Dealgasam - Face it, you NEED more stuff.

Free King Of Pop Memorial Poster

2009-06-29T14:09:00.001-07:00

Here it is-- your FREE Michael Jackson / Billy Mays / Fuzzball / 9-11 America 4 Eva poster!!! Ok, this is clearly in bad taste, but it's been a long week. Enjoy.

Petco is bad for America.

2009-06-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Ok-- here's the short version: Petco Sucks. In ways, they're worse than WalMart-- and I'm not even talking about animal cruelty or anything like that (though you are one google search away from horror in that regard)-- I'm just saying that Petco runs a shitty business which is hurting America's economy.

Ok, now the long winded affair... To be fair, I've not bothered to post much of anything on this blog of late as I am willing to admit, I am more than outclassed and outdone by a wide variety of blogs and consumer issues websites which are readily available all over the internet. That said, this blog has become little more than a repository of my random finds and thoughts as a consumer living in the lower 48. Still, I've occasionally got a bone to pick, so here goes-- I'm assuming my place atop my soap-box today to shout as loud as I can, that Petco sucks, severely.

I've got to say that I'm deeply offended by Petco's newest tendency to produce private label junk clones of the products I once went there to buy only to stop carrying the real deal at no savings to the consumer. Never-mind that their prices are generally higher than Petsmart and significantly higher than the independent shops in my neighborhood, it's just that I've found over the last couple months, numerous brands of items I buy have gone awol-- I mean, once petco produces a private label version of a product, they stop carrying the name brand, and just to rub salt in the wound, they charge the same overinflated prices they used to charge real-deal, name brand merchandise for their shoddy offering.

It's very much like the whole WalMart tactic of undercutting the competition by providing substandard goods for less-- only when petco does it, they charge the same or more for the inconvenience of having to use their inferior product. I guess this is phase two of their anti-competitive strategy: Phase 1-- run the mom and pop's out of business; Phase 2-- stop buying quality and run our suppliers out of business. As I said before, Petco sucks, severely. Do us all a favor and shop elsewhere. At the very least, if you're going to do business with a chain that runs mom-and-pop's out of business, do it somewhere you can save money. At least you will have some money left over to try and buy your soul back when you die.

Great new tool from the creators of BugMeNot-- Introducing BeatMyPrice

2008-11-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

Found a great new resource by way of LifeHacker today-- BeatMyPrice.com. It's a people powered, best-price search engine. You find a product you want, take that information over to BeatMyPrice.com, enter the item name, price, and link and submit your search (and by doing so, you update BeatMyPrice's database), then BeatMyPrice responds by showing you how the price you found stacks up against other submitted prices, it connects you with coupon codes from retailmenot.com, you can filter out unwanted sellers and voila-- you've got the best price around...

Here's a snippet from the LifeHacker article:

You can narrow down the results to only the sellers and target price you want to see. Check out a video clip from the founder which shows you BeatMyPrice in action.

BeatMyPrice.com Introduction from Guy K on Vimeo.

Be sure to check it out and post your thought and experiences here. I'd like to know if people believe it belongs on the Dealgasam approved resources list (yet).

CNN Money makes the obvious even more obvious.

2008-10-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm getting pretty sick of this shit already. Here we are, only a few weeks into the "greatest financial disaster since the great depression," and here come these awfully predictable "sign of the times" articles. Thing is, we're still talking about spending-- so, I guess that's a good sign... I mean, it's preferable that we're getting 'smart spending' tips as opposed to articles such as "How to Reinforce Your Security Doors on the Cheap," or "How to Dig Your Own Moat," but still. The 'smart spending' genre is getting old before we know if there even is a light at the end of this tunnel. I like our version of dealing with the financial crisis-- find a reliable retailer offering values, post it. I really don't need advice on cheap travel right now, I'll find it when the time comes. Anyhow, brain-fart aside and completely contrary to my mini-rant above, I wanted to bring a decent example of this genre as published today over at CNN Money.

There's nothing wrong with stating the obvious, it's just wearing a bit thin. There's nothing particularly sage about offering advice such as skip the Starbucks, or that a visit to Marrakesh will cost you less than Milan, but these two articles are probably more worthy of a stop on your daily slacking-off-at-work-blog-roundup than most... provided you don't mind being told what you already know.

