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Shopping Lessons - forever learning

post #1 of 24
6/11/11 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
So I went to Petsmart today to take advantage of the 15% friends and family coupon. The main thing I wanted was another carrier. I have carriers for my cats, but some are very old (like 40-50 years old) and they are basically made of plasticized cardboard. We need upgrades. And because of all the natural disasters that occur everywhere all the time, I want one good carrier per cat.

The ones I really like are Petmate 2-door deluxe, size medium. They are sturdy, with end and top doors. The latches for the doors are secure and easy to open one-handed. And the whole thing comes apart into two pieces, should any cat be so completely freaked that no one can get them out without leather gauntlets (hasn't happened to me yet, but then Ariel is young).

So, I found the carrier I wanted already on sale at Petsmart for $9.00 off. Regular price is $44.99 and sale price (with Petsperks card) is $35.99. Then I got 15% off of that - $5.40. Making the price $30.59. But then I had to pay sales tax - 9.5%. So the end, total price was $33.50.

So, I just checked on Amazon, and the exact same carrier, at the best price (many widely different listings for same carrier) is $28.53 total - free shipping.

Sigh. Thankfully, I still want (need!?!) more of these carriers, so I'm getting one at Amazon.

Robin
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post #2 of 24
6/11/11 at 11:55am
Can't you take the carriers back and use your 15% on something else?
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post #3 of 24
6/11/11 at 12:02pm
Thread Starter 
No, they kept the coupon for that discount. I only bought one carrier there today, thank goodness! I could take it back and get a refund. But then I have to weigh if the trip (over 5 miles) is worth the time and energy, and gas. I did buy other things - food, toys and brush. And those toys and brush I can only get at Petsmart. So, it wasn't a waste. And I did get 15% off the carrier that was already on sale. However, I could have done better. And nearly always I find that I can do better at Amazon. So why didn't I think of that before I went and bought the thing?

I should own stock in Amazon.


Robin
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post #4 of 24
6/11/11 at 12:10pm
Even if they kept the coupon, if you return an item that you used a coupon on, they should still be able to allow you to apply that 15% on something else?
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post #5 of 24
6/11/11 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Well, maybe, but I doubt they'd do that. There is nothing else I want there anyway. And the trip isn't worth the $5.00 I'd save by taking the carrier back.

Most of the cat food I buy isn't carried at Petsmart. I have to go to Petco for that.


Robin
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post #6 of 24
6/11/11 at 12:55pm
HI . I also have two of those Petmate double door carriers but in the small. I just love them and the cats are comfortable in them too, but they are small. I am going to AMAZON to buy a couple of the medium sizes. I do have crates for everybody but two are really, really old and small. Like you, I want to be prepared for an emergency with all of this crazy weather. Thanks for the info!!! I am even putting together a first aid kit as well for us and for the cats.
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post #7 of 24
6/11/11 at 4:09pm
I have one medium-large carrier that is old! I think I actually picked up at a dumpster! It's all plastic with a plastic door and the top is held to the bottom with some kind of plastic key-type locks. However, the top post on the door is broken and 2 of the key-type locks are missing, so I'm using heavy plastic coated wire ties to hold it together.

I also have a new one that I bought a month or so ago. It's considered a "Medium", but it's so much smaller than the one I have. However the one I have is so much smaller than the large ones I saw.

I have 3 cats now, and while the kittens could probably fit together in the larger carrier, I don't think the carrier is strong enough to hold their combined weight.

So I really need to invest in 2 more carriers. They're not too bad at Walmart. I paid $25.00 for their medium. I find that everything is so much more expensive at a pet store. When I was shopping for stuff for Spencer and Katie, it was winter and bitterly cold. I'm talking -40 or more degrees! So I went to the pet store across from the vet office. I paid $70 for a pet bed that I later saw at Walmart for about $30.00. Even the cat tree was double the price at the pet store. But I was in a hurry and I hate shopping and I don't drive so I needed to shop some place nearby where I could take a taxi. Walmarts are way out of my way across the city.
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post #8 of 24
6/11/11 at 5:03pm
Thread Starter 
Not driving must make it all so difficult. Do you have a friend who can drive you in exchange for lunch or something? How is Amazon for shipping to Canada?

I have philosophical problems with Walmart Corp., so I don't shop there. But I know the prices are good.

