How to Get Great Power Tool Deals from Amazon
Have you ever experienced power tool price gloat?
I learned the serious art of saving money on power tools from the friendly woodworkers at the WoodNet and FamilyWoodworking forums. I asked both forums recently about the best deals they’d ever gotten on power tools.
These are serious woodworkers and they are downright professional when it comes to getting good deals.
As they told their stories about near-criminal discounts certain patterns began to emerge, certain strategies for getting great prices that every deal-hungry power tool shopper should know about.
So if you’re ready to get serious about saving money on power tools here are the top ten tactics I learned from the guys at WoodNet and FamilyWoodworking:
1) vigilance.
Getting power tool prices you can gloat about means you have to be ever alert!
I suggest first and foremost that you monitor these three forums, none of which we’re affiliated with commercially - www(dot)woodnet(dot)net, www(dot)familywoodworking(dot)org/ and www(dot)sawmillcreek(dot)com/.
FamilyWoodworking has an actual “hot deals” section. The other two don’t and you’ll have to stumble upon them, though they’re usually found in areas where the most woodworkers have congregated.
You’ll find some of the friendliest, funniest woodworkers you’ll ever meet in these forums, and you might just stumble across deals you can gloat about. Be sure to POST DEALS you find to these forums!
Any unwritten quirks or kinks that Amazon’s deals have, such as the fact that the recent 20% off code (2OOFFPTA) for blades, bits and dadoes also applied to router lift, will show up in forums first before they get ‘fixed’ by Amazon.
2) timing is everything. move fast.
Here’s a limited time deal for example - Amazon recently offered free certificates to folks buying DeWALT, Black & Decker, Porter-Cable or Delta products:
- Purchase between $150 and $299 and get $25 off a future purchase.
- Purchase $300 or more and get $50 off a future purchase.
Many deals that show up don’t last long. This ties back into vigilance and watching forums like a hawk. Sounds like work doesn’t it? That’s what makes woodworkers gloat so much 
3) rebates.
Another great way to get the power tool price gloat is to hunt for REBATES.
Right now Delta’s offering a number of rebates on certain items through Amazon.
If there’s a tool you’re serious about you’re more likely to get that sweet price gloat feeling if you read the forums, read my blog, check the tool’s Amazon profile page and look at the tool manufacturer’s site for REBATES.
Look closely and be sure to follow up on your rebates! Companies aren’t going to track you down and force their money back on you. Go get it!
4) reconditioned power tools.
Woodworkers are sometimes mixed about reconditioned power tools. The truth is that sometimes when you get them home you realize that they weren’t reconditioned all the way back to ‘LIKE NEW.’
Then again, more often than not they are like new. And when they’re not you can return them because from Amazon they come with a warranty (be sure to read the next tip regarding customer service).
I know many woodworkers who SWEAR by reconditioned tools. The price discounts are DEEP, usually in the neighborhood of 40-60%. And in most cases these tools are checked more closely than NEW TOOLS coming straight off the assembly line.
If you can stand the chance that you’ll have to return it then you’ll pretty well guarantee price gloat on a regular basis with reconditioned power tools.
5) make friends with customer service.
What? Your new planer has a dent in it out of the box? CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
What? Your order is two days late? CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Amazon toll-free in the US and Canada: (800) 201-7575
Amazon from outside the US and Canada: (206) 346-2992 or (206)-266-2992
Another Amazon direct line: (206) 266-2335
Amazon’s rebate center: 1-866-348-2492
Another noted method - from WoodNet - is sending an email to get a phone call back. Here’s the Amazon login page for customer service if you want to start with an email instead of a phone call.
I’m not suggesting that you look for ways to abuse this, but rather that you get what you have paid your hard earned money for.
Many stories in the forums that involve saving lots of money include a phone call to Amazon’s customer service with legitimate complaints regarding shipments and damages to products received.
6) the price match guarantee
Amazon offers a 110% price match guarantee. This is not the first choice of serious power tool price gloaters, but it’s great if you’ve got to get a tool or part and there’s no rebates or other deals available.
Many restrictions apply - it’s mostly obvious stuff though, stuff such as - it doesn’t apply to refurbished tools you find elsewhere and it doesn’t apply to typos you find elsewhere.
If you’ve tracked down a lower price you’d like Amazon to match first check out their Price Matching Guidelines and then call them at (866) 876-8073.
