Silk Fortune Cookies - On Sale!

But what exactly are "Silk Fortune Cookies"? Updated our featured gifts page at Centsible, I came across these and was curious enough to take a closer look.

3 1/2" in length and 2 1/2" wide, this little silk brocade pouches are actually kind of cool! We can think of lots of potential uses for these too.

• packaging for a gift card
• packaging for a gift of money
• packaging for a piece of jewelry
• spare change pouch
• travel pouch
• keepsake pouch

The list of potential uses can go on and on. And these were just kinda cute we thought!

These Silk Fortune Cookie Cases are lined with silk and available exclusively through Gardeners' Supply Company. They come in a set of 3 and are normally priced at $16.95. As of January 31, 2010, they are on sale for just $11.99. That's $3 per case.

Gardeners Supply Company

Gardeners' Supply Company is headquartered in Vermont where they have two retail locations. This means that by law they are only required to charge sales tax on orders shipping to the state of Vermont. Most of their sales are conducted through their website. According to Vermont's WCAX, on December 21, 2009, Gardeners Supply Company became an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program). This means that the company's 250 employees in effect own the company now. There is no free shipping threshold for Gardeners Supply Company and shipping charges range from $5.90 for orders totaling $10 and under up to 11% of your merchandise total for orders of $250 or more.

Getting the best deal on this item

Unless you're living in Vermont, you won't be paying any sales tax. With the current sale price of $11.99, you surpass the $5.90 shipping charge for orders totaling $10 or less and move up to the $7.90 shipping & handling category. Orders totaling $20.01 to $35 ship for $9.90 and orders between $35.01 and $50 ship for $10.90. If you can find enough items to push your total up to $75 or more, you can get Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more through 3.10.10. Clicking through the link above will activate Gardeners Supply Company Promotion Code XNET8320 to your order: all you then need to do to activate your free shipping is make a qualifying order of $75 or more.

Click through to read Centsible's entire online shopping review for Gardeners Supply Company for even more tips.

New Look for Centsible in 2010!

Bite-size pieces of information

Centsible is starting off 2010 with a brand new look! We've got tons of bargains and are updating our savvy shopping information daily. Things can get out of hand sometimes though and when it hits you all at once it can get a little overwhelming. We've gone ahead and broken things down into more manageable chunks for you. Go ahead and have a look at Centsible's new home page!

Shop A Variety of Different Ways

Sometimes you may want to shop by store. Other times you may want to see a list of shops presented by department. There may also be times when you have a specific style or type of purchase in mind and want to do some online window shopping by viewing a selection of products from our online retailers. Shopping in all of these different ways has always been possible at Centsible, we've just never made the options and possibilities as obvious before. Give each of these shopping strategies a try: you might find a new favorite store!

Know all of the ways that you can save by shopping online

There is more to savvy online shopping than just promo codes, online sales and free shipping offers. The everyday cost of a retailer's items comes in to play. What is the big deal of a 50% discount when a certain store charges twice as much for their products in the first place? Is free shipping really a deal when the every day flat rate is just around $5? Can you get your order minus paying sales tax if you shop through someone else? Centsible is here to help you look at the big shopping picture. Read up on how to account shipping rates in to your savings strategy. Check out store's sales tax policy to see if you can get an additional percentage chopped off your bill. Quickly navigate to Centsible's hand-picked online clearance racks and featured sales.

Don't coupon codes matter?

Of course they do! A good deal is only a deal if its not shrouded in extra shipping fees, sales tax and inflated prices. Once you've done your savvy shopping online at Centsible's virtual shopping mall, check and see if you can add an online coupon or promo code to your shopping to sweeten the deal.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and make another trip to Centsible.net and make sure you're not overlooking any way to save money when shopping online!

Centsible's New Stores Series #6 - Maidenform.com

Shopping Tips for Maidenform.com: Coupon/Promo Codes, Sales and Free Shipping

What is Maidenform.com

Maidenform.com is the online store for Maidenform brand intimates. Other brands that are also sold are Flexees Shapewear, Control It! Swimwear and Lilyette bras. Maidenform, Lilyette and Flexees are sold online at Macys online: you can also shop for these intimates online at Maidenform. You won't pay sales tax on your Maidenform order unless your order is shipping to North Carolina. Its up to you to decide what is the better deal based on your timing and the destination of your package: no sales tax with Maidenform.com or frequent "buy one get one" or "buy two get one" Maidenform deals at Macys..

What does Maidenform sell?