I'll distill the value, add my commentary, and invite your reactions here; however, if you don't want the commentary track the links to the actual article are provided first-- you know, just in case you like wading through crap.

The first article, "How to save $8,919.45 a year," can be found here. The distilled facts:

1. Spending 30 minutes a week clipping and printing coupons (coupons.com) have a potential annual savings of $5,200... That's nice but it's obvious and not OUR style.

2. Skip Starbucks, brown bag it three days a week... Both shockers, we know... Potential annual savings: $2,425

3. ... and we take issue with this one: Upgrade your appliances for a potential annual savings of $150 a year... Good advice as long as you don't pay 15-20% apr... This advice could cost more than it's worth for most Americans. They do offer a good idea here though-- energy efficient lightbulbs really do save money:

While we're on the eco-friendly bandwagon, using compact fluorescent light bulbs saves about $30 in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.

4. Go generic for a potential annual savings of $161.20... Though that sounds low to me, and it's still generally good advice, I also believe in quality over quantity-- if you don't normally buy cookies, why waste money and your health to eat crap? Buy what you want but savor it, make it last, and don't make it a habit. Just because something is a little cheaper, don't fall into a trap of buying more than you would have before because you perceive savings in lower price-tags-- if you are buying more because you are paying less per item, you're probably not saving at all (in fact, if you are buying a lot of cheap ice-cream, you might be getting ready for major medical bills)

5. Doing a little about taking on your credit card debt is actually a major score. This is the highlight of the article for me-- someone has actually spelled out what paying roughly $30 more a month than your minimums can yeild in annual savings:

For example, if you typically pay $100 a month on a $5,000 balance with a 14% APR, try upping that payment by just a dollar a day. By paying an extra $30 a month, you'll pay off your balance in 52 months rather than 76 months, or cut your payments by two years. And you'll save $874 in interest payments over that time.

Their math shows a potential annual savings of $203.25 in this example. This sounds low to me. If you, like the example person, are carrying a $5000 balance, it seems likely that your APR is over 14% You may end up saving closer to $300 or $400 a year by getting even a little bit more aggressive about taking down your credit debt. It's hard to do, but it's worth it.

6. Sitter sharing-- this is a new concept to me, but then again, I don't have kids. That said, this sounds like good advice and the article seems to think that you could save $780 annually. Sounds like a plan.

The second article, "Traveling where the dollar is strong," can be found here.

The article recommends traveling to places where the exchange rate is in your favor-- getting there may not be cheap, but once you land the savings begin. Marrakesh, the Okavango River delta in Botswana, Bali, and Costa Rica. Can't say that I've been, but it seems like any of these destinations would be ideal for people who are into 'adventure tourism.' That said, I think everyone will agree, in the context of our international standing, these vacations may not provide a whole lot of R&R, but if what you are looking for is more of a change in pace, I think that is a guarantee.

Which comparison shopping site is best? Smartmoney has the low-down.

2008-10-16T15:59:00.001-07:00

If you're a consumerist.com reader, you'll have already seen this, but they pointed out a handy little article which is worth you time... Here's an excerpt from Kelli B Grant's article published by SmartMoney.com

TRACKING DOWN THE best prices for everything you buy can save some serious cash when economic times are tough.

That’s where price comparison search engines come in. Just type in the item you're looking for and a list of offerings from online retailers pops up, with the best deals clearly highlighted. "Even if you're not buying online, it's an important way to raise price consciousness," says Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, a consumer advocate. "You'll have some perspective on whether the prices you see [in stores] are good ones."

Do check out all the details in Kelli's article, but the bottom line is that the SmartMoney's on PriceGrabber.

Simply the best crap at the best prices anywhere.

