Merchant and Product Review

Coffee For Less

2006-11-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

Bottled Water • Coffee Of The Month Club • Espresso Machines • Keurig K-Cups
• Coffee Beans • Coffee Pods • Gifts • Paper Products
• Coffee Creamer • Coffee Syrup • Ground Coffee • Sugar & Sweeteners
• Coffee Drinks • Coffeeforless.Com Store • Hot Chocolate • Tea
• Coffee Machines • Energy Drinks

Shop with The Home Depot Online and find great deals and free shipping

2006-10-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

The Home Depot Online offers the same products in their stores at discount prices. When purchasing a large item, for example a washing machine, at the local store, customers end up paying for a local delivery charge. We encourage you to try online shopping where Home Depot offers free shipping on brand name items at great deals!

What are the hot video game systems for your kids and adults?

2006-10-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

There are three machines on the market this holiday season: The Sony PlayStation 3, XBOX 360, and the Nintendo Wii (pronounced "we").

About the Xbox 360 Hardware

Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor 10 MB of embedded DRAM. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.

The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 20GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.

Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has announced plans for a upcoming video-conferencing camera that will work with the system.

About Xbox 360 Games and Media
Xbox 360 is scheduled to launch with more than 20 launch titles, with several more slated to be released within the following month. Launch titles include Madden NFL 2006, Project Gotham Racing 3, and the long-awaited Perfect Dark Zero. All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.

About Xbox Live
A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to the new Xbox Live Silver. The included service lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital goodies for your games. The subscription service Xbox Live Gold adds to that online competition, game stats, and video chat/messaging. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.

Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)

As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the Sony PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, Internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a game console--a powerful one at that.

Under the Hood
The PS3 features IBM's "Cell" processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second. That's approximately 320 times more calculations per second than the PS2. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, it also boasts an HDMI port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience.

Blu-Ray is the New Way
Sony's PlayStation 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-Ray disc media format, which can hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs. This increase in capacity--combined with the awesome power of its processor and graphics card--promises mind-blowing games once developers have learned how to fully harness the new console's power. The PS3 will also support CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats.

Sensational Controller
New gamers intuitively move the controller while playing, even though that movement has traditionally had no relation to what's going on in the game. Sony has picked up on this tendency and is using it to bring a new level of control into the PS3. Inside the controller is a high-precision six-axis sensing system that accurately detects fine movements in pitch, roll, and yaw, as well as three dimensions of movement, to control games. This means that future PS3 games will be controlled by the movements of your hands rather than just your thumbs. For example, you might be able to steer a car by holding the controller like a steering wheel.

While the PS3 controller looks much like its Dual Shock predecessors, it will lack the force-feedback vibration since that would only interfere with the sensing system. It uses Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology and can support up to seven wireless controllers at a time. It's a hot-swappable system, so if your controller is running low on power, just pause your game and connect a USB 2.0 cable. You can continue playing while your controller recharges automatically.

Plays All PlayStation Games
The PlayStation 3 will be backward compatible with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games, which means you'll be able to play all your favorite games without keeping all the old systems. The console will have slots for Memory Stick Duo, an SD slot and a Compact Flash memory slot. It comes with a pre-installed hard disc drive, which allows you to save games as well as download content from the Internet.

A Slew of New Games
A whole host of game publishers are already backing the PS3 and several have even confirmed games for the console. At the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), more than 30 titles were displayed for the system, including Gran Turismo HD, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Final Fantasy XIII. Previously announced titles include Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4 and Tekken 6.

Online
Sony has stated that the PS3 will have similar online connectivity and services as the next generation of Xbox Live. Calling it "an always on, always connected device," SCEI's chief technical officer Masa Chatani said the PS3 would be constantly in touch with a "PlayStation World" network "fundamentally based on community, communication commerce, and content." Technically, the infrastructure is there to make that connection. The PS3 supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, as well as IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless networking protocols.

Sony has confirmed a lot of information about its newest system, but until the PS3 is out on the market, the rumor mill will continue to churn with gossip -- both unconfirmed facts and bogus news. Nevertheless, with a powerful processor, an outstanding graphics chip, and an impressive list of new games, one thing is for certain: This console has firmly placed Sony on the cutting-edge of video game entertainment and technology.

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo's Wii video game system (pronounced "we") is designed to attract people, regardless of their age or video game experience, to sit down and play together--whether they're in the same room or on different sides of the globe. The system's name reflects this simple idea. It's easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and the distinctive spelling suggests two players side by side. The two Wii features Nintendo thinks will create new levels of gaming community are built-in Wi-Fi access, supported by a new online gaming service, and Wii's intuitive, wireless, motion-sensitive game controller.