To put it simply, Maidenform sells undergarments, swimwear and sleepwear. These products can fall under the names of Lilyette, Maidenform, Flexees and Control It!. Within these different brand names (all available at Maidenform.com) you can purchase: nursing bras, sports bras, push-up bras, camisoles, back smoothers, soft-cup bras, demi-cup bras, T-back or "racer back" bras, minimizers, strapless bras, full-figure bras, adhesive bras, concealers / comfort accessories / enhancers, pajama sets, gowns, chemises, activewear, robes, bikinis, tangas, thongs, hipsters, briefs, G-strings, boy shorts, girl panties, high leg brief, full briefs, waist nipper briefs, waist nippers, body briefers, thigh slimmers, boy shorts, control slips, control camisoles, control thongs and the Control It! shaping swimwear collection. (Did you even know there were that many options available in womens undergarments?)

Maidenform Shipping

Deliveries from Maidenform are priced based upon the speed of delivery requested and the pre-tax total of your order: orders shipping within the United States via standard shipping and totaling over $75 SHIP FOR FREE. (This would be another thing to consider when weighing up whether or not you should purchase your Maidenform products from Maidenform's Official site or through Macy's online). Both 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air service is available for orders shipping to the United States and these names refer to business days as no deliveries are made on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. Expedited delivery is not available to US Territories, Alaska, Hawaii or Canada. Orders can be placed for shipment out of the US to Canada only and this is done through CanadaExpress.

Sometimes its a better deal to shop for Maidenform, Lilyette and Flexees online at Macys, sometimes you'll get a better deal if you shop at Maidenform.com itself. Shop with Centsible at either Macy's or Maidenform and use our tips to see where your dollar will go further.

Magazine Freebies and Coupons - ALLURE, February 2010

Centsible's Magazine Summaries

Flipping through some magazines today, we thought it would be a good idea to see just how much you can save by subscribing to certain magazines. We get loads of them on all topics: parenting, beauty, fashion, cooking, electronics, home design.. What we're going to do here is keep a tally of the benefits you get through subscribing so you can make a smart decision about magazines! (Of course, there are also the articles, pretty pictures, recipes and reviews!) So we're starting off today with what rolled up in our mailbox: Allure Magazine.

ALLURE Magazine - February 2010

Single Copy Cost: $3.99

Subscription Cost: $12 yearly

Subscribe through Magazine.com and take $5 off any title.

Free Samples

Estee Lauder - Perfectionist Wrinkle Lifting Serum
Yves St. Laurent - Parisienne
Burberry Brit - Sheer
SJP - NYC

Coupons

Target - $1 off Revlon Cosmetic Products (expires 9/30/10)

Giveaways
February 1: Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7
February 2: Tarte EmphasEyes Waterproof Clay Shadow/Liner Pot in Bronze
February 3: Talika Lipocils Expert
February 4: L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base
February 5: Caresse Whipped Soufflé Ultra Silkening Body Wash
February 8: Lierac Paris Micro-Abrasion Stimulating Smoothing Cream

Reader's Choice Awards - must be either postmarked to: Allure Readers' Choice Ballot, ATTN: Rachel Swanson, 1166 Sixth Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036 by February 28, 2010 or filled out online at readers-choice.allure.com by 11:59pm ET on February 28, 2010 to be entered in the drawing. You don't have to answer all the questions to be entered in the drawing

Prizes

Grand Prize: Transportation to and 2 nights at the Exhale Mind/Body Spa, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, CA with 4 massages, 2 facials, 2 Mind/Body fitness classes, GRN skin-care and body products, dinner for 2 at Fig Restaurant and more. Value: $7,890
First Prize: $500 gift card to either a Beauty360 store or beauty360.com
Second Prize: Basket of Neutrogena Skin Care Products and cosmetics. Value: $350
Third Prize: Basket of Benefit makeup and fragrances. Value: $300

Sign up for freebie updates, beauty updates and more at Allure Magazine's "Beauty Blast" (delivered twice monthly).

Centsible's New Stores Series #5 - Beautorium.com

Shopping Tips for Beautorium.com: Coupon/Promo Codes, Sales and Free Shipping

What is Beautorium.com Beautorium.com is an organic bath & body store based in North Carolina. They stock products from some of the finest names in organic cosmetics and skincare: Afterglow Cosmetics, Dr. Hauschka, Exuberance, Farfalla, Juice Beauty, John Masters, Korres, Laboratoire Cattier, Logona, Marina Cosmetics, Melvita, Naturopatch, Revolution Organics, Pangea Organics, Saaf, Rain Africa, Sophyto, Red Flower, Suki, Trilogy, Under The Canopy and Weleda. Beautorium.com is able to ship to the United States, Canada, select other countries outside of the U.S. and APO/FPO addresses. Beautorium.com exclusively uses UPS to ship their products and UPS can't ship to P.O. boxes so that is one place where Beautorium won't ship. Beautorium.com carries these organic products hailing from all over the world. You won't pay sales tax on them though unless your order is shipping to North Carolina.