2008-10-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Looking for stocking stuffers? Carp hearts? Robot parts? Well, American Science Surplus has it all at incredible prices. Don't let the name fool you, American Science Surplus has lots of toys, practical gadgets (adaptors, batteries, headphones, etc)-- it almost like renaissance artists took over a Radio Shack, removed the suck, and added fun and low prices. Their own copy states:

Here at American Science & Surplus we are fascinated by discovery, invention and are dedicated to having fun along the way. We offer an eclectic range of products, many with a science or educational tilt to them, others simply handy or amusing. Value is important, and whenever we can, we carry surplus at prices well below retail. We love closeouts, inventory overruns, mis-manufactures and items whose time has not come.

and their dedication to this statement is apparent on page after page of exceptional deals. Even if you don't care to shop, American Science Surplus' web site is a pleasure. Their copyrighters are truly gifted and at times hilarious. Want to kill five minutes and have a laugh, let me recommend that you start here.

Saving big on Video Games

2008-10-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, it seems that there are two best times to buy video games-- if it's something you have to have right away, buy before the game comes out; if you can handle waiting, four months seems to be the magic number. These days, console video games are capable of creating as much of a buzz as a Hollywood premiere. With zero-day prices between $50 and $60 per title, this can be a very expensive habit. That said, there are a couple of great ways to get around these high ticket prices.

Buy games pre-release.
Many retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Circuit City are vying to become your go-to place to get your game business. These retailers are all striking up special deals with game publishers to become the place to buy, by offering pre-sale discounts, gift-cards, added or downloadable content, and even pack-ins such as plush character dolls or game accessories. A great place to see what deals are being offered is Cheap Ass Gamer or "CAG." CAG doesn't sell anything, their mission is simple-- help you find the best gaming deals. CAG also tracks exceptional values for games that have been out for a few months and are being clearanced by the likes of Target to make space for the newest stock. which brings us to...

Buying new, after the initial rush:
Target, who generally sells games at top dollar, is one of the best places to find great deals on games as they transition from being the new hotness to lost in the shuffle before they pop-up for decent used prices. I've found many games are available brand new at Target for less than you can buy them used at GameStop/EB Games in this funny transitional window where in the initial rush to get the game has subsided yet the used market will not react for months to come. Unfortunately, a lot of these deals can only be found by going into Target and checking to see what is on clearance. The good news is that when these games are widely available on clearance, you can count on CAG to post those deals and often times you can find similar prices on used games at GameFly (it's a used game store too, not just a rental place).

Play Retro!
Many of the best games don't have great graphics. So, this tip isn't for everybody, but here's a thought-- why not play retro games? With most NES titles going for under a buck, with a vast library of games available everywhere from yard-sales to specialty shops on line and in your town; retrogames are the coolest option at the best value one could imagine. Even a brand new Nintendo compatible system won't set you back more than $20 or $30 bucks, so why not rediscover some of the old greats? Though there are many places to go to find retrogaming gear, I recommend checking out these resources first to find the best deals:

Atari2600.com -- Tons of hardware and games at amazing prices. Items ship from Arizona and are exactly as described!
goatstore.com -- Run by active Dreamcast programmers active in the retro scene, these guys have all of the bases covered. Great prices and great service.
ChaseTheChuckWagon.com -- Named for the 80's Atari 2600 video game (and Purina Dog Chow marketing tie in), Chasing the Chuck Wagon is the name given to the search for what is considered the holy grail of rare video games. ChaseTheChuckwagon.com is an awesome homegrown alternative to eBay. Anything and everything can show up there, and without all the traffic of eBay, there are still a lot of amazing deals to be had.

Buy new, newish, or old school-- there's a few great ways to save on your favorite games.

Never pay full price when you see an opportunity to enter a coupon code.

2008-10-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

If you've ever done a search for a coupon code while you were finalizing a transaction on-line, you've probably been run through a gauntlet of endless, worthless sites promising discount and coupon codes, and you've probably found nothing useful-- you may have even found a virus or two along the way. It's depressing that there are so few good resources to help the savvy shopper with such a simple request, but fortunately we do have RetailMeNot.

Just added a link to the Dealgasam Approved Resources pane, RetailMeNot is an awesome resource for coupon codes that will save you money on just about any transaction online which allows you to apply a coupon code. Their database system works just like the one on their sister site BugMeNot does for login and passwords (so you can access controlled sites without disclosing your personal information). Both sites are worthy of a look, and RetailMeNot is particularly invaluable when shopping on-line.