As with every new console release, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The system boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. Wii's technological heart -- a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" -- are said to deliver stunning performance. Instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that will play both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

The real revolution in this system, though, is its controller, called the Wii Remote. Shaped like a TV remote, it's been designed to be easily used by beginners and pros alike. Sensors determine the Wii Remote's position is in 3-D space, which means that racing-game steering and a tennis swing, for example, are done through movements of your hand rather than by just your thumbs. What's more, a tiny speaker built into the Wii Remote promises some interactive surround sound experiences. The controller also has a force feedback "Rumble" feature and an expansion port for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds an analog thumbstick and trigger buttons. An adapter that fits over the Wii's wee remote will be available for those who prefer the feel of a traditional controller. The Wii Remote communicates via the Bluetooth wireless standard. Up to four remotes can connect to Wii.

An Outstanding Games Launch Line-up

Each Wii will come with a game compilation called "Wii Sports," including tennis, golf, baseball and bowling games, that will show off the console's intuitive new controller. In addition to this, at least thirty titles are scheduled for release in U.S. by year's end; about half of that by launch. They are estimated to list at $49.99. Launch games include:

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Excite Truck
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Madden NFL 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
Elebits
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Metal Slug Anthology
Rayman: Raving Rabids
Red Steel

Wii also offers superb backward compatibility -- the cornerstone of Nintendo's all-access approach. This new console will play fan-favorite games from Nintendo's 20-year-old library. The drive is compatible with GameCube discs, and select Nintendo titles from the original NES of the 1980s all the way through the Nintendo 64 will be available through for download through the "Virtual Console" for $5 and $10 respectively. Virtual Console download titles available at launch will include:

Super Mario 64
Super Mario World
Donkey Kong
Legend of Zelda

As if that weren't enough, the Virtual Console will also make available a few titles from SNES console contemporaries, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16.

A number of Wi-Fi-enabled titles are in development that will employ Nintendo's newly-announced wireless gaming service, WiiConnect24. This worldwide network promises Nintendo players a comfortable, inviting environment in which they can gather and compete. The always-on network will deliver game updates and surprises, even when the Wii is powered down. And as you would expect, Wii will be able to communicate with the Nintendo DS mobile gaming system wirelessly.

Nintendo has confirmed a lot of information about its newest system, but until Wii is out on the market, the rumor mill will continue to churn with gossip -- both unconfirmed facts and bogus news. However, with strong backward compatibility and an impressive list of new games from the Nintendo franchise's biggest stars, Wii promises to deliver an incredible new level of gaming sophistication and fun.

Purchase electronics at J&R.com this holiday season and save money!

2006-10-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

J&R. . . Bringing People & Technology Together

J&R brings the best in electronics, computers and more directly to you, from a company you can trust. From our stores in Downtown New York City, J&R has been providing customers with a combination of price, selection, security, and service for over 30 years. We are unique in the world of retailing -- a megastore with the personal touch of your local retailer, a family-owned business with a reputation that spans the globe.

Over 34 Years of Savings Selection & Service

Joe & Rachelle Friedman opened their first music store on Park Row in New York City in 1971, where they sold vinyl LPs of the current chart-toppers. Since that time, the business has expanded steadily. J&R now covers a massive city block across from City Hall Park in the heart of Downtown Manhattan. The stores are a "must-see" for many tourists and a "must-shop" for New Yorkers in the know. J&R's business, too, has expanded. J&R Music & Computer World not only sells an incredible array of CDs and a vast selection of top computer goods, but also digital cameras, cell phones, TVs, stereos, MP3 players, DVDs, kitchen appliances and much more. We have developed a loyal base of customers around the world through our catalogues and through JR.com (launched in 1998). In fact, J&R is the only company to receive two separate "Retailer-of-the-Year" awards.

Looking for a computer this holiday season? Get a Dell!

2006-10-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

We use Dell computers in our organization. The service and quality of a Dell computer is exceptional. Go shop and compare different computer packages at Dell.com.

Travel during the holidays does not have to be expensive... buy cheap airline tickets on CheapTickets!

2006-10-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

If you and your family have flexible travel dates, then definitely check out CheapTickets.com. This site offers deals on airline tickets, and you will travel for much less.

Download free demos of Fate, Polar Bowler, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Super Granny, Final Drive: Nitro, SCRABBLE®, and Cake Mania

2006-10-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

WildGames Offers fun games at discount prices! You can download demos for free and try them out!