7) buy now if you’ll use it later
Blades and bits. Clamps. Routers. Drills. If someone points you to an incredible deal on something that you regularly use up or burn out - GET IT!
Not only will you get the immediate gloat but you’ll have a stock pile of items you use up regularly at a great price. That’s smart wood shop economics.
free shipping
For one, there’s a deal on free shipping from Amazon right now through the 14th of February. It’s only for some stationary and benchtop woodworking tools, but hey, they cost a BUNDLE to ship.
Click here to see all the stationary and benchtop woodworking tools with free standard shipping from Amazon through February 14th.
Then of course there’s Super Saver Shipping. It’s good for free shipping on certain products over 25$. Check and check again to see if the power tools you’re shopping for have free shipping. Depending on the size of the tool this could save you hundreds of dollars.
9) the 30 day price drop refund guarantee
For SOME crazy reason Amazon’s not in a hurry to tell you when you qualify for their 30 day price drop refund.
Here’s how it works:
1. login to Your Account on Amazon.
2. click on the items in your ‘items ordered’ invoice to see if the price has gone down below what you paid.
3. if a price has dropped since you purchased it copy your order number and go to the Return and Refunds Contact Form.
4. in that form you may see the price drop item. If not you must paste your oder number into the ‘Other’ box
5. write in the comments form that you’d like a refund
This is great insurance for the bargain shopper who’s forced into making a snap decision on a power tool. And hey, you may actually have money waiting for you in your account right now!
10) the 30$ credit card discount
This is a one-time discount when you sign up for your Amazon credit card. Nothing crazy, just 30 cold ones for you, but if used at the right time it could push you over the ledge into ultimate gloat
Bonus Tips: Shopping for Power Tools at Brick and Mortar Stores
1) Vigilance still applies - look discount tables over like a hawk. There’s no telling what treasures could be there.
2) Have a strong general knowledge of what power tools go for. Unless you have a mobile device you’re not going to know for sure, so it PAYS to know going prices of power tools you’re considering for your shop.
3) Always ask about prices - especially if it’s hundreds of dollars off. 9 times out of 10 managers will honor the mistake their store made so make sure you’re the first in line if you find incredible mistakes in stores.
4) Price matching often applies. Bring in proof of prices and be firm about getting your discount.
5) Make low ball offers once you’re talking with managers. You never know until you ask. Especially for close outs and display items. The worst they can say is no, so ASK FOR A LOWER PRICE!
Auction Audacities: Ways People Scam Online Auction Users
You can find just about anything on eBay these day’s a random browse brings CDs, clothing, cars, and skin to your computer screen. That’s right, I said skin. One man recently auctioned patches of his body to advertising companies, who tattooed their logos on to him. EBay isn’t the only site for surfers bit by the auction bug. There are literally hundreds of sites on the web where you can sell your useless crap and use the money to buy someone else’s useless crap. It’s a flea market if I ever saw one-just online. And hey, it’s not all junk. You can find some great deals on auctions sites.
One problem: People are getting scammed, which turns them off to these types of sites altogether. Of course, security is bound to be an issue whenever the Internet and money are involved, but with online auctions, individuals are in control, not corporations who are more trustworthy with business transactions. 99 times out of 100, the relationship between auctioneer and buyer will go smoothly, but just in case, here’s the top five ways users will scam you. Don’t become that minority who walks away from a deal having lost both money and item.
1. Phony Users. I don’t know what the reason is behind it, but some users will bid on items when they never have any intention of purchasing it. Your auction will be over, and the user will cancel his auction membership and disappear-and there’s not much you can do to stop him. Most auction sites charge a fee to sell items, so not only do you still have the unwanted item on your hands, but you also have lost money trying to sell it.
One way to prevent this from happening is to closely keep track of you auction. When the auction closes, take note of the second and third runners up. That way, if the winner bails on you, you can contact the others to see if they are still interested in purchasing the item from you. At some sites, you also have the option of only accepting bids from confirmed users-these are bidders who have either won and paid for items in the past or who have their own auctioneer’s account set up with the site. Check the guidelines, because every site is a little different on their definition of “confirmed buyer.”
2. Stolen Credit Cards. If you own a business and choose to accept credit cards, be careful about how you do this online. When a user pays with a stolen credit card, it may take a few days for the rightful owner to realize it’s one. Guess what? You won’t get the money for your item, which is already in the mail-as good as gone.
