dadaluholla

I thought this deserved it's own discussion. Thanks to thejester's latest code offerings, we have these three which allow free shipping on sets (which is very rare). Now, what are we going to do with this wonderful opportunity?

smashthesymbols

Oh that is awesome. Now if only I could find something good to use it with. Most of the sets that have been on my list for a while aren't really a good deal over other retailers even with the free shipping.

dadaluholla

My problem as well. If this was B1G1 also, then there would be some serious madness going on. Still, this is such a rare treat for CH, I'd feel bad if I didn't use it on something.

smashthesymbols

Thank you. I didn't want to sound greedy, but this is almost useless without a B1G1 included. There's bound to be deals in there somewhere, but the first few that popped into my head the price is high enough that it's barely even a deal over other retailers, and in some cases is actually higher.

dadaluholla

Definitely good if you're going to use a set to fulfill your account though.

smashthesymbols

Viva Pedro!

It just hit me. It's only $20.97 which is a great deal even with shipping, now with free shipping it's even better. I think my unfilled account is about to get one commitment lighter.

basaro

Yeah, the boxset sale is still going on, any set over $39.95 will qualify for 2 fulfillments, and give you a great effective price on the set.

Cardsfan111

On the surface this seems like something I'd like to use, but I don't have any accounts to fulfill...plus, I have a ch.com account so I've always got the free shipping on sets there.

Thanks for posting, but as mentioned without a b1g1 deal I'll have to let this one pass me by.

alfonsosoriano

Might get the Pedro set with the free shipping. This may also be good for some nice prices on the Blade Runner 5-Disc and the Close Encounters of a Third Kind 3-disc.

Cheato

This seems better than B1G1 for any sets with 3 discs or more. The G1 in a B1G1 is only worth $4.80 in an optimized account. But free shipping on a 3-disc box set is a savings of $5.99 (4-disc = 6.99, 5-or-more = 7.99).

And as has been mentioned before, it's great for boxed sets too low to count as fulfillments. I was going to use these to generate FC with a FCx3 code in a fulfilled account after Jan 1st to go toward picking up some upcoming things like the new Super Friends box set, but I'd rather just save the money on shipping, so...

I'm looking at picking up:
The Blue and the Gray $16.77 (5.99 shipping)
The Ten Commandments $14.97 (5.99 shipping)

These are theoretically cheaper in B&M stores, but I don't live in the US, so it's difficult for me to get them cheaper than that.

Unless somebody can point out to me how these can be attained through a better deal, I'll order these tomorrow.

And check out that MASH set now:
$2.94 to join the club and get 6 DVDs, plus $119.97 for the MASH set to completely fulfill the account = $122.91. Subtract out each of the 6 DVDs at $4.80, and you get a net cost of $94.12.
Similar savings for other big ticket items:
Space 1999 Megaset => $34.12
Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection => $34.12

Or the Blade Runner set:
$12.89 to get 7 DVDs plus $47.37 for the set means a net cost of $26.67.
Brisco County, Jr.: $29.28


Huge thanks to thejester for finding these codes!

bloopbleep

maybe funcash is worth something now?

Sweet Baby James

You'll still have to pay shipping when checking out with your FunCash cart. Sorry.

Cheato

As far as I can tell, this makes FunCash worth less than before, since you can't get the free shipping from these codes on a FunCash order.

So, for example, with the MASH set (which is currently one of the most efficient ways of using FC, according to my limited database):

Without a box set free shipping code, but with a B1G1 code:
6 DVDs for $2.94 + $119.97 + 7.99 for the MASH set and a freebie, and a total expenditure for an account is $130.90.
7 DVDs are worth 7*4.80 = $33.59,
so the net cost of the MASH box set is $97.31.

With a box set free shipping code:
6 DVDs for 2.94 + $119.97 for the MASH set, and a total expenditure for an account is $122.91.
6 DVDs are worth 6*4.80 = $28.79,
So the net cost of the MASH box set is $94.12

By using FunCash:
$40 in FunCash makes the cost in real cash = $119.97 + 7.99 - 40.00 = $87.96.


Without the box set free shipping code, but using a B1G1 code, instead, you can spend $97.31 in real cash, or use $87.96 in real cash plus $40.00 in FC. That means your $40 in FC is worth $9.35 in real cash, for an efficiency of 23%.

With the box set free shipping code, you can spend $94.12 in real cash, or $87.96 in real cash and use $40.00 in FunCash. That means your $40 in FC is worth $6.16 in real cash, for an efficiency of 15%.

In this example, the box set free shipping code lowers the efficiency of FC from 23% to 15%, a factor of 2/3.

bloopbleep

thanks for the info

drh4

Absolutely, IF your best use of FC is for >$20 box sets.