Target.com provides outstanding service and large selection of goods!

2006-10-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

Save time and money by doing your shopping online this year. You'll find sales, deals, and excellent service at Target.com! You'll find items with free shipping too.

Shop now at Target.com

AUDIBLE.COM is the place to go for audio books - Review by Marie

2006-10-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are often going on long car trips. We had the brilliant idea of buying books on tape to make the time go by. Ya, right. They cost often $50, even $75 for a good length, popular book. And how often do you reread a book? Maybe once a year if it’s really, and I mean really good. So you basically spend $50 on a book you can use once, which doesn’t even look that smashing on your bookshelf. Then my fabulous husband found this audible.com. He actually found it because he was looking for an iPod shuffle for me. At the time they were offering a free iPod shuffle with a subscription. We just signed up, with no upfront costs they shipped us an iPod shuffle, and then all we had to do was fulfill our commitment to buy a certain number of audio books in a certain period time. That was not difficult given our frequent road trips and how unbelievably cheap they are! They don’t ship you a physical CD or tape. You have to download them to your computer, so there is an element of computer savvy involved. If you’ve ever used iTunes or any kind of mp3 player or music service, you’ll have no problem. I can’t tell you how much value we’ve gotten out of audible.com. We downloaded books we’ve always wanted to read, but just can’t find the time to. Our road trips go by in no time. We find ourselves downloading more and more books, even though we haven’t gotten through our first batch yet! All this for maybe the cost of one really good audio book you could pick up at the book store. Add on the price of a shuffle, and there’s no doubt, it’s one of the best internet deals out there. They don’t always have a promotional thing like the free shuffle, but I would check back around Christmas shopping time. Go to Audible.com

NAME BRANDS FOR CHEAP at Classic Closeouts - Review by Marie

2006-10-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

This site has the cheapest clothes I have ever seen on the internet. If you’re looking to get a new wardrobe but have a tight budget, or you just love shopping, you have to check out Classic Closeouts. They have women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, as well as home décor and jewelry. My personal favorite is the bargain bin. This is where items are separated into three bins, $2.99, $599, and $9.99. Besides the bargain bin, there’s clearance items – a down winter jacket for $12.99?! And if you can’t find anything in the Bargain Bin or clearance, their regular prices are so cheap anyway, it hardly makes a difference. They’re always getting new things too, so it’s fun to check back every once in awhile for new finds. These aren’t just cheaply made clothes either. Some of these things are major name brands. It’s like all the best outlet malls and in-store sales in one place, and you get free shipping if you spend over $50. Back to school shopping anyone? I even made a return, and it was really easy. They have very clear instructions on the website under “customer service.” If you have a teenager on your Christmas list this year (notoriously hard to by for), and you want to spend $10 on a gift that looks like it cost $50…I have two words for you: Classic Closeouts.

Precor EFX 528 Elliptical Crosstrainer

2006-10-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

OK, so being 50 I have had the opportunity to try lots of different exercise equipment. Because I am not naturally athletic, it has been a challenge for me to find something that is affordable, burns the most calories ,and that I won't hurt myself using. I admit I have tried a treadmill (not enough calories), weight machines (not klutz-proof), free weights (too dangerous), slides (the rug burn really hurt), the abs machine (they are still not flat), the trampoline rebounder (not enough calories), and yes, sad though it be, I even bought a Gazelle at a garage sale for $10 and tried it! It turned out to be too embarrassing to have in my basement........

So what is the best piece of exercise equipment? One that you will actually use! I am in love with elliptical trainers, (due to my "old" knees that can't take the pounding of jogging), and my current favorite is the Precor EFX. I have the 528 home model, and with only a modicum of effort, I can burn 10 calories a minute (you do the math for a 30 minute workout). The handles on my model are stationary, but remember I need the one that I can't easily fall off---but if you don't have my coordination issues, you may want to go for the moving handles, and get even more out of your workout. This machine does not stress my knees at all, and the stationary handles make it easy to find my balance if I start swinging my arms hard.........And I do love watching those calories tick off on the display monitor! It will even monitor my heart rate, with a thin rubber strap that fits on the lower half of my rib cage-- this is great for those days that I'm worried about my cardio fitness and want to work out based on what my heart is doing......