Robin
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post #9 of 24
6/11/11 at 7:27pm
Thank goodness you only bought the one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #10 of 24
6/11/11 at 9:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
Not driving must make it all so difficult. Do you have a friend who can drive you in exchange for lunch or something? How is Amazon for shipping to Canada?

I have philosophical problems with Walmart Corp., so I don't shop there. But I know the prices are good.

Robin
Amazon.com won't ship to Canada, and unfortunately Amazon.ca doesn't have most of the stuff shown on Amazon.com. Here it's largely a book site, or so it seems.

Yes, not driving is a PITA. I do have friends and occasionally we go shopping to out of the way places like Walmart.

One day I'll buy another car because I am not able to take public transportation anymore. I use a disability transportation service that picks me up at my front door and drops me off at the door of the place I need to be. I get very short of breath when walking and have a large amount of back pain that prevents me from walking very far. With a car I could get a Handi Parking tag that would allow me to park in the spots closest to the doors.

I can afford to buy a car, but I just don't know what is holding me back. Every year I say "next year" and next year comes and goes and I don't buy one. I think it's the expense. I'd rather put the money into the bank.
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post #11 of 24
6/11/11 at 9:36pm
In my experience, the major pet supply stores are the worst place to buy anything -- the prices are always outrageous. We're lucky to have a Pet Supplies Plus near us, a low-end, warehousey sort of chain that's usually not as bad.
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post #12 of 24
6/12/11 at 12:26am
Lol, my boyfriend compares everything in-store to Amazon and I have to remind him that Everything online is cheaper. *rolls eyes*
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post #13 of 24
6/12/11 at 12:41am
I kind of had my own little "price savings" at Safeway today. I needed AA batteries, and found some at the front of the store: packages of 8 Duracel that were buy one get one free. So I grabbed 2. As I was sitting at the back of the store in the pharmacy resting my back before carrying on with shopping, I noticed that one of the end displays also had batteries. I went over and looked. A package of 16 was under $12.00. Whereas the buy one get one free package of 8 was about $14.00. So I saved $2.00 just because I happened to notice a different display.
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post #14 of 24
6/12/11 at 5:37am
Thread Starter 
Amazon was only books in the U.S. originally. At some point they changed so that now one can buy EVERYTHING from them. A lot of it comes from outside suppliers, and then you have to pay shipping charges. But they are quite reasonable.

Seriously? About the batteries? In the same store at the same time? That's annoying.

Cars are a very big expense.

Robin
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post #15 of 24
6/12/11 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Thank goodness you only bought the one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! And I was tempted to buy two because of the sale price and 15% discount. But I was trying to space out buying them since I need so many.

The one I got yesterday is a lovely wine color. I cleaned it; put it together; put a thick, cozy towel in the bottom, and taped my name, address, and phone numbers securely to the outside. So, we are set to go.

I have another medium one coming from Amazon. I still need two more after that (and maybe a third because I'm very close to adopting ANOTHER!!! cat - Lord help me!). I'm thinking I should consider even larger ones than the medium for my two boy cats. They should be able to sit up in the carrier, right? The Petmate 2 door deluxe show on the tag a cat picture with 11" as the height of the sitting cat (floor to roof is 12"). I think my boys are taller than that when sitting. I'll have to measure them. IF I can get them to cooperate.


Robin
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post #16 of 24
6/12/11 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post
I am even putting together a first aid kit as well for us and for the cats.
I'd be very interested to know what you have in mind for this. Maybe start a thread regarding this?



R.
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post #17 of 24
6/12/11 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post

Seriously? About the batteries? In the same store at the same time? That's annoying.
Yes. Same store. Same batteries. They have batteries up front by the customer service, at most of the check outs, and along some side and end displays in various aisles throughout the store.

I don't really understand why they have them scattered all over the place. I picked up the buy one get one free at the front of the store in an end display by the checkouts. Then I found the 16 pack at the back of the store.
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post #18 of 24
6/12/11 at 2:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
Yes! And I was tempted to buy two because of the sale price and 15% discount. But I was trying to space out buying them since I need so many.

The one I got yesterday is a lovely wine color. I cleaned it; put it together; put a thick, cozy towel in the bottom, and taped my name, address, and phone numbers securely to the outside. So, we are set to go.