What does Beautorium.com sell? Beauty products, of course! We've let you know about the brands and that they're world-wide and organic, but what sort of products exactly do they stock? You can buy aromatherapy patches, anti-aging products, face care, bath & shower products, pregnancy and new baby products, men's items, hair care, kits/gifts/home fragrance, wellness products, cosmetics, candles, spawear and skincare solutions.

Beautorium.com Shipping Deliveries from Beautorium.com don't follow a schedule of prices: they instead depend upon the zip code for delivery and the particular items being shipped. Both 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air service is available for orders shipping to the United States. Orders totaling $100 or more ship for free to the United States via standard shipping. Orders shipping to Canada take between 4 and 12 days to ship and orders shipping to other locations outside of the US take between 6 and 10 days to ship. Orders shipping within the United States with ground shipping have a delivery time based upon their proximity to North Carolina.

Other benefits of shopping online at Beautorium.com There are a few! Aside from no sales tax for orders not shipping to North Carolina and free shipping on orders totaling $100 or more, you'll also get a free natural tote bag with every order totaling $50 or more. Beautorium has an excellent free sample program and offers many freebies with purchase on a regular basis. What are you waiting for shop online at Beautorium now and use Centsible's review as your guide to savvy savings!

Centsible's New Stores Series - #4 Flower.com

Shopping Tips for Flower.com: Coupon/Promo Codes, Sales and Free Shipping

What is Flower.com Flower.com is a floral network based in Los Angeles, CA. THEY ARE NOT A FLORIST! They coordinate floral deliveries all over the United States and much of the rest of the world. In fact, the main two locations you can't send flowers to are Post Office Box Addresses and APO/FPO addresses. As such, you won't pay any tax on your order UNLESS IT IS SHIPPING TO CALIFORNIA.

What does Flower.com sell? Flowers, of course! More than that that though, you can also purchase gift baskets containing spa products, gourmet foods and regional cuisines, cookies, cakes, balloons, teddy bears and cakes at flower.com. The various flowers are fulfilled by subscribing florists in flower.com's network. Gift baskets will be sent in the post.

Flower.com Shipping Deliveries from Flower.com start at $9.99 and depend upon whether or not expedited delivery is required, the type of product and other factors. Flower.com prides itself on paying great attention to funeral flowers. They liaise with funeral homes regarding viewing information and delivery times and will even look up the exact address of the funeral home and / or zip code if you are unable to provide it. Be sure to specify if this is the purpose of your flower order: also if it is a birthday or anniversary delivery as it was noted that they do show special attention towards birthday and anniversary floral orders. Flower.com DOES offer Sunday delivery: this is not a common thing in the floral delivery world! Flower.com operates a floral network that also allows them to deliver flowers to most destinations worldwide. In fact, the only destinations explicitly stated on flower.com they they CANNOT deliver to are Post Office Box Addresses and APO / FPO addresses.

A few more questions..

Honestly, Centsible has a few more questions on Flower.com. For example, what exactly IS their floral network? Are they in collaboration with any other major florists? What is the delivery schedule and price list for items such as gift baskets? We've sent an email to Flower.com and will be posting our findings at our main site, Centsible.net.

Click here to read Centsible's full review of Flower.com

Centsible's New Stores Series - #3 Chocolate.com

Shopping Tips for Chocolate.com: Coupon/Promo Codes, Sales and Free Shipping

What is Chocolate.com Chocolate.com brings more shopping power to you through Centsible's online shopping mall. Not a chocolatier or chocolate factory themselves, Chocolate.com instead showcases some of the United States finest chocolatiers. In fact, we even looked up and listed all chocolate.com's represented chocolate makers by state for your convenience. Knowing where the chocolate makers are located can be helpful if you're looking to save on your shipping costs or you want your chocolate to arrive at its quickest! The best way to use this listing is to do a product search at chocolate.com on the chocolatier's name. Some of your chocolate shop's confections will show up in the search, just click on the link of the Chocolatier name to visit chocolate.com's page on them. Chocolate.com represents many fine chocolate-makers in the following areas: Canada, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Of course you can get your chocolate delivered to ANY state and even a few select countries OUTSIDE the US, but the cost and delivery time depend both on your order's destination AND the fulfilling chocolatier.

What does Chocolate.com sell? Chocolate, of course! More than that that though, you can also purchase fudge, brownies, cookies and cakes at chocolate.com. Some of the represeneted chocolatiers also offer gift baskets. The variety of chocolates is also astounding. There are organic and fair-trade chocolates, certified Kosher chocolate, sugar-free goodies, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate.. You can have photos imprinted on chocolates, serve personalized wedding favors, make corporate orders. Chocolate.com offers many treats specific to the holidays: Halloween, Easter, Valentines Day and Christmas to name a few of the more popular Chocolate holidays.