If you've never been on one, I suggest you pay to drop into a fitness center and try theirs--it will give you a good idea if this is for you. One critical accessory for me is the shelf to put my book on, but if you watch TV while you work out, that's not needed. If a new one seems pricey, used ones are available through Amazon.com. Enjoy your new elliptical crosstrainer, I know I love mine, and when I'm 80... I'll still be able to use it even if my knees get bad and my balance goes!!!

Other Stores selling Elliptical Crosstrainers that I recommend:

Find Great Deals on Plasma Televisions (TVs) on MyFundRazor!

2006-06-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

In Los Angeles, gas prices are over $3.25 per gallon! With Internet shopping, there's little reason to drive to the store, pay for delivery charges, and drive home. For most of us without a large truck, the delivery charges from a local electronics store are steep.

I recently purchased a Samsung 42" Plasma TV from Amazon.com (Samsung HPR4252 42" High Definition Plasma TV With Integrated ATSC/Digital Cable Ready Tuner). This unit is sweet. My wife and I read online reviews and compared models at local stores. We decided on the Samsung HPR4252 because of its outstanding picture quality, functions, and integrated HDTV tuner. In Los Angeles, we receive over 20 HDTV channels from our antenna! The Amazon.com price was the cheapest on the Internet and it was $800 dollars less than the local store! The shipping charges are equivalent to the store delivery charge, so it is a win-win situation. We ordered a Plasma TV mounting bracket from Amazon.com, and these were also cheaper on Amazon.com.

Check out the great deals on Amazon.com:

Plasma TVs

Plasma TV mounting bracket

HDTV HDMI Cables

HD-DVD Players

Looking for a good deal on Kuerig K-cups?

2006-02-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

My husband and I love an excellent cup of coffee so we splurged and bought a Kuerig B50 single-cup coffee machine. The Kuerig brews one perfect fresh cup of coffee at a time. It uses a K-cup with pre-ground coffee, measured for one cup. We found a great online store called Coffee For Less that sells the machines and K-cups for the best price we could find. Being use to full bodied Northwest coffee we especially love Green Mountains Dark Magic. We order by the crate (100 cups) through Coffee For Less for only 36.00 plus S&H. You can even get on an automatic order plan through this site. Coffee lovers check it out! Happy online shopping, Sue “the savvy shopper”

Why not buy an iPod?

2006-02-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

We bought an MP3 player for our son for Christmas. We found the choices a little baffling but after researching (and asking our son-in-law) we decided on the iRiver H10/20 GBMP3. Even though millions are going with the iPod we found that our son already had lots of MP3 music and the software to work with them. The iRiver fit right in with what he already had and the music was cheaper as well. We also got a lot more storage room for his music and more power for our money by going slightly against the grain.

We found the best price online through Amazon and I can say that our son loves it and is the envy of all his friends. Happy shopping,

Sue
“the savvy shopper”

Where do I find affordable sport team apparel?

2006-02-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

Do you have sports fanatics in your family that love to have T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts featuring their favorite team? I sure do. My husband and all three sons all have their favorites and frequently request these for gifts. I found a great online store, Football Fanatics, that is easy to use and has great prices.

I bought two of my sons USC sweatshirts for Christmas through this site each for only 22.95!! They were prompt in their shipping too. I also ordered a T-shirt for 16.95. They feature all the major teams and sports and usually have a featured bargain item at the top of each page. We live in the Northwest so we are probably going to buy some Seattle Seahawk shirts, but if you are a Pittsburgh Steeler fan they have items for you too. I guess they have to just as they have to have Texas Longhorns! As a Mom with 4 sports fans in her family, I love this site! Happy shopping, Sue “the savvy shopper”

How do I decide on a camcorder?

2006-02-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are in the market for a digital camcorder and after researching Consumer Report and comparison shopping online we have decided on a JVC Ultra compact Series GR-DF550 sold through Wal-Mart currently at 359.00. It uses mini-dv format,(miniature videotapes, cheaper than discs), is capable of taking stills, and rates high in quality through Consumer Reports over all. We want to use our camcorder for recording our sons football games and wrestling matches and want to be able to take movies and still pictures at family events. Happy online shopping, Sue “the savvy shopper”.

Online Fundraising for Schools, Churches, Non-Profits, and Charities.

2005-12-25T05:37:00.000-08:00

MyFundRazor®, a wholly owned subsidiary of Free Educational Publications International, Inc., works with non-profit organizations with their online fundraising needs. Our organizations consist of churches, schools, and charities. I am excited to contribute to the non-profit blog exchange. The mechanics of the non-profit blog exchange is simple, each author writes about another blog on the Internet. The explosive growth of the Internet is fascinating, and there is not enough time in the day to learn about all the ideas and concepts being shared in the most powerful publishing medium available to us, the world wide web.

