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hhgregg extends Circuit City gift card deal through Super Bowl weekend
Apparently buoyed by the initial response to its Circuit City gift card offer and now happily sitting on top of a pile of the red and yellow plastic cash substitute, retailer hhgregg is extending the program through the Super Bowl weekend. It's all about lemons and lemonade, we suppose, but the conditions of the deal haven't changed -- your Circuit City card is good for up to 20-percent off your hhgregg (brick and mortar only) purchase, and the card gets handed over to hhgregg when used. Still, if Black Friday ended with you holding a Circuit City card and no toys, you could do worse than to pass the buck on to hhgregg.
Apple gives developers the ability to use promo codes
Apple has now given developers the ability to use promo codes to give away copies of their applications on the App Store. Previously, developers had to build a special version of their application (i.e. Ad-hoc copy) that included a mobile provisioning file and the actual application. These two files were then dragged onto iTunes to install them. With the Ad-hoc model, developers were limited to giving away 100 copies of their applications. Plus, users needed to find & supply the UDID information for their iPhone/iPod touch. With this change, developers can give away a special code that, when typed into the iTunes Store under the "Redeem" section, will give the user a free (or promotional) copy of the application. However, there are some caveats to using the promotional codes: The developer can only give away up to 50 promotional codes per application version Currently the promo codes can only be used in the US iTunes Store We're sure that this will fill the gap between developers looking to get reviews and users eager to do the reviewing. Nice work, Apple! [via MacRumors]
hhgregg accepting Circuit City gift cards, some strings attached
In case you can't make it to the bargain hunting unfolding at Circuit City stores, or just don't want to face the frenzied atmosphere tinged with gloom, retailer hhgregg will gladly take any Circuit City gift cards you have lying around off your hands. So if your local Circuit City just got closed, or if it just doesn't have that model you're craving, you can cash in your gift cards at hhgregg, to the tune of (up to) 20-percent of your register total. The offer does not extend to online purchases, and you better make sure you use up the entire card value, too, because you'll have to surrender the card to hhgregg before they hand you the goods. Use it or lose it, friends![Via TV Lamps N Bulbs]
Best Buy's holiday gift cards now double as speakers, still a lazy present
Not to be outdone by Target's camera gift card gimmickry -- or perhaps to be exactly outdone -- Best Buy is offering gift cards this year with built-in speakers and a 3.5mm hookup. This is ostensibly to rock some tinny tunes while pondering how best to spend a $50 card on a $4,000 home theater system -- there's an alternative, highly discouraged usage after the break. What's absolutely clear here is the incredible margins these retailers enjoy on gift card purchases, and while we'd love to stick it to the man and buy real presents for our loved ones, we're probably looking at another mad dash on [respective holiday] Eve to gather up an assortment of cards to be accompanied by misattributed scribbles and perhaps a bow. We can't wait![Thanks, Oscar]
Target gift card for the holidays multitasks as adorable digital camera
Okay, we don't know who came up with this idea, but we have to give them some credit for innovation, not to mention (in our opinion) some pretty attractive design sense. Yes, Target's new gift card gimmick this holiday season is that it doubles as a cute, disposable digital camera. The little device runs on two AAA batteries, has a self-timer, and is packaged with a USB cord, driver disc, instruction manual and a voucher for 40 free prints from Target. The camera itself is a 1.2-megapixel affair with 8MB of memory on-board, which means it can store about 50 images. Now, we know this just a ploy to get us to buy Target gift cards, but we're kind of smitten with this little thing. Oh, and: Bah! Humbug![Via Coolest Gadgets]
Wal-Mart throws in $100 gift card with Blu-ray player purchase
Given that $100 at Wal-mart is essentially as good as cash, we can only imagine how titillating this offer may seem for Blu-ray holdouts. Announced today, the mega-retailer will be offering a $100 gift card with the purchase of any Blu-ray player from June 8th through 14th -- and yes, Sony's PlayStation 3 is included. In case this wasn't enough to maybe-possibly get the general public to actually pay attention to the format, Wally World will also sell "select" BD titles for $15 starting on the 8th. Since the format war ended earlier this year, we've seen report after report proclaiming that Blu-ray adoption just wasn't taking off here in America, but with a theoretical net price now close to $200 (albeit for a few days only), we can certainly see the masses taking notice at long last.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Wal-Mart offering $100 gift card with PS3 purchase
We've received documentation from one of our reliable sources that the $100 gift card Walmart.com is currently offering with the purchase of a PS3 isn't the whole story. According to images shown us (one of which we've placed after the break) from the "Wal-Mart Wire," between June 1-7 Wal-Mart stores will give a $100 gift card to customers who purchase a PS3. The interesting part is that the following week, June 8 - 15, many Blu-ray players will offer the $100 gift card, and this apparently also includes the PS3.The kicker here is if you're looking to pick up a PS3 with your purchase of Metal Gear Solid 4, the smart money would be to pick up the 80GB PS3 MGS4 bundle available June 12 because you'll get a $100 gift card out of the deal. Sure, you could be all about the Wal-Mart hate, but we'd take the free $100.