UPDATE: 10/28/08
Lifehacker has run an article on another site like this one worthy of your attention, it's http://www.gotodaily.com/.
... and here's a link to their article.

Your FACT Act right to a truly free credit report

2008-10-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

Don't fall into a Free Credit Report scam-- there are quite a few private companies out there claiming to offer you a free copy of your credit report, but they all have one thing in common-- their services aren't free; in fact, some of these services are outright scams and could potentially harm your credit as well as your overall finances. There is only one place to go on the internet to collect your federally mandated annual free credit report (as required by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act or the "FACT Act") and that's right here at https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

AnnualCreditReport.com is a centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports. It was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).

AnnualCreditReport.com offers consumers a fast and convenient way to request, view and print their credit reports in a secure Internet environment. We also provide options to request reports by telephone and by mail.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the only service authorized by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for this purpose. The three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies have always encouraged consumers to regularly review their credit reports.

Don't get hosed. Before you sign up for any sort of "Credit Guard" or Credit Monitoring service, be sure to check up on them with the BBB and in the news, and if you're like most Americans, you may find that you don't need such a service at all. Think of it this way-- there are three major credit breaus represented at annualcreditreport.com -- space your use of their services out to one bureau and one report per quarter and voila! You've got annual credit monitoring that's free and fair, never requiring you to sign up for any additional services, and never exposing your personal credit information to any third parties.

Readers' Digest has got your back

2008-10-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

I've just had a very nice, comprehensive article on saving tips passed my way courtesy of Readers' Digest. The article is in two parts and talks a little bit about their advice on Prescription Glasses deals (hence it was sent to my attention) and has a bunch of other tips too. If you're an old hand at saving money online and bargain hunting, there's probably nothing too earth shattering in here for you, but it's still worth a read in case they've got an angle on something you may have missed.

The article is, "Get a Great Deal on Anything: Save money on gas, cars, clothes, videos, shoes, textbooks, and more. Here's our guide to the best bargains on earth." By Andrea Cooper. Additional reporting by Tara Conry, Ann DiCesare, and Kathryn M. Tyranski

Part 1 covers coupon codes, rebates, comparison shopping, timing strategies, haggling, shoes, cars, financial strategies, leisure, and educational deals. Part 1 can be found here: Part 1

... and part 2 covering travel, food/groceries, restaurants, technology, glasses, health care (pharmaceuticals), and free shipping can be found here: Part 2

Thoughts?

Search Amazon by department, sorted by discount, filtered to your specifications...

2008-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, a little philosophical question first-- are you really saving money when you buy something at a tremendous discount (practically free even) that you previously didn't know existed? Probably not. Maybe it's something you vaguely wanted but couldn't justify the expense before? Well, that's a value judgement, isn't it... Needless crap will only clutter your life and empty your bank account. That said, there may be a time when you just want to find a deal on something to give as a present later-- I can't advise this kind of behavior, but as one who indulges in this kind of silliness, I can't condemn it either. So, it's a dangerous proposition-- a site that won't necessarily help you find what you are looking for, but it's a deal seekers dream come true: spendfish.com

Spendfish is a bargain hunters dream-- try this: skip past the initial offers and go to whatever department interests you. Ignore the deals it shows you, click on the department name again and use the filtering tools to search all of Amazon for deals that interest you by discount percentage, minimum and maximum prices, even invoke keywords to filter your results. You may not find what you were looking for, but you will find the best deals Amazon has to offer. I suggest keeping use of Spendfish to a minimum, it could have seriously deleterious effects on your financial coffers, but then again, it's perfect for finding someone a great present at a steal when you only have vague ideas of what to get that lucky beneficiary. Another nice thing about Spendfish, and this is only speaking from personal experience and in no way represents a guarantee, is that these are everyday deals. Generally speaking, the discounts I have located on Spendfish aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Check it out, track an item, you'll probably find as I have that the deals are pretty stable-- spendfish just helps you locate them to begin with.