My family is spending Christmas Eve with the in-laws. My wife’s parents own a beautiful home in Bend, Oregon where the relaxed pace, scent of junipers, and open space is a welcome change from the Los Angeles hustle and bustle. My task at hand this Christmas Eve is to write an article about Betsy’s blog and add my contribution to the non-profit blog exchange.

I have never met Betsy Harman nor do I know anything about Betsy. However, the amazing thing about the Internet is that I can “Google” Betsy and do research about her blog, or I can read her hundreds of articles dating back to July 2003 published on her website. I quickly realized that Betsy’s blogs are of great interest to me! Betsy is a philanthropist, and her articles deal with “random thoughts about online fundraising, e-mail marketing, and the web”.

Online fundraising is my expertise because Free Educational Publications International, Inc. is utilizing online advertising and marketing to fuel the academic mission. Through the MyFundRazor® network, we also provide a free turn-key solution to online fundraising in a way that will deliver thousands of dollars to schools, charities, non-profits, and churches.

Figure 1: The Shift in Advertising Dollars

(click on image for presentation)
The changes in publishing modalities influence advertising dollars (see Figure 1 and presentation). It is estimated that 70% of consumers use the Internet to find merchants and services, which is equal to the percentage using newspapers (reference). Online publishing companies face new opportunities to capture a piece of the multi-billion dollar online advertising budget. While pay-per-click advertising has propelled Google’s advertising revenue beyond $5 billion a year (GOOG), affiliate marketing is an alternative form of online advertising that is far more attractive to advertisers.

For example, Super Bowl advertising costs a hefty $2 million for a 30 second slot. Merchants will receive brand recognition when advertising during the Super Bowl, but some merchants may receive little business from their advertising investment. Let’s consider an advertiser like Discover Card®. When was the last time you signed up for a credit card after seeing a television commercial? I have yet to meet a person who has picked up the phone and signed up for a credit card after viewing a television commercial. However, with online advertising, the consumer is more likely to sign-up for a credit card when the benefits of a particular credit card are clearly displayed. Moreover, the consumer is more likely to sign up for a new card if his or her favorite organization receives $28, which will be elaborated more later. If the credit card company pays only when a consumer actually signs up for a credit card via their website, then this form of “online advertising” is far more economical. Discover Card® , therefore, pays affiliate marketers $40 per credit card referral. Instead of using the $2 million that would have been spent for a Super Bowl commercial slot, Discover Card® will gain 50,000 new customers through affiliate marketing using Internet publishers.

Affiliate marketing is a growing industry and is sustainable. MyFundRazor® employs affiliate marketing to help schools, charities, non-profits, and churches raise money for their organizations. In the U.S., Internet shopping exceeds $120 billion per year and is projected to grow at 20% yearly. As advertising budgets shift from newspapers, radio, and television to the Internet, merchants will increase their advertising expenditures on banner, pay-per-click, and affiliate advertising.

MyFundRazor® creates a free online virtual mall for every organization we serve. Without additional costs to the consumer or the organization, MyFundRazor® provides an e-commerce portal that allows each organization to raise funds in support of its missions and programs. By simply purchasing through these sites, consumers will be adding their voice in support of their favorite schools, charities, non-profit organizations, and churches. When a supporter shops through an organization’s Virtual Mall, the organization receives a check for 70% of all the profit earned from that site. The remaining 30% of the total profit goes to MyFundRazor® to pay for the web hosting, web design, service representatives, and administration. This is a great opportunity to raise capital at no cost, with no money pressures and with no administrative requirements.

If your organization is tired of traditional fundraising (view the MyFundRazor® commercial), then consider MyFundRazor® to help raise money. The most difficult hurdle is teaching consumers how to shop on the Internet.

Anyone can learn how to shop online.

During the visit with my in-laws, they purchased a Petsafe Wireless Collar at a local merchant in Bend, Oregon for $69.95. They needed a second collar for a new dog, and I offered to help them find one online. I showed them how to register for eBay. In less than 10 seconds, I found the SAME collar on eBay from an online merchant selling a brand new Petsafe Wireless Fence Receiver (i.e., NIB which stands for ‘new in box’) for $49 dollars plus $1 shipping via Priority Mail through the US Postal Service! In less than 5 minutes, I helped my father-in-law create a PayPal.com account and pay for the item. He saved $20 dollars and purchased a brand new Petsafe Wireless Fence Receiver in less time than driving to the local merchant. Because this transaction was made through the MedRounds Virtual Mall, MedRounds made $12 for a new eBay registration and ~$1.25, which is 40% of eBay’s commission for helping merchants sell online. These small transactions quickly add up as evidenced by Rolling Stone Magazine’s success. Their online magazine receives over $1 million in eBay commissions monthly.