I think the only box sets worth using FC for (and, the best use of FC period) tend to be very cheap (e.g. 11.97 or less), so that you can get most of the price offset. This is especially true given that

Cheato

Yeah, as I recently posted in the TV Club thread, you can get closer to 80% efficiency with your FC by using it on those 2-disc sets that are $11.97 or even $16.17. The only reason the MASH set is even theoretically a good deal is because its price at CH is lower than any other retailer I've seen, even including the shipping, and even including DeepDiscount's recent 20%-off sale. (A B1G1 like the current/recent Fox/MGM sales could beat it, though...)

But for almost all box sets higher than $19.94, they are able to be gotten much cheaper through CH as enrollments in the TV club, or as fulfillments along with B1G1 offers, or from other retailers. A limited few have some non-negative value of purchase with FC if you have a lot of FC and really want something. That's why I gave the example of the MASH set.

Another one is the complete Friends set, which gets you about $3.96 savings in real cash if you use $40 in FC (9.9 cents on the dollar).

Lastly, also keep in mind that there is an additional opportunity cost to buying sets with FC because you lose the FC that they otherwise would have generated wth a regular purchase. In a fulfilled account, simply buying the MASH set would generate another $4 in FC, or $12 if you use a 3xFC code, so by spending $40 in FC, you're actually spending $44 or $52 in FC. Or by purchasing one of those $11.97 sets using $10 in FC, you're actually using $14 or $22 because that's the "loss" you incur in a FC account by choosing to purchase with FC: the actual expenditure plus the loss of the gain you would have by using the alternative. Looking at it that way, FC REALLY loses its value quickly.

lizard

I was kind of bummed that the free shipping on sets ends tomorrow today [Edit: forgot what day it was!] since I was hoping to order Battlestar Galactica [HD DVD] on December 4, assuming that Columbia House carries it. But picking up a new 2 disc SE with a BOGOF offer and paying the $8 shipping charge is almost as good.

Still, the offer of free shipping on sets is nice to see; at least CH is aware that the high shipping charge on sets is an impediment to sales.

zag001a

Is there a way to remove the sale price so I can buy at regular price and get one 1/2 price? Thanks.

thejester

Found a few more -

803420 - b1 + 60% off + Free S&H (Std Offer basically)
803429 - b1 + 60% off + Free S&H (No Info shows)
803438 - b1g1 + 60% off + Free S&H (No Info shows)
803446 - b1g1 + 60% off + Free S&H(3+) (Exp 12/10)
803462 - b1 + 60% off + extra 15% off order + FREE S&H (Exp 12/4)
803936 - b1g1 + 60% off + Free S&H (Exp 12/4)
808762 - 40% off DVDs + extra 15% off order + FREE S&H (Exp 12/4)

lizard

If you are fulfilling an account, you should be able to select how many DVDs you want to count for fulfillment. There will be a box in the lower right of the shopping cart page called "Commitment Status". Select the "Choose how many" link to set how many titles you want at full price.

If you have already fulfilled your account I am not sure there is any way to set a title at full price when there is a 50% sale offer in effect. The best way around that is to select a different sale offer or place multiple orders. (I assume that you are aware that "special" priced items, such as sets, are always at that same price and can't be adjusted to full price.)

If I haven't answered your question, you might want to be more specific as to what you are trying to do, because it definitely isn't clear.

icecube

I was kicking myself when I saw the e-mail for free shipping on sets, as I'd just fulfilled an account with My So Called Life using B1G1, but it looks like I didn't miss anything as there was no B1G1 active when the free shipping on sets was active?

lizard

^Yes, the brief free shipping on sets was a different offer from BOGOF and they didn't stack, from what I could tell.

zag001a

Lizard: I have 1 more to fulfill (TV club) and the ones I wanted are under $19.99 on sale so I was going to buy one at regular price to get rid of the requirement. Thank you for your help.

lizard

^If you are talking sets, then it isn't possible to change the "special" price to make them count for fulfillment, so far as I am aware. If you are talking regular DVDs, the Commitment Status link should do the trick. I assume that you realize that you can fulfill your TV Edition account with any DVD of $19.95 or more; it doesn't have to be a set.

zag001a

But I can't seem to get Free Shipping on three or more and I got my OWN email stating I would. I bought one, get one free and picked out one of the sale items and checkout will not show free shipping no matter how I try it. I assumed the other codes here might not work because I still haven't bought my commitment. But since I got my own email, why won't it? Please don't tell me I have to call. I would rather pay shipping than talk to them. Thanks.