Credit card payments are tricky, and I don’t recommend using them unless you own a business with an online website that has credit card payments available. If not, call the credit card company. The name and address that the user provided for shipping should be the same name and address on the card. Companies are glad to check their records for you-it saves them time and money when their cards are stolen. If it doesn’t match up, decline the card and ask for payment in another way.
3. Shipping and Receiving Scoundrels. Whether you’re the buyer or seller, you should be cautious about the exchange of money and goods. Users can easily take your money or item and disappear without sending you what you’re due.
In most conditions, it is the buyer’s responsibility to send payment first. If you’re using a personal check to pay for an item, date the check two weeks from the day you send it. That way, if the seller never sends the item, you can cancel your check before its cashed. The best choice, especially for larger items, is to use an escrow service. These companies act as a go-between for buyers and sellers.
Check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Reports before selecting a service to make sure they aren’t scamming both buyer and seller by disappearing with the item and the money, both at once.
4. Check Bouncers. As with stolen credit cards, buyers can easily scam sellers by sending them checks that are no good. You receive the payment and mail the item, but when you go to cash the check, you find out that it is worthless. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot-use a third party service instead.
Third party payment services, the most popular of which is paypal, allow people to create free online accounts to transfer money. Using a bank account or credit card, you can send and receive money almost instantly, which prevents users from stealing your stuff. This is the best option for payment after an online auction.
5. Identity Thieves. As with any online service, you need to be very careful with your personal information to prevent identity theft. These crooks are getting very sneaky, often the e-mails or messages you receive from them look and sound very official. As people are getting more web-savvy, so are cyber criminals.
Use a well-known auction site that you trust. These sites should never ask for information like your social security number. Most of the time they won’t be the ones trying to scam you. Other users will use their company name to send e-mails demanding such information. If you get something in your inbox that looks fishy, forward it to the company or give them a call, and professionals there can tell you if it’s legit. These sites will also never ask for your user name and password in an e-mail, so beware of claims that this information is needed.
Use common sense. The information you share online should be limited and you should always take preventative measures to protect yourself. Sites are only as secure as their users, so if you get scammed, most times you only have yourself to blame. Before signing up with any auction site, check their policies. Knowledge is the key to keeping your online transactions protected so that you can buy and sell all the personal property, goods and services you want. Before long, that green and orange polka-dotted couch will be yours.
Should You Try To Use eBay To Buy Items Wholesale?
I must confess that I, like many millions of people all over the planet, love eBay. I have used the online auction giant to buy and sell everything from vintage jewelry and old books to cars. It doesn’t matter what you are in the market for you can find it on eBay. As the largest auction provider in the world, they offer the largest variety you will find on virtually any subject. You will even be amused by some of the strange things you find on eBay like a piece of toast with the face of the Virgin Mary!
If you are like me then you are probably oblivious to how incredible eBay really is. I have been using the site for several years, almost since the beginning. I wish I had had the foresight to buy some of their stock, but that’s another story. What I do get a kick out of is the fact that I can buy and sell and do business with people all over the world from my home computer. Who would have thought that would even be possible for the average person as recently as ten or fifteen years ago? The way that eBay is set up by categories and the search engine that is used to help you find items is just incredible. You will stumble on things that you want without even directly looking for them.
As far as doing business through eBay, they have made it super easy. You don’t even have to worry about currency exchange, or shopping carts or any of the other issues normally associated with e-commerce. If you have an email address and a Paypal account you are in business.
If you are looking for old or rare items eBay is like a giant treasure chest and sometimes if you are lucky and very attentive you can find really good deals on stuff that is truly valuable.
Now, on the other side of the coin we need to take a look at some of the negative aspects just so you have the full picture of doing business on eBay. I wouldn’t want to leave you thinking that everything was totally perfect.
If you are going to do business in eBay, one of the things you must be aware of is shipping costs. If you are looking at buying a large item from overseas, let me stop you before you even get started.
International shipping costs are outrageous, which is why most eBay sellers in the United States will only sell to and ship in the U.S. and Canada. You could buy a lamp for $1 and pay $75 for it to be shipped!
Another issue that I have to warn you about is that there are tons of people who prowl around eBay that are crooked. They are fraudsters who will send thousands of emails to people claiming they bought an item and will demand payment or threaten to report you. I get this garbage everyday. Just be aware that they are there. You also have the people who place items up for sale that are non existent or not what they claim them to be. This is why it pays to only do business with people who have a long history of good feedback ratings.