Getting iPhone and iPod accessories without getting reamed (ie, for less than $5)

2008-10-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

So, lucky me, I recently got an iPhone 3G. Anyone who has shared in this great joy or joys is probably well familiar with the logic that follows immediately after dropping that kind of coin on a phone which is-- well, I guess I just paid $300 for the phone so another $30 for a case (worth $0.10) isn't going to hurt that much... and another $40 for a dock isn't that bad... and another $55 for headphones isn't that out of line... wait. crap. Wait a sec--that just cost me $500 and now I can't afford the electricity to juice this motherf-- uuh never-mind.

Here's the good news-- this racket apparently doesn't exist in Hong Kong. In fact, it's quite the opposite--there are a few companies hocking accessories so cheap, prices won't diminish your enjoyment 'my precious,' rather, you can go nuts. There are three notable websites that are ferociously competing for your business:

DealExtreme.com-- a proverbial nerd mega-mall offering every imaginable tech accessory from iPod peripherals to super-power flashlights and from toys to even a couple [ehm] "adult toys," DealExtreme is simply impossible to beat on prices and with site-wide free shipping, what you see is what you pay at checkout. For added convenience, DealExtreme accepts PayPal, so there's no sending your personal info overseas, and their order tracking is very helpful. The only downside-- and this is a biggie for a lot of folks-- it will take a couple weeks for your order to arrive. So far, I've bought Apple branded sync cables, a dock, a dyno-flex wrist ball, an integrated iPhone style earbud/microphone, rechargeable battery packs for my xbox 360 and my wii, and so much more all for a fraction of US retail prices and without any technical problems as all. All DealExtreme requires in return is patience and about $5.

FocalPrice.com-- a newcomer to the scene, FocalPrice has a lot of promise. With a catalogue very similar to DealExtreme, FocalPrice looks like it's going to be a heavy-hitter in the nerd gadget scene. If anyone has any experience with FocalPrice, please let me know-- I'd love to post your review. From everything I've seen and heard thus far, FocalPrice is a real winner.

KaiDomain.com-- KaiDomain and DealExtreme used to be one store owned by a couple. They split and now we have two competing operations. I've only heard good things about KaiDomain, but as of yet I have not ordered from them. With stock almost identical to DealExtreme, I've not found a reason to wander over into the unknown. Also, their site isn't exactly Mac/Safari friendly, so I often leave frustrated. Their reputation is pretty good too though.

Other places also advertise good deals on iPhone and iPod accessories but I've found that shipping kills their deals. Specifically eforcity and Meritline are having a perma-sale on iPhone accessories that require you enter the discount codes that are plastered all over their sites. Even with the codes, their deals aren't as good as DealExtreme's so I haven't bothered checking them out-- anyone have any experiences they want to add?

Cheap Prescription Glasses and Reviews

2008-10-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

So, I recently came across an article on Lifehacker which motivated me to roll the dice and try buying some cheap prescription glasses online. Before I made my purchase, I looked for some reviews of each of the many retailers offering cheap ($8-$25) glasses and was disappointed to find very little information about peoples' actual experience with these companies. Now that I have more glasses than I know what to do with, I figured I could write up a little bit about my experience to save others the expense of what I just had to learn for myself.

I'll start with the bottom line: With only one partial exception, cheap glasses from internet retailers are great.

Now some practical advice: If you decide to order glasses from any of these sites, check around online for coupon codes. You’ll probably be able to find a free shipping code or a 10% off code if you look. I've since found a site with a couple reviews of these shops at http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/ -- though I'm not so sure about these reviews as they have discount codes listed in them and thus make me think that they are potentially somehow beholden to these retailers... but that's just a hunch.