Best Buy offers HD DVD owners $10 million in gift cards, trade in, shoulder to cry on
Best Buy is following Future Shop, Circuit City and others in reaching out to casualties of the format war. In this case, anyone who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy before February 23, 2008 can request a complimentary $50 gift card for each player. For those too traumatized to even look at their discontinued hardware and software, Best Buy also announced it's adding HD DVD players and media to its Trade-In Center program, starting March 21. No word on how much a player can net you, but once it's updated, check BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an estimate and decide how much holding onto the past is worth.[Thanks, Harmin C.]Update: Best Buy just issued a press release with additional information about the more than $10 million in gift cards it plans to distribute, and details on how to make sure you get yours, check out the full PR after the break.
Apple not just refusing cash, also refusing Apple Gift Cards for iPhones
You can chalk this one up to our bad in assuming best intentions, but when Apple said no cash for iPhones, they damn well meant it -- enough to extend the policy out to no cash for anything that could in turn purchase an iPhone. Turns out you can't even use your Apple bucks to buy an iPhone anymore, not even if someone bought you an Apple Gift Card with their credit card. Ok, for a lot of you this isn't a big deal, but who gets hit hardest? Try all those teenage Apple fanboys begging various family members for small denomination gift cards that will add up to the iPhone they've been after. We've never heard any company being so adamant about keeping non-paper trail for every single damned purchase, but now we're just left wondering how long until someone (or some state) sour from this bitter pill decides to challenge Apple on that whole US dollar bills being "legal tender for all debts, public and private" thing. P.S. -No we're not lawyers, but yes, we're aware that it's probably completely legal for Apple to do. But that doesn't make it right, nor does that mean it will go unchallenged, you feel us? [Thanks, Kevin]
Sunday deals offer free Live and gift cards too
Today is Sunday and that means it's time to talk about this week's Xbox 360 super-Sunday-deals-of-money-savings-greatness! As usual, Circuit City has all the savings this week by offering up a free year of Xbox Live with purchase of any Xbox 360 console. You want video game deals? Well, if you're looking to get your Madden on later this year, plop down a preorder on Madden 08 and Circuit City will give you $25 towards a FansEdge.com order. And if Madden is too long of a wait to play football, this week NCAA Football 08 is available and if purchased at Circuit City they'll give you $10 gift card to boot. There you go, that was the best of the best Xbox 360 deals this week. Pull out your plastic and shop, shop the day away!