Hopefully this has helped to give you a good overview on buying through eBay, now put the information to use!
Why I love Italian Designer Shoes
Italian designer shoes are always in style! With today’s changing fashions it can be tough figuring out what type as well as style to purchase and wear. But it doesn’t have to be when you purchase and wear quality! Quality never goes out of style. Even with a different style, quality brings a classic look to every wardrobe. And you can be assured; classic quality will never go out of style.
Smart dressers do not follow trends blindly. Instead, they purchase the aspect of a particular trend that appeals to them and incorporate it into their existing wardrobe. I love Italian designer shoes in particular because of their finely crafted detailing. but also because of the consistent, exceptional quality. That means I’ll be wearing the best, most intricately designed pair of shoes with classic looks that will not fall flat with my wardrobe. In any style I choose!
In reviewing Italian designer shoe maker, Gianna Meliani, it is discovered that Gianna designs and takes care of her own collection. Her collection is completely produced in Italy, by the shoe factory Gemini, that belongs to Bruno Meliani, Gianna’s father. The shoe factory Gemini, was born in 1971 and passing through many legal transformations, is now completely administrated by Mr. Bruno Meliani.
The shoe making activity begins from the creation right through to the production, (cutting joining, assembling) and commercializing fine women’s shoes. In order to produce, higher quality shoes, Gianna chooses the most precious kind of leather like calf, kidskin, python, crocodile and so on… Selectivity is what gives this and other great Italian designers an edge in the market as well as a hit with the most satisfied customers who wear them!
Gianna Meliani shoes’ collection is sold everywhere in the world. The firm produces mainly the Gianna Meliani collection however; it has worked and is still working with many other famous labels such as: Anne Klein, Anne Klein II, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Max Mara, Michael Kors, Burberry, Paul Smith and more.
“The weight of the body falls on the arch like a plumb line” - wrote Ferragamo, a company which designs shoes, winning the “Neiman Marcus Award” the Oscar of the fashion world and has been in the shoemaking business since 1925. Salvatore Ferragamo a designing shoemaker in Italy is an example of Italian attention to detailing quality in designer shoe wear. You can search the world over and find the absolute best, comes only from Italy. This company became an essential stop off for personalities such as Greta Garbo, Sofia Loren, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Audrey Hepburn who all had their shoes made to measure there. Ferragamo saw machinery production as indispensable for the less elaborate work but believed all the rest should be done by hand and under strict human supervision.
No other shoe designers can the world compare to the Italian designers exclusivity in creating the highest quality, detailed, designer shoes. No other companies can compare their history with any favorable measure to the Italian design shoemakers in Italy.
Yes the complete attention to detail in design along with the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship is why I love Italian designer shoes!
Evolution Of The Watch
The watch as we know it today came into being out of the necessity of portability in the shipping and navigation industry in the early 15th century. The problem they had was that while the latitude could be measured by looking at the stars, the only way to determine longitude was by comparing the midday time of the local longitude to a European meridian like Paris or Greenwich. This was a very unreliable way of doings things until John Harrison introduced the chronometer.
The first fairly accurate clocks used weighted pendulums, which by their very nature were of no use at sea or in a portable watch. The invention of the spring mechanism brought in the development of “pocket clockes” in Tudor England allowing clockmakers the ability to put a time keeping device in a small, mobile, container.
The very first pocket watch was created by Peter Henlein in 1524 and it is rumored that Henry VIII had one of these kept on a chain around his neck. These early watches only had an hour hand, the inaccuracy of the watches at this time made a minute hand useless. The evolution of the miniaturization process of these spring based designs allowed for the making of portable watches that would work at sea. The Waltham Watch Company founded in 1850 by Aaron Dennison pioneered the manufacturing of interchangeable parts and is still a top watchmaker today.
In the 1868 the first wristwatch was made by the Patek Philippe company, a joint venture of Antoinne Patek and French watchmaker Adrien Phillippe, the inventor of the keyless wind mechanism. It was considered an accessory for women until the 2oth century. Because of its exclusivity, luxury tag, low volume production and cost, Patek Philippe lost the market and lost much of its business. The Stern family took over the firm in 1929.
Patek Philippe remains a force in the quartz watch industry introducing not only the perpetual calendar, chronograph, and minute repeater but also the most complicated mechanical watch ever made. In 1989, the company created the Calibre 89, in celebration of their 150th anniversary. This watch has 33 complications including the date of Easter, a thermometer, a sunrise time, equation of time and more!
