Stretching Your Economic Stimulus Check
Evelyn C. Leeper
of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So if you
get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards and $600
in cash.
I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift cards!
--
Evelyn C. Leeper
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test
a man's character, give him power. -Abraham Lincoln
Dave
"Evelyn C. Leeper" <ele...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:482ca6f4$0$25061$607e...@cv.net...
> Shop-Rite (in NJ) is offering to give you a $330 gift card for each $300
> of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So if you
> get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards and $600
> in cash.
>
> I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
> grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift cards!
As discussed several times already, this is not a frugal idea. You'll end
up spending more money in two ways:
1st, you will likely buy more (high-profit) items at the store where you
bought the gift card, simply because items that are a lower price at another
store are now LESS convenient to buy at the other store (easier just to put
everything on the card).
Also, you will have a tendency to spend more money, as you are not spending
MONEY, but rather charging purchases against the gift card, so you are less
aware of how much you are spending.
Shop-rite and all the other supermarkets offering this deal are not stupid.
The consumer is NOT going to benefit from this deal, the supermarket will,
even after the 10% incentive that they pitch in. -Dave
Evelyn C. Leeper
>
> "Evelyn C. Leeper" <ele...@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:482ca6f4$0$25061$607e...@cv.net...
>> Shop-Rite (in NJ) is offering to give you a $330 gift card for each
>> $300 of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So
>> if you get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards
>> and $600 in cash.
>>
>> I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
>> grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift
>> cards!
>
> As discussed several times already, this is not a frugal idea. You'll
> end up spending more money in two ways:
>
> 1st, you will likely buy more (high-profit) items at the store where you
> bought the gift card, simply because items that are a lower price at
> another store are now LESS convenient to buy at the other store (easier
> just to put everything on the card).
Well, in my case, I'm doing almost all my grocery shopping at Shop-Rite
because it is the cheapest of the supermarkets around here. (If it were
a clothing or electronics store, I would agree with you.)
> Also, you will have a tendency to spend more money, as you are not
> spending MONEY, but rather charging purchases against the gift card, so
> you are less aware of how much you are spending.
This may be true of some people, but I still have the mindset that money
is money, no matter what the form. (It takes us forever to spend gift
cards for stores we don't use regularly, because we're trying to
maximize our return!)
> Shop-rite and all the other supermarkets offering this deal are not
> stupid. The consumer is NOT going to benefit from this deal, the
> supermarket will, even after the 10% incentive that they pitch in. -Dave
Well, I will. YMMV.
Chloe
news:g0ibki$bb6$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> "Evelyn C. Leeper" <ele...@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:482ca6f4$0$25061$607e...@cv.net...
>> Shop-Rite (in NJ) is offering to give you a $330 gift card for each $300
>> of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So if you
>> get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards and $600
>> in cash.
>>
>> I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
>> grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift
>> cards!
>
> As discussed several times already, this is not a frugal idea. You'll end
> up spending more money in two ways:
Trust me, I'll spend exactly the same amount I would have otherwise, except
I'll be getting $30 worth of loss leaders on each gift card I buy. Don't
project your own buying patterns on everyone else.
Seerialmom
They're doing that at one of our grocery stores here as well. The
main problem is this: "most" people had direct deposit so these "get
10% more with your stimulus checks" is a moot point for them. I like
the theory, but the reality isn't great. Unless they'll take a print
out show you got the deposit and let you write a check for the
amount :)
Evelyn C. Leeper
Actually, Shop-Rite does has a provision for doing that.
Seerialmom
> "Dave" <no...@nohow.not> wrote in message
>
> news:g0ibki$bb6$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> >news:482ca6f4$0$25061$607e...@cv.net...
> >> Shop-Rite (in NJ) is offering to give you a $330 gift card for each $300
> >> of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So if you
> >> get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards and $600
> >> in cash.
>
> >> I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
> >> grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift
> >> cards!
>
> > As discussed several times already, this is not a frugal idea. You'll end
> > up spending more money in two ways:
>
> <snip>
>
> Trust me, I'll spend exactly the same amount I would have otherwise, except
> I'll be getting $30 worth of loss leaders on each gift card I buy. Don't
> project your own buying patterns on everyone else.
That's how I'd do it as well...if I were "eligible" to do it. I could
stock up on those $2.97 a lb Angus (choice) tri-tips at
Raleys...believe you me! ;p
Seerialmom
>
> - Show quoted text -
Darn...too bad there's no Shop-Rite in northern California though ;)
Seerialmom
>
> - Show quoted text -
And I just thought of the perfect...hmm...how can I say this without
sounding like a thief..."idea".
Go to every store that offers this provision and show them each the
same print out...write the check to get the 10% more gift card...wow.
You could end up with many gift cards you could give for Christmas or
donate to charity...hey...there's a write off there and it didn't cost
anything (except what you'd normally pay at that store)
Cheapo Groovo
says...
> Shop-Rite (in NJ) is offering to give you a $330 gift card for each $300
> of your rebate check you apply (and cash for the remainder). So if you
> get a $1200 check, you can get (for example) $660 in gift cards and $600
> in cash.
>
> I would not be surprised to see other stores doing the same, but with
> grocery stores, you *know* you'll have no problem spending the gift cards!
>
>
http//www.cheapogroovo.com
Evelyn C. Leeper
Albertson's and Fry's are doing the same thing.
Chloe
news:1384883d-efd5-40d6...@y21g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
Kroger did not ask for any evidence of a tax rebate at all. It's just a
marketing gimmick tied to the stimulus program. But one I'm happy to take
advantage of.
clams_casino
I'm thinking one can probably sign up at several grocers, Home Depot,
Lowes, Sears, etc. The retailers really don't care.