, shopping online, especially with free shipping, can save you on those other hidden costs.

If you're looking to purchase clothes or shoes online, and are worried about annoying returns, many retailers have caught on and now offer free returns as well. One example of a site that does free shipping and free returns is Piperlime.com, but there are countless others as well.

www.clevelandleader.com