In the early 1900’s, the wristwatch became popular with men due to the Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont who wanted a more convenient way of checking time while in the aircraft he was working on. He approached his friend, Louis Cartier and asked him for a watch that he could read easier and Cartier designed a leather-band wristwatch for him that he never took off.
Because Cartier was a popular figure in Paris, he was able to sell these watches to many other men and by the Fist World War, officers in all armies were turning to the wristwatches because it was much easier in the battlefield to just look at a watch on their wrist than to have to reach in their pocket for a pocket watch.
Army contractors began issuing cheap, reliable, mass produced watches to artillery and infantry officers so they could synchronize their attacks. At the end of the war, these European and American veterans were allowed to return home with their wristwatches helping to make them popular among middle class Western civilian culture. Today almost everyone wears a wristwatch as a direct result of this introduction in World War 1.
Taking Care of Your Leather Shoes
You can make your leather shoes last as long as you want to keep them if you take care of them, but sadly most don’t know how. We live in a society now where it is much easier to just throw them out and buy a new pair.
Back in the day, most people owned only one pair of shoes and therefore had to take care of them out of necessity and they lasted for the life of the person! With the busy lifestyles of today many people just don’t take the time to care for their shoes properly and just take the easier albeit more expensive option of buying new ones instead. It really doesn’t take that much time or effort as well will show you.
When you first buy a pair of shoes you should always coat them with a weather proofing or sealer to prevent them from water and weather damage. The sealants usually come on a spray and you should use two to three coats to be sure they are covered properly. Be sure that the spray you choose has a waterproofing agent in it. Also, reapply the sealant every few months to guarantee protection and even more often if you use the shoes in harsh conditions.
Leather tends to shrink and get hard if it gets wet, so do your best to keep them dry. If your leather shoes do get wet, let them dry naturally unless you have done it deliberately to shape them to your foot. Your leather shoes will be much more comfortable if you keep them soft as they are intended to be. If your shoes do become hard you will need to use some wax or polish to make them soft again. Use clear shoe wax or even furniture wax and rub in lightly. If you buy expensive leather dress shoes, inquire at the store you buy them as to any special care they may need to keep them in perfect shape.
The best practice is to use natural products whenever possible to take care of your leather shoes. Harsh chemicals can be damaging to your leather shoes. If they are exposed to chemicals wipe them down as soon as possible with a cloth and warm water then dry and reapply a waterproof sealant.
The sock less Miami Vice look is still popular with some, but it is damaging to your shoes. Whenever possible where socks with your shoes, of course some leather shoes like sandals and many ladies shoes you would not want to wear socks. Overall, wearing socks will prolong the life of your shoes.
Always use a soft natural cloth and polish in a circular motion when you are polishing your leather shoes and rub the polish in well. You will not hurt the shoes and it will help to preserve them. Make sure to wipe way any excess polish as not to ruin your pants or socks from staining.
See, it really doesn’t take that much effort to make your shoes last.
Secrets To Buying Diamond Jewellery Online
With all of the potential for scams concerning diamond jewelery, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamond jewelery online, without any problems, as long as you are careful.
First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful, sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.
One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!
Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamond jewelery, especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.
Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price, but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!
Ask about the sellers credentials, such as professional diamond jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.
Ask for a diamond jewelery grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds, preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised,sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself,again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!
Is Diamond Jewelery Really Rare?
When you walk into a diamond jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds and diamond jewelery are indeed rare. Most people don’t even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jewelers case! There is quite a bit of work that is done before a diamond is ready to sell to the general public!
For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits.
So, the next time you visit your local diamond jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new appreciation, knowing that it truly is one in a million!
Diamond Jewelery Brands and What They Mean
Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot be ‘branded.’ Even though there are different cuts, different grades, and different values placed on each and every diamond in existence, no diamond jewelery is any specific brand, just as gold is not a specific brand.
Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond, but it is still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by a specific well known cutter, then it might be branded in that way as well, but it usually isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it, diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all.
Do not allow a diamond jeweler to try to talk you into paying an exorbitant price on diamond jewellery because it is a specific brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous diamond jewellers when they know that they are dealing with people who don’t know much about diamonds. Remember that diamonds are not actually branded, unless mother nature has her own brand!
