To use a card for an in-store purchase, just go to the mobile site on your phone and enter the login and PIN for the GiftCard you want to redeem. A unique 2D barcode appears on the phone display screen, which the cashier scans into Target’s POS system. The purchase amount is then automatically deducted from the GiftCard.

Just another reason to love Target!

Details and terms of use.

Be sure to sign up for a Fast-Cart Pass to skip the sign-in lines and get a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase (enter source code E12M34).

Although these sales are promoted as being exclusively for educators and BookFair chairpeople/volunteers, many shoppers do not fall into any of these categories.

Before the Scholastic Warehouse in Frederick closed, I volunteered for every sale. Volunteering now is a bit trickier–since they’re in Odenton–but not impossible. You can squeeze in a 4-hour shift while the kids are in school and earn a voucher good for $80 worth of merchandise.

Think you might like to volunteer? The following is excerpted from an email sent me by the Odenton Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa Windsor:

We are currently looking for volunteers to work bagging the books for the cashiers at the checkout area along with other miscellaneous light duties. We are offering product vouchers to be spent during the sale for your volunteer services. If you are available to assist for 4 hours or more, we have flexible shifts. The dates that we have available are as follows:

• Thursday 12/11 & Friday 12/12 – various shifts during the time frame of 10am – 7pm
• Saturday 12/13 – various shifts from 9am – 2:30pm
• Monday 12/15, Tuesday 12/16, Wednesday 12/17 & Thursday 12/18 – various shifts during the time frame of 10am – 5pm
• Friday 12/19 – various shifts during the time frame of 10am – 7pm
• Saturday 12/20 – various shifts from 9am – 2:30pm

Please respond via e-mail to mwindsor@scholasticbookfairs.com with the specific time frames and dates that you are interested in working as soon as possible. I will be in contact with you to coordinate and confirm a schedule. If you have volunteered for us during a previous event, please indicate which event it was.

On September 10, as a kickoff to the Goodwill Sale, people will receive two 20-percent-off coupons for each item donated.

The donations will be sold in Goodwill Industries stores, and the revenue will fund job training programs in our local community.

The last semi-annual Goodwill Sale generated nearly 3.3 million pounds of donated clothing and textiles. From the sale of these donated items, Goodwill has earned an estimated $2.3 million in revenues to support Goodwill’s job training and career services for individuals with disabilities and others who are having a hard time finding a job. By donating to Goodwill, customers are also helping the environment by keeping usable items out of landfills and providing affordable, gently-used merchandise to local Goodwill stores.

Thanks, Charlene!

Originally Published: August 2, 2007

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 916-4498
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children’s toys

Units: About 967,000

Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Fisher-Price Recalls Licensed Character Toys Due To Lead Poisoning Hazard.

Sears, among other retailers, is using gasoline cards as incentives to boost spending.

Thanks to sky-high gas prices and a tight economy, retailers are using free gasoline as incentives to boost sales.

Sears Holdings Corp. is offering $75 Shell gas cards to customers who spend $100 or more on Men’s Dockers merchandise through June 15. The effort is part of the Men’s Dockers Father’s Day promotion.

“We wanted to honor Dads this year with something that they may really need and having an in-store promotion, such as the Men’s Dockers Father’s Day allows customers to get great gifts with an added bonus,” spokesperson Tim Danser said in a statement.

Sears is also running a sweepstakes offering a Toyota Prius as the top prize. Visitors can fill out an entry form in-store or download one from http://www.206inc.com/dockersgascard2008 through June 28 for a chance to win.

Sears/Rite Aid Offer Gas Incentives to Boost Sales | Shell Gas Cards for Men’s Dockers purchases.

REDMOND, Wash. — May 21, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it will offer ad-funded cash rebates to customers who find and purchase their favorite products through a new program called Microsoft Live Search cashback. Key partners including eBay, Barnes & Noble.com, Overstock.com, Sears, Zappos.com, and WPP joined Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at advance08, Microsoft’s annual advertising customer event, to announce their participation in the new program.

The complete Live Search cashback product portfolio includes more than 10 million product offers from more than 700 merchants, including more than 13 of the top 40 U.S. retailers. The company also announced it has delivered a new Live Search travel destination, Live Search Farecast, making it easy for searchers to find the best travel deals on the Web.

“We believe search can offer much more value to consumers and advertisers than it does today, and we see Live Search cashback as an important opportunity to deliver additional value,” Gates said. “Our goal is to make Live Search the most rewarding commercial search destination on the Web. Live Search cashback will help advertisers drive more online sales while giving consumers a new way to stretch their dollars.”

msn.com

Shoppers who bring in their checks starting on May 14 can get them cashed for free and will receive a certificate for the discount that can be used the same day or the following day. The offer begins on May 14 and runs through July 19.

Other companies offering incentives for you to cash your check with them:

• CVS: For loyalty club members, $5 off a $30 purchase.
• Food Lion: $30 bonus on every $300 purchase of store gift cards.
• Lowe’s: Will cash checks for free, no purchase required.
• Sam’s Club: Free membership for non-members or a $40 gift card for existing members with purchase of selected items. Will cash stimulus check for free. Offer runs 5/18 – 31.
• Sears, K-Mart, Land’s End: Convert your check to a Sears, K-Mart, or Land’s End gift card and they’ll give you another gift card worth 10% of that value. Offer runs 5/14 – 7/18 and is not valid for catalog purchases.
• Wal-Mart: Will cash checks free, no purchase required.
• RadioShack: 10% off purchases over $50, with the balance of the check put on a Mastercard gift card. Offer runs 5/14 – 7/12.

Anybody know of other companies with similar incentives?

Friday, May 16^th, is the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest at Harry Grove Stadium. This is a free event that starts three hours before game time. That night the game starts at 7PM.

The 2nd Annual Longest Yard Sale is to be held on Saturday, May 17^th, in the parking lot at Harry Grove Stadium.

Frederick Maryland Online

Receive 30% off entire purchase.

Online, use code: GYMFRIEND.

In-store, print out coupon and bring it to store.

Not valid in Gymboree outlets.

Everything is 50 to 80% off.

Pre-register for a Fast-Cart Pass, and print a $10/$50 coupon.

Location:
1879 Lamonte Ave.
Odenton, MD 21113

Hours:

Wed. 5/7/2008 – Thu. 05/22/2008
May 7, 2008 (PO Day Only) Wed. 10a-5p
May 8-9 & May12-22 10a-8p
May 10 & May 17 Saturdays 9a-3p
Closed on Sundays