FreeFrame Optical aka the more expensive Peerless Optical:
The glasses I’m wearing today came from www.Freeframeoptical.com – FreeFrame has a one price for all frames philosophy, currently $15 for any glasses with basic (no bells or whistles) lenses. I paid $8 for them last week, though that deal can't be had at the moment, I bet it goes back to eight as they’re still running google ads that say “$8 Prescription Glasses.” These are my favorite frames of all the cheapos I have bought, but I'm not as thrilled about the accuracy of the prescription. I think they didn't apply my pupillary distance correctly to their lenses thus they cause me a mild headache after a full day of wear. All in all, I can't fully recommend them though they are one of only two retailers who didn't charge me extra for my strong prescription. If their prices go back down to $8 a pair, I'd be back on board with them, at $15, I'd rather pay the surcharge for my strong prescription at one of these other sites and get the peace of mind that my rx will be right. I'd give them a C rathing overall.

www.Zennioptical.com (the $8 glasses people that actually cost $24 once you get a real rx and coatings in there)
I am very happy with my order from ZenniOptical, their lenses were very light and the Rx was exactly right. The add-on prices kind of kill the fantasy of getting glasses for $8, but they're pretty damn good at what they do. I also happened to enter my Rx wrong and catch it myself, called them, and with no issues whatsoever, they fixed the order and everything came out perfect. The frames I got, from their magnetic sunshade collection are a little flimsy, but not bad. The magnetic polarized sunshade that came with my glasses is definitely actually polarized, which kind of surprised me, so I can't complain on that front-- there's no cheaper way of getting polarized prescription sunglasses, it's just too bad that the whole magnetic thing looks kind of goofy. Overall rating: B (loosing points for the hidden costs)

www.Glassesshop.com
I bought a pair of sunglasses from GlassesShop for $24 -- they are some of their less expensive frames with all the lens options and tinting. So far, if I were going to order from one of these companies again, GlassesShop would be my first choice. They didn't charge me extra for my strong prescription, the frames are solid, the lenses and the application of my prescription are perfect, and their service was the fastest of them all. Even the case my glasses came delivered in was better than the competition. GlassesShop is hands down the best of the breed. Overall rating: A

www.Eyebuydirect.com
Be careful when ordering glasses from EyeBuy-- read the item descriptions carefully, the photos of the frames on their website don't seem true to color and their glasses tend to be very small-- look closely at the measurements... Of the two pair I ordered, I was very surprised by the color of one of the frames when it arrived. I'm currently taking this issue up with them, but there seems to be a language barrier with their customer service. I think they understand my complaint and they seem happy to fix it, but I can't tell if they really get what I'm saying at all... I have hope that they will end up fixing the situation because everything else about their work is great. I'll be sure to update this review once I've either resolved this issue of written them off. Pricing wise, EyeBuy may be the cheapest by far-- especially if you are looking for a couple pair of glasses. They don't charge extra for strong prescriptions and their add-ons are totally reasonable. Tenative rating: B+/A- We'll see how it goes.
UPDATE: They gave me a credit toward glasses in a color I preferred as the lenses I got couldn't be swapped into different frames, I'd consider their customer service to be adequate as, frankly, the site did say purple even though the catalogue shot looked silver.

www.goggles4u.com
-review pending- there's one good thing here though-- their pricing is much more straight forward than the others as the lens treatments are included... there is however an additional fee for "strong" prescriptions.

www.39dollarglasses.com
Haven't tried them-- anybody want to fill in this blank? E-Mail me and I'll give you admin rights or post your review!

Sure, there is something to be said for buying designer frames directly from your, but for a backup pair of glasses etc, these sites do very well. Get your prescription, make sure they give you your "PD" (your pupillary distance), get ready to wait for up to two weeks and have fun!

-Mike

Welcome to Dealgasam

2008-10-14T13:51:00.001-07:00

So, there are plenty of deals sites on the web... and yes this is yet another one, but I've got a slightly different angle. What makes my blog different than those other deal tracking sites is that I'm not interested in sales-- this is a site about deals that are available without caveat. If you're like me, you're not into rebates, you don't like to be pressured into making quick buying decisions, and you're not going to be swayed by a limited time offer. I'm only interested in sites and products that offer exceptional everyday value and don't require me to jump through any hoops. No rebates, no coupons, no limited time offers, no temporary price adjustments-- all the deals that I will post will be available today, tomorrow, and until the internet meets its fiery end.

I welcome your submissions to this site, please e-mail me with your suggestions, personal experiences, and with word of the reliable values you have found. Whenever possible, I will post your reviews, I will write from personal experience, and I will seek only to offer up the best of the best. Sure, this site may end up going days at a time without an update, but saving is like a fine wine-- the best comes to those who wait.