Why does eBay continue to pay online publishers for sending business their way? The online business environment is very competitive and encourages companies to participate in affiliate marketing strategies to maintain their market dominance. Otherwise, a competing company will do something better, cheaper, and pay higher commissions for customers. If my father-in-law would have signed up for a new Discover Card®, MedRounds would have earned another $40 in commission for helping him shop online. By working with MyFundRazor®, non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and charities earn 70% of these commissions generated by hundreds or thousands of supporters shopping online for everyday items year round.

I applaud Betsy Harman and her blog dedicated to helping organizations learn about online fundraising for their missions and programs. MyFundRazor® is dedicated to making our world a better place by helping schools, charities, and churches raise money. Shop your favorite brands… lend a helping hand!®

References

http://www.techweb.com/wire/ebiz/162101194
http://www.utexas.edu/features/2005/advertising/
http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=159904660

Some Organizations We Serve

Center for Macular Degeneration

Church of Living Water

Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology

Grant Wood Elementary

Iowa Lions Club

McKenny Elementary PTO

Mission for Vision

Peace Lutheran

Unite for Sight

Classic Closeouts - hot tip for bargain hunters!

2005-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

This online outlet is such a great little discovery. I had never heard of it until I found it through myfundrazor.org. I gave it a try and it was a great experience! The clothes were inexpensive and trendy. My order arrived quickly and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the clothes when the average price was $7.99 an item! Go to Classic Closeouts to find a treat for yourself if you're on a budget or to find good quality, inexpensive gifts.

Audio books and Audible.com

2005-12-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

Are you busy and always on the go?

Here is a great opportunity to sign up for an audio book service with Audible.com and pick out two audio books for download each month.

Act now and you'll receive a FREE iPod Shuffle Player!

We signed up for Audible... we admit it... to get the Ipod Shuffle. The deal when we signed up was the following: Sign up to be a Platinum Audible Reader which gives you 2 credits a month for $22.95 USD. Also they require a 6 month commitment. Well we are happy to report that everything about this deal is on the up-and-up! We signed up, recieved our 2 credits for $22.95, and within a few hours had an email with a FedEx tracking number confirming our Ipod Shuffle shipment! Our credits worked right away and we've already used them. Also something very important to note is that this site does NOT require multiple credits for longer or more popular books! THIS IS AWESOME! We downloaded a book that was over $50.00 in value for 1 credit. Audible.com you get 5 stars in our book. We also took the liberty of calling their customer support on a Saturday... after holding for 10 minutes listening to their Audible radio broadcast (which was a little long to be on hold) we got a real live person who was very helpful. We asked about our Ipod Shuffle and if it was really coming, and she explained that the Ipod Shuffle usually arrives in 7 - 10 days.

Wal-Mart Online Delivers Top Holiday Toys at Rock-Bottom Prices

2005-11-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

Walmart.com's amazing holiday shipping offer: now it's just 97¢ to ship tons of hot holiday toys and video games! Just look for the red truck icon and save.
Advantages to shopping on Wal-Mart.com

Find great deals online
Low cost shipping @ 97¢
Save gas
Avoid lines
Shop in your pajamas at home!
You don't have to worry about the item being in stock.

VTech V.Smile System with Accessories Value Bundle

$89.84

PSP Basic Bundle

$269.64

97¢ Shipping on Top Holiday Video Games at Walmart.com

Send your child a letter from Santa this holiday season

2005-11-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

Santa Letters will send personalized letters to your child. Santa will even send a Good and Naughty list with your child's name in the Good list! The letters are postmarked from The North Pole and will bring joy to your child's holiday experience.

Save time and money, order your groceries from Safeway.com

2005-11-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

We have featured on the first page of our Virtual Malls Safeway.com which also operates Vons.com. Safeway.com allows ordering of everyday groceries, produce, meat, etc... and delivery of these items. This chain of grocers currently deliver to cities in: Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Pennsylvania.

The time saved from online ordering will allow more time for work, professional development, church, family, fun, rest, and sleep. Currently, this company is offering FREE delivery for orders of $50 or more.

Avoid traffic, save money on gas, and make more time for the important things in life by ordering your groceries online!