Chocolate.com Shipping All shipping for Chocolate.com is arranged through UPS, but the individual chocolate shops are responsible for the actual packaging. One thing is static across the board though: you won't pay sales tax on your orders placed through Chocolate.com! Your shipping costs will actually vary based upon the location to where you are delivering your order and the specific chocolate shop that will be fulfilling your order. As Chocolate.com uses UPS exclusively for deliveries, there is no delivery to Post Office Box addresses and deliveries are only made Monday through Friday, exclusive of public holidays.

For a selection of boutique chocolatiers and to support small independent business, you want to visit Chocolate.com. Shop Chocolate.com now with Centsible's full review.

Centsible's New Stores Series - #2 Oneida

Shopping Tips for Oneida Online: Coupon/Promo Codes, Sales and Free Shipping

Oneida.com

Again, Oneida is not a new store by any stretch of the mind, but is new to Centsible's online shopping mall. Out of the entire flatware industry, Oneida has the top 5 designs. They specialize in Stainless, Silver-Plated in Sterling SilverWare/Flatware. Oneida doesn't stop at silverware and flatware though: they offer an entire line of tableware products. Around for over 100 years, Oneida isn't going anywhere. Oneida has a special line of designs that will not ever be retired. This is important when building an heirloom set of flatware: you can easily replace a missing piece or add on additional sets, all in the same design. Not all of Oneida's design are lifetime though: if you're looking to build your set over time or create an heirloom, be sure to look for the "Pattern Forever" logo.

Oneida Shipping

Oneida is probably the ONLY company that offers free shipping to Canada. There is a minimum purchase amount to receive this (of course), $120 Canadian Dollars. Free shipping for those of us in the United States have to spend $99 USD and that is just for orders shipping to the 48 contiguous United States. We don't see any free shipping offers for Hawaii and Alaska, and Oneida only uses UPS shipping, so ANY shipping to Post Office Box Addresses is out of the question.

What does Oneida Sell?

Oneida sells not only its famous flatware, but also: kitchenware, serveware, fine porcelain, gifts, wine accessories, barware, drinkware, cutlery, bakeware, cookware, roasters, gadgets and more.

Are there any big sales at Oneida online? Of course there are! Everyweek there is are "Sizzling Deals" that can be up to 50% discounts and more. As Oneida retires its non-lifetime flatware patterns, those go on sale. There is the standard "Clearance" section. You'll also find other BOGO offers and sales on specific Oneida sets.

Oneida Shipping Costs

We've already mentioned about Oneida's free shipping spend thresholds and also the fact that Oneida is perhaps the ONLY online store we've seen that extends free shipping offers to Canada. Their regular shipping charges are based upon the dollar value of the merchandise being purchased, as well as the speed of delivery requested. Expedited delivery through UPS is also offered for Oneida orders.

Click here to read more of Centsible's review of Oneida online.

Centsible's New Stores Series - #1 Adagio Tea

A New Decade At Centsible

We're starting off not only a new year here at Centsible, but also a new decade! Centsible.net has loads of new merchants in our online shopping mall, so we thought we'd start a new series here on the blog to introduce individually each of our new merchants.

Adagio Tea

Adagio Tea is not a new store itself, but they are new to Centsible's online shopping mall. They've been reviewed many times on HGTV, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Epicurious, TIME, Food and Wine and many other publications. And now they're here on Centsible!

What exactly do they sell at Adagio Teas? Of course they sell tea, either in individual orders or sampler sets. Varieties within the following types of tea are available: black, flavored, chai, oolong, white, green, herbal, rooibos, decaf, blooms, blends and iced tea. They also see teaware: teapots, tea chests, teapot warmers, teapots, cups & saucers, mugs and more. Items for the pantry include honey, sugars and cookies. And of course Adagio Teas does gift sets.

Adagio Teas Shipping

Some of the benefits to ordering from Adagio Teas: no sales tax except on orders shipping to either California or New Jersey, free gift wrapping on ALL gifts, flat rate shipping at the low prices of $3.75 for ground shipping or $9.75 for Second Day Delivery, free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Where does Adagio ship? Adagio Teas ships to the 48 continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO addresses and select countries outside the United States. Addresses outside the US, Post Office Box Addresses and addresses classified by UPS as "rural" have surcharges for delivery.

Shop online at Adagio Teas with Centsible

Give Adagio Teas a visit and read Centsible's online shopping review of Adagio Teas now.