I've never been a B&N member before, due to not going there that often and not wanting to spend the $25. So, I've got a couple of questions that can maybe be answered.

1) I see the in-store coupons say "This coupon may be used once" in the small print. Does that mean these are one use per account? Or just per transaction?

2) I read on B&N's site that you can cancel the membership any time within the first 30 days. Are there any drawbacks or limitations in doing this?

Shagrath: Last year, people went to different stores to utilize the coupon (once). By the final few days, I know that various reports from people who weren't able to the use the coupon (for those who were coming back once every day or in the morning and afternoon after the changed employee shifts).

2) Yes, people did that but I wonder if they realized that many people took advantage of it. I would have think they would change the policy to prevent people from misusing it but I guess we'll find out with this latest sale.

Thanks for the quick reply. Like I said, I don't shop there enough as I don't really read much and can usually find most dvds cheaper elsewhere. I think the last time I bought anything from B&N was during the last Criterion sale. I wasn't a member last year, and they had those same coupons available for non-members during that time. I was able to grab several Criterions at multiple stores (and even some at the same stores) with no problem. There are really only 3 B&N's without going too far out of my way, so if I was able to use the $5 coupon at each + the 10% discount, I'd only end up saving $21. It'd be worth it if I got the membership and then cancelled it, but if that's a hassle or undoable, then I guess I'd just eat that $21 and not have to hassle with going to all the stores if I didn't need to.

I don't suppose anyone has made a pdf of the $5 off $20 coupons for easier printing?

Sorry if this has been asked, but question about the 5 dollars off in store coupon. I am going to borrow my cousin's Barnes and Noble Card, however, he got his subscription before the dates in the coupon. I know in the opening post it says that it'll still work, but I just wanted to make sure it will. Thanks in advance for your time.

the 50% off sale is now active online.

Well, I hate to be "that" guy, but I am struggling figuring out the right formula for combinations (or non-combinations) of coupons to maximize my savings.

I am:
1. Not a member
2. Will be purchasing online
3. Will be purchasing 5-6 Criterion titles, most of which are $19.99.

I can't figure out if it is better to use one of the bookstore links with another coupon or just to use a 15% off coupon or something that triggers free shipping

Numes -

There's a lot more activity and similar chatter over here:

Criterion Sale

I am a non-member and I want a $24.99 movie. If I want to buy a filler, then use the 15% off coupon and the Bing link? If I don't want a filler, then use the 10% off coupon with the Notre Dame link to get free shipping? Are these my best deals?

Yeah, it seems like this is the place to discuss the actual coupon codes, but I see after I posted in this thread, there was a flurry of activity over there.

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but the Non-Members (Anyone Can Use) coupon codes....are they valid for members? I tried using one of the 15% off codes with my BN and AAA membership and it said invalid.

The 15% off non-member coupons cannot be used with the AAA discount.

The 20% new member coupon can be used in conjunction with the 10% AAA. I just got the following:

By Brakhage: An Anthology Blu-ray - $28.79
Yojimbo/Sanjuro Blu-ray - $25.19

Cheapest method in-store or online that I could come up with.

[QUOTE=Numes;10261576]Well, I hate to be "that" guy, but I am struggling figuring out the right formula for combinations (or non-combinations) of coupons to maximize my savings.

I am:
1. Not a member
2. Will be purchasing online
3. Will be purchasing 5-6 Criterion titles, most of which are $19.99.

I can't figure out if it is better to use one of the bookstore links with another coupon or just to use a 15% off coupon or something that triggers free shipping

I used the Discover Card link and the 15% off coupon with no problem. I prefer the AAA link because the discount is taken off the price as opposed to cash back via Discover, but as I noted, I couldn't use the coupon with the AAA link so Discover was the better option. I know I could have taken 20 off with new accounts but didn't feel like doing that.