I have another medium one coming from Amazon. I still need two more after that (and maybe a third because I'm very close to adopting ANOTHER!!! cat - Lord help me!). I'm thinking I should consider even larger ones than the medium for my two boy cats. They should be able to sit up in the carrier, right? The Petmate 2 door deluxe show on the tag a cat picture with 11" as the height of the sitting cat (floor to roof is 12"). I think my boys are taller than that when sitting. I'll have to measure them. IF I can get them to cooperate.


Robin
The Petmate Vari Kennel is listed as $46.07 at Amazon now (48% off !). It is a medium size dog carrier but large enough for all 3 of mine to be together, sturdy enough for all, and turned bottom up it's very easy for them to get in and out of backfeet first (they are calm and malleable ).

The vets love it too - although I try to space out the visits since 20 lbs (for 2) plus the weight of the carrier itself is not fun for techs or ME to carry even to the back room. One poor lady nearly collapsed under the load last week.

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Kennel.../dp/B000MLG484
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post #19 of 24
6/12/11 at 4:05pm
I like the Intermediate Kennel Cabs for large cats--- http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-21276-...7919827&sr=8-2

They aren't fancy carriers but you can't beat the price! And they're very easy to take apart for cleaning.
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post #20 of 24
6/12/11 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 
Oh, I have to have the two doors. After having that, I'll never go back to just an end door.

In a pinch, there are some combinations of pairs of my cats I could put together in a carrier. But mostly not. And I'm not buying all these carriers for vet visits. I'm getting them in case of emergency, in case we have to evacuate, or keep them in a safe area of the basement. They each need their own because they could be housed in these for many hours, or longer.

Bigger is better. But I have to be able to handle them, and get them all in my station wagon.

Robin
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post #21 of 24
6/12/11 at 11:15pm
I don't know if the double-door carriers come in a larger size. Since the handle is on the door, it can't be too heavy or the top door will break.

ETA: I guess they do have it in a bigger size! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000W2...7945926&sr=8-1 That's a nice carrier. But wow that's a big price jump!

I do have one of the double-door carriers and love it, but really with regular carriers I just tip them on end and they're almost just as good. I am working up to having a carrier for each cat, but since I can't get them all in my car at once I'm not sure what good it will do. . .
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post #22 of 24
6/14/11 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
I use the end loading, one door, carriers at the shelter all the time. It is a hassle to get some cats out. Getting them in (feet first with carrier on end) is the easy part.

In your situation, Willowy, maybe those car kennel things would be best, with space for multiple cats.


Robin
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post #23 of 24
6/14/11 at 4:48pm
I'm not sure what a "car kennel" is? Like a wire dog crate? IME, cats can get out of those (the spacing on the floor wires is very wide, they just lift the tray and scootle on out). And it would be hard to find one that would fit in a Honda Civic, LOL! But anyway, in a true emergency I'm sure I'd figure something out. 3 cats to a carrier, put them in the trunk (with the rear seat down), and whatever else I had to do. And usually in an emergency cats will shut down a bit and not fight. But very few of mine could go in the same carrier under normal circumstances!
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post #24 of 24
6/15/11 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
This is what I mean:

http://www.petego.com/products.aspx?catId=24&prodId=121

I've seen other brands/styles, and I've seen this one for less, elsewhere. The large will fill up a seat, I think.

I got the carrier ordered from Amazon yesterday. It was actually $29.99. It's exactly like the ones I bought at Petsmart, but for so much less. It came from Revival Animal Health. Because it was listed as an "in stock" item at Amazon, I paid no shipping (as it was over $25).*And no tax.

I have one of those larger Petmate 2 door deluxe carriers in my "cart" on Amazon now. However, the price on that one is $46 and change. That's the thing, with all these suppliers, the same item on Amazon can vary a lot in price. And sometimes when I have had items in my cart for a while, even a day or two, it is sold, it is the only one, and I can't get it for that price anymore.

Robin

* I checked again, because it didn't make sense that I didn't pay shipping since the item came from an outside supplier (through Amazon). I DID pay shipping. It was about $6.00. Sorry, I didn't mean to lie. I think when I was first looking (this all happened last Saturday) the price, directly from Amazon was $28.53 with free shipping. But, since I fooled around, that one was taken, and I got this one for $29.99 plus shipping. In the end, it cost more than the one I bought in person from Petsmart - with the sale price, 15% off for friends and family, and adding sales tax. And I'm glad of that, because otherwise, it seems such a joke - at Petsmart.
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