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Jason's Blog

Finding great deals online is something many people enjoy doing. If you need convincing, just look at the popularity of websites such as slickdeals.net, dealnews.com and even pinchingyourpennies.com. Getting a great deal take patience, flexibility, time and perhaps a bit of luck. Yesterday slickdeals, passwird.com and many other deal websites posted a Napster.com promo code offering 60 free downloads and a year subscription to online streaming music. Within hours the promo code was pulled and emails sent out saying the account had been closed. Fine. It’s ok, we understand. Sometimes a promotion wasn’t supposed to be so popular, or your system didn’t have the code setup as a one time use coupon. We get it. I personally was ready to walk away and count myself out a few minutes of my time. Then today I get another email, this time with the subject in all caps: “FRAUDULENT NAPSTER PROMO CODE”. Wow, okay, that is interesting but why did I care? Then I start reading the message and it makes me feel like a fugitive. Seriously, I just found a great deal posted on slickdeals, I go through YOUR checkout, YOU hand me a receipt then you wait a bit and run after me like a SHOPLIFTER?!?! Wow. I won’t be back. You seriously treat your potential customers like this? Shame on you Napster. Shame on you.

On March 3, 2010, a private-use customer service promotional code, offering an annual Napster subscription that includes 60 MP3s, was illegally shared on multiple public websites. Because these subscriptions were created in a fraudulent manner, Napster expired these accounts, including the MP3 credits, at 9:30 PM the same day.

This code was neither made available via Napster.com  or any of its partners’ sites, nor was it promoted in any way by Napster or its partners. We encourage consumers to ensure the validity of a promotional code, for Napster or any other service or product, before attempting to redeem.

We apologize if this caused any disruption in service to any of our subscribers or visitors.  We believe Napster is the best value in digital music.  For as low as $5 per month, subscribers enjoy unlimited on-demand streaming music plus 5 song credits.  Go to www.napster.com to check it out.

Please do not reply to this email as the mailbox is not monitored.  To reach Napster Customer Support, please visit www.napster.com/support.

Today someone from work posted this link in the chatroom. Completely useless but freakin’ hilarious. Have you punched a dolphin in the mouth lately?

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/dolphin_punch

Now with cameras on cell phones and app stores that provide access to applications which can use the camera, 2D barcodes are popping up on email signatures and business cards. Scanning a 2D barcode is a quick and easy way to get someones information and save it to your phone with minimal data entry. Here are a couple of links to help you get started by creating your 2D barcode and adding it to your gmail signature.

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

http://www.adworkz.com/blog/how-to-embed-a-signature-in-gmail-or-google-domains/

To scan your barcode simply download/install the Barcode Scanner app from your phone’s app store. [Android] [iPhone]

Yesterday was the last day of Albertsons grocery stores in Utah. When 34 former Albertsons stores open today at noon, they will be operating as Associated Foods Fresh Market stores. There are a few exceptions. The stores near St. George Utah are expected to join the Las Vegas Albertsons division and remain as Albertsons stores. Four stores are going to remain Albertsons, perhaps for only a few months longer as the company continues to search for another buyer. They were not purchased as part of the Associated Foods purchase.

Albertsons has had a price perception problem (the 3 P’s) at least as long as I can remember. Since the late 1990’s people recognized Albertsons as a service oriented store and not a store for the best prices. Flurishing Wal-Mart supercenters started cutting even deeper into profits by stealing loyal customers who were enticed by lower prices.

Over the past 11 years, Albertsons attempted to rebound by completing several mergers and acquisitions. They tried to improve price perception and customer loyalty, lower costs and increase profits. Ultimately they met their demise in 2006 when they were dividedly purchased by SuperValu and Cerberus investors. Each year since then, more and more stores with the Albertsons banner have closed. This year SuperValu announced quarterly profits had fallen 30%.

The Associated Food Stores purchase of Utah Albertsons stores will prolong the life of these particular stores and continue to support the employees who work there. Looking at the big picture, the grocery business in Utah is crowded. With WinCo entering the picture now, there are even more options for consumers. In the end the store which offers consistent low prices allong with good service will win. As of now, it’s difficult to tell if anyone is even trying to compete.

Soon there will be another grocery store chain in Utah County. Yes I know, another one!

WinCo is the newest competitor entering the picture. Right now they are setting up shop on 8th North in Orem, in a massive  building under construction. I have learned some very interesting information just in the past few hours. It turns out WinCo may finally be the grocery store chain that can compete and actually beat Wal-Mart! I’ll be honest, I have no idea how they actually execute short term or even long term. All I know is what I’ve heard. Hint, it’s great for consumers!

WinCo has already entered the Salt Lake City area and has nearly killed Wal-Mart’s grocery business in nearby stores. WinCo is going to try and win your business by having amazingly low prices. Right now they are buying in product and then selling it below cost! I can’t imagine everything they sell is below cost, it just doesn’t make sense. However the person I talked to knows first hand that WinCo will buy a product in for $12 and then turn around and sell it for $9.99 simply to beat the competition.

Their stores are huge and resemble the Food-4-Less format. Unlike Food-4-Less however, they are extremely price aggressive. Their entire business seems to focus around price. Bag your own groceries, shop in a warehouse, pull product right out of the cardboard. They know people will do anything to save money.

Time will only tell what happens to the business strategy of Wal-Mart, Smith’s, Macey’s, Albertsons, Dan’s, Buy Low, and any other grocery store chain I may have forgotten to mention in Utah County. All I have to say is I’m excited for anything which creates competition and threatens the ‘all powerful’, ‘amazingly untouchable’ stores. *cough* Wal-Mart *cough*

It looks like you can find more information about openings and employment on twitter at http://twitter.com/wincofoods