With the AAA link, you can use this coupon for 10% off (one item, one time): R3F8L4T

Unfortunately, I called B&N Customer Service and the way the membership was used last November no longer applies today (online). There is no longer the extra 10% off, you just get free express shipping and also the membership coupons. It's best now to use the third party stores and a coupon.

i just paste the .jpg into a word doc 2 to a page and print them off that way. easy as pie.

During the last Criterion B&N sale November 09' I was able to use my girlfriend's membership IN STORE for 10% off and then I printed out several of the $5 off 1 DVD coupons for an extra discount. I was able to get all of the Criterion blu rays I wanted for $13.00 each plus tax.
(it was $40 -50% = $20 -10%=$18 - $5 = $13) At the store the clerk just happened to be someone that I knew so he said "as long as the computer lets me do it then I can do it". He rang up everything separately and I was able to get all the criterions that I wanted for that price. He said if the computer lets him do it then he can't get in trouble.

This time around I do not have a membership (I used my girlfriend's last time and it is expired). Because I plan on buying several I would be willing to get a new membership if it was worth saving the money again. I plan on buying the following ALL on Blu Ray:
Walkabout
Yojimbo/Sanjuro Box Set
Gimme Shelter
8½
The Leopard
Days of Heaven
A Christmas Tale
Che
Paris, Texas
Revanche
Lola Montès
Hunger
Bigger Than Life
Vivre sa vie
Summer Hours
Ride with the Devil
Stagecoach
By Brakhage: An Anthology,Volumes One and Two
Close-up
Everlasting Moments
Mystery Train
Red Desert
M
The Red Shoes (July 20th)
Black Narcissus (July 20th)
The Secret of the Grain (July 27th)

My question is if I do IN STORE with my friend again and I currently DON'T have a membership what is the best way to save as much as possible? I found the $5 coupon off 1 DVD for new members and since I am getting so many I would be willing to buy the new membership when I go in tomorrow to make my in store purchase for the additional 10% off. Can we get the Criterion Blu Rays for $13 again this go around? Is there a way to save more using a different coupon or at least on the more expensive sets I have listed? Any thoughts or suggestions?

The extra 5% at Library link says "! This coupon has expired."

Thanks again for the GREAT thread.

Cheapest is in-store is to use a membership and the $5 coupons. All $40 titles will be $13, all $30 titles will be $8.50. For sets priced $60 or higher, use the 20% coupon online.

So there shouldn't be any problem using that $5 off coupon multiple times? Probably not in the same day/transaction though.

Coupon usage is always YMMV. The fine print on them is open to interpretation. But you should be able to use it once per visit.

I guess I'll ask when I go in today and look around.

I just wasn't sure if the coupon code got flagged on your account and wouldn't actually let it be rung up again. If that's not the way it's been in the past, then I'm pretty confident I'll grab a membership (potentially cancelling after the sale).

I wouldn't ask.

It doesn't get flagged. It works multiple times. But trying it with the same cashier is asking for trouble. YMMV of course.

I know that the best in-store method is one $5 off $20 coupon per title, ideally no more than 2 per visit (since there are technically two different $5 off $20 coupons). But, has anyone tried using the in-store Member 15% off one item in conjunction with the $5 off coupons to save a trip and instead be able to purchase a more expensive set with the percentage off coupon, followed by two $40 titles using the $5 off $20 ones? The 15% in store coupon is the only one that has fine print saying it cannot be combined with any other coupons. But, the idea would be to use it only on ONE title, and use the other coupons on separate titles in the same order.

In other words, something like:

15% off a $70 (MSRP) title like Yojimbo/Sanjuro blu
+
$5 off a $40 (MSRP) blu title
+
$5 off a $40 (MSRP) blu title

The 15% off the $70 set is within about $0.50 of the savings from the $5 off coupon used on the same set. Furthermore, combining 3 $40 (MSRP) blu-rays + the $70 (MSRP) set should come out to well over $50 after applied discounts, allowing one of the $5 off $50 coupons to work. Thus in theory, 2 trips could be combined into one by purchasing a more expensive set with 3 of the normal blu-ray titles.

Thoughts?