Circuit City guarantees Super Paper Mario, puts money where mouth is
Of the many scandalous practices that game shops often subject us to without fear of reprisal, pre-order harassment is one of the worst. Not only will you be sneered at and interrogated for not reserving a new release, you'll be castigated in front of your friends and family, your manhood and the chasteness of your mother called into question. We are told that someone will also sneak under you and tie your shoelaces together so that you'll trip when you try to walk away. This is the reality of video game retailers around the country.Buying from electronics superstores like Best Buy or Fry's cuts down on the unchecked tomfoolery that governs mall-based game shops, but Circuit City is taking an extra step to satisfy its customers. As marked in last Sunday's advertisements, if you're not able to find a copy of Super Paper Mario at Circuit City tomorrow after 2 PM, the store will compensate you with a $20 gift card.A guarantee and good will gesture like that puts Circuit City at the top of our list of places to buy Super Paper Mario and other games from. We'll just have to make sure that we wear our velcro strap shoes when we go to cancel our pre-orders. [Via Opposable Thumbs]
Future Shop wants Canadians to get 360s; Free gift card if out of stock
Future Shop, the Canadian equivalent to Best Buy (who actually purchased the franchise in 2001), promoted the Xbox 360 as a worthy next gen console in a recent "Ask the Expert" column. The article brings up various points about how the 360 stacks up to the competition, mentioning price, resolution and available titles. It's good that they're giving an honest look at the hardware. They finished up with the following:"Even better, Future Shop guarantees that the Xbox 360 will always be in stock - or you'll receive a $30 Future Shop Gift Card - so you can join in the future of gaming anytime. "So you fellow Canuck fanboys keep your eyes peeled next time you're at Future Shop, because you could snag a gift card that could go towards your next game.[Via Digg]
Are your iTunes gifts arriving?
Everyone knows about conventional giftcards and how they provide windfall profits for retailers. So what about undelivered iTunes gift songs and gift cards? In an electronics-only world, does it really matter to a retailer whether they get used or not? TUAW reader Lawrence Harvey pointed us to this article over at SimpleTechnology. The writers decided to test whether gifts were making it to their recipients. Of the twenty gift tracks they sent out, they experienced no less than a 25% failure-to-receive rate. 5 out of the 20 songs never made it to their intended recipient, without any feedback from Apple about the failed deliveries. Retailers obviously do not have a responsibility to ensure that electronic gifts are used, but it seems to us that Apple might be a little more proactive about sending out reminders of unused gift credits. It would create goodwill at very little cost to the company.
$100 gift card free with Xbox 360 purchase [update 1]
Again, the holiday deals just keep rolling in. This week at Toys R Us when you purchase a Xbox 360 premium pack you'll get a free $100 Toys R Us gift card. The offer looks to be only available in-store as we haven't been able to unearth any information on their website. This has to be one of the best deals on a new 360 purchase in a while, especially for parents who need to pick up other gifts at the toys retailer with the $100 gift card. Or you can totally be a hardcore gamer and pick up a game or two, maybe an extra controller, or even some candy! Spend your $100 gift card wisely.Update 1: Replaced post's image with actual Sunday adscan. Having proof is a good thing.[Thanks, Darrien W.]
Save 10% - iTunes $50 gift card for $45 at Costco
Christopher Breen at Playlist's iPod blog found a great little deal on iTunes gift cards. Costco.com is offering the $50 gift card for $45 while supplies last. Breen mentions that local Costcos brick and mortar retail outlets may have a limited supply available for sale as well. This is a great price for a last-second gift. I'd hardly call a $45 item a stocking stuffer, but it would fit very nicely into most people's small-sized gift needs.
Hack your Wii GiftCard
So you've got one of them nifty Wii GiftCards, do ya? Don't feel bad, neither do we. But from what we've read, the little Target card can be used to buy anything in the store, which doesn't really have much to do with the Wii other than to promote it. If you press the power button on the top of the card, the sides light up like a Christmas tree (that is, assuming your Christmas tree glows solid blue for 10 seconds). Well, those crazy cats at Instructables have put together a series of instructions as to how to disassemble this card, and what you might be able to do with it if you did. They discovererd exactly what types of timers, resistors and batteries are in this little number, and gave some suggestions as to what to do with 'em, including changing the LED colors, altering the logos on the top, or our favorite: attaching a lanyard. Because if you're going to go to the trouble of taking apart a card like this, nothing says classy geek style like a lanyard. [Via MAKE: Blog]
iTunes gift cards from Coinstar machines
You may have seen those Coinstar machines in your local supermarket. Basically, they turn the coins you've collected in your change jar into bills (for a small fee, usually 8.9%). Recently, they've added a few non-cash alternatives for you to choose from, like charitable donations and prepaid gift cards. Most recently, iTunes gift cards have been thrown into the mix. Toss in your coins and out pops a gift card, all ready to go. Sounds like a good "I-need-a-gift-right-now" solution.Unfortunately, none of the machines in my area are currently offering iTunes cards. You can use the official Coinstar Locater to check on your neighborhood.[Via Infinite Loop]
